Should I sell my Hollywood Hills house as-is or fix it up first?

Fix only what will add more to the price than it costs. Sell as-is when the work would be large, slow or uncertain.

Newer homes dominate Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon. Only one of the three homes in our sample were built in 1980 or earlier, so an older house stands out, and buyers will set it against move-in-ready neighbors. Older homes there hold more of their value against new construction than the California median, 34.5 percent against 29.5 percent.

More in Should I Sell My House As-Is or Fix It Up First?

What does it cost to sell a house in Hollywood Hills?

On a listed sale, commission is usually the largest cost, followed by transfer taxes, title and closing fees, and any repairs or credits after the buyer’s inspection. A private sale to Address District has no commission.

On federal taxes, the IRS says an owner who owned and lived in the house as a main home for two of the five years before the sale may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

Line by line in How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?

What are the benefits of selling my Hollywood Hills house off-market?

Discretion, no preparation and control of the calendar.

  • No listing. Your home never goes on the MLS or the listing sites, and there are no open houses or showings to strangers.
  • Sell it as it is. No repairs, staging or deep cleaning before you sell.
  • Your timeline. Choose the closing date that works for you, whether that is a few weeks out or a few months.
  • One buyer, one conversation. You deal directly with the buyer, not a string of showings, counteroffers and second rounds.

What you give up is reach. A listing shows the house to every active buyer at once, which can lift the price in a strong market. Should I Sell My House Off-Market? sets out both sides.

Is now a good time to sell my house in Hollywood Hills?

It depends more on your plans than on the market. The right time is usually when a sale fits your next move, your finances and the state of the house.

To read the market in Hollywood Hills, look at how long homes like yours take to go under contract and what they actually sold for in the last few months, not at asking prices.

More in How Do I Know When It’s Time to Sell My House?

How fast can I sell my house in Hollywood Hills?

Off-market, on the date you choose, whether that is a few weeks out or a few months, once the title work and the documents California requires are done.

A listed sale usually takes longer, because the house has to be prepared, shown and negotiated, and the buyer’s inspection, appraisal and loan approval can still undo the deal late in the process.

If you are relocating, read How Do I Sell My House Fast When I’m Moving for Work?

How does selling my Hollywood Hills house off-market work?

In four steps, with no listing and no showings.

  1. Send us the address and a few details through the offer form, or get in touch.
  2. A person on our team looks at the house and recent sales nearby, and may ask for a walk-through.
  3. We send a written offer. You are under no obligation to accept it.
  4. If you do, the closing is handled by a title company or closing attorney, on your date.

You will know in writing who the buyer is before you sign anything.

What if my Hollywood Hills house isn’t selling?

Usually the price, sometimes the condition, occasionally the marketing. The showing count tells you which.

Before you talk to another buyer, read your listing agreement. Most owe the agent a commission on any sale during the term. More in Why Isn’t My House Selling?

How do I sell an inherited house in Hollywood Hills?

Start with who has the authority to sign, usually the personal representative the probate court appoints, or a trustee. A title company will generally not close until that is documented.

Inherited property generally takes a basis equal to its value on the date of death, the IRS says, which can shrink the taxable gain. A probate attorney in California can explain the rest. More in How Do I Sell a House I Inherited?

How does Hollywood Hills compare with nearby neighborhoods?

West Hollywood and Hollywood Hills West, 1 mile away, shows two older homes among the six we sampled. Beverly Hills, Trousdale and Beverly Hills Post Office, 3 miles away, has three older homes among the five we sampled. Studio City, 3 miles away, counts seven older homes among the 23 we sampled. Hollywood Hills ranks tied for 707th nationally for older homes, behind three of them.

Every neighborhood in the index has its own page, and the California page lists all 177 in the state.

Do older homes in Hollywood Hills sell for less than new construction?

In our sample, yes. The one older home in the 90046 sample sold for 34.5 percent of the average price of new construction in the same ZIP code. The California median is 29.5 percent, and the index median is 23.1 percent. With one older home behind it, treat the figure as a rough guide.

The gap reflects size, lot and condition as much as age, so price an older house against recent sales of other older houses nearby, not against new construction.

Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon by the numbers

Older homes
1
of 3 homes sampled, built 1980 or earlier
Share of older homes
33.3%
California 39.9%. Index 49.0%.
Older vs new
34.5%
Older home price as a share of new construction
National rank
#707 (tie)
of 1,192 ZIP codes
State rank
#96
of 177 in California
Minimum lot
5,600 sq ft
As recorded in the source data

Of the three homes in the Address District sample for Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon (90046), one was built in 1980 or earlier, a share of 33.3 percent. That places 90046 tied for 707th of 1,192 ZIP codes nationally for the number of older homes, and tied for 96th of 177 in California.

Across the 177 California ZIP codes in the index, 39.9 percent of the homes sampled were built in 1980 or earlier, against 49.0 percent across all 1,192 ZIP codes.

With three homes in the sample, read these figures as a snapshot of the homes sampled rather than a measure of the whole ZIP code.

How 90046 compares

Share of older homes

Homes in the sample built in 1980 or earlier

90046 Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon33.3%
California39.9%
All ZIP codes in the index49.0%

Older home prices against new construction

Average older home price as a share of new construction

90046 Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon34.5%
California median29.5%
Index median23.1%

Nearby neighborhoods in the index

ZIPPlaceDistanceRankShare
90069West Hollywood / Hollywood Hills WestWest Hollywood, CA1 mi45133.3%
90210Beverly Hills / Trousdale / Beverly Hills Post OfficeBeverly Hills, CA3 mi33760.0%
91604Studio CityLos Angeles County, CA3 mi11730.4%
91601North HollywoodLos Angeles County, CA4 mi76250.0%
91607Valley VillageLos Angeles County, CA5 mi42415.4%
90077Bel AirLos Angeles, CA5 mi550100.0%
91423Sherman OaksLos Angeles County, CA5 mi29813.6%
90024WestwoodLos Angeles, CA5 mi76250.0%

The top of California

State rankZIPPlaceHomesOlder homesShare
196161TruckeeNevada County, CA403792.5%
295404Santa RosaSonoma County, CA181688.9%
390266Manhattan BeachManhattan Beach, CA311032.3%
492253La QuintaRiverside County, CA12975.0%
590049BrentwoodLos Angeles, CA17847.1%
691604Studio CityLos Angeles County, CA23730.4%
794025Menlo ParkSan Mateo County, CA33618.2%
890066Mar VistaLos Angeles, CA31619.4%
994010BurlingameSan Mateo County, CA17635.3%
1092660Eastbluff / Dover Shores / Newport CenterNewport Beach, CA16637.5%

All 177 California ZIP codes in the index ›

About the data. Older homes are homes built in 1980 or earlier. Rank orders ZIP codes by the number of older homes in the sample, then by the number of homes. Full methodology and the complete index. Nothing on this page is legal, tax or financial advice.