Beverly Hills = #1

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the 90210 has claimed this year's spot for the Most Expensive Neighborhood in America. With a median home value exceeding $3 Million, the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills beat out the Manhattan based Upper East Side by $200k. And with the amount of real estate one can get here in town compared to competing luxury communities, many are realizing that we have some of the best values in the world when it comes to high end property.

Want to know the ins, outs, and whys of the ultimate luxury lifestyle? This article provides some great insight on how our high end towns continue to do what they do.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-most-expensive-blocks.html

SHOWCASE: Property Of The Week

With the abundant amount of amazing homes viewed on a weekly basis, I think it is only fair that I start to share with you my chosen showcase property of the week. While many homes enter onto and depart from the active real estate market on a daily basis, there are always a couple in any given week that spark your attention more than others.

This week, the highlighted home which captured me more than any other goes to a beautiful Architectural property nestled up in the famed Bird Streets neighborhood of the Sunset Strip. Aside from this home sitting on one of the most desired lots in Tinsletown, this estate offers the ultimate vision of a Contemporary dream home in The Hills.

Invite the friends and family over to what is sure to be one of the most exciting displays of Architecture they have ever seen. An outdoor/indoor styled floor plan promise to give you a true sense of Southern California living. From just about every room in the property, prepare to enjoy stunning jet liner views throughout the entire basin of the great Southland.

Expect to enjoy a hotel styled lifestyle in this home with every amenity you could imagine. This one of a kind home comes equipped with top of the line everything, infinity pool & spa, enormous master suite, media room, bar & lounge, extreme privacy and a world renowned address. Not only does this designer pad come with the ultimate at home living, at also comes packaged with an unparalleled Global Concierge package! And if you don't know what exactly that is, just use your imagination and it is more than likely spot on. :)

Pick up this once in a life time opportunity for a subtle $17,995,000.

 Listing Brokerage: Coldwell Banker - BH South

QR Codes & JAG Open Houses!

If you haven't picked up on the newest technological advancement to hit the retail market place, you need to catch up and download the app to view QR Codes! As stated previously, John Aaroe Group is the first boutique agency in Los Angeles to have a full mobile platform with QR coding!

Before you know it, QR Codes will be EVERYWHERE! It is free to you as a consumer and extremely useful, fun and time effective for any modern day adult on the go! Whether you are on an iPhone, Blackberry, or Droid platform, ScanLife is free and accessible to all. Simply go into your Apps, search for ScanLife, and become part of the newest retail trend! Simply open the program, put your camera over the image below, and all the info you need comes up!

Sounds too simple right, that's because it is!! Try it out below and make sure to come by my open house this Sunday at 8712 Ashcroft in West Hollywood!

***JUST SOLD***

The sales keep on closing in the first quarter of 2011 making for a very busy real estate market here in The Hills. Take a look at these recent sales of notable homes throughout the canyons, hills and flats of Tinsletown!

1. Head north of Sunset just a couple blocks west of the Beverly Hills Hotel to this traditional 90210 Spanish estate. This 4,600 square foot, 5 bed 5.5 bath property comes with worlds of character and amazing potential for anyone looking to do minor upgrades or even a complete remodel. On over a half of an acre, the property currently boasts an over sized swimming pool, two story guest house, and maturely lush landscaping. This happy homeowner bought into this celebrity lined street for $6,000,000, $1.2 million LESS than the original list price.

Listing Brokerage: Prudential - BH
Selling Brokerage: Sotheby's - BH

2. Down in the Norma Triangle neighborhood of West Hollywood, this remodeled Spanish home offers a more subtle and scaled down property compared to above. For a significant amount less, this home comes with 1,110 square feet and encompasses 2 beds and 2 baths, private and gated grounds, spacious front and back yards, contemporary kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and one of the most desirable locations at the base of The Hills. This home fell just shy of the million dollar mark at $963,000.

Listing & Selling Brokerage: KW - Sunset

3. For the traditional enthusiast, Coldwater Canyon has many opportunities for one to inherit some truly original Beverly Hills real estate. Sitting on 18,000+ square feet, this 3 bed and 4 bath property is an ideal home for entertaining your weekly lunch and dinner parties. With an open floor plan and just under 4,000 square feet, the home provides a Chef's kitchen with a Butler's area, beautiful grounds with lush landscaping, sparkling pool and a detached guest house. This flat lot mini estate was sold at a price of $2,095,000.

Selling & Listing Brokerage: Prudential - Palisades & BH

4. For the architectural enthusiast, take a look at this beautifully done 2,400 square foot home in West Hollywood. Tucked away in the hip Robertson/Melrose neighborhood, this 3 bedroom 3.5 bathroom property boasts a gourmet kitchen, designer bathrooms, hardwood flooring throughout, and a clean cut entertainer's backyard with a pool and fire pit. This home was taken off the market for a solid $2,200,000.

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Listing Brokerage: KW - Sunset
Selling Brokerage: Prudential - Brentwood

5. Up in Beachwood Canyon, another Spanish Villa was just picked up by a willing and able buyer. The designer property has been restored completely and provides an elegant, contemporary approach to life in The Hills. With 4 beds and 3.5 baths, this 3,000+ square foot pad includes stenciled beam ceilings, gourmet Chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances, bonus room with kitchenette, lush grounds full of foliage, outdoor dining patio and a hotel like pool. This home just got picked up for a cool $1,960,000.

Listing Brokerage: Sotheby's - Sunset
Selling Brokerage: Prudential - PDC

***What a Condo!***

Condo properties throughout The Hills are becoming more and more attractive for first time home buyers, local renters and investors alike with price points that resemble the lowest buy in cost in years! Below are recent sales and new listings to give you a brief idea of how the first quarter of 2011 is treating our local condo communities. 

1. Starting off on the highly desirable Kings Rd., this nicely redone 1 bed 1 bath condo hits the active market. With an obvious touch of designer influence, this home is furnished with natural woods, European light fixtures, floating media, wet bar, Carrera marble shower, and enough space to entertain your closets friends. Pick up this redone condo for a price of $429,000. 

Listing Brokerage: KW - BH

2. Here is a gorgeous loft like condo just listed on the beautiful Doheny Dr. which directly borders Beverly Hills. This 1,200 square foot designer pad offers an open styled floor plan with dark hardwood flooring, modern kitchen with marble counter tops, breathtaking views of The Hills and an interior washer and dryer. This high rise community also offers the life of luxury with full service concierge, doorman, roof top pool and on-site gym. Pick up this steal of a deal for $629,000.

Listing Brokerage: Coldwell Banker - Brentwood

3. Over on Hollywood Blvd., buy into the heart of Tinsletown for what many would consider a steal of a price! This 2 bed 2 bath condo is ideal for the local first time homeowner or for an investor looking for an opportunity with great potential for return. Pick this up this 4th floor condo for a price point of $308,000.

 Listing Brokerage: KW - BH



4. Looking for something brand new? This oober hip, contemporary, architectural condo community is surrounded by lush landscaping on the beautiful street of Harper. The open and spacious unit boasts 1,600 square feet with 2 beds and 2 baths, hardwood flooring throughout, high ceilings with walls of glass, stainless steel appliances and a welcoming fireplace. This unit just sold for $149k less than the original list for a price of $649,000. 

 Listing Brokerage: Eric Fonoimoana

Love is Louder

While there are many great causes across the nation and locally here in Tinsletown, a new and worldly movement is taking all age groups and demographics by storm and is out to make a bold statement. With the unexpected string of gay teen suicides in 2010 came a lot of heartache and concern from millions throughout the nation. Strangers, friends, families and groups of concerned citizens came together to spread a message of hope, all aspiring to prevent further tragedies. This activity lead Actress Brittany Snow to starting one of the most respected non-profit organizations of the year.

This brief description can be found on the Facebook page of Love is Louder, in their own words: Love is Louder was started by actress Brittany Snow, The Jed Foundation and MTV to build on the outpouring of support online after the lives of multiple teenagers were lost to suicide in September 2010. This movement strives to amplify the momentum of other inspiring online campaigns and invite anyone who has felt mistreated, misunderstood or isolated into the conversation. We are here to raise the volume around a critical message -- that love and support is more powerful than the external and internal voices that bring us down, cause us pain and make us feel hopeless.

I had the pleasure of attending the first launch event for Love is Louder at the Flagship store of Rock & Republic on Robertson last week. I must say, I am touched by this group and will constantly spread the word of love! You should too!! ; )