Elton John

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Highly acclaimed musical artist Elton John and his husband, filmmaker David Furnish, have acquired a sprawling real estate portfolio with properties across the globe. The couple owns various estates in the U.K., lavish homes in the south of France as well as in Venice, Italy. In the United States, they also own a mansion sized condo in Atlanta, Georgia but reportedly spend most of their time at an impressive two-house compound in Beverly Hills, California.

Now, John and Furnish are adding yet another property to their portfolio with a second Beverly Hills residence. This newfound abode is actually the property immediately neighboring to their longtime residence. The home was purchased from a family who has reportedly owned the house for decades before selling it to John and Furnish in an off market for $8.5 million.

Located in the coveted neighborhood of Trousdale Estates, John and Furnish’s newfound abode spans 5,343 square feet with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Built in 1968, the single story home captures a midcentury modern feel yet has been modified over the years. The exterior walls have been painted a mustard yellow and the property is walled and gated for security. As this deal took place off the market, information regarding the interior layout remains largely unknown. However, the property does offer a near half acre of exterior landscape. Out back, the space presents a swimming pool, lush lawn, and spacious motor court for multiple cars.

The post Still Standing In Beverly Hills: Elton John Purchases His Next-Door Neighbor’s Home For $8.5 Million appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Cindy Crawford

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Cindy Crawford was deemed one of the most recognized supermodels in the 1980s and 1990s gracing the cover of multiple magazines, walking runway shows, and serving as the face of fashion campaigns. She has since expanded into other ventures and in 1998, married nightlight industry businessman Rande Gerber. Gerber co-founded the tequila brand Casamigos with acclaimed actor George Clooney in 2013. In 2017, Crawford and Gerber purchased a mid-century modern home in Beverly Hills for $11.6 million through a trust. However, the two are now bidding farewell to their humble abode listing it on the market for an initial price $15.995 million last August. Since then, the price has been reduced to $14.75 million in May before recently securing a buyer. While the transaction has yet to appear in public records and the buyer’s identity remains anonymous, the home was last listed at $13.5 million.

Additionally, the celebrity couple have secured several other properties with two homes in Malibu, a vacation home in La Quinta’s Madison Club, and a cottage in Canada. Aside from Crawford and Gerber though, other notable names in the entertainment industry have inhabited their Beverly Hills abode. OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder and his wife, Genevieve, purchased the house in 2014 and spent almost two years restoring and expanding the property. Prior to their residence, the space belonged to film producer Gregory Goodman of “Jason Bourne” and “Captain Phillips.”

In 2019, Crawford spoke to Architectural Digest about her Beverly Hills home. “It's midcentury modern, so it's been fun putting it through our own filter. We make a lot of our upholstery,” she explains. “My husband is very, very picky about the cushion density and seat depth because he's taller.” However, Crawford also claims that Gerber “would sacrifice functionality for the look” in certain aspects of their home while her utmost priority lies in comfortability.

Built in 1959, the chic mid-century modern home spans 5,386 square feet and includes five bedrooms and 5.5 baths. The single-story space rests beyond gated walls in the posh Trousdale Estates neighborhood and has been completely renovated and restored during Tedder’s residence. The open floor plan presents four separate lounging areas partially separated by a dividing wall with sleek fireplace and wet bar. The sky-lit kitchen and adjacent dining area offer an atmosphere perfect for entertaining. The separate media room is equipped with sliding doors to provide privacy and distinct from the kitchen area. Stepping outside, the expansive exterior opens to a large swimming pool and spa with adjoining daybeds. The seating area is surrounded by a firepit, fruit trees, and art installations.

Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency represented both the buyer and seller in this deal.

For more on the latest in luxury real estate, visit hauteresidence.com.

The post Mid-Century Market: Cindy Crawford Sells Beverly Hills Home For $13.5 Million appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Fridman’s illustrious career from assisting his mother in their family business, his growth of knowledge and expertise in the Los Angeles, California area, and his ascendancy to the top 1% of the luxury real estate market.

With over $3 billion in career sales, and breaking the $500,000,000 mark for closed sales in a single year, Tomer continues to be ranked as one of America’s Best Real Estate Agents by Wall Street Journal/Real Trends. Growing up in Los Angeles in a real estate family, he claims, “there was always real estate talk at the dinner table when I was younger.” He continues, “I really started as my mom’s assistant. I put up signs, learned the business by meeting clients, knowing the inventory, and knowing the product. That is an invaluable tool. It is a great learning experience on site.”

Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? Where were you born?

Tomer Fridman: I was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, but I grew up in L.A. and I grew up in a real estate family. My mom was an agent. She still is. She is my business partner. I came into a premade business and my job was to expand it. It was a double edged sword because when you come into a family owned business, you really have to step it up and you really have to perform, The way I see it is if you do not know how to mop the floor, you cannot be in the corner office.

SS: When was the first time you brought in a deal?

TF: I represented a very, very high-profile singer. I thought, “I’m not even in this caliber to represent someone like this,” but I showed the houses very methodically. You have to know the product. You have to know your stuff. They were impressed enough to start with that and from there, I built a substantial entertainment based clientele, but the first one was Britney Spears.

SS: In your opinion, what makes a successful realtor?

TF: I am just the service provider and my clients are the focal point. I always try to make the client and the property the focal point rather than me. I pride myself in not being a sales person. I am more of an advisor, a consultant, and sometimes a confidant. You are dealing with homes and not just houses. However, you also have to look at return on investment. You have to look at all these contingencies and balance the business and the emotional side.

SS: I would love to hear about where your mom's business was and how you as a team grew it to the next level.

TF: You have to build your brand identity. The most important thing is having the integrity and knowing the product. I was very, very product driven while my mom was more business driven. I took great pride in knowing the product and we are great combination. It is an evolution of honing your skills, so we were very lucky to build a very, very big business out of Calabasas.

SS: How would you want to be regarded as an agent?

TF: Collaborative. None of us are an island on our own. We all rely on one another. Respect your colleagues. There is a certain way to do business. In terms of someone getting a listing over you or losing a listing to someone, at the end of the day, if it is done properly and if it is done with integrity you overcome that and you move on.

SS: What makes you, in your opinion humble opinion, so great at what you do?

TF: You need to know your roots and you need to know where you came from. It is a constant evolution and learning process. I take great pride in learning from my colleagues. I really do think it is an evolution that has led to my success. It is learning every day, honing, and improving. I love co-listings because it is a learning experience. Collaboration is the key to success.

For more information, please contact Tomer Fridman at 310-919-1038 or tomer.fridman@compass.com

Tomer Fridman is the exclusive agent representing the Hidden Hills, Holmby Hills, and Trousdale Estates, California real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 4: Tomer Fridman appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Tomer Fridman presents

When an estate surpasses architecture and design, it becomes a work of art. Inspired by the iconic Reina Sofia museum in Madrid & built by a world-class art collector on the finest street in Holmby Hills, a spectacular backdrop was created for a personal collection of antiquities & contemporary art. After a decade, the result is rarefied 30,000 square feet of museum-quality rooms with soaring ceilings, carefully curated materials & a flow that makes this landmark home feel both expansive and intimate. From the soaring 30-foot entry with 400-year old Moorish columns & 16th/17th century Florentine carved ceilings, to the Art Deco library, which has been called "The Finest Room in LA," this rare blending of gallery, artistic temple & personal sanctuary only becomes available once in a lifetime. A gated compound, for the most discerning, features every conceivable amenity; a 3-story guesthouse w/a stunning cinema, an entertainment complex, outdoor ballroom, & manicured grounds of over 1.1 acres.

Address: 133 S Mapleton Drive, Holmby Hills, CA 90024

Price: $65,000,000

Photo Credit: Douglas Friedman

For more information, please contact Tomer Fridman at 310-919-1038 or tomer.fridman@compass.com

Tomer Fridman represents the Hidden Hills, Holmby Hills, and Trousdale Estates, CA, real estate markets as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. To view all of his listings, visit his website.

The post Tomer Fridman Presents An Iconic Estate In Holmby Hills appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.