Bel Air Real Estate & Community Information
Welcome to my page dedicated to the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.
As a real estate agent and property owner, I believe that having an understanding of community resources, neighborhood characteristics, and school information is important when considering buying or selling a home, commercial property, or investment property.
In order to help you better understand Bel Air and its relationship to the greater city of Los Angeles, I have compiled this brief overview of the neighborhood.
Thanks again and be sure to contact me for any of your Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Hancock Park, Bel Air, Century City, Wilshire Corridor, Pacific Palisades, and Downtown Los Angeles real estate needs.
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Bel AirDeveloped by oil millionaire Alphonzo Edward Bell, Bel Air is a residential neighborhood of Los Angeles that is known nationwide as one of the most exclusive areas in the United States. With estates dating back to 1923, Bel Air has a long history as a residential status symbol. Though the neighborhood can be accessed from several areas, the two main entrances are called the East Gate and the West Gate. The towering arches of its entry gates feature the words “Bel Air” prominently displayed at the top. The East Gate is located off Sepulveda Boulevard at Bel Air Crest Drive, and the West Gate is on Bellagio Drive, accessible from Sunset Boulevard, just past UCLA. Though the gates do not close or lock, and the security guard rarely steps out of the booth to investigate anyone, these physical boundaries make Bel Air’s exclusivity clear. Howard Hughes, Judy Garland, and Alfred Hitchcock are just a few past residents of this neighborhood, and current celebrities include Steve Martin and Clint Eastwood. |
Bel Air TodayToday in Bel Air you will find former First Ladies, movie stars, and moguls. Bel Air is a small, affluent community of approximately 8,000 residents. It is located between Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, in the hills west of LA. It is one of the elite Platinum Triangle neighborhoods, along with Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills. Manicured Lawns, Gatekeepers, & High FencesA community of large estate homes, Bel Air was developed in 1923. The elite neighborhood was established to provide a secluded neighborhood north of Sunset Boulevard. In keeping with this tradition of privacy, homes in Bel Air are often hidden behind iron gates and walls of greenery. Driving up Stone Canyon, you can feel the exclusivity and eliteness of the community. Though often all you can actually see are slices of sequestered landscapes and towering sycamores, you will occasionally glimpse a majestic estate behind the walls of shrubbery. The Distinction of Bel Air Real EstateThe Bel Air community has many sprawling estates in its lower areas. Contrary to the usual real estate rule that the higher you go in the hills, the more expensive the home is, in Bel Air, the homes closest to Sunset Boulevard are the most desirable and expensive properties. The most desirable parcels are located right off the original main gated entrances and the Bel Air Country Club entrance. One of the reasons for this is the convenience to other parts of the city. The higher up the hills you travel, the homes become more modest in comparison. These Upper Bel Air homes offer panoramic ocean views that are breathtaking. There are no public sidewalks, which enhances residents’ privacy by discouraging pedestrian traffic. There are also no apartment complexes. Few commercial or retail properties are situated inside Bel Air. Yet residents can enjoy a multitude of shopping by taking just a short drive. Today, the starting market price for a home in Bel Air is just over $1 million. Prices rise from there. Discriminating buyers will be met with an impressive selection of opulent, distinctive homes. Bel Air CultureThere are a few private schools and well-respected public schools that service the Bel Air community. The American Jewish University is also located in the Casiano area of Bel Air. With the close proximity to UCLA and Westwood, theaters and cultural events are in abundance. You can find film festivals, museums, and a vibrant college community. Many of the structures of the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden were originally built in Japan and then reconstructed in Bel Air. In 1961, a fire swept through the communities of Bel Air and Brentwood. Many celebrities and politicians stayed behind to fight the fire away from their homes, but many were not successful. At the end of the battle, the fire took over 16,000 acres and nearly 500 homes. For this reason, many of Bel Air’s existing homes were built during or after the mid-1960s. Bel Air LocationBel Air has the advantage of being centrally located. Living in Bel Air gives you easy access to Los Angeles's freeways, to the Valley, to Santa Monica and Malibu, and to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Conveniently located 17 miles from the heart of downtown Los Angeles, moving into a Bel Air home creates the feeling of being sheltered from the hustle of the city, while it is only minutes from Sunset Boulevard. Bel Air is an excellent choice for a quiet ambiance. For this reason, the area is highly sought after by celebrities, entertainment executives, and other members of society. |
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Luxury Los Angeles Residential Real Estate Update - $10M HomesWhat homes in the Los Angeles area have sold for over $10 million in 2011? Read this real estate market update of 10 million dollar plus homes sold in LA, several of which are located in the Sunset Strip/Bird Streets area of the Hollywood Hills. |
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Bel Air Home SearchMLS Property ListingsSearch Homes for Sale in the Bel Air-Holmby Hills Area |
Interested in seeing what homes are currently for sale in Bel Air, Holmby Hills, or surrounding areas? Use the MLS property search feature below to find homes for sale in your price range.
DAVID KEAN & ASSOCIATES |
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Specializing in high-end residential properties throughout the Los Angeles area (Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills/Sunset Strip/Doheny, Hancock Park, Bel Air, Wilshire Corridor, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Century City, Downtown Los Angeles)
DRE #01403963 