Over the weekend, Yolanda was reviewing the latest LA real estate transactions and we stumbled across this rather lovely mini-estate. Situated in the western part of the “Beverly Hills flats” neighborhood, the gracious 1938 Georgian Revival has a self-contained guesthouse and detached garage on a .28-acre lot.
According to tax information, the house quietly sold less than a month ago (in February 2018) for $6,700,000, and Yolanda quickly discovered that the new owner is top LA realtor/Bravolebrity Josh Altman and his wife Heather Bilyeu Altman.
(For the record, Mr. and Mrs. Altman’s names do not appear on the deed. The purchaser was a blind trust whose trustee is a well-known business manager. But hey, this is Hollywood. Even our real estate agents — especially our millionaire agents — need business managers).
Yolanda has to admit that we are a little shocked at Mr. Altman’s choice of home. We see him as the type of guy who would be happiest in a glassy, party-sized contemporary up in the hills somewhere. And indeed, Mr. Altman has lived in the foothills up above the Sunset Strip — records show that he has not yet sold his previous house, a rather fugly Richard Landry-designed sprawler up near the top of the Bird Streets neighborhood. Our boy picked up that place back in April 2016 for $6,221,250.
But maybe fatherhood has mellowed Mr. Altman (he and the missus are parents to a young daughter).
Anyway, the house was sold to the Altmans by Roxanne Storey, ex-wife of Reverend Tim Storey, the ordained minister/televangelist/motivational speaker whose parishioners/clients are some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Yolanda figures Ms. Storey must’ve had her ex bless her home in God’s name, because the $6.7 million sale price is almost $3 million more than she paid a decade ago. Hallelujah!
A gated red brick walkway leads past a meticulously maintained front garden (full of roses and such) to the stately 5,004-square-foot red brick residence. The ol’ gurl’s white exterior contrasts nicely with her black shutters. Four slender columns gracefully travel up to the roofline. Damn, this gal knows how to dress!
Inside, the done-done-done interior shows nicely with its checkerboard marble floors in the entryway, the ebonized walnut floors in other public spaces, and the designer-done kitchen with its top-notch Viking appliances.
The cozy family room has a custom oak ceiling and both it and the living room have fireplaces. Also somewhere downstairs is a library/study with real books on real bookshelves. How quaint!
The 5-bed/4-bath main house has a covered loggia out back with a dining space and a fireplace for those cool spring nights.
A dog-run-sized patch of grass leads down to the saltwater swimming pool and the raised spa. There’s a proper pool cabana plus a 1-bed/1-bath guest house of indeterminate square footage.
Marketing materials shout about how this place “is elegant luxury minutes from Rodeo Drive & the Golden Triangle“. And that is true — it is conveniently situated walking distance from high-end shopping and dining options. Which is nice, but it’s almost a little too conveniently situated for Yolanda. The house is only about 30 seconds from the busy-busy-busy intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, which means the Altmans might have to put up with traveling exhaust fumes and such.
But if you crazy kids fancy a little hustle ‘n bustle with your living circumstances, this is a winner.
Listing agent: Greg Engel, Compass
Josh Altman’s agent: Matt Altman, Douglas Elliman