A sky-high price in WeHo
Vertical living has never been high on the shopping list for Southern California’s wealthy set. But a new wave of luxury developments is drawing the rich out of single-family homes and into the sky.
The latest example just closed in West Hollywood, where a penthouse condo has traded hands for $21.5 million. That’s the priciest condo sale in L.A. County so far this year, and the fourth most expensive the county has ever seen.
It’s easy to see the appeal, even for staunch supporters of single-family living. The unit covers 6,301 square feet — bigger than the vast majority of stand-alone homes — and for outdoor space, there’s a 2,782-square-foot wraparound terrace overlooking L.A.
The penthouse spans the entire 10th floor of the Pendry Residences West Hollywood, a hotel-condo hybrid opened by Montage Hotels & Resorts. It was sold as a design-ready unit, meaning the buyer will be able to choose the layout and design.
Built on the former site of the House of Blues, the $500million complex has already set multiple records, including a 2,681-square-foot unit that sold last year for $13 million. That shakes out to $4,848 per square foot, which is by far the highest price per square foot in the history of L.A. condo sales. (The latest Pendry sale works out to $3,412 a square foot.)
Pendry’s collection includes 40 private residences. So far, about 50% have been sold.
The blockbuster sale signifies a renewed interest in luxury high-rise living, which took a major hit during the pandemic when shared amenities such as pools and elevators suddenly became a safety hazard.
So far this year, there have been 27 condo sales north of $5 million in L.A. County, according to the Multiple Listing Service. The same stretch last year saw just 14 sales above $5 million. In the first half of 2020, there were only five.
That interest has carried across all sections of the market, not just the luxury side. In the second quarter of 2022, the median condo sale price was $640,000, up $20,000 compared with the same stretch last year, according to data from Sotheby’s International Realty.
Condos are also selling quicker, lasting an average of 27 days on the market in the second quarter of this year compared with an average of 34 days during the same stretch last year.
At $21.5 million, it’s the highest-priced condo sale since Matthew Perry unloaded his 9,300-square-foot “mansion in the sky” for $21.6 million in Century City’s Century Tower last summer. The all-time record belongs to socialite Candy Spelling, who dropped $35 million on a 15,555-squarefoot unit in the same building complete with two stories and a private pool.
Taaseen Qureshi of PowerPlay represented Pendry in the $21.5-million sale. Molly Williams of the Hobin Company represented the buyer.
Actors chase a fortune in 90210
Actors Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello have hung a $19.6-million price tag on their stylish mansion in Beverly Hills — nearly double the $10.6 million they paid in 2014.
Records show Vergara, who became the highestpaid actress in Hollywood during her stretch on “Modern Family,” and Manganiello, who starred in “Magic Mike” and “True Blood,” bought a slightly bigger place in Beverly Park in 2020.
The one they’re selling spans more than 11,000 square feet with seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and plenty of space dedicated to amenities such as a gym, a movie theater, a wine cellar and a wet bar.
Neutral shades cover the living spaces, and bold shades of black pop up in the office, theater and bar. A spiral staircase navigates the two-story floor plan, leading to formal spaces such as a rotunda-topped foyer and a living room with a dramatic stone fireplace.
Another highlight comes out back, where tall hedges and grassy lawns surround multiple patios and a swimming pool. The estate spans just over half an acre.
A native of Colombia, Vergara appeared in comedies such as “Meet the Browns” and “Madea Goes to Jail” before starring as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the sitcom “Modern Family,” which ran for 11 seasons on ABC. The 50-year-old currently serves as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.”
Manganiello first appeared in Sam Raimi’s 2002 film “Spider-Man” before more recent roles in “True Blood,” “One Tree Hill” and “How I Met Your Mother.”
Barry Peele of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
A Garbo retreat returns to market
Greta Garbo was one of the biggest stars in silver screen history, and during her time in Hollywood she compiled an impressive collection of homes across Southern California, including a Malibu beach house and a Colonial-style spot in Brentwood.
Another of her former homes, a custom estate in the hills of Beverly Crest, just surfaced for sale at $12 million.
The hillside house was built for Garbo in 1937, two years before her Oscar-nominated performance in the comedy film “Ninotchka.” The reclusive actress sought privacy at the time, so the architect sacrificed views in favor of small windows and towering adobe walls
Seven decades later, the place was reimagined by interior designer Nicole Sassaman, who took the nearderelict residence and kept its curvy lines while adding bigger windows, glass walls and an infinity pool out back. She also tacked on a second story, doubling the square footage.
Today, the home holds six bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms across 4,675 square feet, including a primary suite with Garbo’s original fireplace. Wood and stone combine in the common spaces, which include an open-concept living room, kitchen with tiered island and multiple dining areas.
Wood decks run along the side of the home, and out back, a second-story terrace takes in views of the grassy backyard and the canyons below.
A native of Sweden, Garbo starred in both silent and sound films with iconic roles in “Ninotchka,” “Camille,” “Anna Christie” and “Mata Hari.”
Mark Mintz of Compass holds the listing.
The house that ‘Resident Evil’ built
Milla Jovovich, the actress who was at one point the highest-paid model in the world, just got a little bit richer, selling her Beverly Hills abode for $13.4 million.
One could call it the house that “Resident Evil” built. Jovovich, who starred in all six installments in the action horror film franchise, owned the home with her husband, Paul W.S. Anderson, who served as a director and producer in the series. They bought the estate for $8.5 million in 2007, records show.
The compound includes multiple structures that combine for seven bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms across 11,000 square feet. There’s a Mediterranean-style main house, two-bedroom guesthouse, cabana and gym all surrounding a leafy backyard with a pool and spa.
A stone entryway leads to the ivy-and-stucco exterior, which opens to vast, open spaces marked by dark hardwoods and light tile floors. Highlights include a two-story living room with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, chandelier-topped dining area, kitchen with an oversize island, office and movie theater.
Flagstone patios expand the space outside, where rolling lawns, vegetable gardens and viewing decks fill out the half-acre grounds.
Josh Altman, Matt Altman and Jacob Greene of Douglas Elliman held the listing.
A native of Ukraine, Jovovich is a model, musician and actress best known as the star of the “Resident Evil” film franchise. Her other credits include “Zoolander,” “The Fifth Element” and “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.”
Anderson is a writer, producer and director with 18 film credits over the last three decades including “Mortal Kombat,” “Alien vs. Predator” and 2020’s “Monster Hunter,” which starred Jovovich.