Luxe Living

Katy Perry is selling her “California Girl” estate for $6,925,000. Purchased by the songstress on June 24, 2011 for $6,500,000, Perry intended to make the 3-acre estate compound near the famed Chateau Marmont her and then-husband Russell Brand‘s marital love nest. Amid rumors of an impending divorce and before the moving vans could even get in the front gates, the duo split for good – and the home remained vacant. Perry was reportedly secretly hoping to find a buyer for her unlucky love nest without having to officially list the home for sale. Perhaps she was asking too much money or people just didn’t want the bad juju associated with the home, but Perry couldn’t find her buyer.

Now, the home, dubbed “Park Hill,” is officially for sale, as first reported by The Real Estalker. Built in 1921, the estate is comprised of a significant Mediterranean residence with two-story grand entry that continues into two-story living room overlooking all of Los Angeles and the city’s dramatic skyline.

Additionally, the property has a separate two-story guest house that was formerly a caretaker’s apartment on the lower level and a Carriage House on the second level for auto storage. In 2004, another guest house was built and could be used as a private residence, as it comes complete with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

The lushly landscaped backyard has a lagoon-style pool with waterfall and small bridges. Adding to the allure of this property, the home neighbors Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed Storer House.

One of the very talented and well-known American Idol success stories, David Cook, has officially packed up his guitar and platinum albums and walked away from his short-lived Hollywood Beachwood Canyon home. The tri-level, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath sold yesterday for $1,365,000 – a sum almost identical to his March 2010 purchase price of $1,318,000.

The Season 7 winner has slowly worked his way through Hollywood‘s music scene, yet has made steadfast moves through it’s real estate game. After a brief two-year stint in the Hollywood nest, Cook put the property up for sale in March of this year and was able to sell just seven months later at almost the exact purchase price.

Despite such a speedy selling process, if you take a tour of the property, it practically sells itself. Offering stunning, close-up views of the world-famous Hollywood sign, a home in this price range with these features stands out significantly among competing Los Angeles listings.

The home features an open layout, gorgeous hardwood flooring and a custom remodeled interior. Fully equipped with wiring for a Smart Home system, this property has the potential of being navigated from anywhere in the world, just by using your smart phone. Various windows, skylights and two-level exterior decks offer plenty of natural light throughout with stunning views of the Hollywood hills and world-famous Hollywood sign. A selling point for any Hollywood recording artists, the home features a professionally designed recording studio, which also has potential to be converted to a home theater.

Street level features include a cozy living room, a dining area, master suite with fireplace and large kitchen with Center Island, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The lower level includes two extra bedrooms, full bath, studio, and custom laundry area.

David Zucker, famous in Hollywood for writing, directing, and producing iconic titles like “Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun,” and “Scary Movie,” is selling his sleek, stunning Venice canal home for $3,199,000. Zucker purchased the centrally-located home in April 2007 for $2,850,000.

Situated on the historic Venice Canals on a private corner lot, Zucker’s home is just blocks from the beach and the “coolest street in America,” Abbot Kinney Blvd.  The home is an exceptional light-filled, three-level Cape Cod-style beach house, built in 2002. Well appointed, with beautiful contemporary details, the house has an ideal floor plan, with 1 bedroom/bathroom on the main level and the master bedroom suite, plus two additional bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom has a sitting area and fireplace, and the second level’s two spare guestrooms are connected by a balcony. On the third level is an enormous family room with large wet bar, full bathroom, and two more large decks–one perfect for outdoor dining and the other great for enjoying the sun with a hot tub, outdoor fireplace, and views of the Venice canals. There’s even a perfect outdoor dining and entertaining area off the living/family room that opens up to the canal walk.

The kitchen has stainless appliances with an open bar and eating area and a fireplace in the living room. The home’s floors are primarily reclaimed wood from a Virginia barn and bluestone slate.

David Kelmenson of Partners Trust Real Estate is the listing agent.

Hollywood’s very own Renaissance Man, Ryan Seacrest, has just sold his former Los Angeles home for $11M clams. According to TMZ and public records, that’s about $500K less than he paid when he bought the home from Kevin Costner back in 2006 and way, way, WAY less than the $37M+ he paid for Ellen Degeneres and Portia di Rossi’s Beverly Hills compound.

For “the hardest working man in Hollywood,” times have really changed since he first bought this here home in 2006. In the past 6 years, Ryan’s star has risen in showbiz, as have his numerous paychecks from gigs like E! News, American Idol, his role as an executive producer for the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” franchise, his radio show and much, much more. That much pure Hollywood gold has translated into some real real estate dreams coming true for Seacrest.

While his former pad was posh by anyone’s standards, Seacrest needed to flex some of that Hollywood muscle and make a statement that he had arrived. There is no better way to do that in tinsletown than buying a massive, majorly expensive piece of property. We know his new place is spectacular, but what do we know about his dearly departed home?

Let’s dig in to the details: The Hollywood estate was affectionately dubbed ‘Casa di Pace’ (House of Peace). The 8,000 square foot bachelor pad of peace features 6 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a guest house, tennis court, swimming pool and a massive, 4,500 bottle wine cellar. Originally built in 1974, the home sits behind gates on nearly almost an acre of prime Hollywood hilltop with canyon and city view.

The home was once “Idol-ized” by Americans when it graced the pages of Architectural Digest in January 2008.

Super agent to the stars, Kurt Rappaport, represented Seacrest in the sale.

Robert Cort, the mega-successful Hollywood producer behind films like Runaway Bride, Jumanji, Mr. Holland’s Opus, 3 Men and A Baby and many, many more, has just purchased another spectacular property in Beverly Hills after selling his former home to Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi last month for $17,400,000. Ellen and Portia needed a new place to call home after selling their spectacular compound to the busiest man in Hollywood, Ryan Seacrest.

Degeneres and de Rossi closed on their new home on Hillcrest Road in Beverly Hills on May 18, 2012, and Cort quickly decamped to a stunning new home just up the road in the 90120. Located on North Linden Drive, Cort’s new Southern California palace has 7 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms and is a spacious 10,124 square feet. According to public records, he paid $10,450,483 and closed on the deal on June 5, 2012.

His new estate is a beautifully-maintained, custom built home, designed by Peter Choate.  The large home is sited on a 19,000+ square foot with spectacular grounds. The main residence features a master suite with a fireplace and a huge balcony overlooking lush landscaping, offering complete privacy. All-in-all there are 7 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms and a gym, including maids quarters and an extremely large family room equipped with wet bar and an oversized fireplace. The estate also features a beautiful paneled library and a basement, perfect for a movie screening or game room. The gated groups also include 2 two-car garages, a circular drive and a gated motor court.

Richard Minchenberg of the Westside Estate Agency was the listing agent.

Christina Ricci is renting out her chic pied-a-terre in the Hollywood Hills for $8,000 a month. The darling cottage is offered fully furnished and has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and clocks in at 1,891 square feet. While tiny by Hollywood standards, Ricci’s cottage features a wonderful open floor plan with living room, dining room  and family room that opens to an entertaining patio, pool and terraced gardens. The master suite features a dressing room/library or office attached and the second bedroom has an en-suite bath. The eat-in kitchen is darling and features top-of-the-line appliances.

Ricci purchased the property on December 8, 2005 for $1,505,000.

The Agency represents the listing.

Back in October 2010, Katy Perry and Russell Brand were Hollywood’s newest eccentric “it” couple – newly married, crazy in love, and the most unstoppable entertaining duo. However, this too-good-to-be-true teenage dream was short lived. Sadly, and to (some of) our surprise, just 14 short months after saying “I Do” the couple parted ways when Brand filed for divorce on December 30, 2011 citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Since then, there has been an overload of rumors swarming the couple’s every move. The latest and greatest drama is surrounding which one of the two will be being forced to leave their $6.5 million dollar Hollywood mansion.

Is it Katy or is it Russell? Various reports have been claiming it could be either of the two. Although we’re not positive as to WHO is packing up and leaving, we do know a little bit about WHERE they’re headed: a leased or rented LA condo for $16,000 a month.

According to the real estate experts at Celebrity Address Aerials, this new soon-to-be bachelor or bachelorette pad is a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath perched on the Hollywood Hills just a mere 3 miles from the couple’s previously shared $6.5 million dollar mansion. Located at the end of a private cul-de-sac, the 4,017 square foot home features hardwood and terrazzo flooring throughout, a very sleek and modern kitchen and beautifully lit living spaces with recessed lighting in every room. It’s very modern architecture includes glass walls and splashes of stone décor. The exterior includes a pool, spa, and a beautiful wooden terrace allowing for amazing views of the city.

Additional images provided by MLS.com.

UPDATE: TMZ and the Daily Mail are reporting that Russell has moved out of the couple’s home and into the new bachelor pad.

Last week was pretty eventful for actor, writer, producer, and famous “friend” Matthew Perry. Not only did he celebrate his 42nd birthday, he also simultaneously purchased and listed two amazing L.A. properties.

Matthew swapped his 1,672 square foot West Hollywood condo for a massive 3,101 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 4 bath Hollywood Hills mansion overlooking all of L.A. Forget dwelling over the cancellation his ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine, Matthew will be way too busy enjoying his new ultra-sheek, ultra-contemporary blue paradise – a scene straight out of James Cameron’s “Avatar”! [Full listing images and details]

But in LA, the business of celebrity home swapping never stops so let the bidding begin. Aside from relaxing poolside in his new digs, Matthew will also be monitoring his newest addition to the L.A. real estate market. His newly listed West Hollywood luxury condo, located in the Sunset Strip’s famous Sierra Towers, is up for grabs for $2,995,000. This particular condo has Tinseltown written all over it and houses only the rich and famous –  Matthew actually purchased the home from Elton John in 2005.

The south east corner unit features 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and has views spanning from Beverly Hills to the far west Pacific Ocean. It includes sophisticated design elements, including recessed lighting throughout, a polished designer kitchen, top quality wooden floors, and a spacious balcony accessible from the living room. With high glass walls throughout, you can check out the beautiful California sunsets from essentially anywhere in the home.

L.A.’s Sierra Towers include a concierge, valet parking, weight and cardo room, spa, party room and more. It has been home to various L.A. celebs such as Joan Collins, Cher, Lindsay Lohan, Fred Durst, Brody Jenner and Jim Morris, just to name a few.