About Los Angeles' Bel Air

Bel Air is an upscale community on the Westside of Los Angeles. It sits north of Westwood, east of Brentwood and west of Beverly Hills Post Office and is home to the Bel Air Country Club and the recently remodeled Hotel Bel Air.

This exclusive gated community boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the city, with spectacular views, and is home to many stars. There are also more affordable custom-built homes closer to Mulholland Drive.

Schools in Bel Air

Bel Air schools are in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Roscomare Road Elementary School K-5

Kenter Canyon Elementary K-5

Brentwood Sci. Magnet School K-5

Bellagio Newcomer Center 3-8

Revere Math/Science Magnet 6-8 Revere Mid School 6-8

Useful Links Bel Air Association Official Website

Map of Bel Air

Other Los Angeles Communities

Tinker, Taylor,Soldier,spy by John le Carre the Book Review

In fairness to disclosure, I have almost every John le Carre's books. This one, I read when it came out and the impetus was to re-read it, since the movie is coming out soon and I had virtually no recollection of the story. Well I am glad I re-read it. This book is the first of a trilogy that le Carre' has written. ( I suspect had I not re-read the book I would have challenges following the movie)

This is not a spoiler alert, because the story is simple, but you will be wondering who is the mole or double agent in the book during the entire time.

To me Le Carre’ book brings back memories of Guy Burgess and Kim Philby (double agents & moles of the British Secret Service) the quest to find the mole, the double agent. That is the mission of George Smiley the anti James Bond of the British Secret Service. He is not the glamorous, nor is he the sexy male spy that women dream about. He is the overweight and an out of shape middle aged man, for whom you would not turn around twice if he walked by you.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 email me athomes@endrebarath.comor visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.comYour Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations.

The Humane Society of the United States has a foothold in Bel Air CA 90077

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization.( http://www.humanesociety.org/)) There are over 11million Americans who support this great organization. Their whole mission is to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals by championing better animal Laws. They investigate animal cruelty and conduct campaigns to reform all animal related industries. They help animals through sanctuaries and even animal emergency shelters.

The Humane society generates close to $200 million in revenue to help, lobby and champion animal causes just as an example they have fought against Dog Fighting, trying to stop Puppy Mills, Farm Animal protection such a Legislation to protect Hens any way I could go on an and on. They are doing things locally, nationally and globally. All this is under the leadership of the very capable Wayne Pacelle, who has been at the helm for almost four years of this great organization.

So if you are in the area stop by and offer your help to them or if you cannot than support them via donations and or by signing some of their petitions. So as you come to the Getty Center you might check out a nondescript building in the famous 90077 zip code which helps animals all over the world.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations.

Sharon Stone’s Bel Air-Holmby Hills mansion hits the market this month. Yes, yes, I know...it’s a nice house, killer location, has a tennis court, sits on 5 acres....blah, blah, blah. But, HELLO...IT HAS PARKING FOR 14 CARS!

Yes, parking for 14 cars. That alone sets this home apart from the other mansions in Bel Air. This is a highly sought after feature for the demographic purchasing at this level. Car collections are common...and the storage of these often rare cars is critical. Many of these garages are climate and humidity controlled, maintained by special personnel.

This home has yet another real estate bubble heartbreak story. It was sold in February, 2006 to Sharon Stone for $11 million...after sitting on the market for SIX DAYS. (Ah, the good ‘ole days!). Five months later she tried to sell the home for $12.5 million. Alas, the party was over...and everyone was trying to sober up from the real estate frenzy that had just taken place. If you were caught holding anything that you’d bought between 2003-2006 you were, ahem, tattooed.

Needless to say, the property didn’t sell despite sitting on the market for over 9 months. Then in June of 2007 she tried to sell it again, this time starting at $11.5 million and over the course of five months reducing it to $10.5 million. Nope...still didn’t sell.

This gorgeous mansion continued to sit on the market, unoccupied for the most part. Those beautiful grounds were meticulously attended to...the tennis court was kept in pristine shape. But, no takers.

It was back on the market for sale again in 2008, this time for $10 million. But, you guessed it...no luck. Then again in late 2009 the property was up for sale again, this time for $9 million. It sat there for 6 months.

Now, it is on the market again, for $8,995,000. We have seen evidence of pre-bubble prices creeping back into the market, so this sale may finally be priced right for the timing of the market, and ready to move.

This home was built in 1991 and has 7 bedrooms and 8.5 baths. The square footage is anywhere between 6640-9000 (depending on which of the MLS listings you choose to believe). There is also a separate 2BR guesthouse, which has it’s own gym. Oh, and in case you forgot...there is covered parking for 14 cars. ;-)

If you’d like to see this house in person, please email me or call me at 213-309-5005.

Listing provided courtesy of Joseph Babajian, Rodeo Realty.

Has your target audience changed with the economic changes?

As I mentioned the other day I was interviewed by a Mortgage Website (http://www.mortgagerates.com/real-estate/qa-with-endre-barath/) and one of the questions they asked me was:

Q: Has the target audience changed with the economic change?

A: Absolutely, the target audience has become the Foreign Buyers. The greater Los Angeles is a destination place from all over the world and as the value of the Dollar is declining it is making Real Estate a great investment for the Foreign Nationals. There are a lot of Chinese, Canadian and European buyers who are purchasing luxury homes as well as ocean view homes from Beverly Hills to Malibu.

As some of you know I have written about buyers coming from all over the world, I have also noticed an increase of affluent buyers from Mexico. Quite fascinating since the average American thinks of Mexico as an inexpensive vacation destination or they think of migrant workers or illegal migrant workers when you say Mexico.

Most Americans, do not think of the all cash buyer of a $6 million dollar vacant land to build condominiums on, from Mexico. So with that said we need to keep an open mind when we get inquiries from various parts of the world.

At the same time feel free to share how your Target Audience Changed with the current economic conditions.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, please feel free to give me a call at 310.486.1002, email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations