Residential properties north of Beverly Hills, California, with Crestwood Hills real estate as a fine example, are typically exclusive and expensive, but for many well worth the price. Crawling up the canyons and hills of the Santa Monica Mountains that separate Beverly Hills from the Valley to the north, there exist some spectacular estates and well-defined communities. High above the hustle and bustle of the city far below to the south, these residential enclaves remain a world removed with their rugged terrain, beautiful vistas and a clean and green surrounding environment. Crestwood Hills, which began as an idealistic planned community back in the late 1940s, remains singularly unique in both presence and scope. Known as an 'architecturally controlled community', several homes in the area are registered as historic monuments. While the project originally envisioned construction of 500 single-family homes, only 160 were completed. Of those, fewer than half were left standing after the November 1961 wildfire which devastated the Hollywood Hills area, destroying many of the homes in the canyons and on the ridges.
WHAT MAKES CRESTWOOD HILLS REAL ESTATE SO UNIQUE
Crestwood Hills real estate, which falls within the larger Brentwood Community boundaries, has been featured in many books and magazines as an example of top-rate mid-20th century, then-modern home construction. While nearly two dozen of the original homes have been declared architectural landmarks, many have also been demolished or remodeled beyond their original architectural integrity. Only 33 of the original 160 remain as they were initially designed. There now exist laws, however, preventing what has been termed insensitive remodeling and demolition. The current community association is very proactive in its fostering of a high-quality living environment in Crestwood and in maintaining the historic significance of this residential area.
HOW TO FIND REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN CRESTWOOD HILLS
While real estate for sale in Crestwood Hills is not frequently available, when it is, there are lots of real estate companies vying for the listings. In this day and age of Internet shopping, it's easy to make an online search to find what offerings are available. While much of California's real estate market is soft, 'mid-century modern' homes like those in Crestwood Hills are known to sell faster because they are architecturally distinctive and are far from ordinary. These homes are so desirous that they often sell for more than the posted asking price. As always, people appreciate quality design and construction.
Crestwood Hills is the one and only large-scale, post-war cooperative housing project of its kind in California. Its location is ideal, being close enough to West Los Angeles to be an easy commute, but far enough up and out of town to present an idyllic natural setting. Pacific Ocean breezes keep it cool and comfortable, and views of the mountains, ocean and surrounding area can be spectacular. Properties coming up for sale here don't stay on the market long, and those fortunate enough to find a home here rarely want to leave.
