Los Angeles Luxury Homes for Sale | Beverly Hills Estates | Valerie Fitzgerald

Celeb Sightings: Hotels.com Divulges Top Hotels to Spot the Rich and Famous

Lisa M Loeffler — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:53:39 +0000

Starting this week, celebrities, producers and financiers are touching down and docking in the French Riviera for the world-famous, star-studded Cannes Film Festival.

Don’t have the bank account to jet to Cannes and spot all your favorite celebs? Don’t worry: there are plenty of properties and destinations to have your celeb sighting. Hotels.com® has assembled the top city hotspots and secluded retreats for travelers to marvel at the lifestyle of Hollywood idols while being pampered like they are celebrities themselves. The best part is that Welcome Rewards™ members may use their credits to redeem a free or discounted night at one of these posh properties.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120517/DA08673)

“If you want to live the life of luxury, you can enjoy a five-star hotel stay just like a celebrity – maybe even rubbing elbows with one in the process!” says Taylor L. Cole, director public relations and social media, North America at Hotels.com. “Guests can use their Welcome Rewards credits to book an affordable night at a five-star hotel or a traveler’s Welcome Rewards credits can be applied toward a more expensive room as an upgrade to a more luxurious stay for a fraction of the cost.”

Whether looking for the “city” or “country” experience, Hotels.com has a recommendation for all travelers:

City Celeb Spotting

Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles –This historic Sunset Boulevard hotel is a Mecca for the rich, famous, and fabulous. Built in 1927, generations of artists, novelists and screenwriters have produced work within the hotel’s walls including: Hunter S. Thompson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tim Burton and Sofia Coppola. More recently, Emma Roberts, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, and Kirsten Dunst have been spotted lounging on the overstuffed couches and sipping cocktails at Bar Marmont.
Metropolitan Hotel, London – Contemporary, chic, and with stunning views of Hyde Park and the London skyline, the Metropolitan Hotel has hosted A-listers such as Madonna, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Tom Hanks and Cameron Diaz. Enjoy dinner at the Japanese-Peruvian, Michelin-starred restaurant, Nobu, then retreat for post-dinner cocktails at the exclusive Met Bar, which is open to hotel guests and members only.
Soho Grand Hotel, New York City –Celebrities are commonplace at this luxury hotel located in one of Manhattan’s most iconic neighborhoods. Lindsay Lohan, Heidi Klum, Kevin Spacey and even local Manhattanite Sarah Jessica Parker have been spotted at this trendy hotspot. Guests enjoy complimentary iPad and MacBook Pro access, top-notch service at Prive Salon, and can even adopt a pet goldfish during a stay.

Relaxing Retreats

Geejam, Jamaica – Nestled in the lush and laid back surroundings of Port Antonio, Jamaica, the trendy, uber luxury Geejam Hotel draws a mix of celebrities from actresses like Sharon Stone and Grace Jones to world-famous recording artists like Gwen Stefani and Bjork. Guests can enjoy state-of-the-art technology, Apple TV, and a private beach. Upon arrival, guests are provided a cell phone to use throughout their stay, connecting them with all hotel services, other guests and the outside world.
Bacara Resort & Spa, Santa Barbara – Perched on the beach just north of Santa Barbara, this Spanish-influenced luxury resort features direct beach access and world-class golf. Fergie, Josh Duhamel and Jennie Garth are a few of the Hollywood stars to have relaxed at this oceanfront property. The resort has an array of leisure and recreational activities to please guests including four lighted tennis courts, three zero-edge swimming pools, four restaurants including the four-star Miro restaurant, the Spa at Bacara and much more.
The Little Nell, Aspen – The Little Nell, one of the legendary star-studded hotels in this mountain town, is internationally renowned as a glamorous playground for the famous and wealthy. This resort has hosted Hollywood idols such as: Jack Nicholson, Mariah Carey and Kate Hudson. The intimate hotel offers indulgences such as an Audi Test Drive Program, heli-skiing, ski concierge services, and other unique services. Relax at Executive Chef Robert McMormick’s Forbes Four Star Award-winning restaurant, Montagna, while enjoying a bottle of wine from the property’s 20,000 bottle wine cellar.

Westside Los Angeles Homes for Sale | New Listings & Sales | May 4 to 11

Lisa M Loeffler — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:07:01 +0000

This weekly post encompasses all new residential listings and sales in all price ranges, single family only, in these areas:

Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Post Office, Sunset Strip, Bel Air, Westwood, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, Sheviot / Rancho Park, Beverlywood, West Hollywood, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Mid Los Angeles, Mid Wilshire Corridor, Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Los Feliz Hollywood Hills, East Malibu, Malibu Beach.

Real Estate Tool PDF Download: Print out this week’s market updates

Westside LA New Listings

Westside LA New Sales

6451 WEIDLAKE DR, Los Angeles

Valerie Fitzgerald specializes in luxury residential real estate in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Malibu. Valerie has more than 20 years experience and is known for her solid reputation in the Westside Los Angeles real estate community. She’s starring in HGTV’s new show Selling LA and is also the author of the book published by Simon and Schuster Heart and Sold: How to Survive and Thrive in Real Estate.

Beverly Hills Hotel: Timeline for a century of history at swanky hotspot for the stars

Lisa M Loeffler — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:43:37 +0000

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Timeline for 100-year history of Beverly Hills Hotel:

1912: Hollywood Hotel former manager Margaret Anderson builds the Beverly Hills Hotel for $500,000 with architect Elmer Grey.

1914: Beverly Hills becomes an incorporated city.

1915: The first five of the hotel’s private bungalows are built.

1919: Douglas Fairbanks buys a lodge and expands it into “Pickfair” house with his love Mary Pickford, above the hotel.

1928: Interstate Company of New York buys the hotel from Margaret Anderson.

1933: With the economy devastated by the Great Depression, the hotel closes in April.

1934: Bank of America reopens the hotel under trusteeship in February.

1939: William “Hernando” Courtright, Bank of America’s then vice-president, is chosen to oversee the hotel’s liquidation, and becomes the hotel’s longtime manager.

1942: Courtright buys the hotel with friends Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, Harry Warner and Joe Schnitzer, and renames the El Jardin restaurant as the Polo Lounge in honour of polo players.

1942: Billionaire Howard Hughes moves into the bungalows, staying there on and off for 30 years.

1948: The hotel is painted pink, dubbed the “Pink Palace,” as part of a redesign during the 1940s by African-American architect Paul Williams that includes the Crescent Wing and Fountain Coffee Room.

1954: Detroit real estate magnate Ben L. Silberstein buys the hotel.

1957: Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall’s film “Designing Woman” is shot at hotel’s pool, Cabana Club.

1959: Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand stay in bungalows 20, 21 while filming “Let’s Make Love.”

1978: Neil Simon’s “California Suite,” starring Maggie Smith and Bill Cosby, uses the hotel as a set.

1979: Silberstein’s daughters Muriel Slatkin and Seema Boesky inherit the hotel after their father dies.

1985: Seema Boesky and her husband Ivan Boesky gain control of the hotel. Ivan Boesky is indicted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for insider trading a year later.

1986: Denver oil executive Marvin Davis purchases the hotel.

1987: The hotel is bought by the Brunei Investment Agency. (The agency’s luxury hotel properties now belong to the Dorchester Collection.)

1992: The hotel closes in December for a $100 million restoration.

1995: The hotel reopens that June.

2012: The Beverly Hills Hotel celebrates its centennial.

___

SOURCE: “The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows — The First 100 Years” by Robert S. Anderson.

Associated Estates Acquires Historic Wilshire Boulevard Property

Lisa M Loeffler — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:22:59 +0000

Associated Estates Realty Corporation (NYSE, NASDAQ: AEC) today announced that it will expand to Southern California by building apartments on Wilshire Boulevard in the highly desirable Miracle Mile submarket of Los Angeles.

Associated Estates purchased the historic Desmond’s Tower at 5500 Wilshire Blvd. and the adjacent parking lot. The acquired property comprises 2.21 acres with the parking lot area being entitled for apartments. Associated Estates plans to build up to 175 apartments and structured parking. Desmond’s Tower is a 78,800 square foot office and retail building that has several tenants, including the internationally acclaimed Ace Gallery.

The apartments will be known as The Desmond on Wilshire and construction is expected to begin spring of 2013. Merit Enterprises, Inc. (“Merit”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated Estates, will act as construction manager.

“The Desmond is an exceptional opportunity and a terrific way to develop our first Southern California apartment property in a highly sought after location on Wilshire Blvd.,” said Jason Friedman, Vice President of Construction and Development. “We are excited about expanding into this market,” Friedman added.

The Desmond on Wilshire will be located in one of Los Angeles’ most coveted and historic neighborhoods with close proximity to many large employers and to the city’s most exclusive and vibrant residential communities including Beverly Hills, Hancock Park and West Hollywood. Miracle Mile offers excellent walkability to upscale retail, dining, museums and mass transit, as well as easy accessibility to major interstates including the 10, 405, 101, and 110 Freeways. Desmond’s Tower was not listed for sale.

Associated Estates is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and is a member of the Russell 2000 and the MSCI US REIT Indices. The Company is headquartered in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Associated Estates’ portfolio consists of 52 properties containing 13,388 units located in eight states. For more information about the Company, please visit its website at AssociatedEstates.com.

LA rents soar as foreclosure victims and young workers seek housing

Lisa M Loeffler — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:46 +0000

Few new units and tight standards for home loans add to the pressure. The average monthly U.S. rent is at an all-time high, and a 10% jump in Los Angeles County over the next two years is forecast.

Robert Corlette pays about $1,700 a month for a two-bedroom town house in… (Glenn Koenig, Los Angeles…)

A nation still struggling to clear up one housing debacle has run smack into another — soaring rents.

The foreclosure mess has pushed millions of former homeowners with tarnished credit into a competitive apartment market across the U.S. Add fresh demand from young workers, few new units and tight standards for home loans, and the result is rental sticker shock not seen in years.

Rest of the story at LA Times.

Westside Los Angeles Homes for Sale | New Listings & Sales | April 27 to May 4

Lisa M Loeffler — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:27:29 +0000

This weekly post encompasses all new residential listings and sales in all price ranges, single family only, in these areas:

Real Estate Tool PDF Download: Print out this week’s market updates

Westside LA New Listings

Westside LA New Sales

6451 WEIDLAKE DR, Los Angeles

Westside Los Angeles New Residential Listings | April 20 to 27

Lisa M Loeffler — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:08:32 +0000

This weekly post encompasses ALL new residential listings in all price ranges, single family only, in these areas:

Westside LA New Listings

6451 WEIDLAKE DR, Los Angeles

The Valerie Fitzgerald Group and The International MLS [IMLS] Establish Joint Marketing Venture

Lisa M Loeffler — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:49:38 +0000

The International MLS [IMLS] and Internationally Known Los Angeles HGTV Personality Create Unique Marketing Alliance

The International MLS [IMLS] has announced it has reached an exclusive licensing and marketing agreement with Valerie Fitzgerald, CEO of The Valerie Fitzgerald Group in Beverly Hills, CA.

As a Preferred Partner, The Valerie Fitzgerald Group will have the ability to provide instant worldwide coverage for her client’s property listings on The IMLS platform including all of The IMLS’ searches distributed globally, on the company’s two websites,TheInternationalMLS.com and TheInternationalRealty.com, as well as being syndicated to the most popular international real estate portals.

The International MLS [IMLS] is the first Free-to-List Commission Share International MLS that delivers a no-cost proprietary IMLS search around the world. Recently, The IMLS signed a three-year agreement with Move Inc. to provide its international listings from agencies outside the United States onto the Realtor.com platform.

“Listing our client’s properties on The International MLS, in addition to the local MLS, will give our clients’ homes increased global exposure, as well as an opportunity to maximize the sales price of their homes,” says Fitzgerald. “There is a very strong foreigner buyer interest in the Los Angeles area and The IMLS will bring residential sellers additional exposure in the global real estate market.”

“Valerie Fitzgerald is one of the top producing brokers in the US and consumers will be well taken care of because of her reputation, integrity and strength in the real estate market,” says The International Realty, Inc. CEO, Dr. Daniel Nussbaum. “Our Preferred Providers are carefully selected from the best in their marketplace. The IMLS partnership will give Fitzgerald a strategic advantage when securing new residential listings, as today’s savvy home sellers want increased global exposure for their properties.

“Demand from people from neighboring states, as well as from International buyers, may help drive customers to The Valerie Fitzgerald Group properties and we welcome them to service clients from all over the world. Fitzgerald will play a major role in our Los Angeles and Orange County efforts, and this is testimony to how she always looks for new marketing opportunities that bring great value and service to her clients,” says Nussbaum.

The Valerie Fitzgerald Group, along with all larger USA brokers can now send an automated electronic feed of their company’s listings to The IMLS that will be promoted on a worldwide scale on The IMLS search, as well as on other popular international real estate sites.

The IMLS is the only company that provides the ability for properties to be listed on hundreds of thousands of websites, empowering all agents and brokers around the world to share in commissions. Additionally, The IMLS provides the opportunity for smaller brokers to have their listings included on MLS/IDX providers and syndicators, as well as agents and brokers who can list their properties manually.

In addition, agents and brokers worldwide are adopting The IMLS search not only because it is FREE, but by several reasons including that it enhances the agent’s prestige and ability to showcase international properties on their own website to begin with. Agents and brokers can earn referral commissions simply for having a website customer who registers through their search and ends up purchasing a property somewhere in the world outside of their normal market.

About The International MLS [IMLS]

The International MLS is part of The International Realty, Inc. a privately held real estate company based in Los Angeles, California, USA that has around 150,000 property listings in 55 countries and more than 300 new home developments in 25 countries making it one of the more complete databases of property listings in the world. Property listings are imported via electronic XML data feeds from TOP selected global agencies, and from USA agents who may post their listings manually. The IMLS empowers all agents and brokers to display international property listings knowing that commissions can be made on any sale which is generated by their IMLS search through referral agreements signed between The International Realty Inc. and agencies around the world. Information on The International Realty, Inc. and all its services are available atTheInternationalMLS.com and TheInternationalRealty.com.

The Valerie Fitzgerald Group

With more than $1 billion in career sales, The Valerie Fitzgerald Group is a Beverly Hills and Los Angeles real estate company specializing in Beverly Hills homes for sale, Southern California unique properties and Westside Los Angeles neighborhoods. With more than 20 years as a Previews Director for Coldwell Banker Previews International, Fitzgerald has sold more than one billion dollars of California luxury real estate properties in areas such as Brentwood, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Westwood, Miracle Mile and the Wilshire Corridor, Sunset Strip, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Venice, Malibu and more. Fitzgerald currently stars on HGTV’s “Selling LA” with her team and is also the author of the part biography-part real estate strategy book Heart and Sold: How to Survive and Thrive in Real Estate published by Simon and Schuster. For more information visithttp://www.valeriefitzgerald.com.

Westside LA New Residential Listings | Apr 13 to Apr 20

Lisa M Loeffler — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:57:54 +0000

This weekly post encompasses ALL new residential listings in all price ranges, single family only, in these areas:

Westside LA New Listings Apr13 to Apr20

You could be –> HERE <– this summer! 21330 PACIFIC COAST HWY, Malibu

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate Listings | Mar 23 to 30

Lisa M Loeffler — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:49:07 +0000

This weekly post encompasses ALL new residential listings in all price ranges, single family only, in these areas:

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate Listings | March 23 to 30

You could be –> HERE <– this summer! 21330 PACIFIC COAST HWY, Malibu