Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
Los Angeles pretty much has something for everyone — the beach, picturesque palm trees, great restaurants and cocktail bars, more luxury fashion than you could ever want, and the Museum of Contemporary Art for impressing dates. If you've been thinking about buying some property in the area but don't want to necessarily live in the middle of Hollywood, you don't have to. There are plenty of amazing homes a little north of the Walk of Fame, keeping you close to the action but not swallowed by it.
Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
24900 Paseo Del Rancho, Calabasas, $19.5M
Calabasas in known as an affluent city right in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley, making it a great spot for anyone with horses looking for wide open spaces.
Avalon Ranch sits in a valley on 190 acres, complete with a 16 stall barn, tack room, day barn, sand arena, miles of trails, and a one acre horse pasture. With views of the Santa Monica Mountains, the gated main house is 7,500 square feet and the guest house has an additional two bedroom retreat above the garage. Not just for equestrians, the property also has a clay tennis court with a viewing pavilion, a pool and spa, fruit orchard, and a seasonal stream.
Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
The Mendenhall Estate, Topanga, $21.5M
Found in the Santa Monica Mountains, the
Mendenhall Estate in Topanga sits on 23 acres with open views of canyons and mountains, and is only a few minutes away from restaurants and shopping. Guard gated, the 12,000-square-foot house has eight bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms, high ceilings, and many eco-friendly amenities, like a watering well and solar panels. The grounds (which are zoned for horses) are definitely impressive, with a large saline pool, gardens, room for your very own vineyard, and a bocce and tennis court.
Photo Courtesy of Kellen Flanigan
12003/12001 Briarvale Lane, Studio City, $5.5M
Known as the legendary
Joseph Barbera Estate (you know, the famous animator and artist responsible for
Tom and Jerry and
The Flintstones), this one-of-a-kind two acre property shouldn't be passed up. Found in Fryman Estates and built in 1988, the five bedroom and seven bathroom home features a home office that is the exact replica of Joe's actual office, with official
Scooby Doo and
Flintstones memorabilia. 6,899 square feet, the house also has hardwood floors, custom cabinets, a spa-like master suite, with a pool, spa and championship light tennis courts outside. If you tend to host a lot of parties, just remember that this property has a garage that fits over 20 cars in it, making parking a snap.
Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
1928 Spanish Colonial Revival, $4.9M
A great representation of 1920s Spanish detailing and craftsmanship, this home listed with
Sotheby's features a two-story entry with almost 5,000 square feet of space and a living room with 25-foot ceilings. From stone fireplaces and French doors to the courtyard patio and balconies, this colorful residence would be great for anyone befitting of the retro lifestyle. On over a half acre of land, the property is at the top of a long gated driveway, ensuring you won't have to worry about anyone peeking over at you.
Photo Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland
487 St. Pierre Road, Old Bel Air, $11M
Found in what is thought of by many to be the best part of Bel Air, this villa was clearly inspired by the old country in the south of France. Sitting on just under an acre of land, the gated estate features many imported materials and even had a former celebrity as an owner (though
Hilton & Hyland are mum on who). The two-story, ivy covered residence has five bedrooms, library, outdoor dining room with a fireplace, and a master suite with a sitting room and a terrace. The property is full of palm trees, redwoods, bridges, a motor court with imported cobblestones, a putting green, and even a moat with fountains. There's also a two-story guest house with its own gated parking.
Photo Courtesy of Hampar Properties
2 Toluca Estates Drive, Toluca Lake, $4.5M
Just 14 minutes away from Griffith Park (assuming traffic is minor), this
Colonial-style estate was built in 1935 by Stephen B. Barnes, the first Structural Engineer for the State of California. Though it was completely remodeled in 2008, the 7,868-square-foot house still features original elements — like Barnes' study, which remains intact and has original blueprints in the cedar closet. Tennis fans should be interested to know that American World No. 1 professional tennis player Arthur Ashe used to play on the court in the back yard. Overall, this house has nine bedrooms, 10 baths, master suite with a sitting area, gym, wine cellar in the basement, an outdoor kitchen, and a Cabana/Pool room with a bath.
Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
Tuscan Estate, Pacific Palisades, $13.9M
Not only does this romantic
Tuscan Estate have mountain and city views, it also has ocean views, giving you the best
Los Angeles has to offer. Many of the fixtures and features throughout the home are antiques and imported from Europe, with old wood flooring and Venetian chandeliers. The kitchen gives an Italian countryside feel, helped by the imported hand-made tiles and lighting fixtures. The master suite boasts a custom-tiled fireplace, gym, sauna, and two private balconies. When it comes to land, this property has two acres of gardens, lavender fields, and fountains.
Photo Courtesy of Christie's International Real Estate
3348 Clerendon Road, Mulholland Estates, $7.2M
David Lynch made Mulholland Dr. an iconic photo and dwelling destination thanks to his 2001 neo-noir film. The home at
3348 Clerendon Rd. is just off the famed road, found in the 24-hour guard gated Mulholland Estates and features a pretty big courtyard entry (complete with a fountain). The two-story house has slate floors, high ceilings, a wood paneled library, gourmet kitchen, and a family room that opens to the patio yard and pool. In the master suite you'll find two terraces and a spa-like bathroom. Promising incredible privacy, this just might be the film-worthy home you've been looking for.
Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty
Marvin Gaye's Former Home, Outpost Estates, $3.3M
According to
Sotheby's, this 3,412-square-foot home is the biggest one in Outpost Estates and oh yeah, music legend Marvin Gaye used to live in it. Close to Mulholland Dr., this property consists of 1.46 acres of land made up of three parcels, which can be broken up if the future owner wishes. With the main house on one parcel, a 917-square-foot guest house with a pool on the second, the third remains free and buildable for anyone looking to make this into a multi-million dollar estate.
Photo Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland
601 North Faring Road, Holmby Hills, $27.5M
North of Beverly Hills, the
European villa at 601 North Faring Road has six bedrooms and 15 bathrooms spread out across 20,000 square feet of living space. Not only does this house have 18-foot ceilings in the living rooms, it also has a theater and a guest apartment for either staff or guests. If you fancy yourself an Olympic swimmer, there's an indoor 50-foot lap pool and gym — outside you will find a sunken tennis court and a second pool for more casual swimming.