Luxe Living

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

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.

Christina Aguilera has purchased another Beverly Hills mansion in the exclusive guard-gated Mulholland Estates community. According to TMZ, who broke the news yesterday, the 11,000-square-foot estate was reportedly purchased from multi-billionaire and global private equity mogul Tom Gores for an even $10 million.  Previously, the home was leased for $20,000 a month by Adrienne Maloof of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Located on a double lot in the Mulholland Estates community, this six-bedroom, eight-bathroom Mediterranean mansion features custom, high-quality finishes and fixtures throughout. The master suite upstairs features a fireplace, two walk-in closets, a private office, a large terrace with fireplace, and a spa-like bathroom lined in marble with a steam shower and tub. Five additional en suites include a large family room with built-in cabinetry.

The first floor of the home offers an even larger family room with exposed wood beam ceiling, formal dining room, wood paneled library, and screening room. The gourmet kitchen includes top-of-the-line appliances, a walk-in pantry with refrigerator and breakfast area, and a large center island. The enclosed loggia features wood paneled ceilings, hand painted details, fireplace, and arched glass doors that open to the lush yard. To take in the warm California sun and entertain, the home’s outdoor space includes a saltwater pool and spa, bathhouse, gazebo, and built-in BBQ.

But what of X’tina’s current home (you know, the 10,000-square-foot estate that she and former hubby Jordon Bratman bought from the Prince of Darkness and his wife AKA Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne)? A little birdie told Yo Mama of The Real Estalker that the home is currently in escrow.

For Allen Iverson, the undersized but uber-talented former NBA All Star, it’s been a rough few months dealing with a recent divorce, losing a child custody battle, and a foreclosure on his Atlanta mansion. One could say that AI has left as many homes behind as he did defenders with his legendary cross over, which makes even the great Michael Jordan look bad.

Two of his former homes have recently hit the market. One is a beautiful home in the Villanova, PA area, and the other is listed here, which is an amazing property in Gladwyne, PA.

The Gladwyne property is gorgeous, but has a bit of an infamous reputation (like Allen Iverson’s play on the basketball court). It’s the same location where he hid out in 2002 after allegedly threatening two men with a handgun in a Philadelphia apartment, while searching for his wayward wife.

Considered one of the finest estates in the Philadelphia suburbs, his Gladwyne mansion is in cherry condition and recently renovated. The 1.91 acre lot is on an exclusive street in a prime area and features completely manicured grounds as you make your way up the private driveway. Visitors will be greeted by a voluminous, two-story reception hall that would be reminiscent of a basketball court if it weren’t for the custom finishes and marble floors.

There’s an elegant living room with a fireplace that features palladium windows and custom wood floors while the formal dining room is perfect for low key evenings or more formal dinners.

Any chef would be impressed with the kitchen, featuring wood-mode cabinetry, butler’s pantry, an expansive center island, and granite counters throughout, while being connected to a spacious breakfast room with views of the pool.

The family room features another fireplace and has additional custom wood floors that seem to bring the home together, while also offering French doors that lead to the deck and backyard.

You’ll find beautiful, custom, vaulted ceilings in the renovated library, which would be a perfect place to lose yourself in a book or review game tapes for your next NBA opponent.

On the 2nd floor is a luxurious master suite with a sitting room, walk-in custom closets and marble bathroom. Throughout the floor you will find four additional large bedrooms with bathrooms.

Despite the posh set-up throughout the rest of the house, it’s perhaps the lower level that will provide the most enjoyment, with features such as a home theater, exercise room, playroom and finally a wine cellar and tasting room. NBA All Star or not, it would be hard to miss a shot at this amazing property.

Actress Amy Smart has bounced from one Beverly Hills home to the next. The ‘Shameless’ star sold her longtime two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, home in November 2011 for $1.12 million, and now, she’s upgraded to a $2.5 million, three-bedroom, four-bath estate just 1.5 miles away.

The model turned actress purchased this new property about six months after her September 2011 wedding to HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse. No matter where the famously eco-friendly couple planned to settle down, it was almost a given they’d have exquisite digs. Since 2008, her handyman hubby has hosted two HGTV shows – ‘Red Hot & Green‘ and ‘Carter Can‘ — so it’s no surprise they now have their own HGTV hall-of-fame-worthy dream home, with continuous additions stemming from weekend DIY projects!

Located in the coveted 90210, this single-story, three-bedroom, four-bath, gated ranch is 4,126 square feet. Surrounded by a large, landlocked 16-acre parcel, a private oasis is created — perfect for its celebrity owners. The home boasts high pitched beamed ceilings and bright, open, and spacious rooms with either dark wood, tile, or carpet flooring. All rooms feature recessed ceiling lighting, walk-in closets, and en suite baths; the master bath is even fully equipped with a gorgeous separate tub and shower. Additional features include updated wood burning fireplaces made of stone, a grand-sized media/playroom, and a large grassy yard with free form swimming pool and waterfall.

Images via Househunt.com.

Forget fancy heels and designer clothes: mom-to-be Jessica Simpson has put her passion for fashion aside and is all about baby number two. So much so that she’s completely ditching Sharon Osbourne’s exquisite master bedroom closet and converting it into a nursery! According to UsWeekly, Simpson and fiancé Eric Johnson are in escrow to buy The Talk co-host’s 11,000-square-foot mansion for $13 million and have already met with designers to transform the Osbourne’s former walk-in closet into a baby room.

The Price of Darkness and Sharon had been wrestling with selling the Hidden Hills home since July 2011 — at one point, the estate was even listed for rent for $50k a month. The Osbournes purchased the six-bedroom, 10-bath home in the equestrian community of Hidden Hills on August 3, 2007, for $12,388,500 and have settled on parting with the estate for just a smidge more than the purchase price at $13 million.

Located within the exclusive guard-gated community of Hidden Hills, Simpson’s soon-to-be home is situated on a private knoll and is a sophisticated Cape Cod-inspired estate located atop an intimate cul-de-sac. Featured in “Architectural Digest” in 2011, the grand residence rests on a 2.25 acre promontory with breathtaking city light and mountain views.

Reimagined by legendary interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, the magnificent home features the main home’s six bedrooms, as well as a guest apartment with kitchenette, intricately paneled study with fireplace, porte-cochere with motor court, exquisitely accented formal dining room, dramatic foyer with spiral staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an expansive lower level studio/home theater space.

The family room is highlighted by oversized sliding barn doors, a reclaimed brick fireplace and beamed vaulted ceilings. The master suite offers a sitting area, stone fireplace, wood paneled walk-in closet, and an adjacent office. Expansive rear grounds include rolling lawns, a spa, barbeque island, outdoor shower, commode, and several seating enclaves.

Since their heyday as Hollywood’s ‘it’ couple following the ’80s hit movie, “Crocodile Dundee,” Paul Hogan and his longtime wife and former co-star, Linda Kozlowski, have been busy climbing the property ladder. Last July, we reported that the real estate power couple bought a five-bedroom, six-bath pad for $3,800,000, after listing another palatial Malibu home in February 2012 for $6,475,000.

After only six months, the Hogans are ready to sell their most recent purchase — the 6,382 square foot estate nestled in a prime location in Malibu — which was impeccably revamped in 2012, blending modern European sensibility with the home’s existing Victorian elegance. Featuring spectacular ocean views, the property is designed to let in plenty of natural light. The gourmet chef’s kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances, while the master suite includes a sitting area, two large walk-in closets, and a private lanai. A library, office spaces, three additional en-suite bedrooms, plus a bonus bedroom round out the rest of the main home. A short walk outside leads you to the one-bedroom guest house and the additional three-car garage.

From young star, to generation-X poster boy, to multi-talented and multiple-times-married father of four, Ethan Hawke has managed to delight the public throughout his career. Even his less-successful films, such as Gattaca, where he met his first wife Uma Thurman, are engaging and fun to watch. And if he’s able to sell his New York townhouse for the asking price of $6,250,000, we can add real estate mogul to his list of talents — after all, he did initially purchase the home in 2005 for the low, low price of $3,000,000.

Although it’s hard to imagine Officer Jake Hoyt living in Chelsea, you have to love the location of this home, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and art galleries. And there’s enough eye candy in the area to make you wonder if, indeed, you are living amongst a race of genetically perfect human beings.

Once inside Hawke’s nest, you’ll find the four-story Chelsea townhouse has six bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and clocks in around 3,500 square feet. The custom kitchen with dining banquette and large dining room highlight an inviting, open floor plan that’s just steps away from the patio and garden. But the master suite — which encompasses the entire top floor and features a private terrace — is perhaps the highlight of the home.

Now this is a place that is perfect for the buyer who’s looking to take a bite out of life in the Big Apple.

Love him or hate him – there’s no in between – Barry Bonds is one of the biggest sports characters of the last two decades. Rocketing to superstardom in Pittsburgh and helping make a forlorn franchise a regular in the playoffs while winning his first league MVP award, Bonds made it clear he had all the tools to become one of the greats. He took his talents back to Northern California in 1993, where he was born and raised, to play for the San Francisco Giants and resurrected that franchise while winning 6 additional MVP awards (4 in a row at one point), leading the team to the World Series in 2002, and cementing his place in baseball history. Of course, this was before the BALCO scandal and perjury investigation which has cast a shadow over Bonds’ mountain of accomplishments to the chagrin of some and the delight of others. So where does a sultan of swat live?

What can possibly be a large enough space for a larger than life character such as Bonds? Well, how about a 17,100 square foot palace of a home in Beverly Hills?

Word on the street is that Barry is putting his expansive, fully furnished property on the market for a cool $25 million. So what does the home of a baseball superstar offer? Well to start, 7 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and a two-story guest house, all situated on a manicured property modeled after a fine Italian Villa, from the olive tree-lined private drive to the Tuscan-style architecture.

The features of the home, like Barry’s 73 home runs in a single season, boggle the mind. With high ceilings up to 30 feet high throughout the grand living and family rooms and special details such as Italian floors and hand-painted murals, it’s a dazzling home. The gourmet kitchen (of course, this is a Tuscan-style home right?), feeds into a roomy dining room that is perfect for entertaining.

Should we stop there? Well, Barry didn’t stop playing until he was 43 and still a dominating hitter, so we’ll keep going. The rest of the home includes a walnut-paneled office and custom home movie theater with seating for 12. If you’re feeling tense the home also features a full service spa, including steam room, jacuzzi and body therapy rooms.

It wouldn’t be California living without some outdoor fun and this home delivers. There’s a full outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and wet bar, manicured lawn, swimming pool, cabana, and multi-use sport court.

In short, this home should be in the hall of fame. Maybe Barry too?

Check out the full listing from The Agency here.

As a comedian, actor, voice-over artist and author, Tim Allen has been entertaining audiences for years. But he’ll always have a place in everyone’s heart as the bumbling, yet lovable Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor in one of the greatest sitcom hits of the 1990′s - Home Improvement. It’s safe to say the royalties of that show, plus his work in major motion pictures, continue to pay off for Allen much more than any hosting gig for Tool Time ever could have. Case in point: the recent purchase of a rustic $1.4 million Los Angeles retreat just off legendary Mulholland Drive.

It’s doubtful you’ll encounter the partially obscured face of Wilson just across the fence from this property, but we think the Taylor family would still feel at home in this serene ranch-style retreat in the Hollywood hills. The 2,604 square foot home includes 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and custom Vermont pine floors with wood finishes throughout. The open floor plan, which connects the living room, dining room and den, features French doors and a wall of windows that open onto stunning views of the canyon.

The chef’s kitchen features an expansive stone island that seats ten and the requisite Viking range. Additional amenities include a stone fireplace in the living room, a built-in, high-definition television and sound systems throughout the house.

Once outside, it’s hard to imagine Al uttering the words, “I don’t think so, Tim,” as you gaze at the canyon from the full-length deck in the yard that features a fire pit, water feature and luxurious outdoor shower. Sorry Al, I’m siding with Tim on this one.