Off-market action heats up L.A. County's top home sales - Los Angeles Times
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Off-market action heats up L.A. County’s top home sales

The newly built California contemporary in Pacific Palisades was owned by attorney Michael L. Matkins and is on the site of Matkins' childhood home.
(Todd Goodman / LA Light Photography)
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Sales of $10 million or more have been the big-ticket items on the Westside as of late, with Beverly Hills seeing the bulk of the action. Among the movers and shakers were a pair of television executives, who both completed deals outside the Multiple Listing Service. Here’s a look at the priciest homes sold in late May and early June.

$16 million — Beverly Hills

Film and television executive Chris McGurk sold his home in the 800 block of North Crescent Drive in a deal that played out off-market. The buyer was a California-based limited liability company with a principal address in San Mateo, mortgage documents show.

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McGurk previously served as the president of Walt Disney Studios and now holds the title of chairman and chief executive for the entertainment company Cinedigm. He bought the house on more than half an acre two decades ago from author-historian Louise Taper for $3.775 million.

Property records show that the Tudor-style home has five bedrooms and seven full bathrooms in 11,588 square feet of living space. A tennis court and a swimming pool with a spa lie within the grounds.

Brett and Jason Oppenheim of the Oppenheim Group represented both ends of the transaction.

$13,419,063 — Pacific Palisades

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Michael L. Matkins, a lawyer and founding partner of the Los Angeles-based firm Allen Matkins, sold a newly built home in the 700 block of Amalfi Drive for about $75,000 less than the asking price.

The 8,036-square-foot California contemporary was designed by O+L Building projects and built on the site of Matkins’ family home of more than two decades. The property was developed by his son, Mark Matkins, in collaboration with childhood friend and neighbor Brent Gunderson.

Sitting on more than three-quarters of an acre, the three-story spec house features moving walls of glass, a cantilevered entry and a floating staircase set off by a 28-foot board-form concrete wall.

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A home theater, a wine room, a sauna and a second-story terrace are among features of note. The master suite, one of six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, has its own living room, fireplace, dual bathrooms and a walk-in closet.

Hugh Evans III of Partners Trust was the listing agent. John Hathorn, also of Partners Trust, represented the buyer.

$12.9 million — Beverly Hills

Television producer Jonathan Goodson, the son of legendary game show producer Mark Goodson, sold his longtime home in the 1000 block of Elden Way to activewear entrepreneur Anwar Gajiani and his wife, Yasmin, in a deal completed off-market.

Tucked behind gates and tall privacy hedges, the two-story house was built in 1969 and has 25 rooms, including five bedrooms and nine bathrooms, in nearly 6,100 square feet of living space.

A swimming pool and spa, lawns and mature trees fill grounds of about three-quarters of an acre. A motor court sits off the entrance to the home.

Goodson, 70, took over the long-established TV production company formed by his father and his longtime business partner Bill Todman in 1993 and ran it for two years before selling it to All American Television. He currently heads Jonathan Goodson Productions, known for its state-based lottery game shows.

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Laura Barton and Nancy Ross of Partners Trust represented the sellers.

$11.995 million — Beverly Hills

In the 1200 block of Shadow Hill Way, a not-yet-built house on about an acre sold for $95,000 over the original asking price and nearly $4 million more than what it went for a year ago.

Listing details noted plans for a 14,000-square-foot hillside compound designed by architectural firm Paul McClean Design. The design includes a circular motor court/turntable with a waterfall feature, multiple swimming pools and telescoping walls of glass.

Adam Rosenfeld and Kyle Giese of Mercer Vine were the listing agents. Yi Chang Gong of RE/MAX Premier Properties represented the buyer.

$11.2 million — Beverly Hills

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A modern showplace designed by architect Leonardo Umansky for his parents, Alfredo and Betty Umansky, sold in the 800 block of North Roxbury Drive for $600,000 less than the most recent asking price.

The 9,300-square-foot house, built in 1999, was designed to invite natural light while showcasing an extensive art collection. Features of note include gallery walls, perimeter skylights and solar pockets fashioned for specific display pieces. Limestone and wood paneling lend an earthy tone both inside and out.

Outdoors, hedged and gated grounds of nearly half an acre include a covered patio with an in-ground spa, a swimming pool, lawns and mature trees.

Michael Libow of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage was the listing agent. Susi Salim of Keystar Realty represented the buyer, a Delaware-based limited liability company.

These are among the top residential real estate sales reported on the combined L.A./Westside Listing Service for the period from May 29 through June 11.

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UPDATES:

11:15 a.m. June 27: This story was updated with additional details about the home on 700 block of Amalfi Drive.

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