Silver Lake Area Real Estate News And Information: California

The Mews Houses- Los Angeles small lot subdivision in Atwater Village

The Mews Houses- small lot subdivision in Atwater Village

There's another small lot subdivision in Los Angeles- this time in Atwater Village.

The Mews Los Angeles small lot subdivision in Atwater Village The Mews small lot subdivision is an eco-friendly community consisting of 23 brand new, fee-simple single family homes located in Atwater Village in the 4200 block of Perlita. The Mews Houses range in size from 1500 to 1600sf and have solar power and 2-car garages.  Their open floor plans in include high ceilings and walls of glass and open to private courtyards. The modern style homes were designed by award-winning architects Corsini and Stark.

Do I like these new Mews Houses in Atwater? Yes- I think they are really nice, look great and have really nice layouts. My problem is that the location of these homes does not command the prices they are asking. Currently there are only 2 units listed in the MLS (though many others are available). These two are both 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath. One is listed for $650,000 and the other is $675,000. Once again a developer is putting Silver Lake prices on homes outside of Silver Lake.  Would you buy a house in a small lot subdivision on Perlita in Atwater Village if you could buy a home for the same price in Silver Lake? I certainly wouldn't.

If the prices come down to something more in line with the location, the Mews Houses in Atwater should have no problem selling. Right now I just don't see that happening.

To see any of the Mews Houses in Atwater Village or for more information on buying or selling property in Silver Lake, Echo Park,Los Feliz,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * The Mews Houses- Los Angeles small lot subdivision in Atwater Village

Short Sales In Los Angeles, CA - The short sale process

Short Sales In Los Angeles, CA - The short sale process

I've been exploring the Los Angeles Short Sale process, specifically short sales in the Silver Lake area. By now you know what a short sale is, what might qualify as a short sale hardship, and what goes into a short sale package.  Now you are ready to list your house

This information is pertinant to both short sale seller and buyers interested in an LA short sale.  Both parties need to know what is involved in making an offer that will be acceptible to the bank and what the short sale process entails. 

The seller has already completed the short sale package and their agent has can now show it as an active listin on the MLS and multile websites concerned with real estate such as Realtor.com, Trulia and Zillow. There are many more sites that list real estate for sale and if the listing agent does their job correctly, the new listing will be syndicated to many of them.

Los Angeles Short Sale listing The listing will indicate that the property in question is a Los Angeles short sale. This will alert buyers to the fact that the sale may take several months to close and that some items which are customarily paid for by the seller in a "normal" transaction may become the responsibility of the buyer. (This holds true for bank -owned/ REO properties as well but that is for another post!)  

The first thing to remember about a short sale is that the seller still owns the property, NOT the bank.  The seller has a mortgage or multiple mortgages on the property and will need the approval of the lender(s) before a short sale can be consumated but the seller is still the person to whom the offer is being presented. The seller may accept any offer, but there must be 3rd-party approval from the lender before the sale can close. In most cases, the property is being sold in as-is condition. The lender will absorb the seller's closing costs but may not be inclined to pay for termite, government required retrofit or any repairs.  

Any short sale buyer will want to have a strong, clean offer that will be acceptible to the lender.  Many times a seller is willing to accept an offer that is much lower than what the bank is willing to accept.  It's best for the buyer to consult with his agent and look at recent comparable sales.  Forget anything you heard about banks being willing to accept pennies on the dollar to "get rid of"  properties.  A Los Angeles short sale will generally not sell for much less than 70% of what is owed by the seller, depending on condition and how it compares to recent sold properties. Using this information, a strong short sale offer can be prepared that has a good chance of being accepted by the lender

The offer should be prepared by your Realtor on a California Association of Realtor residential purchase offer form which will include a short sale addendum.  The short sale addendum can serve to protect the time frams of your contingencies but not allowing the clock to start until written acceptance from the lender has been received.

If you are obtaining financing and not paying all cash for the purchase, you will need a preapproval letter from your loan officer. This will require that you have submitted all of the necessary documentation to procure a loan and that a bank has approved you for the purchase price you are offering. Documentation normally includes W-2's, bank statements and tax returns. You may also need recent paystubs.

Normally, a 3% earnest money deposit is required. Make sure that your funds are available to be placed into escrow within 3 days of written acceptance by the bank of your short sale offer. Normally this may be paid to escrow with a personal check but it is not unusual for a bank to request funds in the form of a cashier's check or wire transfer.

Along with your offer and loan approval, your real estate agent will need a copy of your bank statements showing that you have the funds require for down payment and closing costs. Your agent will provide your offer and back up documentation to the listing agent who will in turn present it to the seller.  If it is acceptable, the seller will sign as accepted. If not, there may be counter offers back and forth until the buyer and seller have agreed on price and all terms.  At that point, the listing agent will send the lender the short sale package and offer and the waiting begins.

The next steps are between the listing agent and the lender(s). Los Angeles Short Sale listing

Normally the first thing is for the bank to assign a negotiator to the property.  The negotiator will hire an independent agent to prepare a BPO (broker price opinion) on which the bank will base the reasonableness of offers received.  This can be a problem if the BPO agent is not fairly familiar with the neigbhorhood and comparable properties and does not turn in an accurate value range for the property.

The lender may hire an appraiser to determine fair market value of the short sale property as well.  From here there are negotiations between the listing agent and the lender's negotiator.  The bank may accept or reject the offer but what normally happens is they will provide the listing agent with a list of what they will pay for and what the final payoff to the bank must be if the short sale is to be approved. Many times the buyer will be asked to assume additional costs and/or raise their offer price.  Negotations continue with the buyer and the bank (via the listing agent) until, hopefully,an agreement is reach and the house can be sold as a short sale. This allows the seller to walk away without a foreclosure on his credit record and a patient buyer a good deal on the house of his choice. It's a win-win situation for everyone!

If you are in a tight position and are not sure if you qualify for a short sale in Silver Lake or surrounding areas , please contact me directly at 213-215-4758 and I will go over the specifics of your situation with you and make recommendations on your best course of action.

For more information on shorts sales in Los Angeles County and buying or selling property in Silver Lake, Echo ParkLos Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
info@LApropertySolutions.com
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Short Sales In Los Angeles, CA - The short sale process

Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - What is a short sale package?

Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - What is a short sale package?

If you are new to short sales and seek more information, you can read a prior post here to understand what a short sale is. If you already know what a short sale is and wonder if you qualify, read this point about hardships and qualifying for a short sale. Once you have determined that a short sale is the right thing for you, you can start gathering together the information necessary for your agent and your lender.

Short sale helpYou should have already contacted your lender about the possibility of a mortgage modification. If that is not a possibility for you, then ask your lender for a short sale package.  They will send you some paperwork to fill out along with a list of documents you need to provide. You can do this step on your own, or have your real estate agent request a package for you. In any case, you can begin gathering the information now with this basic outline of what is normally required. This step should be taken care of before you even list your property for sale so that your real estate agent will be able to submit an offer as soon as one is received. The short sale package must be complete and accompany any offer being sent to the lender for consideration.

The most important thing to fill out first is the Authorization to Release Information. This document will give your real estate agent the authority to speak with your lender on your behalf. If you have more than one loan, you will need to fill out an authorization for each loan. Your real estate agent will be able to provide you with the Authorization form if one was not provided with the package or you would prefer that yoru agent obtain the short sale package for you.

The next step is to write a letter to your bank, but don't mail it. This is the hardship letter that you will use to explain what has happened in your life since you bought the property that is making it impossible for you to continue to make the payments. If you have any paperwork to back up your hardship claims such as medical bills or divorce decree make sure you make copies to include in your package. For hints on what are acceptable hardships, read my post Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - Am I qualified to short sale my Silver Lake home? This is relevant to selling a home anywhere in California. 

Your bank's short sale package will include a Seller's statement of financial information.  Fill this out as completely and accurately as possible. You will need to provide information on your bank accounts, savings/retirement, income, assets, expenses etc.

Other items you will need to supply copies of include:documents required in a short sale package

•    Your W2's for the last two years

•    The last two months' pay stubs

•    The last two months bank statements

•    The last two years tax returns

Make copies of these documents and provide them all to your Realtor.  Each document should have your name and loan number written neatly at the top. Other items will be added to the short sale package by your real estate agent such as repair estimates, comparable property listings, the listing contract, a page showing the property is listed in the MLS, payoff amounts (if there are multiple lenders) and an estimate of closing costs to be paid for by the bank.  Other items may also be included such as termite and physical inspection reports depending on what you and your Realtor have decided to do prior to submitting offers to the bank. Your agent will check the short sale package to make sure there is nothing missing prior to submitting it to the bank.

If you are in a tight position and are not sure if you qualify for a short sale in Silver Lake or surrounding areas , please contact me directly at 213-215-4758 and I will go over the specifics of your situation with you and make recommendations on your best course of action.

For more information on shorts sales in Los Angeles County and buying or selling property in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - What is a short sale package? 

Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - Am I qualified to short sale my Silver Lake home?

  

Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - Am I qualified to short sale my Silver Lake home?

If you are not clear on exactly what a short sale is, please read my post about what buyers and Sellers should know about Los Angeles short sales.

man under debtYou may own a house in Silver Lake and you now owe your lender more than the house is work, but that doesn't mean you automatically qualify for a short sale. Most people who bought property in Silver Lake and the surrounding areas during the height of the market are in that position.  We can't all just decide we don't want to keep making our payments and expect our lender to take a huge loss.

Lenders have certain standards to determine whether they will approve a short sale or not. The main issue is that you must have some sort of hardship, meaning, there must be a verifiable reason that you can no longer keep your home. If you can qualify for a mortgage modification that would be the thing to do rather than short sell.

If you cannot qualify for a mortgage modification, your lender will want to make sure you pass The Hardship Test.  Do any of these apply to you?

 

Since you bought the house:

  •  Must you relocate to another city or state for work and you need to sell your house in order to move?

 

  •  Has the interest rate on your home gone up so high that you could no longer qualify for the loan and you are no longer able to make ends meet?

 

  • Have you lost your job?

 

  • Has something happened to you that is keeping you from being able to work, like a major accident or illness?

 

  • Have you incurred large medical bills that are making it impossible for you to pay your mortgage? 

  • Have you lost your spouse due to death, divorce or separation?

Each lender will look at every situation individually but any of the above could be reason enough for them to cooperate with you in the short sale of your home.  However, there are things that are definitely NOT considered hardships which could prevent you from successfully short selling your home.

  •  You took all of the equity out of your house to spend on something else

 

  •  You bought your house when prices were high and now it's not worth as much and you are upside down in your mortgage

 

  • You were not honest on your loan application when you bought the property. It was so easy to get a no-doc loan that many people lied about their income and assets and bought homes they could not truly afford. If this was you, your odds of a successful short are limited.

 

  • You have money in the bank, stocks and bonds and/or equity in other properties. - You may still be able to get a short sale but chances are that the bank will expect you to shoulder some of the loss and bring money to the closing table.

If you are in a tight position and are not sure if you qualify for a short sale in Silver Lake or surrounding areas , please contact me directly at 213-215-4758 and I will go over the specifics of your situation with you and make recommendations on your best course of action.

For more information on shorts sales in Los Angeles County and buying or selling property in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Short Sales In Los Angeles, California - Am I qualified to short sale my Silver Lake home?

Hollywood Hills Short Sale!

Hollywood Hills Short Sale!

If you thought that the only distressed properties in Los Angeles were in less desirable neighborhoods, this Hollywood Hills Short Sale should be a pleasant surprise.

Check out this private & secluded 3 bedroom and 2.5 bath Hollywoodland Mediterranean. 6218 Rockcliff boast  serene city and canyon views. Built c. 1934 by architect Raymond "R.J." Kieffer the home was later restored by ASIDdesigner. This captivating home features a Formal Living room with high pitched beamed ceilings, wood-burning fireplace, wood floors and tall French doors that open to a Juliette balcony.Hollywood Hills Short Sale

The formal dining room leads to a restored "Provence" Kitchen with concrete counters, vintage white octagonal tile and stainless steel appliances. The intimate Master bedroom with walk-in closet boasts custom cabinetry and built ins. There are also colorful, vintage tile bathrooms.

The house is 1,789 Sf and the private, wooded lot measures over 10,000sf.  Previously sold for $1,168,000 in January of 2006, this lovely home is now an approved short sale for just $880,000.  If you've been looking for a "deal" in the Hollywood Hills, now is your chance! You can also check out this other great short sale in Beachwood Canyon.Hollywood Hills Short Sale

To see this property or for more information on shorts sales in Los Angeles County and buying or selling property in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Hollywood Hills Short Sale! 

Beachwood Canyon short sale!

Beachwood Canyon Short Sale!

Perhaps you thought you would only see short sale listings in places like Echo Park and Highland Park.  As you can see from this Beachwood Canyon Short Sale listing, that is simply not the case.  People got in over there heads through Los Angeles County.  This seller's loss could be your gain!

This striking, contemporary home is located prime Hollywood Hills. A Beachwood Canyon short sale with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2200+ sq feet of living space is certainly worth a look.  The open floor plan features high voluminous ceilings, designer finishes, hardwood and slate flooring and windows that capture canyon views.

Beachwood Canyon Short Sale 

Located at 2866 WESTSHIRE DR, this Beachwood Canyon short sale was sold in 2005 for $1,210,000. The house is currently listed for $1,050,0000 and a search of title records shows the seller refinanced and owed much more than the original purchase price.

Beachwood Canyon Short Sale

For more information on shorts sales in Los Angeles County and buying or selling property in Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Beachwood Canyon Short Sale! 

Eagle Rock Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration

Eagle Rock Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration

So you live in Los Angeles but want to enjoy a good old fashioned 4th of July? The patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in Eagle Rock. This small community will be celebrating our nation's independence in a big way.

Starting at 4:00pm on Sunday, July 4th, there will be food, moon bouncers, kids activities, a car show and vendor booths galore.  Come with you picnic blanket and goodies and spend the day. Eagle Rock Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration

At 6:00pm you can rock with the Beach Boys tribute band, Surfin Safari.  This year the park will also be providing a fireworks display so be ready to stick around for the big show at 8:30. Fireworks are being sponsored by Sir Michael's Party Rental  & LA City Council member Jose Huizar

If you are looking for free fireworks shows closer to home, check out one of these other venues:

Alhambra 4th of July Extravaganza
o Saturday, July 3rd @ 800 S. Almansor
o 3 p.m. - food and beverage sales
o 9 p.m. - fireworks show

El Sereno Concert, Fireworks Show & Independence Parade
o Saturday, July 3rd @ El Sereno Park, 4721 Klamath Place,
o *4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
o *Parade @ 2 p.m., corner of Huntington Drive & Van Horne, ends at El Sereno Park
o Concert begins @ 4 p.m.
o Fireworks @ 8:30 p.m.

If you are willing to shell out a few bucks, here are a few more options:fireworks displays in the Los Angeles area

Burbank, Starlight Bowl - Salute to the Soul of America
o 1249 Lockheed View Dr., Burbank
o *6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Concert
o Fireworks @ 9:00 p.m.

Hollywood Hills- Hollywood Bowl
o 2302 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
o Concert begins @ 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks

Pasadena- Americafest 2010 at the Rosebowl
o 1001 Rosebowl Dr., Pasadena
o *2:00 p.m. Family fun festival and food court
o *7:00 p.m. Drum performance and military tribute
o Fireworks @ 9:00 p.m.

For more information on Eagle Rock, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz,  and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Eagle Rock Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration

Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake

Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake

Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake

Have you heard of the Auburn 7 small lot subdivision in Silver Lake?  This complex of seven single family homes  designed by Silver Lake based MASS Architecture and Design is one of L.A.'s small lot subdivisions, located right here is Silver Lake. The seven homes are townhouse style, separated by just a small space and share walkways and a community garden on DWP land in front.

exterior of Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake

The Auburn 7 were built with ecology in mind. Green features include: radiant heating in the floor, tankless water heaters, low-flush toilets, and high-efficiency HVAC. The homes are also solar-ready for those owners choosing to install panels. Dual glazed windows and skylights add great ventilation and better efficiency.

If all of this appeals to you, you are in luck! One of the Auburn 7 in Silver Lake just came on the market. 2746 Auburn Street was recently listed Chris Furstenberg for $839,000.  The home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths in 2100+ square feet of living space and is in the coveted Ivanhoe School district! With it's solar power, you can expect a nice drop in your electric bill if you choose to call this home.

  Interior - Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lakekitchen - Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake

 To see this home or for more information on small lot subidivions, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling signature

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Auburn 7 Small Lot Subdivision in Silver Lake 

Credit Management 101: Facts, myths and how to get around them

 Credit Management 101: Facts, myths and how to get around them

Are you scared of your own credit report? While the exact ways with which credit scores are calculated are company secrets, there are things you can do to improve your score. Read on and find out!

Our credit scores determine if we can get something as big as a mortgage for a home to something as small as a new computer. While we have no way to find out the exact formulas used by particular banks or lending companies to compute our scores,  there are some standard  facts and myths about what will affect our credit scores.credit report

Myths about your credit report. Relax, a credit report is not some Big Brother accounting of your life. Anything not related to credit is not in the report. This includes your savings account, personal information such as race, religion or your medical history, and information on other people you're associated with, provided you don't have any joint financial products. Employers or potential employers have no access to your report without your written consent. Other things not on your report are whether you've checked your file and if you've had declined applications (only the number of credit inquiries you've had).

What they look at. Here is an approximation of how your score is determined. Payment history accounts for 35% of your score. The lender will want to see if you have a stable record of paying your bills punctually. Also included is how much debt you have at the time of inquiry (30%). 15% of your score goes towards how long you've had established credit; the longer you've had it, the better. 10% is based on new credit. Opening new credit within six months of the credit inquiry is bad for your score. Hard inquiries or inquiries made by lenders also pull down your score. On the other hand, soft inquiries, which include you checking your own report, have no effect. It will also improve your score if the lenders see that you have and have had experience with several different types of credit (10% of score).

What helps and what hurts. Improve your credit score by regularly reviewing and correcting errors on your credit report. You're entitled to and should avail of one free annual report from each of the credit reporting agencies annually (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) so you can better monitor your credit score.

Keep your oldest credit accounts even if you're not using them. However, remember that more than four or six credit cards can hurt your score. Additionally, always keep the balance of your cards to 25% or less of the limit and pay your bills on time! If you can't pay in full, you should at least pay the minimum.

Regulate the ratio of your debt in relation to your annual income to less than 20%. Any more than this and lenders may not give you the best rates on loans.

Keep hard inquiries to a minimum. Generally, the more hard inquiries you have, the lower your score because lenders may mistake this for you being financially strapped. This flags you as a high credit risk. However, when shopping for a loan, multiple inquiries which occur within 14 will count as a single inquiry so do your  loan shopping within a 2-week period so as not to adversely affect your score.

If you are ready to buy property, don't make any other major purchases or pay off credit cards unless recommended by your lender. Sometimes something that seems like a good idea may actually do you more harm than good.

For more information on your credit score or  The Oaks, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

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Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Credit Management 101: Facts, myths and how to get around them

Beachwood Canyon's Hollywoodland- Historic Neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills

Beachwood Canyon's Hollywoodland - historic neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills

Beachwood Canyon is a neighborhood of hilly, narrow streets that wind their way through the Hollywood Hills. It is found East of the 101 freeway and with the base at Franklin Avenue. The gate to the Village of Beachwood Canyon, home of the Beachwood Market, The Village Café and a small gift shop - Missouri Trader ,is located about a mile North of Franklin on Beachwood Drive. The market is notable for its glass front, designed by architect, John Lautner.

Beachwood Canyon is full of homes built in the 20's -40's but also has a smattering of newer construction, particularly the condos lining Beachwood Canyon Blvd. south of the gates. Having lived in the area, I can attest to what a great place it is to walk. The winding streets bring vistas around many corners and the lovely trees provide shade on a warm sunny day. Regardless of the number of homes in the area, it still provides the sense of being out in nature. There is even a riding stable at 3400 N Beachwood should residents or visitors care to discover the area on horseback.

If you are familiar with the area, you're also familiar with all of the signs posted saying "No Access to the Hollywood Sign".  I'm surprised that tourists aren't hit by cars when the walk out into the middle of Beachwood Dr. to snap a photo of the famous sign. Interestingly, that sign was originally erected in upper Beachwood Canyon by Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler and read  "HOLLYWOODLAND" . It was actually a $21,000 billboard advertising the  500 acre upscale real estate development by the same name.

                        Original Hollywoodland signed dedicated in 1923    

Development  of Hollywoodland began in 1923 with the syndicate owned by Harry Chandler, developer Sidney H. Woodruff  and the founder of West Hollywood, General M. H. Sherman. The L.A. Times announced this new developments as one of the most attractive residential sections of the City of Los Angeles", envisioning it as a Mediterranean Riviera in the Hollywood Hills between Lake Hollywood and Griffith Park. Architectural drawings inspired by regions of France, Italy and Spain were used to  draw east Coasters to the hillside lots where their homes would be complete in time to avoid the next harsh winter.

Hollywood Sign as it looks today

When originally built, the Hollywoodland sign had  was comprised of individual letters 30 feet wide and 50 feet tall and constructed out of 3x9' metal squares rigged together with scaffolding.  There was a 35' diameter dot below the sign with a perimeter of 20-watt lights to attract attention. The sign itself featured an addition 4,000 bulbs spaced 8 inches apart which blinked out "Holly", "wood", "land".  As you can see from the old photo- it would have been hard to miss this landmark sign during the day but the lights would certainly have had a dramatic effect at night. Originally intended to be taken down after just 1.5 years, the sign has endured 80+ years in various states and become a true landmark for Hollywood and a symbol of all that it has to offer.

Hollywoodland Home in Beachwood Canyon today

Living in Hollywoodland defined living in the Hollywood Hills. As showy as the sign was, the developers managed to lay out homes in such a way as to create a small town charm. Hollywood Celebrities were drawn to the area then as they are now for the beauty, seclusion, views and great location. The proximity to the major studios is hard to beat. Many Hollywoodland homes have a fantasy feel to them. You'll find castles, Tudors and ivy-covered cottages right alongside Spanish and mid-century gems. Homes in the higher elevations have views over the canyon and city all the way to the ocean.   Like many areas of Los Feliz and the Hollywood Hills, Beachwood Canyon and Hollywoodland are well-loved and have loyal homeowners keeping their famous neighborhood worthy of its place in history and the well known sign in its hills. 

For more information on Hollywoodland, Beachwood Canyon,  Los Feliz, Silver Lake and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758  or check out my website at LApropertySolutions.com 

Or read about these other local neighorhoods:

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Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

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Copyright © 2010 By Jenny Durling *All Rights Reserved * Beachwood Canyon's Hollywoodland- Historic Neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills