While making the trek to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, hikers are likely to pass an A-frame chalet nestled among the trees.
It’s the closest home to the famous sign, according to real estate agent Trenton Armitage, who estimated that roughly 300,000 people pass the Hollywood Hills property annually.
As for what's inside the trailside property, “It’s one of those like secret L.A. [spots],” Armitage told Homes.com. “If you know, you know.”
Now, the chalet is on the market for $2.25 million, according to the Homes.com listing.
The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath house was built in 1963.
It’s a win-win for buyers, according to Armitage, who holds the listing alongside Chris Soffer. Both agents are with The Beverly Hills Estates brokerage firm. There’s the architectural draw — A-frame chalets are “super rare for L.A.,” according to Armitage — but it’s especially unusual to find a home of that style with an ocean view in an iconic location.
“They just don’t pop up,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever honestly seen another one, and especially one with this location and views.”
Selling a house like a historic art piece
The owners lived in their home part-time and rented out the property on Airbnb.
While the next stewards of the property might do the same, Armitage said he views the property as a “large-scale sculpture,” so that’s how he’s approaching the sale.
“The way that we’ve kind of looked at this is more from a fine arts perspective,” he said, also noting the home's history.
At one point, the residence was home to members of the 1960s band The Association, known for hits such as "Cherish" and "Never My Love." The history of the Hollywood sign — originally erected as an advertisement for a new neighborhood built in the area known as Hollywoodland — is also an appeal.
The home could draw buyers looking to live in an “iconic” neighborhood, or it could appeal to someone more interested in the architecture, including celebrities, according to Armitage.
“They’ll just buy iconic pieces of architecture, even if it’s not something they plan to live in,” he said of famous buyers in Los Angeles. “It’s something that they plan to cherish over time and maybe to use as a recording studio or a little pied-à-terre or just a hangout space for their friends and family.”