Luxe Living

Jennifer Love Hewitt is looking to spend her summer partying in her modern new abode in Pacific Palisades. First revealed by the incomparable Real Estalker and property records show that Miss Hewitt paid $3,250,000 on April 25, 2013. Prior to buying this stunning architectural gem in April, J Love sold a home in Toluca Lake that was the primary residence of her recently deceased mother. Jennifer lived just down the street and likely needed a change of scenery after her mom passed away.

She’s finding it in her hip and sexy retreat in Pacific Palisades, which was redone in 2007 and designed by well-regarded  architect Melinda Gray.

Outside, the home has a private, sparkling spa-style pool surrounded by bamboo, as well as a fire pit, fireplace, flat screen, lounging area and more.

Inside, Hewitt’s new home has hardwood floors and an open floor plan that gives it that soothing organic and urban feel. The house has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms spread out over 2,872 square feet.

Images via the MLS.

Legendary NBA coach Pat Riley is making a play in the real estate game by putting his longtime beachfront Malibu home up for rent for $18,500 a month. Riley and his wife purchased the oceanfront abode on July 14, 1989 for $1,600,000, back when ‘Riles’ was still winning championships with the Showtime Lakers in L.A. Since then, Riley has moved onto more NBA titles in Miami, first as head coach and more recently as Team President of the Heat, which might mean he’s spending less time on the West Coast.

The home is located within an exclusive gated enclave off of Broad Beach Road, and has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,  plus an office where Riley likely spent many late hours breaking down the Celtics defense or writing plays for the likes of Magic Johnson, while waves crashed a few feet away.

The floor plan includes a large living room with fireplace, open kitchen, and walls of glass for great, natural light. Outside, expansive patios have limitless views of the Pacific Ocean. Riley and his wife won’t be missing the summer in Malibu, though, as the rental isn’t available until September 1, 2013.

Even when they do rent it out, they won’t be going far. They also own the house two doors down, which has 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 2,088 square feet. They paid $7,000,000 for it in February 2007.

Images via the MLS.

After her high-profile split from Ryan Seacrest, Julianne Hough reportedly has a new “Safe Haven“: a $3 million mansion purchased by Ryan as a parting gift when their two year relationship came to an end in March. According to our source, Ryan pulled a move similar to his American Idol costar Simon Cowell, who gave his ex-fiance a high dollar mansion in the wake of their split. Details on Hough’s new home are still under wraps, but the “Dancing With The Stars” dancer and budding movie star reportedly decamped to the new gift mansion shortly after moving out of the $37 million-dollar compound she shared with Ryan for the past year. Their former love nest was purchased from Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi in May 2012 and seemed to signal to the world that Seacrest was finally ready to settle down and build a family life with Hough.

Reports on their breakup cite his hectic schedule and inability to kick his workaholic ways as the main impetus for their split. He must have loved her in a major way though, since he allegedly spent some serious coin on her new bachelorette pad.

While Hough was mid break-up and likely closing on her new Los Angeles home, she found the time to list and sell her Nashville condo. Located at 900 20th Avenue in the heart of Nashville, Hough paid $649,000 for the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,829 square foot condo in 2009. She relocated primarily to Los Angeles in the past couple years, and likely had the property leased out to a tenant. Property records do show that she managed to dance out of the property and make a pretty penny. She sold the condo on January 7, 2013 for $900,000.

Images via the MLS.

Sometimes 2 isn’t better than 1. After more than 2 full years on the market, Christina Aguilera has finally sold the Beverly Hills mansion she purchased from Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. Originally listed for $13.5 million, Aguliera never officially reduced the asking price on the home, but according to property records, she eventually ended up selling for $11.5 million – a full $2 million less than the diva wanted for her palace. The deal closed on April 29, 2013, and the buyer’s identity is still unknown.

Aguilera has since moved on to another Beverly Hills mansion in the exclusive guard-gated Mulholland Estates community. Her new 11,000-square-foot estate was reportedly purchased from multi-billionaire and global private equity mogul Tom Gores for an even $10 million.

Her just-sold home was the stage for Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s reality show “The Osbournes” many years ago and is in the heart of Beverly Hills on Doheny Drive. The estate is gated and extremely private and has 6 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms spread out over 10,000 square feet.

Before you know it, summer will be here! And if you’re looking for a new home in Malibu before summer arrives, then you must meet Chris Cortazzo, the #1 agent for Malibu, California, nationally and internationally for Coldwell Banker.  Since 2000, Chris has sold more than $1.5 billion in real estate, establishing him as Malibu’s #1 agent for the past decade.

Chris has changed the face of real estate in Malibu, and is in a league of his own. He credits his success to hard work, extensive networking, having integrity, and putting his client’s interest first. He makes deals happen, always trying to be a part of the solution; facing challenges head on, and focusing on the positive.

Chris was born and raised in Malibu; He grew up on Point Dume, where he currently resides. Chris is passionate about surfing, collecting art, travelling, and keeping close to his family. He consistently gives back to his community, donating to over 40 charities per year. He’s been on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu since 2007, and is chairperson for several local annual fundraising events.

Quite the career! Let’s get to know Chris Cortazzo a little bit better!

How did you get your start in real estate?

Getting one of the most expensive houses in Malibu as my first listing and the  top agent at the time asking the client ‘why would you give it to a nobody.’

What sale or career milestone are you most proud of?

Buying my first home which was next door to my parents, who are my best friends.

What is your dream home location?

Anywhere in Malibu.

What kind of car do you drive?

Range Rover.

iPhone, Android or BlackBerry?

iPhone

What site/app do you check first when you wake up?

Trulia, of course!

What was the last book you read?

“Proof of Heaven,” by Eben Alexander

Name your favorite guilty pleasure.

Popcorn, popcorn and more popcorn.

What’s one thing someone would never guess just by looking at you?

Passion, for my family, friends, work, animals and life.

Let’s check out some of Chris Cortazzo’s current for-sale listings!

• $54,000,000 - 26848 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
• $28,500,000 – 6970 Wildlife Road, Malibu, CA
• $22,500,000 – 22446 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
• $22,500,000 – 26900 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
• $15,995,000 – 29000 Cliffside Drive, Malibu, CA

Glee starlet Naya Rivera is flipping her home in Beverly Hills, asking $2.1 million for a home she paid $1.475 million for on April 4, 2012. If she gets her full asking price, Naya is set to make $625,000 for less than a year’s ownership, minus what she paid to remodel this stunner. This kind of return isn’t common in every market, but in this celebrity-infested Beverly Hills neighborhood, buyers will pay big bucks for the 90210 zip code.

Rivera is making her house flip a family affair – she’s employed her mother Yolanda Rivera as the listing agent on the home, which hit the market in mid-March and already has “sale pending” sign hanging out front. Nice work, mom!

Rivera’s almost-sold home is on a cul de sac and has been remodeled. It features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and is a spacious 3,300 square feet.  The home includes a formal living area and dining room overlooking the courtyard and pool. The library includes a wet bar with its own kegerator! The master suite includes dual walk-in closets and a built-in sauna and steam room. The backyard includes a completely remodeled salt water pool, jacuzzi and fire pit.

Rivera is decamping to a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 4,186 square foot East Coast traditional estate in Los Feliz that property records show she purchased on April 15, 2013 for $2,600,000.

Lauren Conrad has the look of a budding LA real estate mogul as TMZ is reporting she has just purchased her largest property yet, a $3.7 million gem of a home in the exclusive Brentwood neighborhood. LC is best known as playing herself on MTV’s iconic, although short-lived show, “Laguna Beach,” after which she moved onto entirely new levels of drama, hooking-up, and general shenanigans on “The Hills.”

LC’s real estate resume is starting to get pretty long these days as she has parlayed her early reality TV star fame into ventures as a fashion designer and author.

She sold the famous ‘Hills’ home for a loss in September of 2011, leaving not only the home but her friendships with surgically-enhanced Heidi Montag and Audrina Patridge behind.

LC went on to purchase a $1.3 million condo in the exclusive 90210 ZIP code in Beverly Hills. Although the original pictures of the place looked frumpy, one can assume that she put her own personal touch to spruce up the large, multi-story penthouse. She still owns this condo and also owns a four bedroom home in Laguna Beach.

Now Lauren is moving on to bigger and better things. Brentwood is one of the more exclusive areas in a city that is full of exclusive areas. Her newly-remodeled, two-story home is on a quiet street and includes six-bedrooms and five-bathrooms in a massive 4,303 square foot floor plan.

The traditional style home was built in 1959 and features a chef’s kitchen, a master suite, and dark hardwood floors, as well as multiple fireplaces and a massive patio, basketball court and yard for soaking up the LA sunshine.

Images via MLS.

A-list director Judd Apatow, famous for movies like ’40 Year Old Virgin,’ ‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘Knocked Up,’ and his actress wife Leslie Mann have just purchased a Malibu Colony home for $10,825,000 from the estate of late ‘Pretty Woman’ producer Laura Ziskin. Property records show that the deal closed on March 19, 2013.

The Apatow/Mann family’s new oceanfront contemporary cottage is theirs just in time for summer! The home is situated in the exclusive guard gated and celebrity-laden community of Malibu Colony. A romantic 1930′s bungalow, the home is tranquil yet chic and comfortable and sits directly on the beach. A gourmet kitchen and cozy family room open to a private, lush courtyard entry. The living room, dining room and cozy sunroom all feature expansive ocean views and lead to patios and the private Colony Beach. The second floor features 3 ensuite bedrooms.  The large master bedroom overlooks the Pacific Ocean through a wall of glass. The master also includes a wood-burning fireplace and a spacious patio leading to the sand. The property also features a two-car garage and a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom guesthouse.

According to other plugged-in real estate sources, the Apatow/Mann family are looking building a massive custom home on a lot they purchased in Santa Monica last year for $8,600,000. Their forthcoming custom digs must be something amazing, because they’d be decamping from a home in Brentwood that they paid $18,250,000 for in 2009. Apatow also still owns a 4,356 square foot Beverly Hills Post Office-area home that he purchased in 2005 for $1,656,000.

Philadelphia Eagles’ DeSean Jackson has a lot to be proud of. Not only can he say he’s a star player for the NFL, who just recently signed a new 5-year, $51-million contract, but now he can also cross that finish line of becoming a first-time homeowner! After several years of renting in Los Angeles, Jackson has moved on up and purchased a 3,837-square-foot home in Tarzana, CA for $1.65 million.

Being the showman and big spender that he is, this modest purchase does comes as a surprise to some as the multi-million dollar wide receiver shelled out less than $2 million. However, the property exudes charm and personality and is close to his hometown Long Beach, CA. With prime LA location and some pizzazz to fill the appetite of a pro-athlete, the home seems like a perfect off-season retreat for some much needed R&R.

Located in prime South Tarzana, CA, the four-bedroom, six-bath property is a traditional, gated, family home offering luxury and comfort at every turn. The all-white property features beautiful french doors, hardwood floors, crown molding and open living spaces. The living room welcomes you with a beamed ceiling and exquisite glass tile fireplace and leads you to a large family room and elegant dining area with chandelier and backyard access. An upgraded chef’s kitchen is the focal point of the home and includes stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, a breakfast island and a cute windowsill seating area.

The exterior of the home includes a pool and grassy area, along with a one-bedroom, one-bath detached studio suite with French doors and gaudy black and white checkered flooring.

Images via MLS.

Age-defying actress Andie MacDowell has sold her beautiful home in North Carolina and just bought in Marina Del Ray, California. Property records show that MacDowell sold her country club home in Asheville, North Carolina way back on May 18, 2012 for $3,000,000. It was first listed for $4,500,000. She has originally paid $790,000 on November 7, 2001 for the 6 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom, 9,400 square foot home.

Back on the West Coast, property records reveal that MacDowell paid $1,775,000 for a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2,998 square foot Cape Cod-style home on a corner lot in Marina Del Ray’s Silver Strand area. It was a done deal on February 15, 2013.

Let’s dig into the details of her new purchase, shall we?

Marketed as “modern and spacious with a loft-like interior,” the stark white, and rather uninspired home, has soaring ceilings, skylights and large glass sliding doors, which illuminate the house with natural light and let the ocean breezes flow in. One of four bedrooms is tucked away, making it perfect for guest quarters. The other three  bedrooms are upstairs and include an oversized master with spiral staircase leading to an impressive double loft area and  master bath. Outside is a relaxing space with sparkling pool to lounge in on warm California days.