Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Justin Berfield Sells Newlywed's Nest

SELLER: Justin Berfield
LOCATION: Lorena Drive, Calabasas, CA
PRICE: $3,995,000
SIZE: 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: ...Situated in a guard-gated community, this privately gated home has been impeccably remodeled. The towering entryway has an exquisite wrought iron staircase & zen-like fountain while the open floor plan showcases the walls of windows. Exceptional amenities include: a restaurant style wine cellar, home theater & recording studio/gym. Chef s kitchen w/state-of-the art stainless steel appls. & can accommodate either intimate dining or a large catered event....

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Your Mama is working on all ferreting out the 411 on a number of interesting celebrity real estate transactions, but we've yet to nail any of them down solidly enough to discuss them. So rather than look like a fool who does not know what we're talking about (which we admit sometimes happens despite out efforts not to), we're going to piggy back on the recent report of the lovely Ann Brenoff at the Los Angeles Times who revealed that former Malcom in the Middle actor turned producer Justin Berfield listed his Calabasas crib for $3,995,000.

If the children will put on their thinking caps, they might recall that young Mister Berfield only purchased the property in January of 2006 for $3,750,000 from dee-vorcing newlyweds Nick Lachey and that poor Jessica Simpson gurl who can't seem to stop her career from its slow and sad slide down the Tinseltown terlit. The former couple filmed their reality program Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica in this house and it was the scene of many embarrassing moments for the former Miz Lachey who Your Mama sincerely hopes is smarter than she appeared to be on that program.

Mister Berfield's "Trendy Contemporary Estate" above Lorena Drive in one of the many gated communities that surround the Calabasas Golf and Country Club. The house shares a driveway with an adjacent vacant buildable parcel that is owned by someone who is not Mister Berfield, Mister Lachey or Miss Simpson. Our tattletell tells us that Mister Berfield has a first right of refusal to purchase the land if the owner chooses to sell. Who knows if that right of refusal will transfer to the new owner. But if not, the current owners could build a big house that would likely share the gates and driveway to Mister Berfields house. Make sense?

Property records and listing information show the recently rehabbed, quasi-Mediterranean style mansion measures 6,483 square feet and includes 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. Each of the bedrooms features its own private pooper and the master suite is comprised of a bedroom, a sitting area with fireplace, a big ol' bathroom, spacious walk in closets and a private balcony with views over the tiled roofs of all the other quasi-Mediterranean style mansions that line the gated streets that surround the Calabasas Golf and Country Club.

The meant to impress the guests rotunda entrance hall features a curving staircase with wrought iron details and a "zen-like fountain." Other amenities include formal living and dining rooms, a gore-may kitchen with state of the art stainless steel appliances, a wine cellar, home theater and a room that, apparently, does double duty as a recording studio and a gym.

Listing information also shows the back yard includes a "dramatic pool & overflow spa," whatever that is, as well as a "draped cabana & hotel style lounging areas." Sounds like Mister Berfield and his nice gay decorator have gone hog wild turning what is really a very ordinary, if very expensive, crib in Calabasas into a wonderland perfect for a bevy barely dressed babes to lay around and hope young Mister Berfield can get them on the boob-toob.

According to Miz Brenoff, 23-year old former child actor wants to unload his suburban mansion so that he can move to the glittery shores of Malee-boo where he'll have easier access to the offices of the film and tee-vee companies he formed in Venice.

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mama! It was so nice to read about your blog this morning on yahoo. That cute white boy Mark David (who insists he's Mama) was quoted regarding the richest little town in America,
which happens to be on Long Island. I suppose this latest round of PR will find more children visiting our humble little home........

Anonymous said...

how about some 411 on backstreet boyz kevin richardson's house on miller drive for sale at 3.9?

Anonymous said...

Mama, some of your children are old people who have no idea who this Berfield personage is and are wondering if this is not stretching celebrity too thin. And Calabasas! C'est degoutant.

Anonymous said...

Well, since he lost money on his Studio City pad(Clooney's old digs) and he hasn't worked in several years, me thinks he's having some financial issues. He will end up leasing this Calabasas place and moving to a condo in the Palisades.

Anonymous said...

With all due respect, it hasn't been *several* years since "Malcom In The Middle" ended.

There is also a not-so-small detail called residuals. Both "Malcom" and "Unhappily Ever After" (the show he was on for the 4-5 years prior to "Malcom") are in syndication. In other words, he's still getting checks.

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of pictures of this place here:
http://onlocation.co/displayimage.php?searchtype=blueid&blueid=3065 if anybody is interested.

I guess it's also available as a filming location? Who knew. :P

Anonymous said...

Mama,

Thanks for the "411" on celeb cribs but theres really no need for the Jessica Simpson diss now is there? She is actully a very bright gurl and it would seem maybe your having trouble finding the money to purchase a property of this kind huh..i dont know maybe your just not as tallented as Jessica Simpson ;~)

StPaulSnowman said...

While the house itself does not appeal to me, I would just like to say how well positioned the house is on the lot. Being on a corner affords excellent views of the architecture from the curb. Having the long axis of the house parallel to the large "side yard" offers all sorts of possibilities for croquet, formal gardens and water features which all would be well viewed from any window on that side of the house.

Anonymous said...

Mama
Whatever happened to Myron Selznick's hovel in Lake Arrowhead?

Anonymous said...

It's not a double lot. Someone else owns the lot next to him and has yet to build on it. It shares a driveway with the vacant lot.

Anonymous said...

1:23 - There is even less reason to diss Our Mama. Show some respect.

Jessica Simpson made a mountain of money off either portraying herself as a dizzy blonde in the public eye or by actually being one. When people STOP talking about her being dizzy, she will be worried because that means an end to the $$$$$.

Anonymous said...

Dis? What dis?

Her career IS falling off a cliff. Do you not agree? She's singing at chili cook offs (and forgetting the words to her own songs). I'm not making fun of her, but opening for Rascal Flats is a far cry from where she once was. Like it or not, her star is on the wane...does not mean she won't be on top again, but currently, you can't deny it's waning.

And as for being not very smart...well I don't know if she's smart or not, but she "plays" dumb. And did you think she came off looking very intelligent on her reality show? And Mama did say she hopes that simpson is "smarter than she appeared to be."

Anonymous said...

Hi Anon 12:59,

I have no idea if he has financial issues or not, and from what I've read, he's a fairly active producer (which does not mean he's rolling in dough unless he has a lot of projects getting made), but do you know what he probably makes from the residuals each year? Not nearly as much as you and most other people think. And not nearly enough to support this kind of house. If I had to guess, it's $75K per year, tops, and I'd bet it's quite less. Again, I'm not saying he's selling because he can't afford it, I'm just saying that even successful sitcoms don't throw off enough residuals to live so high. They make for a nice supplement, but you don't make REAL money unless you have a profit interest, like Seinefeld or Larry David.

Anonymous said...

Justin Berfield is just as much a "celebrity" as half the people mentioned on here, just because you don't know who he is doesn't make him not. Either way, Mama writes up former celebrity houses every so often so this house would be mentionable.

In our cynical bitter attitudes on here sometimes we miss over the simple explanation. While it is Hollywood and everyone is about keeping up appearances, this is ONLY a $4m house... and with as long as Justin was on "Malcom" I'm sure he made plenty of cash. He's never flashed been in the media or shows to be out partying and blowing his cash... I'd believe he is just relacating to be closer to the studios.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:58

on the topic of not a celebrity, Kevin is far from one anymore. Anyways if you want info perhaps provide more details on what you are talking about for ppl to dig it up, bc Miller for $3.9 won't get shit.

Anonymous said...

Kevin Richardson's house is at 1377 Miller Drive in Los Angeles. The house doesn't appear to even be on the market, so I'm not sure what Anon 10:58 is talking about.

Anonymous said...

kevin richardson house is off the market and its hid-e-ous!

http://1377millerdrive.com/

Anonymous said...

Its a nice house.
I always liked it.

pch said...

Went to the Miller Drive link. I don't necessarily like all the updates, but the original house is largely present and amazingly true to its vintage Hollywood vernacular. That's impressive to me all by itself. I think it's a nice place, but I can understand not loving the architecture.

Anonymous said...

1:23, Jessica talented? Who knew. Her movies bomb, records don't sell, and she's back to singing the same small gigs at state fairs which were her career before Nick plucked her out of obscurity. She thought she had talent too and dumped Nick, the sole reason she has any money to speak of today. She's now an occasional pitchwoman for Clearasil acne medication TV ads, not a star.

Anonymous said...

kevin richardson's house no longer on the market? huh? it was just there like a week ago! what happened?

frankly, the house always read a bit precious to me. more like a cottage in the country. but i do admire his loyalty to the aesthetic in the remodel.

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:01:

While I do not necessarily agree that she is talented, Jessica broke through prior to her marriage to Nick, with a couple of pop hits.

During the marriage, she made a fortune, much much more money than Nick has made throughout his career. She is the reason he now has much of his money.

Anonymous said...

4:14, bolognia. 98 Degrees have released 4 individual albums to date. They achieved critical success with the release of "98 Degrees and Rising". In 2002, they released a compilation album "The Collection." Since the release of "The Collection" 98 Degrees has sold over 10 million records.

Lachey's solo album, entitled What's Left of Me, featured the title track, "What's Left of Me", which quickly became a hit, reaching a peak position of #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The subsequent album of the same name was released in May of 2006, and debuted at # 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. In June 2006, the single "What's Left of Me" hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay.

Meanwhile, back at the Clearasil ad studios...

Anonymous said...

Anon, you are stupid. At the height of her career Jessica made $37m in ONE YEAR. Nick hasn't made that in his whole career. With 98 Degrees he split every penny four ways. 10 million recoreds four ways doesn't put all that much money in his pocket. His Solo albums for the most part have been TANKS! Yes! One moderate hit and then shit sales.

Anonymous said...

When they filed for divorce, Nick sought spousal support from Jessica. It's pretty damn clear who has the money dumbass.

Anonymous said...

Do a Google search and any idiot can plainly see that the bulk of the money in the divorce was Jessica's. They entered the marriage with Nick holding more, but throughout the marriage she out earned him 10 to 1.

Anonymous said...

Someone let the teenage girls and homos who were upset that Simpson was ever with Lachey in the first place in the door.

Simpson started having chart success in 1999, 98 Degrees in 1997, Lachey as a solo in 2006.

They married in 2002 and divorced in 2005. Safe to say they both had careers before they married.

According to the RIAA -

Lachey had a single Gold album (500k copies) and a single Gold single (500k) in 2006. Long after the last certification for 98 Degrees (2001).

Simpson has 2 Gold albums (500k each), a 2x Platinum (2m), and a 3x Platinum (3m). For singles, she has 5 Gold (500k) and 1 Platinum (1m) singles. Her certifications range from 1999 through 2007.

98 Degrees as a group (i.e. Nick is not solely responsible for the music) had a Platinum album, a 2x Platinum, a 4x Platinum, but only 3 Gold singles and 1 Platinum single.

So it's time to grow up, take down the poster of Nick, accept that he won't give you the time of day, and move on.

Anonymous said...

nick is gross.

Anonymous said...

nick has a huge ****

Anonymous said...

Nuff said,

This is about Justin B not Nick the hasben and Jessica mega stomach.

I hear Justin is a dirty lil bttm. So I don't think there will be much going on with big boob women in that pool

Anonymous said...

real estate? did somebody say this is a real estate blog? Oops, I must be in the wrong place. It sounds like I landed in a high school lunch room.

Anonymous said...

another faithful reader is saying good bye. this is nasty and juvenile. good luck Mama.

Anonymous said...

In all, I've always liked this house when I saw it on MTV. The decor must be dated now. The maple cabinetry in the kitchen is very late 90's early 2000's.

I would be interested in knowing if the house really has a double lot. It would make sense to me that Nick and Jessica purchased both lots for privacy. That said, I would have placed the driveway entrance on the far west side of the lot and had a circular drive and more impressive approach.

If the lot next door is truly someone elses and buildable with a shared driveway... this house will be impossible to sell.

I sincerly hope Justin owns the other lot.

Anonymous said...

all you commenters complaining about that you are leaving and not coming back dont make any sense. if you dont like the comments dont read them.

that said, lets all grow up and act our age.

Anonymous said...

According to the property records I have located....

Nicholas Lachey still owns this property? Was it ever confirmed that Justin actually bought it or was it rumors and now he rents it?

The property records show that the last transaction was in 2002, when Nick and Jessica bought the home for $1,685,000.

Anonymous said...

According to listing information the house sits on a 22,141 sq ft lot which would be only lot 85, the lot the house sits on. Not having an address for the adjacent property I wouldn't know how to look it up but it appears somone else owns the lot. Surprises me that it is the only unbuilt lot in the neighborhood. I can't imagine a shared driveway being acceptable out in this area at this price point. Something smells fishy to me.

Anonymous said...

5:11 - a) your foster parents are calling you to get off the internet and finish your 5th grade homework. b) the actual story if you were able to read, is about Justin SELLING the house so you are a couple of years late on commenting about what or who he would be doing in the pool in the future.

5:55 - I looked at the s.f. too and agree the lot size listed is only the one lot. That said, it could be the other lot is available separately and the broker didn't make that clear. It wouldn't be the first time.

I wouldn't be surprised if the lot was owned by Lachey-Simpson during their time in the house since it would have provided off street parking for the MTV trucks.

Anonymous said...

my parents are dead, thanks.

actually its about justin listing th ehouse for sale, he hasnt sold jack anon 6:02.

Anonymous said...

If you ever saw Nick's music video for Shut Up from his first solo album, it was shot on the lot next door to the house, which at the time looked like a dirt heap. I'm guessing they owned it and sold it to Berfield.

Anonymous said...

6:05 -

As you wrote (in your 5th grade grammer) "justin listing th ehouse for sale"

He's trying to SELL. He won't be using the pool in the FUTURE when he SELLS. You moron.

And by the way, *foster parents* are the parents the government place you with when you can't live with your real ones - whether dead or just had enough sense to abandon your butt in the WalMart parking lot as they fled the state.

Anonymous said...

Good god what the hell happened to this place? I long for the days when the comments to this blog were civil and mature. I urge all the shit-stirrers to go back to the beginning of this blog to see how mannered people behave. What a mess this is.

Anonymous said...

Grow up people, who cares? Mama this is the best site ever, love you lot's!

Anonymous said...

I doubt Justin Berfield is selling the house due to money woes, he created and produced the dreadful (but successful) show 'Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive' for E!...he's quite an active producer and he's got his earnings from 151 episodes of 'Malcolm in the Middle' plus his residuals to keep him in comfortable surroundings.

I hate that house...

Anonymous said...

Viva, I thought Jessica Simpsons dad created that show? Joe ? ... btw I liked the house, Ill never have one like that but I can dream....

Anonymous said...

I think Mama answered the question as to why Justin is selling. He improved/upgraded the house, and is now attempting to flip it so he can move on to Malibu. Regarding the Nick and Jessica discussion, I believe it's fair to say that had Jessica not married Nick and shared the Newlyweds TV show spotlight with him, she wouldn't be where she is now (wherever that is). Just my opinions mind you, which as Mama likes to say, are utterly meaningless :)

Anonymous said...

Say what you want, but even with HIS residuals(not nearly what Frankie Munoz is getting) and producing low rated shows on E! do not pay for a $4M house. I smell money troubles.

Anonymous said...

angeleyes - In my humble and also meaningless opinion, Simpson would probably be better off had she not married Lachey and done the series. A reality show where she was portrayed as less than intelligent (whether truthful or acting) wasn't the best thing for her career. Up until then, she was seen as a pretty blonde with a nice voice, a successful recording career and good enough acting ability for the occasional guest appearances on sitcoms. Now she's the punchline to every blonde joke.

Anonymous said...

11:25, ok. I was aware of 98 Degrees and Nick Lachet before the Newlywed show, but had never heard of Jessica until then. It's my understanding she was a gospel song singer when she met Lachet, which probably accounts for my lack of familiarity with her prior to that.

Anonymous said...

She was pretty squeaky clean but not a gospel artist. She apparently recorded a gospel album as a teen (her father was a minister) but it was never released. Tommy Mottola (Mariah's ex) is who discovered her. He marketed her to a younger audience than most of us would have been at the time. Her music didn't "grow up" until the label started comparing her sales with the early releases from Britney and Christina Aguilera. There's another one - Mandi something? I think she was an actual gospel artist who crossed over and did acting too. I used to confuse the two.

I'm not one of Jessica's rabid fans that have shown up here and the only single I can name is the Robbie Williams song she covered (Angels). I just tend to root for the underdog so I kind of hope she'll pull a Mariah/Madonna/Britney reinvention.

Anonymous said...

Regaurdless of whether you remember who Jessica was prior to the show looking back *memory often mixes things up* she had a career far before Nick and the show. Which was the point of the show, two pop stars marry.

Anonymous said...

Topic?

Anonymous said...

$4M for a pseudo mediterreanean with a shared driveway? I don't think so...

Anonymous said...

Is that grassy lot next door the same featured in the episode where Nick installed sod he bought the weekend Jessica was out of town?

Anonymous said...

i beleive nick & jessica owned the lot next door, and nick still owns it.

Anonymous said...

Been reading long, Anon 10:04??

Mama wrote that he's moving to MALIBU, not WEST HOLLYWOOD.

And no, a pedophile likes 12 year olds, not adults that look like 12 year olds.

That would be like you saying you've had sex with a real person because you think your blow up doll is realistic.

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't think Mama or anyone has it right.

He bought a house last year in Venice, which is where he studios are. Why would he move to Malibu and buy another property? I think he's moving to the house he owns in Venice. Since Malibu, really isn't any close to Venice that Calabassas is

Anonymous said...

Driving time, Malibu is closer to Venice than Calabasas is to Venice.

But neither Malibu or Venice is West Hollywood where troll 10:04 said he was moving to.

Anonymous said...

If you look at the pictures online now, the some of the furniture and pictures are exactly the same as Nick and jessica's, i'm guessing nick still owns it and it selling it himself

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if Justin lives at the Venice home or not but I know a girl lives there currently. I'm not sure if she lives with him or leases the place. Does anyone know where J2 pictures is located in Venice?

Anonymous said...

Found on a website:The article was posted on Oct 16th, 2008

Justin Berfield’s Venice, CA condo for lease for $6,500 a month Justin Berfield, who portrayed Frankie Muniz’s loutish brother Reese on the hit series “Malcolm in the Middle,” has his contemporary Venice condo for lease for $6,500 a month. In the heart of Venice on trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo has rooftop views of the Pacific Ocean and is walking distance to Main Street restaurants and Muscle Beach.

So, the house he is currently living in, is probably somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

The Berfield house was sold at pre-foreclosure in May 2010 as the lender refused to allow a loan modification. The property was listed for around $1.9 million and quickly sold as a short sale.