Celebrity Real Estate: The Estate of Master Impressionist and Comedian, Fred Travalena, Lists in Encino

Image courtesy Rodeo Realty

The estate of the late Fred Travalena aka "The Man of a Thousand Faces" and "Mr. Everybordy" have listed his long time home in Encino for $1,394,500 which was originally listed on July 28, 2012 for $1,425,000 which was reduced by $30,500 to the current asking price. 

Fred Travalena started in the industry as a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour for which he gained notoriety for his impersonations of celebrities. It is said that he had a repertoire of more then 360 celebrity, political, and cartoon-character voices including Clint Eastwood, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Henry Kissinger, Donald Rumsfeld, Johnny Mathis, Bruce Springsteen, and Luciano Pavarotti (LA Times). He also performed voice-overs, made guest appearances on games hows, and acted in movies playing the radio DJ, "Madman Mancuso" in the 1978 movie, The Buddy Holly Story. In 2005, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Fred passed away on June 28, 2009 at the age of 66 in his Encino home due to complications with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer. You can read his obituary at the LA Times written by Dennis McLellan on June 30, 2009.  Below is a clip of Fred doing an impersonation on The Late Show with David Lettermen and The Tonight Show hosted by George Carlin. 

According to the listing, the 4 Beds/5 Baths on 3,646sqft on a total lot size of 0.52 acres built in 1956 states:

Come see this charming, well maintained, South-of-the-boulevard home in a prime Encino location. This celebrity-owned, Cape Cod property features 4 bedrooms (2 of which are Jack and Jill), 5 bathrooms, a separate studio/office with its own private entrance and bathroom, wood beamed ceilings, wood floors, formal dining room, a family room, and a large breakfast room with sliding French doors that lead out to a secluded patio. The newer kitchen is light and bright with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, stainless steel cooktop and recessed lighting. The quaint living room has a cozy brick fireplace and a bay window. The picturesque backyard offers a pool, spa in a tranquil setting. Upstairs you will find your spacious master suite with a brick fireplace and walk-in closet. This is a must-see property with old world charm and sophistication.

Its not known when Fred Travalena purchased his Encino home but a likely date may either be on August 2, 1977 or June 25, 1991 but I cannot confirm. Also, its not known where Fred Travalena's wife, Lois, who is also a singer is heading off to so we wish her the best of luck.

The Travalena's  face some serious competition as the Encino market has been hit lately with high priced celebrity homes considering the following homes which are currently available:

1. David Hasselhoff's long time Encino Mansion currently priced at $3,795,000.
2. Joe Simpson's Royal Oaks Mansion which is currently listed for $4,395,000
3. The former Al Jolson Estate which was owned by Charlie Sheen at one time is listed for $6.5 million. 
4. The former home of Selena Gomez is available for $3,699,0000. 
5. Heidi Saban Stills (father is billionaire Haim Saban) home is available for $2,999,000. 
6. The former Macy Gray home is available for $5.9 million.
7. The former Joey Lawrence home is available for $2.250 million. 

There are many celebrities who previously or currently call Encino home like Tori Spelling (former), Scott Baio (former), the Jackson Family compound, Leighton Meester, Annette Funicello's fire destroyed home, Brian Bloom, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert (former), Vampire Diaries Director (former), Jennifer Morrison (former), Dave Grohl, Donald Penn, and Shirley MacLaine (former) to name a few (or several).

You can view more Celebrity Real Estate here.

Celebrity Real Estate: David Hasselhoff Re-lists Encino Mansion

[Update April 28, 2013]: This home finally sold on April 26, 2013 for $3,549,000 which was $1,569,000 above the original purchased price of $1,980,000 back on March 29, 1996. However the final sale price is $2,401,000 less than the original list price set in August 2008 for $5,950,00. At this time, Hasselhoff's relocation is unknown but one has to wonder if he sold his longtime Encino home to downsize or simply wanted to move to a more exclusive area.

[Original Post]:

The multi-talented David Hasselhoff has just re-listed his Encino mansion for $3,795,000 on November 5, 2012 which is not too far from the former Edward Evertt Horton mansion which was later demolished as well as the Encino Velodrome. David Hasselhoff is best known for his role as "Michael Knight" on Knight Rider, "Mitch Buchannon" in Baywatch, and if you happen to live in Germany, a top selling pop singer. Hasselhoff is a long time actor having started in 1975 on the long time running soap opera, The Young and the Restless. He even started his singing career on Kids Incorporated during its first season.

The home measures 5 Beds/5.5 Baths on 8,947sqft on a total lot size of 1.48 acres built in 1988. The listing states:

Gates open on a long, tree-canopied drive leading to a circular motor court to this classic Colonial on nearly 1.5 acres flat lot. The Marble Foyer and sweeping wrought iron staircase open to a grand, 2-story Living Room, rich, wood paneled Library & Pub Room through to a Family/Media Room. Wonderful Chef's Kitchen & Sun Room. Sub-Zero & Traulsen, Viking Range & Grill, 2 Bosch Dishwashers. Expansive lawns reveal Pool, Waterfall into a Grotto Spa. N/S Tennis Court w/ Viewing Pavilion. The Main House has 4 Bedrooms + Maid's + 5.5 Baths. Additionally, there are Two, Full 1+1+Kitchen Guest Houses. This Entertainer's Paradise has vast opportunities awaiting its new Owner with a Dream.

David Hasselhoff last purchased this property on March 29, 1996 for $1,980,000 by funnyman actor John Goodman which I believe was purchased in May 31, 1991 for $2,975,000 representing a loss of $995,000 for Goodman  to Hasselhoff in 1996 but I cannot confirm this amount so dont quote me. If this home were to sell at the listing price, David Hasselhoff would be looking at a profit of $1,815,000 not including taxes, commissions,  and other related expenses. Its not known why Hasselhoff is selling but is probably related to his divorce to his second wife Pamela Bach back in 2006 or maybe not.

This is not the first time David Hasselhoff has tried to sell his Encino mansion as he tried in August 2008 for $5,950,00, August 2009 for $4,195,000, dropped to $3,795,000 on October 2009, dropped to $3,495,000 on November 2009, and re-listed on two separate occasions on April 2010 and March 2011 for $4,195,000. Back in 2009, this home listing was covered by Big Time Listings, The Realestalker, LA Times Hot Property, and AOL Luxist. On a completely different side note, Hasselhoff's parents, Joseph and Dolores sold their Monrovia home in 2006 for $805,000 which may have been purchased back in 1992. 

One of the interesting insights regarding this home listing is the initial asking price dispute between David Hasselhoff and his ex-wife revealed from Your Mama at the Realestalker back in August 2009:

As is often and usually the case when marrieds go splitsville, the once happy marital home gets put on the block which is exactly what happened back in August of 2008 when a judge decreed that usually shirtless actor/singer David Hasselfhoff and his then soon to be ex-wife Pamela Bach were to sell their long time estate in Encino, CA. At the time, the feuding between Mister and Missus soon-to-be-ex-Mrs. Hasselhoff was about at what price the property was to be listed. He wanted to list the 5 bedroom and 5.5 pooper property at less than five million clams and she believed the 1+ acre flag lot spread on Louise Avenue was worth close to eight million smackers. Your Mama thinks ex-Mrs. Hoff was living on another planet if she thought her house was actually worth 8 million bucks and someone else obviously agreed with us because the Hoff House quietly came up for sale in August of 2008 with an asking price of $5,950,000 and then hit the open market in early 2009.

Above images courtesy The Agency

Hasselhoff has picked an interesting time to re-list his home as the Encino market has been hit lately with high priced celebrity homes considering the following homes which are currently available:

1. Joe Simpson's Royal Oaks Mansion which is currently listed for $4,395,000
2. The former Al Jolson Estate which was owned by Charlie Sheen at one time is listed for $6.5 million. 
3. The former home of Selena Gomez is available for $3,699,0000. 
4. Heidi Saban Stills (father is billionaire Haim Saban) home is available for $2,999,000. 
5. The former Macy Gray home is available for $5.9 million.
6. The former Joey Lawrence home is available for $2.250 million. 

There are many celebrities who previously or currently call Encino home like Tori Spelling (former), Scott Baio (former), the Jackson Family compound, Leighton Meester, Annette Funicello's fire destroyed home, Brian Bloom, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert (former), Vampire Diaries Director (former), Jennifer Morrison (former), Dave Grohl, Donald Penn, and Shirley MacLaine (former) to name a few (or several).

You can view more Celebrity Real Estate here.

Celebrity Real Estate: The Simpson's List Encino Mansion

[Update April 11, 2013]: This home sold on April 5, 2013 for $3.5 million which was a whopping $895,000 less than the original list price of $4,395,000 back on October 2, 2012. However, the Simpsons still profited $1.4 million from their original purchase price of $2.1 million back on June 15, 2001 not including expenses. I wonder if either of the Simpson parents are going to shack up in Jessica Simpson's newly acquired estate in Hidden Hills from the Osbournes. 

[Original Post]:

Hot off the presses from the fabulous folks at Trulia Luxe Living comes news of Joe and Tina Simpson, the famous parents of singers Jessica and Ashlee, have listed their Encino mansion on the market for $4,395,000 on October 2, 2012.

According to the listing, this 6 Bed/7 Bath on 6,895sqft on a total lot size of 1.52 acres built in 1986 states:

Celebrity Storybook Country English in The Colony, a guard gated community of 19 estates in the heart of Encino's Royal Oaks. Sited on over 1.5 acres this magnificent estate is the epitome of resort style living. The copper turret entry beckons guests past lawn w/ fountains to the grand rotunda. Formal liv rm w/ pitched beamed ceiling and fp. Fam room w/ beamed ceiling, stone fp, wet bar, and wall of FR drs. Breakfast room w/ beamed turret extends to the gourmet kitchen w/ Viking appliances and granite counters, beamed ceiling, and butler's pantry. Formal DR seats 10. Ascend the spiral staircase to the foyer. Master w/ fireplace, duel walk-ins and stunning bath. 3 bedroom suites upstairs. Professional theater and huge office. The grounds feature a fireplace, fire pit, wet bar, lagoon style pool & spa complete with grotto waterfall, sports court, gazebo, & putting range w/ views. Guest suite/gym with sep entrance and Ba.

The Simpsons purchased this property on June 15, 2001 for $2.1 million and are looking to make more than double their money in a little over 10 years worth of time not factoring in additional expenses like taxes, commissions, renovations, etc. Its not known exactly why the Simpson's are moving but their are rumors floating around the internet that the Simpson's are getting divorced which makes this home sale a natural step in the process. 

Images above courtesy Sotheby's International Realty

Its not known where Joe and/or Tina Simpson are heading off too but they still maintain a home in Woodway, TX according to the Realestalker, so they may return to their roots. However, its also possible that they will continue to live in the SFV as they have many direct and indirect connections to this area based on the list below:

1. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey when they were married lived at 24944 Lorena Drive in Calabasas from 2002 to 2006 which was sold to Justin Berfield. This home was the location for their reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. On a separate note, the reality show was originally intended for Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley who both had spent time in the Valley (Wikipedia). 
2. Ashlee Simpson lived at 16187 Royal Oak Road in Encino which overlooks her parents home. She lived here from 2005 to 2006 selling the home for a $1 million gain back in the bubble days. 
3. Ashlee Simpson married rocker Pete Wentz in Ashlee's parents Encino home in 2008.
4. Nick Lachey's brother, Drew lived at 201314 Ruston Road in Woodland Hills from 2005 to 2009. 
5. Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo purchased in Encino on August 11, 2011 shortly after their marriage. 
6. Pete Wentz who divorced Ashlee Simpson in 2011 purchased a Studio City home on April 13, 2012.

The Encino market has been hit lately with high priced homes so the Simpson's may need to be patient or drop their asking price if they are serious about selling considering the following homes which are currently available:

1. The former Al Jolson Estate which was owned by Charlie Sheen at one time is listed for $6.5 million. 
2. The former home of Selena Gomez is available for $3,699,0000. 
3. Heidi Saban Stills (father is billionaire Haim Saban) home is available for $2,999,000. 
4. The former Macy Gray home is available for $5.9 million.
5. The former Joey Lawrence home is available for $2.250 million. 

There are many celebrities who previously or currently call Encino home like Tori Spelling (former), Scott Baio (former), the Jackson Family compound, Leighton Meester, Annette Funicello's fire destroyed home, Brian Bloom, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert (former), Vampire Diaries Director (former), Jennifer Morrison (former), Dave Grohl, Donald Penn, and Shirley MacLaine (former) to name a few (or several).

You can view more Celebrity Real Estate here.

Celebrity Real Estate: The Former Al Jolson Encino Estate Hits The Market Again!

The former Al Jolson Encino estate which has been owned by other A-List celebs like Steven Seagal, Kirstie Alley and Parker Stevenson, Katey Sagal, and Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards has hit the market with an asking price of $6.5 million. 

This property was last discussed on this blog last year in detail when Michael and Patricia Jacobs sold it for  $5.2 million to an undisclosed buyer in December 2011 representing a loss of $1,420,000 from their purchase price at the peak of the market in 2006 for $6,620,000. They originally tried to sell it with an asking price of $6,495,000 in January 2011 which languished on the market for roughly a year before they succumbed to a more realistic price of $5.2 million. 

What makes this new listing astonishing is that the home is currently listed for close to the 2006 bubble price when just last year the previous buyer couldnt sell this home nowhere near the $6 million figure let alone barely above $5 million. I am not sure how this home has gained in value by 25% in less than a year when most homes in my neighborhood are selling at 40 - 50% discount from the peak price to justify this higher price unless there is gold hidden in one of the bedrooms. To put this all into perspective, the former Shirley MacLaine mansion which is smaller in living sqft feet but double the size of this lot last sold in June 2012 for $3,450,000 which is half the asking price of this home. But I have been proven wrong before and thats why they call it a market. Something tells me this will be sitting on the market for at least a year unless there a major price reductions. 

Above images courtesy Keller Williams Beverly Hills

The property sits on 2.25 acres with 8,522 sqft of living space built in 1935 and includes 7 Beds/7.75 Baths. The property contains park like settings with a private gated driveway that leads to the residence, guest house, and a separate pool house complete with fireplace, kitchen, and bedroom. The main house consists of office/library, gym, wine cellar, theater room with bar, and staff quarters. This house has it all and no expense was spared. To get an idea of how massive this property is, check out the aerial view below:

Image courtesy Bing Maps

You can view more SFV celebrity real estate here. 

Celebrity Real Estate: Purchase the Selena Gomez Home in Encino

[Update December 31, 2012]: This home sold for $3.5 million on December 21, 2012 which was $199,000 less than the original list price first listed on September 23, 2012. 

[Original Post]:

It appears that the rumors about Disney star Selena Gomez purchasing the former Jonah Hill home in Tarzana and/or even purchasing land with Justin Bieber in Tarzana might be true as her former home in Encino just hit the market for the marketable friendly asking price of $3,699,000. Additionally, a moving truck was spotted at the Encino home sometime in the beginning of August possibly moving her belongings to the new home. 

According to the listing, the 5 Bed/6.25 Bath on 5,291 sqft on a total lot size of 1.64 acres built in 1947 states:

First time on the market for sale in 19 years. This Connecticut Style gated compound will take your breath away. Situated on 1. 69 acres of enchanting grounds there are 3 separate structures, tennis court, pool, numerous gardens, grassy play areas all amidst magnificent mature Oak Trees. A Wisteria trellised path leads you to the main residence which offers 5 bedrns, 7 bathrms, gym, formal dining room, den and spectacular family/media room. Ideal for families, the master suite and 3 children bedrms are situated together. All of the rooms look out onto beautiful vistas of trees, romantic gardens or inviting patios. The formal dining room is filled with spectacular light from the walls of windows and French doors opening to wonderful patio deck. Fabulous media/family room with its own kitchen and entry to the pool area. On the opposite side of the property there is a 2 bedrms, 2 ba gst house (approx 1100 sf). This charming structure offers hardwood floors, full kitchen, laundry room and wood burning fireplace. Next to the guest house is the converted ?barn? quite literally this barn is part of the original ?Lazy Creek Ranch?. Structure has been used for offices, studio or playroom. There are 2 gated entrances to this unique compound.

I dont believe this home was ever purchased by Selena Gomez or her family as the property records dont reveal any connection to Selena Gomez unless I am mistaken. Additionally, this home was last purchased 19 years ago for $1,650,000 on March 31, 1993 which was about one year after Selena was born on July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas. So it appears that she was most likely renting this whole time which I am not sure when the started either and for how much. Its been rumored that Selena lived in the guest home on this property but I cannot confirm. 

This listing also mentions that this home is part of the Lazy Creek Ranch which I have no idea of the historical significance but I am guessing was part of a much larger ranch that started sometime in the late 40's when land was widely available and used for agricultural purposes but was eventually subdivided to what remains today. 

You can view more SFV celebrity real estate here. 

Above images courtesy Coldwell Banker

Image courtesy Google Maps