A kind-hearted little birdie swooped by the other day and pointed Yolanda to a fully-renovated ranch house in Hidden Hills, way out in the San Fernando Valley. For those of y’all who may not know, Hidden Hills is a completely gated city of approximately 600 homes, many of them set on large, multi-acre properties. Back in the day, Hidden Hills was primarily made up of quaint, horsey ranches. It wasn’t a fancy place, there were no sidewalks, and most of the homes had whimsical signs out front that said things like “Home Sweet Home” and “So Happy Together“.
Well, there are still no sidewalks, and most homes still display the signs. But as was detailed by Vanity Fair, property values shot through the proverbial sky a few years ago when celebrities discovered the privacy and security that Hidden Hills’ gated nature affords. Today, even the shoddiest house in the community will run y’all at least $2 million and the area has become swarmed by famous folks — most of them athletes or musicians.
The incoming star power has brought a wild influx of newly-constructed mansions to the once-sleepy and pastoral community. Though about half the homes still have equestrian facilities, nowadays pedestrians who dare to walk the streets are far more likely to be hit by a speeding Ferrari or Bentley than by Roger the pony.
Anyway, according to our birdie — and confirmed by property records — the buyer of this particular Hidden Hills house is NFL star Brandin Cooks. Our Mr. Cooks has played professional football for both the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots, though he now toils as a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. In July 2018, Mr. Cooks signed an $81 million extension with the Rams, so it makes sense that he’d want to invest some of that cash into real estate.
And Mr. Cooks is a busy guy — in addition to signing his big football contract, he recently wed his longtime fiancee Briannon Lepman. And then, of course, he bought his first house. The Hidden Hills casa is a fine place for a young couple to live, and perhaps to start a family. When the time is right, of course.
In case y’all didn’t know, today is Mr. Cooks’ 25th birthday — happy bday, Mr. Cooks. Off the court, he is known for being a devout Christian, regularly tweeting Bible verses on his Twitter feed. He was born and raised in the Northern California town of Stockton, CA, which is also from where Ms. Lepman hails.
Sublimely located at the end of a private cul-de-sac, the house was originally built in 1958 as a modest ranch-style abode but was substantially renovated and expanded over the past year. Though still single-story, the structure now sports 4,850-square-feet of living space — definitely big but not overwhelmingly huge. The interiors are all-new and contemporary with the walls of glass, hardwood floors, and LED lighting we’ve come to expect from swanky high-end pads.
Originally listed for sale in July (2018), the house sold in just about six weeks for $5,450,000, or more than $1,000 per square foot.
The glassy two-car garage overlooks a spacious motorcourt, and a stone walkway leads past the front lawn to the home’s entryway. Once inside, y’all are greeted by wide-plank wood floors in the great room, which features a massive marble fireplace and a snazzy disappearing glass wall overlooking the valley below.
The great room opens to the completely redone kitchen, which features two center islands — one with bar-style seating — and high-end stainless appliances. Elsewhere is a formal dining area with a table that can seat 10, and outside is an barbecue center adjacent dining area and another bar. Despite the name, most homes in Hidden Hills are not set high enough to have views, but this place is situated up on a particularly tall knoll and therefore blessed with wide vistas of the surrounding countryside.
There are 4 beds and 4.5 bathrooms in the structure, and the light-filled master suite sports glassy windows and sliding doors, plus a sitting area, a fireplace, dual vanities and a soaking tub in the all-stone bathroom, and two spacious walk-in closets.
The 2.32-acre property has a generous backyard equipped with seating areas, a firepit, and even a winding path that leads down to a lower pasture area complete with a picturesque stable. The classy rectangular-shaped pool has an inset spa and is set just below a wooden deck — perfect for a patch of sunbathing.
Some of Mr. Cooks’ new Hidden Hills neighbors include athletes like Paul George, Vin Scully, and DeMar DeRozan. Other notable folks in the area include Drake, The Weeknd, cosmetics moguls Linda & Chris Tawil, beauty barons Dan & Sheree Funsch, lottery winner Ronald Willis, and several members of the Kardashian clan.
Listing agents: Marc & Rory Shevin, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Brandin Cooks’ agent: Jordan Cohen, Re/Max Olson & Associates