Wednesday, July 2, 2008

JoeBabs Selling Again

SELLER: Joseph Babajian
LOCATION: Warner Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
PRICE: $1,995,000
SIZE: 2,011 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1.75 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1935 w/ architectural integrity preserved. Timeless design w/ great scale, proportion & symmetry, wonderful authentic moldings & details. Recently restored & brilliantly refined w/ updated kitchen, baths, wd flring & new roof, central A/C. Separate den/office w/ built-in bookshelves. Formal dining rm plus charming junior dining rm. Private brick courtyard w/ fireplace.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: It's been quite some time since Your Mama has heard hide, hair or how-dee-do about much maligned and publicly shamed celebrity real estate agent Joseph Babajian who was indicted late last year on multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud and loan fraud. In fact, the last we heard was in late March 2008 when his recently and expensively renovated 3 bedroom and 3.5 bathroom domicile in Trousdale Estates sold for $6,510,000. But thanks to Our Fairy Godmother in Beverly Hills, Your Mama has learned that another of JoeBabs' properties has been recently listed for sale.

Located on Warner Avenue in the leafy, lush and centrally located Little Holmby section of Los Angeles, the 2,011 square foot house currently carries an asking price of $1,995,000 and happens to sit spitting distance from Candy Spelling's famously monstrous mansion on S. Mapleton Drive. Property records show that JoeBabs purchased the modest ranch house in February of 2003, long before news of his alleged real estate scheming and conniving became public. Although JoeBabs took a $789,000 mortgage at the time of purchase, Your Mama finds it interesting that the sale price is undisclosed. Hmm. Probably nothing suspicious, but with all JoeBabs' bad press we can't help but look a little cross-eyed at all his real estate doings.

Anyhoo, listing information for the renovated residence shows it includes three bedrooms, 1.75 bathrooms, a nicely sized living room with wood burning fireplace, a den with built-in bookshelves which will be appreciated by the few folks who read actual books anymore, and an updated kitchen with depressing drawer pulls and low-brow tile counter tops. Listing information also indicates there is both a formal dining room and a junior dining room. Your Mama has never heard of a junior dining room but we presume that is high-fallutin' real estate speak for the smart looking breakfast room which has been staged with a slightly too small Saarinen table and a couple of cozy 1940s era upholstered armchairs.

Thanks the keen eyes of one of Your Mama's children we now notice that the oval mirrors in the bathroom are hanging over the damn window. Yes, we realize that people need a mirror to pluck, pick and preen, but surely there was a better solution than this.

Always a fan of outdoor rooms, Your Mama finds the interior courtyard inviting and lovely. Once the awning striped patio furniture was swapped out for something more to our liking we can imagine that sitting next to the outdoor fireplace working the knitting needles and sipping gin and tonics would be a perfectly pleasant way to spend the a late November afternoon. However, it concerns and troubles Your Mama that this appears to be the only outdoor space besides the front yard and the long driveway up the side of the house. While this somewhat wee courtyard would be adequate for Your Mama and the Dr. Cooter's long bodied bitches Linda and Beverly, it might not be so desirable for someone with a few bratty toddlers who require swing sets, sand boxes and room to swing a cat by its tail.

A quick search of property records reveals that the once high and mighty real estate agent who regularly brokered multi-million dollar deals for the likes of David Beckham and The Spice Gurl, sold a 1,370 square foot house on Sunset Ridge Drive in Laguna Beach in November of 2007 for $2,650,000. Records show JoeBabs bought the 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom house in the Emerald Terrace neighborhood in December of 2004 for an even steven $2,000,000. Records also show that JoeBabs continues to own the small apartment building on N. Sweetzer in West Hollywood that he purchased in March of 2006 as well as a 2,057 square foot house on S. Palm Drive in Beverly Hills that he purchased in March of 2003.

So it would seem that ol' JoeBabs is unlikely to wind up homeless even after he hands over the considerable cash required to pay his high priced attorneys.

26 comments:

My Poor Liver Podcast said...

That's alot of coin to drop on a place that looks like someone's guesthouse.

ms_wonderland said...

Liking the living, dining and breakfast rooms. Not so much the kitchen with those cheap looking cabinets, and the mirrors obscuring the window in the bathroom are just unnecessary. Oh, and the twiddly topary by the front door has to go. But generally, nicely done over.

Anonymous said...

"Spitting distance? How vivid."

Can the children say "rental"? I doubt Ms. Bab ever hung his silk pajamas in this house.

Wonder if those mirrors are on swing arms to move away from the window? That is what I would have done. Or not crammed a double sink vanity in the space in the first place.

It is a good neighborhood, close to everything but still quiet. He'll sell it.

pch said...

This Joe person seems to have a passion for picking the most average house in the neighborhood and then doing a makeover that only serves to highlight its average-ness.

One of the things about Little Holmby is that it's jam-packed with 20s/30s/40s revival-style architecture -- much of it good.

I don't dislike this house, but it's rather unexceptional, and it happens to be right next door to one of my LH favorites (801 Warner Avenue). The compare/contrast would annoy me every time I came home.

Anonymous said...

The breakfast room would be greatly improved with a slightly larger round table and four smaller chairs.

Anonymous said...

HHAHAHA rotfl Bentley. Right on!

Anonymous said...

He should list it as LARGE GUEST HOUSE for sale

Great location but what a dump

Anonymous said...

I think it's pretty cute, actually. Hate the front entry/curb appeal, the kitchen needs re-doing, but the courtyard's very inviting and with some color this would make a great guest house or little vacation home on the coast.
The mirrors in front of the window don't bother me at all - see this in Florida vacation homes quite a lot - you can brush your teeth and look outside at the the same time.

tickle said...

Maybe Candy could buy it to use as her "junior gift-wrapping room(s)"?

Alessandra said...

The landscaping leaves much to be desired.

Anonymous said...

For anybody who is not familiar with the area, the house is not "spitting distance" from the Spelling Mansion. It is blocks away.....

Looks like Mr.B. will have a comfortable retirement once the legal problems are handled.....

Anonymous said...

A friend just bought a 5MM mansion in encino CA for 1.5MM cash

I was just there it is amazing !!!!!!

Don't believe the hype

sellers are taking any offer as long as you have cash.

this was not a loan from a bank, my friend had offered 1.5MM in cash

Anonymous said...

ironically he is from india and he is in the import export business so apparently he is doing quite well

Parker said...

I really do like the interiors, apart from the obvious quirks like the kitchen, as most have pointed out. I am quite surprised that any seller would leave the front as BLAH as it is. It's not just blah, it's incredibly unattractive and uninviting. I was shocked to like the interior as much as I did after seeing the front exterior. A charming courtyard is always a plus.

Anonymous said...

A friend just bought a 5k hyundai in chino CA for 15k cash

I was just there i promise !!!!!!

Don't believe my hype

sellers are taking any fool as long as they have cash.

this was fom a loan shark name vinne, my friend will end up paying 30k

Anonymous said...

ironically he is from india and he doesnt own a 7-11

lil' gay boy said...

Spitting distance?

Careful, folks - last time I used that phrase, I was accused of trying to assault Garrison Keilor . . .

The house looks like a trailer trying to mate with an IHOP; no curb appeal whatsoever.

And the interior? Why do I hear church bells and get the urge to "take my pill?"

Next stop, Stepford.

Anonymous said...

Hey Jackass believe what you want

I WAS THERE I SAW THE CONTRACT

I know it is hard to believe but it was listed for 5MM and he did get it for 1.5MM cash, immaculate condition in the hills.

btw I drive a 2007 550 mercedes which I paid 200k for, so I am a realist on prices.

StPaulSnowman said...

The exterior shot looks like something from the neighborhood in Edward Scissorhands. It is so refreshing to look at expensive real estate and have absolutely no desire to own it.

Anonymous said...

Hey I'm a Jackass and make up what I want.

I WAS THERE I SAW THE HYUNDAI

I know it is hard to believe me but it was listed for 5k and he did get it for 15k cash.

btw I drive a 1977 510 datsun which I paid 20k for last mont so I am a realist on prices.

so_chic_darling said...

Who uses Russel Wright pitchers as decoration? Oh Mary please!

Anonymous said...

its right across the street from an elementary school.. good time to sell when school is out for summer.. come september there will be big yellow buses and lot and lots of loud kiddies...

Anonymous said...

Mama- I love your comments on this one (dead on with the mirrors, that's ridiculous) and love the site, keep at it!

Anonymous said...

I detest the mirrors over the bathroom. But the courtyard is loving. The exterior of the house would use a nice covered porch or something....I'm not sure what it needs.

Anonymous said...

Also, why does someone need so many pitchers? They must drink a lot of juice.

Anonymous said...

8:33 - It isn't across from the school. The house is in the 800 block, the school in the 600 block. There are two houses for sale across from the school.

661 has the same asking price, similar architecture but is two story 5 bedrooms and needs work.

651 is a 2 bedroom 2 bath for 100k more. One the plus column, it's a Neutra. Negative column, the school.