According to the L.A. Times, Michael C. Hall, star of the hit TV show “Dexter,” just picked up a $3.825 million dollar home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. The home is across the street from Kate Walsh, who just listed her estate for $4.75 million! Hall’s new home spans more than 5,600 square feet and comes with six bedrooms and six baths.

The Spanish Colonial was built in 1923 and has since been restored. It comes with views of downtown L.A. and the hillside below. Aside from a few Dexter-like bathroom light fixtures, the interior design has a cozy, traditional feel. The professional kitchen has upscale, imported appliances and surfaces, and the master suite has wood beam ceilings, a sitting room, downtown views and a large luxury bath. The home comes with a one-bedroom guest house, swimmer’s pool and media/recreation room.

In addition to Kate Walsh, other celebrities in the neighborhood include Kristen Stewart, January Jones, Jenna Elfman and will.i.am.

The post Michael Hall, a.k.a Dexter, Buys L.A. Estate for $3.825M appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

Redfin just launched in South Florida, and we’re more excited than a 6 year-old on Space Mountain. We can’t wait to see the kinds of homes Redfin agents will help clients buy and sell in the area, which is known for its audacious wealth, bold architecture and notable celebrity residents.

Redfin Agent Robyn Jackson pretty much sums it up with this description:

“The slow-rolling convertibles and neon-lit boulevards! The slouching palm trees and Art Deco hotels! Indeed, Miami’s South Beach is a sight to behold. The Latin beats and velvet ropes of exclusive see-and-be-seen nightclubs have come to define Florida’s signature city as, in a word, posh. Luxe hotels line the white-sand beaches that stretch from 1st to 25th streets, peppered with mod cabanas shading some of the world’s most beautiful people (the stand-and-pose culture is a major tourist draw in and of itself).”

To get a taste of what’s to come, we turned to local expert, South Florida Redfin Agent Bohdan Mastykaz, and asked him to create a Redfin Collection that exemplifies the fabulous style of this coastal paradise. Here are a few of our favorites from his Florida Collection:

Versace Estate

1116 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139
List Price: $100,000,000
Beds: 10
Baths: 11
Listed by: Jill Eber, Coldwell Banker Res. R.E.

The world was stunned in 1997 when Gianni Versace, fashion designer and founder of the iconic Versace brand, was shot on the steps of his Miami Beach oceanfront mansion. Shortly thereafter, the 23,400 square foot home was put up for sale, and in 2000 an entrepreneur named Peter Loftin bought it and converted it into a high-end boutique hotel. Now back on the market, its carefully preserved details exemplify the ostentatious style of one of Miami’s most notable celebrities, who turned a 1930s colonial style estate into a modern-day Italian villa in the middle of South Beach. Featuring hand-painted walls and ceiling frescoes, the 10 bed, 11 bath home has unobstructed views of the ocean, with multiple open decks and covered porches to take advantage of the view. The home includes a private observatory floating above an exquisite interior open-sky courtyard. The crown jewel of the property, the golden pool, is 54 feet long, decorated in mosaic tiling and lined with 24 carat gold.

Anheuser-Busch Estate

1000 Riviera Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
List Price: $15,000,000
Beds: 6
Baths: 9
Listed by: Timothy Elmes, Coldwell Banker Residential RE

Widely known as the home built for the Busch family, you could say this 1938 Mediterranean estate was built by beer. Perhaps business informed lifestyle; like most breweries, this home is positioned on a water lot with 525 feet of waterfront views and 130 feet of dockage, which should be plenty of room to park your yacht. Old world luxury permeates each living space, from the carefully appointed 30-foot kitchen, wood-paneled living room and study, to stuccoed outdoor walkways. This grand old Floridian estate isn’t stuffy; it has a media system to rival many in the nation!

Mod Beachfront Condo

201 S Narcissus Unit 1204-1, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5651
List Price: $3,100,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 5.5
Listed by: Wendy Roberts, Earl A Hollis, Inc.

Located on the waterfront of West Palm Beach, this spacious 6,100 square foot condo smacks of 70s glam. Wood paneling, wet bar, and period light fixtures evoke disco-era nostalgia, while cathedral ceilings and sweeping views bring the vibe back to tropical high-rise living. In the master suite, a whirlpool spa, roman tub, and two showers offer ample soaking opportunities, as does the exclusive community clubhouse with sauna, swimming and whirlpool. Cool and clean, the lines in this condo contrast with the lush natural setting, which makes it feel insular and cozy and yet expansive all at once.

The post Collection of the Week: Bienvenidos a South Florida appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

According to The Real Estalker, actress Anna Faris, 36, known for her roles in Scary Movie, The House Bunny and What’s Your Number?, recently purchased a home with her husband, Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt, 33, for $3.3 million. The home was previously owned by Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, who bought it in 2007. Rapino had listed it for $2,975,000, which means Anna and Chris paid over-asking for the four bedroom, 3.5 bath home.

The Mediterranean style estate spans 4,700 square feet and features vaulted ceilings, a bright grand room with fireplace, a large gourmet chef’s kitchen and oak paneled den. The master suite has a terrace, fireplace, sitting area, his/hers walk-in custom closets, and a master bath with steam-room and spa tub.

Anna and Chris must like to work out, because the home comes with a professional gym and championship tennis court. Outside there’s a saltwater pool, built-in barbeque, lush landscaping with towering palm trees, and a Spanish-style courtyard. It is located in the Nichols Canyon area of West Hollywood, minutes from the Sunset Strip.

Anna still owns the L.A. estate she bought with ex-hubby Ben Indra. The couple briefly listed it following their divorce in 2007, but it was pulled off the market in 2008 and has since undergone major construction.

The post Comedy Couple Anna Faris and Chris Pratt Buy in L.A. appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

Bunnyman Hugh Hefner just purchased a West Hollywood home for his 27-year-old wife, Crystal Harris, for $4.995 million. The 87-year-old Playboy founder married Harris, a nude model, in December 2012. According to US Magazine, Harris will not be in his existing will, but apparently she’s not missing out. The home he bought for her is almost 6,000 square feet, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The modern architectural estate overlooks the L.A. skyline, and is minutes away from the Sunset Strip. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and multiple terraces maximize the view. The home comes with a theater room, game room and infinity pool and spa. Unique architectural details include a floating butcher-block wooden staircase, fine stone and tile work, and Jerusalem stone walls. The home was built in 2011 and includes smart technology.

Hefner purchased it from Jason Rubin, a video game director (known for “Crash Bandicoot”), a comic book creator, and Internet company founder. Rubin purchased the property (with no home on it) in 2004 for $710,000.

The post Hugh Hefner Buys $5M Home for Wife Crystal Harris appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

Today, Redfin announced its arrival in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach areas of South Florida. With it come more than 2 million new properties, including 32,000 active listings, increasing the total number of searchable homes for sale on Redfin.com by 6.6 percent.

Please tell your family and friends in Miami to join us at our welcome fiesta on Thursday, June 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at OLA in South Beach. The event is free, and Redfin will donate $10 to Communities In Schools Miami for every person who attends.

For years we’ve had our sights set on South Florida, not just because we’ve been dying to make it possible for our users to browse beautiful photos of South Florida’s famously lavish homes, but for its multi-faceted real estate market. The quickly growing population allows us to help homebuyers, sellers and investors from all over the world buy and sell homes. With home prices in the area up 20 percent in April, and a market fraught with bidding wars, there is no better time for people to take advantage of Redfin’s powerful online and mobile tools that can help them compete and win.

As with all of our new markets, we focused on hiring the best local real estate agents who share our values and commitment to customer service.

Redfin’s new South Florida Area Manager Robyn Jackson, who joins Redfin after more than 20 years of service in the local real estate market, has all that and more. She has started two local real estate companies and most recently served as a Florida Supreme Court mediator specializing in foreclosures. Robyn and her team of local Redfin agents can now help people buy and sell homes in Florida’s Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

True to form, Redfin’s South Florida agents will be paid salaries and bonuses based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. We publish those satisfaction ratings by surveying every customer and posting every review—the good, the bad, and the ugly—on our site. Redfin’s technology and unique business model make us about six times more efficient than traditional real estate brokers, and allow us to pass savings onto our customers. For example, in Miami, someone moving from one $500,000 home to another would save more than $12,500 in fees.

South Florida homebuyers will soon have access to Tour Insights, comments written by Redfin agents about homes they have seen in person and Offer Insights, details from Redfin agents about what it takes to win a bidding war in a given neighborhood. Those who already own a home in South Florida can check out the Redfin Home Value Tool, which uses the same data agents use about nearby similar homes to help you hone in on a home’s value, a helpful starting point for a conversation with an agent about selling your home.

You can meet the whole Redfin team at our launch celebration on June 13! Hope to see you there!

The post Welcome to Miami! (¡Bienvenido a Miami!) appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

575 Erskine Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
List Price: $3,250,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 4.5
Listed by: Todd Marks, Prudential CA – Beverly Hills

“Client List” star Jennifer Love Hewitt, 34, purchased this home from Peter Koral, the founder of 7 for All Mankind, for $3.25 million. The “hip sexy Architectural retreat” was designed by Melinda Gray and comes with four bedrooms and 4.5 baths. The modern home features hardwood floors, an open floor plan, high ceilings, and lots of wood, glass and steel. The chef’s kitchen has Viking appliances, including a six-burner range and double oven. The master suite has a balcony, walk-in closet, soaking tub, and custom tiled floors.

The backyard is surrounded by bamboo, offering tons of privacy. And that’s a good thing, because JLH will likely be spending a lot of time in the outdoor lounging area, which includes a pool, fireplace and flat screen TV. The home is located in the Pacific Palisades, steps to the Village and El Medio Bluffs. Other celebrities in the area include Diane Keaton, Bridget Moynahan, Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox.

Jennifer Love Hewitt sold her Toluca Lake residence for $2.15 million on December 13, 2012. The home featured a dance studio with full-length mirrors and ballet barres. Perhaps that’ll be a remodel project in her new home!

Kate Walsh

2223 NOTTINGHAM Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
List Price: $4,750,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 6
Listed by: Barry Sloane, Sotheby’s International Realty

“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” star Kate Walsh, 45, listed this home for $4,750,000, the same price she paid for it back in 2007. It was built in 1928 and has undergone painstaking renovations, with new surfaces, appliances and modern conveniences. Some of the original features remain, including vintage tile, wood beamed ceilings and a wrought iron stairwell.

The living room leads to the spacious den overlooking the garden, pool and spa. The home also includes a wine room, modern kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, a master suite with “movie star” bathroom, and three other bedroom suites, one of which is being used as a giant walk-in closet. The three-car garage has been converted to a Pilates room with bathroom; I guess Kate doesn’t do much driving! Her home is located in the Los Feliz area of L.A., near celebrities such as David Fincher, January Jones and Olivia Wilde, who has yet to sell her L.A. abode.

Marc Anthony

17230 Silver Ln, Encino, CA 91316
List Price: $1,400,000
Beds: 5
Baths: 4.5
Listed by: Carol Wolfe, Rodeo Realty

Marco Antonio Muñiz, aka Marc Anthony, purchased this Encino home for $1,575,000 on April 23, 2013. The 6,200 square foot gated Italian Villa features a dramatic two-story foyer with limestone floors and a curved staircase. The master bedroom has an over-sized marble steam shower with etched glass, a stone fireplace, and a fully-customized walk-in closet. The bonus room, which is on a separate third level, is currently being used as a gym. The home also includes a gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, crystal chandeliers, a wine cellar, and an intercom system.

The grounds include meandering pathways, lush landscaping, vine covered arbors, a pool and spa, and towering palm trees. There are also two outdoor barbeques, a loggia, fountain, and pool house with kitchen and two bathrooms. Although Encino isn’t known as a celebrity hot spot, other notable residents include Ray Romano, Randy Jackson and David Hasselhoff (well, before the Hoff sold his Encino home a few weeks ago).

The post Celebrity Real Estate Roundup: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Marc Anthony, Kate Walsh appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

The key metrics across 19 major metropolitan markets are:

• Home prices in April increased 16% year over year, and rose 5% since March.
• The number of homes for sale (inventory) is down 26% compared to April 2012, yet increased 6.4% month-over-month. This is the largest gain since March 2010.
• Home sales rose 10.7% from 2012, and gained 7.2% from March.
• The percentage of listings that were under contract within 14 days of their debut inched up yet again from 34.5% in March to 35.2% in April, another record high.

The market is as competitive as ever with more than a third of homes going under contract in two weeks or less, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel for buyers with the solid gains in inventory.

Sales Volume Up Again, Back to Double-Digit Gains Over 2012

Home sales shot up again from March to April, turning in the strongest month-over-month gain for this time in over four years. Last year saw an especially strong May, so it is possible that this number may slip some next month, with year-over-year sales going slightly negative.

Fifteen of the 19 markets we track saw sales increase from a year ago, five more than in March. Two markets saw a slight decrease in sales volume from March to April: San Francisco dropped 1.5% and Long Island fell 2.6%.

Home Prices Up from 2012 in Every City

Nationally, home prices shot up again in April, coming in 16 percent higher than a year earlier. Prices gained big again month-over-month, rising 4.9 percent from March. Eighteen of the 19 metro areas that Redfin measures saw month-over-month increases in April, the same number that saw increases in March.

San Francisco, Sacramento, and Las Vegas turned in the largest year-over-year price increases, gaining 34 percent, 33 percent, and 32 percent, respectively. Home prices were higher in April 2013 than they were a year earlier in all nineteen metro areas we track.

Inventory Finally Showing Some Life

For the first time in more than three years, inventory turned in a sizable month-over-month gain in April, increasing 6.4% from March overall. Only three markets saw inventory shrink in the month: California’s Inland Empire lost 9%, Denver was down 2%, and San Diego fell 2%. Phoenix continues to be the only market where inventory is higher than it was a year earlier.

Percent of Listings Selling Within Two Weeks Hits Another Record

From April 1 through 24 (14 days before the data was collected), 35.2 percent of new listings were under contract in two weeks or less, an increase of 0.7 percentage points over March. Last month we predicted that this number would increase in April then level off through the summer. It increased as predicted, and we still expect it to flatten out in the next few months.

About the Real-Time Home Price Tracker

Redfin’s monthly report on home prices, inventory levels and sales volume is an up-to-date, accurate portrait of the U.S. real estate market, coming weeks or months ahead of other market reports. As a broker with access to dozens of Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) used by real estate agents to list properties and record sales, Redfin gets data within minutes of a sale, pending sale or listing activation, well before any government, media or analytics organization. Using MLS fields, Redfin is able to distinguish houses from condominiums and townhouses — which often sell for less money.

To validate the accuracy of the data and to account for sales not handled by a real estate agent, Redfin compares MLS data with county records as they become available, using sophisticated algorithms to identify and resolve disparities about square footage or price for each address. Full data may be downloaded in a spreadsheet, and the report methodology is available as an Adobe document.

The post Inventory Crunch Begins to Ease with Largest Monthly Listings Increase Since 2010; Home Prices Up 16% Over Last Year appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

The property includes a 7,724 square foot home and the Moraga Vineyards and Winery. It is currently owned by Thomas Jones, the retired CEO of the Northrop Corporation. According to the New Yorker, Jones “converted six acres of his sixteen-acre property into the only commercial vineyard in Los Angeles. He started planting in 1978; the first bottling in 1982 was critical. The Jones spread contains eight small mini-vineyards, each contributing a distinct characteristic to the Moraga blend. Although Jones is aware that a Bel Air wine has about as much cachet as a Sylvester Stallone painting, he seems cautiously confident.” Now the Moraga wines have a good reputation, selling for $125 per bottle.

The property is located in the heart of Bel Air. In addition to the main residence, there is a guest house and a 4,400 square foot office building, which is currently being used as the winery sales office. There’s also a pool, guest quarters, stone patio with built-in barbeque, and of course an extensive wine cellar.

According to the L.A. Times, in the 1930s and ’40s, it was a horse ranch owned by Victor Fleming, who directed both Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. It was also the first commercial winery to be bonded in L.A. after Prohibition ended in 1933.

The post Rupert Murdoch Buys $30M Vineyard with Unique Past appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

As the housing market and the economy both continue to recover, the luxury housing market is making big gains as well, with sales of homes $1 million and up gaining 34% between the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, compared to an increase of just 5% for the market as a whole over the same period.

Below is a list of the 22 markets included in this report, rank-ordered by the number of $1 million-plus homes sold from January 2012 through March 2013. Burlingame (94010) in the San Francisco area edged out Manhattan Beach (90266) in LA for the top spot. Boston came in fifth, as the top market outside of California.

Although historically buyers of the most expensive homes have had the luxury of time, the extremely tight supply the market is experiencing in 2013 has extended into the upper price ranges.

“The Orange County luxury market is extremely competitive right now,” explains Redfin Agent Jennifer Chen. “It’s a seller’s market, and buyers are finding it necessary to put a lot of money down, waiving contingencies, and including rent backs if they want to competitively position themselves and better secure their chances of getting the home they want.”

Moving outside of California, we pulled data for 22 metro areas around the country to find the top 10 zip codes for luxury home sales in each market. Select your market on the left side of the map below to view the most luxurious zip codes in your area, and to read insights on the local luxury market from a Redfin Agent near you.

Hungry for more? Check out our “Luxury Living” collection to get your luxury listing fix with multi-million-dollar homes from all across the country.

The post Luxury Home Sales Hit 6-Year High appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.

Bebe

1308 Laurel Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
List Price: $4,795,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 7
Listed by: Susan Del Prete, Nelson Shelton & Associates

A sale is pending on thisBeverly Hills estate, owned by Paul Mashouf, the vice president of manufacturing and sourcing for Bebe Sport. It was previously owned by his father, Manny Mashouf, the founder of Bebe. While the Bebe brand is all about being sexy and modern, this home is different, with an old world Tuscan style. It spans more than 5,000 square feet, with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Outside, there’s a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace, gas fire pits, several fountains and a natural-looking pool and spa. Other features include a walk-in wine cellar, built-in sound system and custom lighting. The garage has space for three cars, but probably isn’t big enough to fit Paul’s entire collection of luxury vehicles.

Fabrizio Gianni

9555 Heather Rd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
List Price: $25,580,000
Beds: 8
Baths: 10
Listed by: Joyce Rey, Coldwell Banker-BH South

Guy Attal, the president of fashion design company Fabrizio Gianni, listed this Beverly Hills home for $25.58 million on November 21, 2012. Fabrizio Gianni is known for classic, comfortable styles, and this home matches that aesthetic. It was first built for Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion in the “Wizard of Oz.” A number of celebrities have owned the home since, including Betty Grable and husband Harry James, Paul McCartney, the Osbourne family and Melanie Griffith. Attal said he thoroughly renovated the property, adding a detached bowling alley and guesthouse, and doubling the size of the main residence. In addition to the bowling alley, the home includes a theater, wet bar, tennis court, putting green, pool, spa and wine cellar.

Fendi

1 E Dilido Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
List Price: $14,900,000
Beds: 6
Baths: 7.5
Listed by: Claudia Aros, Coldwell Banker Res. R.E.

This ultra-modern Miami Beach home, which is still under construction, is commissioned by Luca Formilli Fendi, of Fendi fashion house. It is located on one of the Venetian Islands, a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay. It features dramatic views of downtown Miami, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and a media room that doubles as a private club. The modern design is reminiscent of famous Fendi handbags, with angular designs and color blocking.

Guess

9904 KIP Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
List Price: $54,500,000
Beds: 10
Baths: 17.5
Listed by: Joyce Rey, Coldwell Banker-BH South

Listed for $54.5 million, this Beverly Hills estate is owned by Armand Marciano, the co-founder of Guess. It is set on nearly 20 acres overlooking the city, and spans more than 30,000 square feet. The Mediterranean-inspired home embodies the Southern California aesthetic that the Guess brand is known for. There are nine fireplaces, an elevator, a 27-car garage and motor court, staff quarters with three bedrooms and a separate full kitchen, a game room, media room, wine cellar and library. The expansive grounds feature immaculate lawns and gardens, orchards, fountains, a mosaic-tiled swimming pool, outdoor pavilion, pool house with kitchen and pizza oven, tennis court and walking paths.

Sunglass Hut

2999 Brickell Ave Miami, FL 33129
List Price: $19,000,000
Beds: 8
Baths: 9.5
Listed by: Mayi De La Vega, One Sotheby’s Int’l Realty

Dean Ziff, whose family owns Sunglass Hut retail stores, put this Miami home on the market for $19 million. You’re going to need sunglasses if you buy this home; it is set on a two acre lot on Biscayne Bay, right on the water. It was designed by Colombian & Cuban Architects, and draws inspiration from the Caribbean. The exterior design is completely symmetrical, with stairs, bridges, chairs and lamp posts equal on both sides. The home comes complete with a 3-car garage, tennis court, pool, and guest house.

Versace

1116 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
List Price: $100,000,000
Beds: 10
Baths: 11
Listed by: Jill Eber, Coldwell Banker Res. R.E.

This Miami Beach home was owned by fashion powerhouse Gianni Versace, and unfortunately was the location of his murder in 1997. It has 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and 23,462 square feet. It is listed for $100 million; at that price, if you purchased it with the help of a Redfin agent, your refund would be $1,170,000! In true Versace style, the home is swathed in lavish appointments, including hand painted walls and ceiling frescoes, custom tile mosaics, fountains, sculptures and chandeliers. There’s even a 54-foot long 24-karat gold-lined pool! The listing photos are a must-see.

The post FOR SALE: Homes of Famous Fashion Designers & Executives appeared first on Redfin Real Estate Blog.