Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Rumor Has It...

...according to two separate but equally well-connected Tinseltown real estate insiders, sit-com superstar and outspoken conservative Patricia Heaton (The Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond) and her less successful English actor and documentary filmmaker husband David Hunt (The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania) have very quietly allowed their huge house in Los Angeles' hoity-toity Hancock Park 'hood to be shown by a well-known local real estate agent with a price tag of around $12,000,000.

Property records an other online information portals reveal the traditionally-minded Showbizzers paid $4,850,000 for the drop dead dee-voon Elmer Grey-designed mansion that the L.A. County Tax Man indicates was built in the 1920s, measures a huge (but hardly mega) 8,398 square feet and includes 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.

The hedged and gated house and property were photographed for Architectural Digest (December 2009) and the article states much care was taken by designer Bebe Johnson and Ellen Geerer to retain and restore many of the home's original and exquisite architectural details that include the prodigious use of colorful and highly desirable ceramic tiles from the esteemed Malibu Potteries company. (The house was, according to the A.D. article, owned by Rhonda Rindge whose mother founded Malibu Potteries.)

The Hunt-Heaton estate consists of two lots that encompass a prominent corner property landscaped for privacy an an chunky and elegant two-story main house, gated motor court, detached three-bay garage with additional living quarters above, numerous terraces and patios, a broad expanse of well-watered lawn, and a swimming pool complex with cabana. The adjacent lot, records indicate it was purchased at the same time as the residence, has some mature shade trees, a peaceful parterre that overflows with rose bushes and citrus trees, a burbling fountain or two, lighted tennis court, and a second vast flat and well-watered lawn.

While our sources for this are impeccable, this is all just a bit of celebrity real estate rumor and gossip, children. Got it? Rumor and gossip.

In March 2007 Miz Heaton and Mister Hunt spent $1,145,000 to acquire an airy 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom condo in West Hollywood they first put on the market in the summer of 2009 with an asking price of $1,195,000. Since then the 1,640 square foot condo crib has bee de- and re-listed (at least) four times and currently carries a price tag of $949,000. A few quick calculations on Your Mama's bejeweled abacus shows that best case scenario, with a full price sale, the Hunt-Heatons face a $196,000 slam to their pocketbook not counting carrying costs, real estate fees and the $100,000 in "designer upgrades" listing information states they put into the property.

Property records (and other online resources) reveal the Hunt-Heatons also own a multi-parcel property just a few blocks from the shore of Lake Erie in Miz Heaton's hometown of Bay Village, OH, just outside of Cleveland.

aerial photo: Bing

34 comments:

Desert Donna said...

Wonder how this compares to David Schwimmers Hancock Park place that is languishing on the market at 10 Million? No pics (exterior only) on Westside Estate Agency site or when Mama covered it.

Anonymous said...

If it sells for 12 mil, would that be the highest price ever in Hancock Park? I believe this house was once owned by Walt Disney's daughter. David Schwimmer's house is listed at $10.7 mil and is competition for this house.

Anonymous said...

What's security like in Hancock Park? As good as in Beverly Hills?

Anonymous said...

If you paid $4.8 million for a house, I am giving you $4.8 million for it or less.
Who are these morons that overpay for these homes?

Shopgirl said...

@anonymous -- she may have paid $4.8 million for it, but she did a complete renovation. I would fully expect that she will get in the $10-11 range.

I smell a divorce on the horizon.

Anonymous said...

She paid $4.85M in 2001. Property values in that area have gone up quite a bit since then, even with the recession. Not to mention she probably sunk a good amount of money into the place for renovations and the like. Dunno if it's worth $12M, tho.

Mama, if it actually sold for the asking, would it be the highest sale ever in the area? I can't remember any place in HP going for more than $10M.

Jeannified said...

Shopgirl, I'm right there with ya on the possibility of a divorce. After all, she must be atrocious to have to live with! Ugh!

Madam Pince said...

I'm scenting a divorce too.

Anonymous said...

How is she hateful?! She seems nice! I loved her on Raymond.

Carla Ridge said...

She'll nevah get it.

Anonymous said...

Shopgirl,

I built a 7,000 sq.ft house with another 3,000 sq.ft finished in the basement with everything top of the line from brick, balconies, granite, 2 kitchens, theater etc for $1.4 million so unless she paved the house with 24k gold during the renovation there is no way it could go from $4.8 million to $12 million.

Redeemer 247 said...

Hancock Park has always reminded me of San Marino, just with more crime, in a far busier neighborhood, plus wealthy Koreans instead of Chinese.

I can't see why anyone would pay $12M to live there, but I wish her the best. Seems as if she gets flak simply for being a conservative in a liberal-dominated profession.

Ladyliss said...

How awful can a real estate/architecture photo be? For example, the one with the dog. It seems completely PhotoShopped, as if the dog was inserted there by some amateur who knows a thing or two about Adobe's program.

Jayne said...

She is a horrible, hate-filled woman. I hope she takes a beating on this house. Of course, then she'll just blame it on the president . . .

Anonymous said...

Why is she horrible and hate filled? Because she is conservative? I thought Liberals were all about inclusiveness.

And why does it have to be a divorce - come on people - where is the love - so much negativity is not healthy!

Anyhoo - I love the house but $12 mil is nuts.

Petra's Panty Replenisher said...

Hunny, why so angry? Is your bra too tight or something?! Let those gorgeous D-cups breathe!!!

midTN said...

***

Hey mama...are you going to label everyone who is a LIBERAL in the opening sentence of your commentary from now on?

I realize that would mean you would have to include the word in 99% of the Hollyweird sellers information, but it only seems fair.

Hmmmm?

***

Anonymous said...

As others have pointed out,$12,000,000 seems rather high for Hancock Park...

Yak said...

Take your idiotic left/right politics and cram 'em where the sun don't shine. This is a real estate blog so don't hijack the thread with your nonsense.

@anon 10:30, if you're such a savvy real estate developer you should know that the price of any particular piece of property often has more value in the land than the structure, especially in these type of neighbourhoods.

I'm not saying her house is worth $12M but as everyone here knows, many a person got rich through real estate inflation. Anything is worth what someone will pay for it, not what it costs to build/make.

Anonymous said...

She's been dreadful in every show I've ever seen her in. Nice living room though, except for the awful print on the back of those grey chairs. What the....

Anonymous said...

Patricia Heaton is a horrible and hateful person because she has repeatedly done/said horrible and hateful things to random people.

case in point:
http://gossip.whyfame.com/files/2012/03/patricia_heaton_sandra_fluke1.jpg

the linked screenshot PHOTO is of Patricia Heaton's "Twitter" stream re: her hysterical reaction to Sandra Fluke asking Congress that WOMEN BE TREATED EQUALLY on _PRIVATE_ Health_ Insurance_ Plans_ that are part of EmployER/ EmployEE SALARY COMPENSATION "Packages" in the USA.

on top of that, as a public 'adult' who has made tons of money selling her services to the public (both as an 'actress' and as a Paid "Spokesperson" for a Grocery store chain ),
she has a responsibility
(both professional and Moral)
to take 10 MINUTES of her life to *educate *herself on FACTS vs "Flames" spouted by Rush Limbaugh before she regurgitates the spew and spouts off to the public. MOST of said "public" are at or near the poverty level and don't need some VERY RICH spoiled hysterical willfully stupid woman publicly advertising her emotional meltdowns and spreading LIES

FACT:
her and "Conservatives"_of_HER_ilk, insisted the Congressional Hearing that Sandra FLuke testified at was about TAX PAYERS paying for Birth Control. false! incorrect!

NOT TRUE.


The FACT is that the whole Birth control congressional hearing and Fluke's testimony was about EMPLOYER/ EMPLOYEE -Health Plans having RX Birth Control COVERED on THEIR OWN EMPLOYER/ EMPLOYEE INsurance Plans.

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous and a stellar piece of property for Hancock Park but $12m is decidedly optimistic. If she asked $8.5m I bet she'd sell it quickly.

I know this is a real estate blog but I can't help but to weigh in here...

Hey MidTN, maybe you should do some research before you spout off. Did you not read the Rosie piece earlier this week wherein Mama called Rosie a "lefty-liberal motormouth" in the first sentence?

An you notice of course that Mama didn't actually skewer or otherwise knock Heaton for her politics, only mentioned which side of the fence she sits.

If public figures (celebs or otherwise, left and right) are going to discuss their private politics publicly as do O'donnell and Heaton then their point of view is on the table for open discussion by the public.

If public figures don't want politics as part of their persona/public image then they should keep their traps shut about it.

Candy Spelling said...

11:37 - Sista guuuurl!! You need to pop a Prozac, take a deep breath, and have a seat! And the rest of should do the same as well.

Mama, please hurry back from the desert! The children are out of control beyond belief!! Lawd have mercy!!!!!

ExcitingLA said...

i am seriously scratching my head, wondering how the home will close at full price....maybe the real estate gods will prove me wrong, but i'm also doubtful that the home, while lovely, will be able to bring in that much money.

Anonymous said...

I really dislike that section of LA. I wonder how property values there hold up to IMHO nicer areas like Brentwood, Holmby Hills or Bel Air?

Anonymous said...

Security is as good in Hancock Park as any other wealthy neighborhood in L.A. that is not a gated community. There is an excellent security patrol(SSA Security Group), if you are willing to pay for it. They
only hire off-duty or retired LAPD officers. If you are really worried about security, live in a small city like Beverly Hills or San Marino. The police will come in 3 minutes if you report a barking dog.

Anonymous said...

Patricia is hateful. She has issues with WOMEN, eventhough she is one. She has issues.

Anyway, here is the scoop on who bought Oprah's pad.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/london_based_hedge_fund_partner_fr4H8HaCcNeSycMyBwEUVO

nursedeb said...

daymmmmm
mama takes off for the desert
and the children are running rampant.
she will have to get the wooden spoon out , methinks.
COME BACK MAMA

Don Juan's Wreckless Daughter said...

@Candy Spelling:

Preach it Candy! Cheers to that! Mama come home!! The children are swinging from the chandeliers!


@April 4, 2012 3:35 PM (anon):

Security in Hancock Park? HA!

Look what happened the other night to someone I know...

http://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/50684

The $8/hr rent-a-cops must have been texting and eating tacos at the Jack In The Box down on Wilshire o_O

Anonymous said...

When celebrities have their abode featured in Architectural Digest, the result tends to be A) going to put it up for sale shortly afterward or B) getting a divorce shortly afterward. Ever since Bjorn Borg did this in the 80s, the pattern has been similar - not 100% - but similar.

Anonymous said...

Mama - I'm hoping that you're enjoying the desert while your chill-ren are running around with scissors in their hands! Ya'll need to chill the hell out. This is a REAL ESTATE blog - go spout your hate elsewhere. MAMA - PLEASE PLEASE go and visit the DEVON Sunnylands - LOURVE to hear your take and pics too, much love and an MUY HOPPY EASTER :)

midTN said...

***

HEY anonymous 11:59.....BITE ME!

***

Anonymous said...

spot on to April 5, 2012 11:59 AM and 11:37

Anonymous said...

Hey midTN, anon 11:59 here.

Why would I BITE YOU?

It seems to me you were wrong about your characterization of Mama only pointing out conservatives in the first sentence.

Can't you just accept you jumped the gun and were wrong? Why so hostile?