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FOUNDING WOMEN
In 1838, the governor of then Mexican-controlled California deeds the land to Maria Rita Valdez Villa, a widow of a Spanish soldier. She builds an adobe ranch house on what is now Sunset Boulevard. Beverly Villas might have been a better name, then?
SCANDALOUS ORIGIN SECRET
Surprisingly unjuicy: the area was a working ranch, farming the humble lima bean long before scandal and designer boutiques moved in (and humility mostly moved out).
MOST EXPENSIVE HOME CURRENTLY FOR SALE
An eight-bedroom estate with 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Talking points: Venetian stained-glass windows, a massage room, an 18thcentury English saloon and a two-storey library.
MEDIAN HOME PRICE
(Sixth most expensive in the US.) US$4,125,000
That same price will get you 767 tons of lima beans at the local organic foods supermarket.
MOST POPULAR CAR
Mercedes-Benz
STARRING ROLES
Beverly Hills Cop. Beverly Hills Ninja. The Beverly Hillbillies. Beverly Hills, 90210. Beverly Hills Cop II and III. Spot the theme?
THE DEAL WITH HEDGES AND PROPERTY WALLS
Supposed to be no higher than 0.9m at the front property line and 2.4m at the back. The definition of 0.9m seems to vary among most homeowners.
INSTAGRAM SOCIAL POWER
#beverlyhills 6.5 million photos. Lots of cars and dogs.
FOUNDING WOMEN
In 1640, Puritan Elizabeth Fones and her husband purchase land in Connecticut that eventually becomes the town of Greenwich. Captain Daniel Patrick also chipped in for the buy.
SCANDALOUS ORIGIN SECRET
Bigamy. After her second husband went insane, founder Fones married her third husband without an official divorce. She was spared being charged with adultery – a hanging offence – because her former brother-in-law John Winthrop Jr was well connected (he would later become governor). This is the perfect script. Someone get a Beverly Hills agent on the line.
MOST EXPENSIVE HOME CURRENTLY FOR SALE
A lakefront six-bedroom French Normandy home sitting on 11 hectares. Talking points: an indoor sky-lit swimming pool, a tennis court and its own dock house.
MEDIAN HOME PRICE
US$2,050,000 (57th in the US.)
That should leave enough funds left over to bribe a connected family member when needed.
MOST POPULAR CAR
Jeep Grand Cherokee
STARRING ROLES
Greenwich could use a good Beverly Hills agent. Even the fictional Connecticut town of Stepford gets more airtime.
THE DEAL WITH HEDGES AND PROPERTY WALLS
Approval needed for anything above 1.98m.
INSTAGRAM SOCIAL POWER
#greenwich 1.7 million photos. Lots of food and dogs.