These properties have the goods when it comes to being ready and well stocked for pool season.

So, let's don bathing suits and raise an umbrella drink to the glory of the SoCal pool life.

The Water's Edge Above San Diego

This Mediterranean-inspired estate used to be home to a female world number one tennis pro. It's wood covered patio leads to waterfall grottos that flow into an infinity edge pool that looks out on views of Rancho Santa Fe and the San Dieguito River Valley.

Infinity edge pools trick the eye into thinking that water has no boundaries. Standing inside the pool and looking west, a swimmer would have the illusion of the water blending seamlessly with the pale blue sky.

This pool would be the perfect 19th hole after a day spent swinging clubs on the Crosby Golf Club course.

Splash Around In Sheryl Crow's Former Pad

Sheryl Crow relisted her three-home spread this year. Consisting of a Spanish Revival style house, a craftsman's home, and a cozy cottage, this LA compound could rock any size party.

Take the winding pathways between properties, past the tepee, to a pleasant infinity pool with plenty of comfy lounge chairs and shady spots to kick back.

The pool was designed by Jonny Appleseed Landscaping who brings 25 years of garden and pool making experience to craft an outdoor oasis that considers the wind, weather, sun, and style as all part of the design.

A Blend of Water and Concrete Becomes a Work of Art

This modern Rancho Santa Fe estate melds the indoors and outdoors with wet and dry spaces in an architectural pattern that is both artful and soothing.

Blue tiles blur the water's edge that jigsaws through the palatial patio space, running at one point under a shady portico and in other spots reflecting the passing clouds in the open sky above.

While this massive pool begs the owner to invite many guests, a smaller plunge pool nearby offers a peaceful place for quiet introspection or more intimate gatherings.

Open Space and Clean White Lines Lead to This Pool

This tropical Encino home features fine architecture on a green lot with a huge pool in the backyard.

Swim laps in the big pool before recovering in the connected whirlpool spa. A great expanse of space bordered by tall trees, this gleaming place belongs to those hearty souls wanting to swim freely, breath deeply, and enjoy the feel of cool water on their backs and soft grass between their toes.

The post Dive Into Pool Season At These Southern California Luxury Properties appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is not shy about her passion for house flipping. It's "really a genuine passion of mine, not just a business venture," she told PEOPLE in 2015.

That passion has led Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi to purchase and re-design over a dozen homes in the last twenty years.

Ellen's 2015 book, Home, showcases her interior design work over the years. Her love of homes began young when she used to wander through listings with her real estate agent Mother. She told QVC, “I got to see how other people decorated, and for whatever reason, I was drawn to that."

There's a reason insiders refer to Ellen as "The real estate queen of Hollywood." In 2005, Ellen bought a 4,000 square foot, 5 bedroom home in the Hollywood Hills for $6.5 million, she packaged it with another nearby property and sold it for $10 million in 2007. Then, she purchased the same property again in 2014 for $8.75 million–briefly rented it to Nick Jonas, then sold it in an off-market deal for $9.9 million. As if netting 3.5 million the first time wasn't enough, Ellen added another million-plus in profit after selling it a second time.

One of Ellen's most rustic and romantic homes is “The Villa” a Santa Barbara terra-cotta and tile manse that looks like it came straight out of a vineyard in Tuscany. Designed in 1930 by architect Wallace Frost (who spent time living in Italy) the 10,500-square-foot estate has 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 9 fireplaces a tennis court, pool, and guest villa. Ellen and Portia purchased the 16-plus acre property in 2013 for $28.8 million and sold it this month for $34 million– clearing just over $5 million.

Ellen's designs always fit the style of the home she's selling, but one furniture piece that appears prominently in many her homes is the Cité side chair by Prouvé.

Jeremy Renner

The Avengers and The Hurt Locker star formed a partnership with Kristoffer Winters to buy and sell over two dozen Southern California homes.

When it comes to re-designing a space, Jeremy makes it clear this is more than a hobby for him, "you have to be all in. There's no half-assing it," he told Robb Report in 2016.

Jeremy loves the problem-solving aspect of working within a budget and meeting time constraints to create something beautiful and profitable.

He advises making a home clean and inviting to whoever might want to buy it, by using neutral colors on walls and in furniture selection. Try using throw pillows and a painting on the wall to add a pop of color.

In the early days, Renner lived in most of the homes he was working on. He bought his first mid-century-modern Nichols Canyon house for $640,000 in 2002. He sold that one in a few months for $900,000. Now, he and Winters have graduated into bigger renovation projects with massive paydays.

Those early sales seem like chump change compared to one of Renner's biggest flips. He purchased a drab home in Holmby Hills in 2010 for $7 million. After some serious beautification–Jeremy sold that property for $24 million in 2013. That sale put more money in Jeremy's pocket than playing a Marvel superhero.

Vanilla Ice

Rob Van Winkle, who went by the well-known moniker "Vanilla Ice" during his early '90s rap career has been netting big profits as a house flipper for the past two decades.

The real estate entrepreneur has hosted the DIY networks successful series The Vanilla Ice Project for seven seasons.

Rob focuses on the Palm Beach Florida market–an area he knows extremely well. “A lot of the areas that got hit hard during the housing downturn are some of the first areas to come back out of it because they were desirable then and they're desirable now," he told CNBC in 2012.

One project that Vanilla Ice seems especially proud of is the completely renovated and custom designed estate he calls, "The Dream House." The deepwater estate has the latest technology throughout, a private beach, and Jet-Ski lift off the dock. It sold last year for $3.8 million. As Rob would say, that's, "nice, nice, baby!"

Among the features home buyers look for, Rob mentions feng shui, vaulted ceilings, eight-foot doors, and lush backyards on properties close to airports, restaurants, and shopping.

It takes experience and patience to become a successful house flipper. Getting to know an area, investing in attractive interior design, and knowing what buyers are looking for are a few of the first steps towards flipping right.

The post This Is What You Call A Flip! Ellen DeGeneres, Jeremy Renner, Among Top Luxury House Flippers appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Designed by Ambrose Cramer, this residence sits on 3.5 acres and is an oasis of verdant tranquility.

Imagine a gourmet’s dream kitchen that is light-filled with cathedral ceilings.

Relax in a warm, beamed great room that fills the eye with magnificent scenery at every turn. Revel in a media room built for earnest entertainment. Meander around a reflecting pond reminiscent of the great estates of Europe.

Meticulous gardens, expansive lawns, and ebullient entertaining areas abound.

The spectacular views of Montecito Peak and the shimmering waves of the Pacific Ocean make this home one of the crown jewels of Southern California.

Address: 1599 E Valley Rd, Montecito, CA 93108

Price: $16,800,000

Bedrooms: 8

Bathrooms: 9

View the listing here. 

For more information, contact Jeff Hyland at 310-278-3311 or jeff@hiltonhyland.com.

Jeff Hyland is the exclusive agent representing the Bel Air, California real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

Images courtesy of Hilton & Hyland

The post Elegant Montecito Estate With Old-Day European Sophistication appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.