Rodeo Realty Journal May 2014

RODEO REALTY JOURNAL

local expertise, global presence.

May 2014

INDEX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1-7

Rodeo Realty Welcomes New Agents

8-9

Hot Properties

10-12

Hot Sales

13

Rodeo Realty at the Pali Expo

13

Rodeo Realty Movie Day

14-17

Agent Appreciation Letters

18-19

Rodeo Realty In The News

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES

RODEO REALTY

1

Welcomes You

Alison Winston Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310)651-0336 direct: (310)724-7100 alison@rodeore.com www.centurycityre.com Marc Monsod Rodeo Realty Sunset Strip cell: (310)746-8207 direct: (310)461-0400 marc.monsod@rodeore.com Gregory Skowronek Rodeo Realty Encino cell: (818)691-4310 direct: (818)990-0461 gregory@rodeore.com Gena Pasquini Rodeo Realty Westlake Village cell: (805) 558-0738 direct: (805) 494-0449 genapasquini@rodeore.com Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

2

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES

RODEO REALTY

Welcomes You

Wallace Leifer Rodeo Realty Pacific Palisades cell: (310)308-8089 direct: (310)566-4400 wallace@rodeore.com Marie James Rodeo Realty Sherman Oaks cell: (818)261-4476 direct: (818)986-7300 re4mj@yahoo.com Ellen Eisenberg Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (917) 822-4222 direct: (310) 724-7100 eeisenberg25@gmail.com Sheryl Thornton Rodeo Realty Calabasas cell: (818)903-4749 direct: (818)222-7707 sheryllynnthornton@gmail.com www.surfhotproperties.com Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES

RODEO REALTY

3

Welcomes You

David Whitworth Rodeo Realty Brentwood cell: (310)625-5002 direct: (310)873-4100 davidwhitworth@rodeore.com Marek Swiderski Rodeo Realty Pacific Palisades cell: (424)256-9480 fax: (310)566-4499 marek@marekrealty.com Rosabel Acosta Rodeo Realty Woodland Hills cell: (818)233-6878 direct: (818)999-2030 rosabel@rodeore.com Jerry Goodman Rodeo Realty Woodland Hills cell: (818)324-7905 direct: (818)999-2030 jgoodman@rodeore.com Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

4

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES

Steve Shabkie Rodeo Realty Westlake Village cell: (805)428-7089 direct: (805)494-0449 steveshabkie@live.com Celeste Andrew-Drum Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310) 739-5538 direct: (310) 724-7100 celeste@rodeore.com Amelia Ellen Sargent Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310)601-6747 direct: (310)724-7100 amelia@rodeore.com Jacob Kushner Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310)595-5017 direct: (310)724-7100 jacob@rodeore.com Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES Lee Schackmann Rodeo Realty Pacific Palisades cell: (310)230-9233 direct: (310)566-4400 fax: (310)566-4499 lees@rodeore.com Armando Echeverria Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (818) 274-7683 direct: (310) 724-7100 fax: (310) 724-7131 armandoecheverria101@yahoo.com Daniel Mizrahi Rodeo Realty Sunset Strip cell: (323) 972-6964 direct: (310) 461-0400 danielmizrahi.realestate@gmail.com Shane Nichols Rodeo Realty Woodland Hills cell: (818) 312-3164 direct: (818) 999-2030 shane@rodeore.com

Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

5

6

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES Charles Esposito

Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310)745-3919 direct: (310)724-7100 fax: (310)724-7131 homewithcharles@gmail.com www.kesslerbergingroup.com Michael Gordon Rodeo Realty Encino cell: (818)590-5610 direct: (818)990-0454 michaelgordon@rodeore.com Carmit Benbaruh Rodeo Realty Encino cell: (310)779-7676 direct: (818)990-0454 fax: (818)990-0461 carmitb@rodeore.com Stuart K Sellers Rodeo Realty Pacific Palisades cell: (310) 487-0992 direct: (310) 566-4400 stuartsellers@rodeore.com

Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

RODEO REALTY NEW HIRES Cindy France Rodeo Realty Woodland Hills cell: (818) 439-5591 direct: (818) 999-2030 cindyfrance@rodeore.com Michael Moline Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (818) 519-4822 direct: (310) 724-7100 mmoline@rodeore.com Leilani Ishikawa Rodeo Realty Brentwood cell: (323)229-6564 direct: (310)461-0400 lei@inbevhills.com Darren Cardona Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills cell: (310)490-7800 direct: (310) 724-7100 darrencardona@rodeore.com

Thank you for the confidence you have entrusted in me and my team.

Welcome to the Rodeo Realty family -- Syd Leibovitch

7

8

HOT PROPERTIES GOT A HOT PROPERTY with celebrity credentials?

Tell us about it: mediarelations@rodeore.com

The writers at L.A. Confidential recently rounded up a tempting list of homes that would be the ideal place to spend the warm weather. One of them was Nanette Marchand’s listing on Linda Isle in Newport Beach.

Linda Isle is a 24-hour guard gated community that offers privacy and exclusivity. The five-bedroom estate was built in the 1970’s for Robert & Shirlee Guggenheim and was designed for entertaining with an enviable waterfront location that is only enhanced by a lagoon style pool & spa. The home has 105 feet of water frontage with a private pier. It is listed for $11.85 million.

Hope Faust has the listing for Peacock Hill Ranch in Shadow Hills. Down the road from the Angeles National Forest and bordering miles of trails at Hansen Dam, it’s hard to believe this 7-Acre idyllic country escape is just 30 minutes from all the city of LA has to offer. Built in 1939, owned by the daughter of the original Sky King and once home to a steed named Silver of The Lone Ranger fame, this sprawling residential compound with a working horse ranch is a private Ponderosa of Hollywood history. It is listed for $4 million.

The stunning VIllia Fiona was recently featured by Pricey Pads. This ornate villa is located in the prestigious Outpost Estates in the Hollywood Hills offering picturesque views of Runyon Canyon and Hollywood.

The home is appointed with custom made fixtures and a variety of materials imported from Italy. The entire structure is extensively painted with original works by florentine painter, and restorer of the Vatican, Antonio D’Atellis. It is listed for $8.395 million with Joe Babajian.

Joyce Butler’s listing in Bel Air was chosen by Los Angeles Confidential as one of the most spectacular pools in Los Angeles.This newer privately gated Tuscan villa was built by Aulert Development and offers luxury on a grand scale. It features a screening room, office, game room, temperate controlled wine room, family room and has both indoor and outdoor kitchens. There are numerous verandas and balconies to enjoy the ultimate California lifestyle by the beautiful pool and spa. It is listed for $9.45 million.

HOT PROPERTIES

9

The home of baseball legend Barry Zito was recently featured by the LATimes.com. This home offers extraordinary views from the San Gabriel mountains to Catalina Island. Every inch of this architectural beauty was brilliantly designed for a maximum use of space. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, floor to ceiling windows throughout plus pool and spa. As befits the residence of a Cy Young and World Series winning pitcher it is equipped with a MLB practice pitching mound! There is abundant parking which is a real plus in the hills. For those seeking privacy and spectacular views, this modern style home will exceed ALL expectations . It is listed for $4.2 million with Bruce Walker of Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills.

The home of fashion designer and celebrity stylist Dina Bar-El in Beverly Hills, listed with Joe Babajian, was featured on the Zillow blog. The home, which has been remodeled extensively, is in an excellent neighborhood. It is listed for $5.495 million.

“It’s such a desirable location, someone would want to build their dream house or do a major remodel,” Babajian said about the property in the article.

Zillow chose the historic Rosenheim mansion as the house of the week and is was also featured by the Los Angeles Times.

This home is recognizable to fans all across the country as the “Murder House” in the first season of “American Horror Story” but the home’s real history is much less scary. The six-bedroom home in the Country Club Park area of Los Angeles was built in 1907 by architect Alfred F. Rosenheim as a private residence.

It was later owned by the Catholic Church which constructed a chapel on the property that has since been turned into a recording studio. The home is listed with Joe Babajian for $5 million.

Robin Lucas has the listing for a large property on Natoma Estates Drive in Woodland Hills. Situated on 4 acres of exquisite landscaping overlooking the Santa Monica Nature Preserve, the long driveway leads to a dramatic 5 BR,7 BA Mediterranean estate. The home has vaulted ceilings,an expansive living room,FDR,library/office,breakfast room, and a spacious gourmet kitchen with Viking and Subzero appliances and custom cabinetry. The circular staircase leads up to the second floor which includes a luxurious master suite w sitting rm, Glass doors open out to the grounds complete with patios, built in BBQ, infinity pool, sports court and lawn.

10

HOT SALES

Ben Salem has sold the Brentwood home belonging to Linkin Park member Joe Hahn. The transaction was covered by the LA Times Hot Property section.

Tom Otero handled the lease for Adam Carolla’s expansive compound in the Lake Hollywood area. The lease was reported by the Trulia Luxe Living blog.

Geri Berger of Rodeo Realty Sunset Strip was the buyer’s agent on the sale of Zac Efron’s Hollywood Hills property. The sale was covered by the Trulia blog and Curbed among others.

HOT SALES

11

Bruce Walker sold this charming home in the Windsor Square area for $2.4 million. The listing was featured on the Hooked on Houses blog and the LA Times tweeted about the sale, calling the home “cute as a button.”

Lou Woolf sold Pink’s home in Sherman Oaks. Lou handled both sides of the transaction. The story was reported by the Hollywood Reporter and the L.A. Times among others.

Allyson Carter was the listing agent on a Studio City property sold by movie producer Thomas Jacomb and bought by actor Ryan Hansen.The sale was reported on by the LA Times Hot Property section and other outlets.

12

HOT SALES

Ben Bacal of Rodeo Realty Sunset Strip sold this trophy property in the Hollywood Hills “Bird Streets� area for $19 million.

Rodeo Realty Northridge agent Michelle Kong closed a sale on a commercial property in Los Angeles for $2.15 million.

Barbra Stover handled both sides of the transaction of the sale of the home of the late Dr. Jerry Buss. The sale was covered by the LA Times and Realtor.com among others.

PACIFIC PALISADES OFFICE AT PALI EXPO

13

Things are happening in Pacific Palisades! Rodeo Realty President Syd Leibovitch, Pacific Palisades Office Manager Kris Mooney, Pacific Palisades Assistant Office Manager Allison Gold and the rest of the Palisades team were on hand at the Pali Expo on May 18, handing out keychains and grocery bags and meeting with locals. More great Palisades events coming soon!

RODEO REALTY MOVIE DAYS We will not be having office meetings next week.

Rather then office meetings we will be seeing the movie Chef. It is a great movie about the power of Twitter, and other video, photo and social marketing. It is also a great story about not compromising, loving what you do and taking pride in your work, while keeping track of what’s really important.

Wednesday June 4 at 10 AM at the Century City AMC in the Westfield Century City.

Thursday June 5 at 10 AM at the Arclight in the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

14

Appreciation Letters From Clients

Frank Burns Your firm recently sold a piece of property in Agua Dulce for my late husband’s corporation, Werbco Construction Corp. This was a most difficult sale and everything that could go wrong did go wrong. This transaction dragged on for nearly six months.

Frank Burns did a wonderful job. He dealt calmly with every crisis, kept the buyers from giving up, and continually gave me hope that this sale WAS going to happen.

Any less skilled salesperson would have thrown their hands up in frustration. But not Frank. If it wasn’t for Frank and his dogged determination, this sale would not have happened.

He is a joy to work with and I would highly recommend him and your agency to anyone who is looking to buy or sell property in Southern California.

Sincerely, Sharon R. Werbel President, Werbco Construction Company

Ed Dolce I would like to compliment you and Rodeo Realty for the complete professionalism provided by Edward Dolce. Ed was a complete pleasure to work with, and dealt with numerous challenging situations in a positive manner. Ed went out of his way on a daily basis to assist us in our search for a residence. Ed was constantly available and returned every phone call in a timely manner. His energy and attitude reflect a positive image for Rodeo Realty.

Our decision to select Ed as our Agent came through a referral of a mutual acquaintance that spoke extremely highly of Ed’s abilities as a Real Estate Agent. As a result of Ed’s professionalism, we would welcome the opportunity to work with Rodeo Realty in the future, and will take every opportunity to provide referrals your way.

Please thank Ed on behalf of the Fagetan family.

Sincerely, Dan Fagetan

Appreciation Letters From Clients

15

Jeff Hartman I am compelled to write to you and let you know how incredibly delighted I was with the services of one of your agents, Jeff Hartman.

From the first moment we met, I knew Jeff was special. My wife, Betty and I went to see what was to have been an open house in Northridge. It was actually a listing with Rodeo. No one appeared at the open house. As we were heading back home, we saw a sign for another open house with Rodeo. We followed the signs to the house and there we met Jeff. We let him know of our desire to see the “open house� which was not opened. He arranged to have someone cover for him at the open house he was showing and took Betty and I to the home we desired to see. As it turns out, an offer had been accepted on the home the previous day.

Over the next couple of months, Jeff continuously updated us regarding available homes within the price range and geographic area we desired. There was never a time when he was unable to arrange the opportunity for us to see the house on very short notice. Over that period, we did make a few offers, but found ourselves to either be a dollar short or a day late, almost literally.

Ultimately we did find a house where our offer was accepted. We finally closed escrow on the house on May 2, 2014. Not without experiencing more difficulties than I had ever anticipated. Although there were numerous pratfalls, including the first lender rejecting the loan, having a seller who was totally uncooperative and regularly misrepresented the facts and having an agent for the seller who did absolutely nothing during the whole transaction, (in fact, even the seller admitted he had never even met his own agent). Jeff took on the role of both agent to make sure everybody was doing what they needed to do in a timely way and would update Betty and I on a dialy basis, if not more regularly throughout the entire transaction. this continued to be true even while he was on vacation in Mexico, where I would receive daily phone calls and numerous emails.

16

Appreciation Letters From Clients

Sheri Weisbender We would like to let you know how great it was to work with Sheri Weisbender on the sale of our late father’s house, and how pleased and impressed we were with how eveything worked out. From our very first encounter with her, when my sister and I were interviewing potential listing agents, it was immediately obvious to us that she was the best choice, from her knowledge of the local market and thorough preparation for our meeting, her proposed strategy for marketing the house, and especially her promises to keep us fully informed of what was happening at all times, and to take on much of the effort of arranging for and dealing with inspections, repairs, and all the other work (which was quite extensive) needed to get the house in shape for showing--promises that she kept faithfully. It would have been extremely difficult for us, living an hour’s drive away from the house, to manage with a less dedicated agent; Sheri took care of almost everything.

Also her advice has been impeccable from the beginning, on matters including: fixing the asking price, deciding what repairs and improvements were essential and which could be skipped, finding and supervising contractors to carrry out the work, evaluating the offers that came in (five witihin the first few days of listing!), preparin counteroffers, selecting the primary and backup offers, negotiating with the eventual buyers, etc. We are sure that we could not have reached a better outcome, nor gotten there more quickly and smoothly, with any other agent.

We are glad to take this opportunity to tell you about our excellent experience, and to wholeheartedly recommend Sheri to anyone in need of an agent.

Sincerely, Jay and Andrea Labinger Gail Cane Gail, We don’t even know where to begin, you have exceded our expectations beyond anything we could have dreamed. Everything you promised you would do, you did, and beyond!! We could not recommend a better agent in all of California because you are the best!! Thank you for everything, we are so lucky to have had someone that cared more for our well being than you cared about the sale. You really are a rare breed and we have never met a harder worker!!

Thanks again, Delwyn and Lacee Young PS As an agent myself in Beverly Hills I have learned more from you over the course of this sale than I ever have before from some of the best in the biz. Being from Texas, you are the first agent I have met in this city that has the down-to-earth compassion I try to bring to my own clients. You are one in a million and I hope to be half of the agent you are one day!! Thank you so much for not only moving our home quickly but for teaching me all you have. You are a class act and the best there is!! - Lacee Bingham Young

Appreciation Letters From Clients

17

Tina Longobart To Whom It May Concern: What a pleasure and privilege it is to write this letter of appreciation for Tina Longobart. As a real estate agent, she is a consumate professional who worked tirelessly to ensure our home sold quickly with the minimum of difficulties. From the moment we met, she made the process of selling our home in Sherman Oaks understandable, efficient, and hassle free. Anyone hoping to buy or sell real estate would be lucky to have Tina as their agent.

From the initial interview, Tina’s competence had a calming effect on us. She knows her market and priced our home for a rapid sale as well as a comfortable net profit for us. A huge bonus to having Tina working for you is her in-depth knowledge of the escrow process, since she was formerly in the escrow side of the real estate business. She was always available by phone or text messages, and promptly returned calls or texts. She made sure to keep us up to date on the step-by-step process involved in a real estate transaction and always knew how all aspects of the sale were proceeding.

Tina is good-natured, reassuring, at all times professional, competent, and worked tirelessly on our behalf.

Within one day of contracting her as our agent, she had a professional photographer take pictures of our entire home, and within a few days the pictures and the listing were online, showing our property to maximum effect.

She was at every inspection, walk-through, and even oversaw the retrofits that were necessary to bring our Townhouse up to code. She hand delivered all the required paperwork and patiently explained each document and its importance in our sale. In short, we could not have asked for a more competent and professional agent who went the extra mile to make sure our home sold quickly and that both the sellers and the buyers walked away very pleased with the transaction.

Thank you, Tina, for helping to make our dreams come true.

Sincerely, Dan Levine and Judy Sanders

18

RODEO REALTY IN THE NEWS

Rodeo Realty Named To RISMedia’s Top 500 Power Brokers List Rodeo Realty had a strong showing in this year’s RISMedia Power Brokers list.

Rodeo Realty ranked #25 in volume and 82 in transactions.

RISMedia President & CEO John Featherston congratulated Rodeo Realty for their prestigious ranking in this year’s survey. “The firms represented are the nation’s most elite brokerage firms serving literally millions of consumers with their real estate needs,” Featherston said. “2013 was a turnaround year for real estate firms across the country, as consumer confidence in housing returned and buyers flooded back into the marketplace. But there are many challenges ahead for brokers and agents, from low inventory to lingering economic uncertainty.

Discerning real estate consumers will look to proven real estate professionals to help guide them toward the best decision. Being included in the Power Broker Report validates your firm’s reputation as a trusted resource for today’s homebuyers and sellers.”

MortgageLoan.com recently published an instructive article on how to win a bidding war and turned to a couple of Rodeo Realty agents for advice. Rodeo Realty’s Blayne Pacelli pointed out that having fewer contingencies and waiving inspection can help a lot in a bidding war: “Listing agents and sellers love to know that we are not going to beat them down in escrow 10 days after we open escrow.” He also advises paying for the home warranty.

Other strategies involve looking at things from the seller’s angle. Personal letters can work and also giving the sellers more time to move can help them feel more confident in accepting your offer. This was the advice from Rodeo Realty’s Aaron Scott who pointed out that knowing the seller’s motivation is key: “Everyone is motivated by dollars and cents but things like the school calendar, finding the right home of choice or the luxury of not having to move twice have great value to sellers.”

Rodeo Realty’s Ben Salem was recently featured in the San Fernando Busisness Journal for breaking ground on what will be the first of three upscale multi-family projects. The Weddington Villas is a a seven-unit townhome complex on Sepulveda Boulevard near the Sherman Oaks Galleria that will have 2,000-square-foot units with the latest amenities. Ben was quoted in the article describing the units saying that he wanted to do something that has never been done in the Valley before. “This is going to be super sexy and sort of New York,” he told the Journal. “Elevators going directly into the buildings, terraces on the roof, a lot of exposed steel – something very young and hip.”

RODEO REALTY IN THE NEWS

19

Realtor.com highlighted Carol Wolfe’s 40 years in real estate with a profile that included an infographic on Carol’s keys to success. Carol believes in always being available and being extraordinarily receptive to her clients. “I wake up early and go to bed late. I am constantly on the Internet and connected to clients and responsive to my client’s needs 24/7”.

Wendy Furth, Assistant Manager of Rodeo Realty Encino is pictured at left with CAR Directors from the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS visiting Assemblyman Matt Dababneh of District 45 in his Sacramento office.

-At right Wendy is with Congressman Brad Sherman at the Washington DC NAR Midyear Meetings Ron Maman of Rodeo Realty Sherman Oaks was part of a Los Angeles Times feature on anti-mansionization rules and their impact on local neighborhoods. Maman pointed out that tighter restrictions on home sizes can impact home values. “You’re putting a ceiling on what people can do with their properties,” he said in the article.

Jay Geisenheimer of Rodeo Realty Studio City was a major contributor to the The McKinley Alumni Scholarship program to benefit one graduating John Burroughs High School senior who started out at McKinley Elementary. She is shown with this year’s winner Cheyenne Castro. The awards ceremony was featured on MyBurbank.com

Get some great press? Share it with us at mediarelations@rodeore.com