There’s No Place Like an Open Home
The real estate market is hot, hot, hot, and open houses in high-demand neighborhoods are getting a lot of foot traffic. Whether folks are serious prospective buyers, or “just looking,” everyone’s curious about market value and what’s for sale. We visited a Studio City open house to get the lay of the land.
Chris Curcuru, 40
Prudential Realtor for the house
Burbank
What’s the worst looky-loo?
Someone who focuses on nit-picking but can’t afford to buy. There are people who are repeaters every agent knows. I think they’re bored.
Is Southern California in a real estate bubble?
No. Prices will level out and we’ll go back to a normal cycle.
What’s a surprising request you’ve had from a client?
One man taller than 7 feet needed a long bathtub. I’ve also had nudists.
What’s your own dream house?
A beach house. There’s something mystical about the beach.
Give us a wild bidding war story.
Someone in our office had 84 offers on one house that burned out the fax. It was a fixer in Northridge that sold for $540,000.
Do houses have personalities?
It’s a spirit or energy. Houses are where people reveal a lot of themselves. That gets passed down.
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Nan Spicer Eisen, 58
(with daughter Andie)
Herbalife distributor
Studio City
Are you a looky-loo?
It’s on our block, and we wanted to check it out. I used to play in this house as a child.
What are your must-haves?
Light, space and a fluid layout. Light is a nutrient for the soul. A pool keeps the kids coming back.
What would be a deal breaker?
Traffic sounds, [and] I’d never go for a dark house.
Would you offer over the asking price to bag a hot house?
There’s a price for everything. You pay with money, energy, time or love. If you can’t, you go on to the next thing.
Do houses have spirits?
Absolutely. You can feel the last argument or love that was in a place.
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Bryan Zavala, 38
(with daughter Lucy)
Movie trailer editor
Studio City
Are you a looky-loo?
Yes. As the owner of three houses, I like to see how the market is. I like to get ideas for remodeling.
What are your must-haves?
A pool. It’s hot in the Valley. A house can never be on a busy street, especially when you have a baby. I’d want more than 2,400 square feet. As cat owners, we’d never live where coyotes roam.
Where do you stand on bidding wars?
I don’t mind them--as long as I win.
How far would you go to endear yourself to a seller?
I don’t think tactics work. Sellers are in it to make money.
Do houses have spirits?
I believe ours has a ghost. I think my dad is lurking around. Every now and then, the TV would turn on. It’s nice having him around.
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Anita Barone, 36
Actress
Hollywood Hills
Are you a looky-loo?
I have an illness. I look at open houses quite a bit. But now I’m actually in the market for one.
What are your must-haves?
Our kids are 2 1/2 and 10 months old, so we want a yard. We want four bedrooms. We need an office, and when people come to stay it’s a little cramped.
What would be a deal breaker?
We have to have a fireplace.
Where do you stand on bidding wars?
On the sidelines. I’m a lover, not a fighter.
How far would you be willing to go to endear yourself to a seller?
I wouldn’t do anything sexual. It’s all about money.
Do houses have spirits?
Houses have energy. Natural elements like wood, stone and light create energy. The shapes of rooms create a flow.
