By Billy Rose

Though we’ve never been ambitious enough (or probably physically able) to actually enjoy this ideal day, my wife and I have enjoyed various versions of this day:

Life at a Higher Level: Residents at The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE enjoy VIP treatment on the most exhilarating block of the most exciting neighborhood in the most exceptional city.

Early morning, we’d hit the Los Angeles Flower Market (at 766 Wall Street). The beauty of all the blooms, and the divine fragrance, is reason enough to visit at least once. The incredible selection and astounding prices keep us coming back.

From there, we’d head to Handsome Coffee for a handcrafted cup of Joe.

Now that we’ve gotten our morning energy jolt, a stroll around the new, rectangular 12 acre Grand Park is a great way to welcome the new day.

To address our recently developed appetite, we head over to Fig@7th, which recently opened and has several mouth-watering options, including The Flying Pig Café, Juicy Lucy, Loteria Grill, The Melt and Mendocino Farms.

To beat the heat or escape the rain, we duck in to one or more of downtown’s exceptional museums [our faves are Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Grammy Museum; though we can’t wait for the new Broad Museum to open on Grand Avenue!]. Have cocktails on one of the broad terraces at Perch and catch the sunset and some of the skyline’s
best views.

If you can score some tickets, it’s hard to beat a Lakers, Clippers or Kings game at STAPLES Center (we like to drop in to the Chairman’s Lounge or Hyde and run in to some old friends — or make new ones!).

For dinner, we love Bestia, Parish and, of course, WP24.

And, if you want to keep the night going, there’s no better nightlife space in all of Los Angeles than The Edison.

For our long-deserved good night’s sleep, we like to treat ourselves with the luxury and white-glove service of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel at LA LIVE.

The post The Agency’s Guide To Downtown Los Angeles appeared first on The Agency.

The landmark House Of Rock in Santa Monica is the cover feature in the April issue of Design Bureau, and in conjunction with the exclusive look inside the home, the magazine has launched an interactive online experience that stylishly showcases all that makes this estate property truly one of a kind.

For the interactive piece, Design Bureau teamed with Chicago creative agency Someoddpilot to capture behind-the-scenes video of the feature photo shoot. Gorgeous models are seductively on display along with each room of the stunningly designed home that has become “a bastion of high design and rock and roll swagger.”

As viewers scrolls down the page, they are able to experience the home’s Great Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Master Bathroom, Bedrooms and the state-of-the-art Recording Studio. Insights into the design of each space are shared, such as how the master bathroom was inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and the chain mail curtains in the Dining Room were inspired by Tina Turner’s chain mail dresses.

Spanning more than 11,000 square feet of living space, the House of Rock is owned by designer and developer Elaine Culotti, who purchased it in 2010 from the estate of Hollywood starlet Kathryn Grayson (Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate).

Originally designed by master architect Elmer Grey (Beverly Hills Hotel, Huntington Library, Bel Air Bay Club, Pasadena Playhouse), Culotti has since renovated and expanded the 6-bedroom, 8-bath English Cottage-Tudor estate, which sits on a double lot with the largest frontage on La Mesa Drive overlooking Riviera Country Club.

View the Interactive Experience

View The House of Rock’s listing page

The post High Design Meets Rock ‘N Roll Swagger: An Interactive Tour Of The House Of Rock appeared first on The Agency.

Billy Rose, President and co-founder of The Agency, recently took time to answer a few questions for AIA|LA‘s magazine LArchitecture, in a story that examines whether classic beauty or innovative trends are driving the Los Angeles design culture, with the possibility that teasing apart the difference may be more complex than we think. Alongside leading architects, journalists and real estate moguls, Rose is featured as an industry expert in a town known for its wholehearted adoption of diverse architectural styles. Does “good” architecture follow trends or does it always reflect the rational, correct way of approaching design? Here’s what our own Billy Rose had to say:

LArchitecture: Can trendy design be also lastingly beautiful, or do you think one excludes the other?

Billy Rose: Certain trends (for example, Modernism) can be classic and forever. But, to be so, the design needs to follow the fundamental tenets of the style (such as clean lines and a restraint in adornment). However, designs, which today may seem like fresh takes on a style, may feel dated in five to 10 years.

LArchitecture: Is the general tendency to “trendify” or “beautify” the city?

Rose: To a certain degree, I think there is definitely a tendency to “trendify.” Most people in LA want others to take notice (though, thankfully, not everyone here does), so many projects are often grander, bolder statements of that which preceded it. Truly innovative expressions, however, can emerge from this process, resulting in something that not only “trendifies” but also beautifies the city. I also have to applaud the city of LA’s long-standing, and the city of Beverly Hills’ recent, efforts to preserve architecturally significant properties. These efforts maintain a time-honored lasting beauty within the city.

For further architectural insight, including how Rose defends the popular LA “look at me” design approach, read the full story here.

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Real estate analysts have been saying it and now the numbers confirm it. The housing bust is over, reports The Wall Street Journal, as more homes are now being sold and house prices are trending up.

“You know when The Wall Street Journal says it, it’s true,” said The Agency’s Billy Rose. “Now is the time to buy — while interest rates are low and before prices start increasing.”

In May 2012, nearly 10% more existing homes were sold than in the same month a year earlier, with smart investors, from both the U.S. and abroad, driving a significant number of purchases. Further, according to S&P’s David Blitzer, the slow-moving S&P/Case-Shiller house-price data has seen its first monthly increase after seven months of declines. “We finally saw some rising home prices,” confirmed Blitzer.

Additional proof that housing has finally turned the corner is that new construction is on the rise. Builders have begun work on 26% more single-family homes in May 2012 than in May 2011. The number of unsold newly built homes is now back to 2005 levels, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Also significant is that the inventory of existing homes for sale has fallen while the number of homes that are vacant is at its lowest level since 2006. Mark Fleming, chief economist at CoreLogic, tells The Wall Street Journal that the reduced inventory of unsold homes is key because it is now less likely that housing prices will slump this year, but instead, will rise as demand increases.

For more on the end of the housing bust read the full WSJ article here.

View The Agency’s ‘Recently Sold’ homes, like 9577 Sunset (above), here.

The post The Housing Bust Is Over, Declares The Wall Street Journal appeared first on The Agency.

By Billy Rose

As part of its 2011 Traffic Scorecard, INRIX analyzed the most congested corridors in the United States by metro. At number 1? The Northbound 405, from I-105/Imperial Highway to Getty Center Drive. On average it takes 33 minutes to cover the 13.1 mile stretch, which translates to a painstakingly slow average speed of 23.8 miles per hour.

Seven other Los Angeles stretches of pavement made INRIX’s Top 25, including the 10 Eastbound from Lincoln Blvd. to Alameda St. (#3), the 5 Southbound from Cesar Chavez Ave. to Valley View Ave. (#5) and the 110 Northbound from the 10 to Stadium Way (#12).

Add all the stop-and-go, bumper-to-bumper mayhem up, and according to The Wall Street Journal, the average driver in Los Angeles suffers 57 hours a year stuck in traffic. The way I see it: if you work anywhere near Downtown Los Angeles — and more and more are each day — you can get back more than two extra days a year living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE. And with all the great restaurants, nightlife, sporting events and entertainment venues just steps away from your home poised high above it all, you’ll be spending that bonus time right there in your own neighborhood.

The reasons to own a home at the Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE are endless. Discover more at allaccessliving.com.

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Our Agents’ Corner features posts written by our agents and management team about a broad range of topics, from thoughts on the real estate industry to commentary on everything but real estate, including entertainment, art, charity, food, sports and more. All views shared are those of the writer, unfiltered. 

The post Reason #168 To Live At The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE appeared first on The Agency.

By Heather Bilyeu

2003 was a booming real estate market in Las Vegas. I was selling homes within seconds of coming on the MLS, sight unseen, waiving all contingencies and offering 10-20% higher than the listed price. It was incredible. I had just graduated high school and was already a top-producing agent at my company within one year. As the market started to decline, I had to get creative about picking up business. I door knocked FSBO’s and started to pursue investment groups with cash, but the market crashed.

I was 22 when I moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles five years ago to pursue a real estate career. I decided to research the top agents in the business and contact them for a meeting. Billy Rose was one of the top agents I contacted and who, surprisingly, agreed to meet with a newbie like me. The majority either never returned my call or told me to look on Craigslist. Billy gave me great advice on breaking into the high-end real estate market in Los Angeles. He gave me referrals to other top agents who were looking for assistants, as this was the best way to get a thorough education in L.A. real estate and network within this tight-knit community where outsiders are not always welcomed. I took Billy’s advice and assisted two top brokers for four years, soaking up every bit of information like a sponge, from techniques on marketing and negotiating to how to price a property from Hollywood Hills to Malibu. I gained a wealth of knowledge and knew it was time for me to stand on my own as an agent.

Timing was kismet! My good friend Mauricio Umansky and Billy Rose had partnered to create The Agency. I interviewed four other brokerages before meeting with Billy and Mauricio. Even though I knew they would be the best, I had to perform my due diligence like a good agent would.

Redefining real estate: What a concept! Billy and Mauricio’s vision of a collaborative culture amongst agents was a breath of fresh air. The Agency is a family, a partnership; we work together and celebrate each other’s successes. In addition to a healthy culture, Mauricio and Billy are arming their agents with the knowledge and expertise they have accumulated over the course of a combined 27 years in the business. Having two real estate agents who consistently rank at the top of the real estate game heading the brokerage is not only an advantage to the agents in the office but to our clients as well.

My philosophy is to surround yourself with successful people you respect and admire, and you too will become successful. I am pleased to announce that I am the newest member of The Agency. I respect and admire Billy and Mauricio on a business and personal level, and I am grateful to have them as my mentors and team members. I love The Agency’s vision. I believe in it and am very excited for what’s to come.

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Our Agents’ Corner features posts written by our agents and management team about a broad range of topics, from thoughts on the real estate industry to commentary on everything but real estate, including entertainment, art, charity, food, sports and more. All views shared are those of the writer, unfiltered. 

The post Why I Joined The Agency Family appeared first on The Agency.

Following the release of its annual “Celebrity 100″ list, a ranking of America’s most powerful stars, Forbes asked The Agency’s Billy Rose what qualities in a home do the world’s most powerful celebrities look for most when buying in Los Angeles.

“The number one feature celebrities need in a house is that it’s ‘stoparazzi,’” said Rose, who noted that his clients mostly prefer properties that are “quietly tucked behind long, gated driveways, outfitted with extensive security systems and guard houses.” Rose tells Forbes that privacy concerns often begin long before the celebrity is settled into their home. It’s not uncommon for Rose to have to deal with a pack of paparazzi when taking a celebrity house-hunting around L.A. How does Rose address this problem? He wouldn’t reveal his secrets but he did say he does everything possible to ensure the privacy of his Hollywood elite clients.

As the article points out, L.A. has ordinances that prohibit new construction of high walls and hedges, so there’s a limited inventory of homes that can truly afford the utmost in privacy. Often, it is these select homes that are traded between the A-list, with one star moving in as the other moves out.

A few homes currently listed by The Agency that offer premium privacy, or “stoparazzi,” include:  3051 Antelo View Drive, the secluded former Bel Air estate of Merv Griffin; 444/448 14th Street, a high-hedged, gated compound in Santa Monica’s exclusive Gillette Regent Square neighborhood; and 10899 Chalon Road, an extremely private and secure Mid-Century modern in lower Bel Air.

View more luxury real estate listings here. Read the full article on Forbes.com.

The post “Stoparazzi” Is Feature Celebrities Want Most In A House, Billy Rose Tells Forbes appeared first on The Agency.

From 1945 to 1966, Arts & Architecture magazine commissioned many of the leading architects of the day to design low-cost model homes for the post-WWII housing boom. Only 24 or so architects/teams participated in this Case Study House Program, and Rodney Walker was the only architect/team responsible for more than two of the Case Study Houses actually built.  While not one of the program’s homes, The Agency’s new listing at 11320 Joffre Street in Brentwood was designed by Walker during this time and showcases his signature design elements. In fact, Walker’s design of this 2-bedroom / 2-bath home was so compelling that it served as the personal residence of legendary architect A. Quincy Jones, who also participated in the Case Study House Program. We recently caught up with the home’s listing agent, Billy Rose, to learn more about the architectural significance of 11320 Joffre Street.

What was the Case Study House Program and tell us a little about its impact on architecture?

The Case Study House (CSH) program, initiated in 1945 in Los Angeles, remains one of America’s most significant contributions to architecture at mid-century. The motivating force behind the program was John Entenza, a champion of modernism and editor of the avant-garde monthly magazine Arts & Architecture. Entenza envisioned the Case Study effort as a way to offer the public and the building industry models for low-cost housing in the modern idiom, foreseeing the coming building boom as inevitable in the wake of the drastic housing shortages during the depression and war years. Using the magazine as a vehicle, Entenza’s goal was to enable architects to design and build low-cost modern houses for actual clients, using donated materials from industry and manufacturers, and to extensively publish and publicize their efforts.

How would you best describe Rodney Walker’s architectural style?

Walker pioneered the creation of private spaces within an open floor plan, refining a key element of modern architecture. His homes are characterized by transparency, floating roof planes, and what were, at the time, innovative materials such as steel, plywood, and fiberglass panels. Walker built most of his houses after WWII. He focused on building low-cost homes for returning soldiers. Like Case Study House #17, many were smallish homes. He strove to build high-quality homes at a good value. The Joffre house exhibits many of Walker’s signature hallmarks.

Do you know who 11320 Joffre was originally designed for?

Walker would frequently build a home for a client while simultaneously building a spec house for himself that he would later sell. It is believed that Joffre was originally built as one of Walker’s spec projects.

So in addition to being the architect, do we know if Walker was also the builder of 11320 Joffre Street? How common is it that the architect is also the builder?

Walker served as builder and designer on most of his homes, to ensure that they were built according to his vision. It is unknown if Walker was the builder of Joffre, but it is considered to be likely the case. It it actually quite uncommon for the architect to also be the builder of his own design, however, Walker felt the creative act was in building, and he ran a crew that built about 90% of his designs.

What are some of the noteworthy architectural features of 11320 Joffre?

Walker favored designing and building smaller homes, and he necessarily became particularly successful in merging the indoors and the outdoors in order to maximize the feel and livability of his homes.

This merging was achieved at Joffre through the use of sliding walls of glass, clerestory windows and defined exterior entertaining spaces. The slatted wood ceiling treatment also accentuates the merging of the indoor spaces by integrating and unifying the various living spaces.

What design element featured in the home is your favorite?

I’m completely taken by the unique slatted wood ceiling treatment. It serves to not only visually merge the living spaces, but it also adds an organic and tactile warmth to an architectural style which, at times, can feel a bit ascetic. Concealed within this ceiling treatment is lighting which provides a warm glow in the evening.

Who do you see as the ideal owner of this home?

Joffre will appeal to those who enjoy light and airy living environments and appreciate a thoughtful layout for easy living. The centrally-situated Brentwood Glen location makes it easy to get to Westside locations like the beach, eastward locations such as Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and the proximity to the San Diego freeway allows for easy access to LAX, the Valley and Downtown. Joffre is perfect for a single person, couple or a new family.

Listing page for 11320 Joffre Street

The post Billy Rose On The Rodney Walker-Designed Mid-Century Home In Brentwood Glen appeared first on The Agency.

The following is an article by Billy Rose that appears in the March 2012 issue of L.A. Confidential.

I am often asked how to achieve the highest sales price in today’s market. My answer: It’s all about Presentation, Pricing and Strategy.

Presentation:  Your home is seen for the first time only once. Make it count. Bring in a painter and/or handyman and make the home look well tended. Eliminate knickknacks and other clutter that can make a home feel cramped and can create dissonance in a buyer’s brain. Remember, most buyers don’t have vision, so if the house is vacant, or the furnishings are a terrible mishmash, consider good staging.

Pricing:  In addition to making your home look good, pricing needs to be consistent with reality in order to keep today’s buyers from sitting on their hands. If you‘re priced too high, you’ll get few showings and little offer activity. Buyers also view your home through the lens of your pricing; if the price is too high, buyers expect a lot from the house. Conversely, if priced attractively, then buyers might overlook the home’s lesser issues. Sometimes my company markets a property as a “pocket” listing so we can test-drive an ambitious price without the dreaded “Days on Market” clock ticking. A pocket listing can also allow us to justify a premium price since the home is not available on the open market and not every Tom, Dick or Harry has seen it.

Strategy:  Lastly, there’s strategy. We live in a digital world, and the globe is now one integrated marketplace; make sure you build your strategy around this reality. Professional photography showcasing the property’s strongest attributes is essential. Good listing agents have a vast sphere of influence and will inform their buyers’ network about available properties; bringing credibility and attention to your home. Savvy representatives attract the right tastemakers to a property and convert them into “ambassadors,” who, with favorable word of mouth, can help make a sale. A few years ago, we hosted an exclusive cocktail party at a listing and invited the director of a prestigious museum. The director loved the house and called her major art collector friend, who flew down in his private jet the next day and ultimately bought the house.

The post Three Essentials For Securing The Best Sales Price appeared first on The Agency.

By Billy Rose

Featuring exceptional modern/contemporary design, the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles (AIA|LA) Home Tours are a favorite of mine.  The just-announced upcoming Spring tour on April 1 is no exception.

Highlighting five homes in Mar Vista, the tour will open homes designed by highly acclaimed architects including Neil M. Denari, Santiago Ortiz, Douglas V. Pierson, Richard Seltzer and the powerhouse team of Frank Escher and Ravi GuneWardena. Denari’s widely published Alan Voo House alone should be worth the price of admission.

For more info about the tour and to purchase tickets, go here.

More photos of the Alan Voo House below.

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