Highland Park: A Look at Real Estate and Architecture

To those monitoring real estate trends in Los Angeles, it’s no surprise at all to know that the NELA district of Highland Park has been enjoying a long, steady real estate boom. As real estate in Silver Lake, Mt. Washington and Eagle Rock have skyrocketed in recent years, those priced out of those areas have found everything they’re looking for in Highland Park. Homes in Highland Park are being snatched up like hotcakes and Highland Park real estate agents are working overtime.

Highland Park is a historic neighborhood located in Northeast Los Angeles. It is comprised of a wide spectrum of ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Its hilly terrain is found in the San Rafael Hills along the famous Arroyo Seco River. With the completion of the Arroyo Seco Parkway in 1940, Highland Park began to spring to life with new inhabitants. New homes were in demand and the Craftsman / Bungalow styles aligned with the needs of the new era.

In fact, Craftsman and Bungalows are similar in many ways. The main difference besides layout is that single-story Bungalows have a large front veranda because they were modeled after Bungalow mansions that still exist today as historical landmarks in Pasadena.

The popularity of verandas has kept Bungalows in demand throughout the 20th century until today. The positive influx of population in Highland Park has assured the construction of new and varying styles of Bungalow homes. The famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, developed the Prairie Style home based off Bungalows. These homes had specific angled eaves, which blocked out heat from the hot summer sun and allowed in light from the docile winter sun.

Bungalows range from $400,000 to $800,000. They are ideal for middle class people looking for modest sized homes. The single-story blueprint is ideal for people who dislike stairways. Because they are single-story they are always built in clusters so each home has privacy and will not be neighbors with a towering Victorian. On occasion, some Bungalows may have a built-out second floor or a half raised basement which residents may use for utilities, extra bedrooms or entertainment rooms.

The basic characteristics of a Bungalow home include a large front veranda, sloping roofs, rafters that are visible under eaves and a center gable. The exterior of the home can be made with stucco, wood shingles, or horizontal siding paired with stone or brick chimneys. The upper end Bungalow homes sport Arts & Crafts style woodwork, glass and / or metal in the interior.

Craftsman style homes have also been developing and increasing in popularity since the 20th century. These strongly assembled homes are favored because of their built-in features. The ascension of the middle class in the early 20th century found built-in cabinetry was a classy way of displaying china in living quarters and opening up room in the kitchen for families to gather and have meals. These cabinets attached to the walls as borders to drawers and fireplaces.

American Craftsman homes were developed by the famous Pasadena architects, Greene and Greene. They wanted to steer away from the issues that arose in Victorian style homes. The main features they wanted to include were: open floor plans to improve central heating, fireplaces, built-in cabinetry and hardware, light fixtures and tile work finishes.

Craftsman homes remain in demand today and can range in price from $400,000 to $1,000,000. Craftsman homes are typically one or two stories with low-pitched roofs, clipped gables, and broad eaves. These eaves are supported by visible rafter tails and knee braces. Sometimes they will have small verandas on the front or sides of the home.

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, be sure to find an experienced Highland Park realtor to represent you in your transaction. Perform your due diligence and ask around. An investment in buying and / or selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make. Be smart!

Highland Park: The New Echo Park

Echo Park has the reputation of being one of the greatest neighborhoods in LA. It’s more affordable than Silver Lake, more uppity than Highland Park and has a central location in Los Angeles connected to four major freeways. On top of the firework spectacular over Elysian Park, the Victorian-era pocket neighborhood full of classic mansions to tour and a melting pot of culture and diversity – Echo Park was a pretty tough neighborhood to beat.

Until Highland Park stepped up it’s game.

In 2013 the real estate website, Redfin, listed Highland Park as the hottest housing market in the country. Not just Los Angeles. The country. Housing prices are on a rise, rent prices are increasing and the people who contributed to Highland Park crime are being siphoned out. Highland Park real estate has become gold and buyers and Highland Park realtors are reaping tremendous rewards.

Despite the increase in rent, Highland Park remains cheaper than both Silver Lake and Echo Park. With the glow of gentrification Highland Park has begun to attract millennials with dreams of creating their dream homes.

The improvements of Highland Park homes have started to manifest in the business districts on York Boulevard and Central Street. What used to be dollar stores and closed up shops has now transformed into streets, which constantly sprouts new bars, vintage shops and trendy cafes.

What makes Highland Park stand out from the other neighborhoods is the brooding sense of community full of people who collectively love Highland Park. The “Bohemian” vibe that once brought the community to life still thrives in undertones through street mural art and original shops.

The owners of the trendy shops live within close proximity to their stores. Once they find out that you do as well, they instantly recognize Highland Park camaraderie. This sense of community has initiated new, popular traditions like Second Saturday. This is a monthly gallery night, which has become more popular in crowds and venues than Downtown Art Walk. The Fourth of July is highly celebrated, but instead of a Fireworks show over a lake – residents put on their own display of illegal, fantastical fireworks.

Highland Park is home to Los Angeles’ largest historic district, the Highland Park-Garvanza Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. This special area is home to approximately 50 Historic-Cultural Monuments that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Unlike most areas of Los Angeles, Highland Park is still a relatively easy place to find parking – even during weekends. Furthermore Highland Park is convenient to major freeways, especially the 110, which puts Downtown Los Angeles only ten minutes way for those who need to commute to their jobs.

Although Echo Park has its own special perks, and they are more the same than not, nothing compares to the up-and-coming inertia and popularity of Highland Park. At least not now.

But who knows what neighborhood is the next up-and-comer? Only time will tell.

Glassell Park Real Estate: It’s All About Spacious Contemporary Hillside Homes

Glassell Park is a hilly span of land in Northeast Los Angeles and several areas of NELA have been experiencing a real estate boom. Glassell Park has been no exception. Homes in Glassell Park on the market do not stay there long. Real estate in Glassell Park is in demand and buyers are attracted to the area because of the attractive hillside neighborhoods and the size of the homes.

Glassell Park is located northeast of Elysian Valley and Atwater Village. The rolling hills have challenged residents to build spacious, innovative homes that differentiate from every other neighborhood in Los Angeles. The housing boom in the early 2000s inspired an import of new residents and a slue of innovative, modern homes. There is also an abundance of historic homes that are more affordable than Glassell Park’s neighbors: Eagle Rock, Mount Washington and Silver Lake.

The average household size in Glassell Park is larger than most areas of Los Angeles. This has led to expansive, large homes accommodating the sizeable family sizes. Developers are taking advantage of the “hillside community” title and building homes on the slanted hills. The average acreage per lot is high and the houses are spacious with many rooms, multiple levels, high ceilings and large windows with killer views.

Spanish Bungalows are found throughout Glassell Park. These open floor plan homes provide tall walls for grand windows and a view to enjoy no matter what room you are in. Spanish homes generally have two bedrooms and bathrooms that are lit with natural light from skylights. Spanish Bungalows often have state-of-the-art kitchens, which lead to a terraced back yard and a variety of hardscape spaces for entertaining purposes. These become beautiful locations for BBQs, al fresco dining, or just relaxing under the beautiful sky.

Mid-Century homes are another popular choice in Glassell Park. These hillside beauties will often sport a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna or all three. The slanted yards provide the opportunity for innovative landscaping full of colorful, drought tolerant plants. The more plants and shrubs that are planted, the more in tact the hill will be during and wet, rainy seasons. The larger Mid-Century homes have on average five bedrooms and five bathrooms. They often contain eat-in kitchens, giant bedrooms with high ceilings, gigantic walk-in closets, large roof decks and a bonus room, which can be used for an office, a den or an entertainment space. The hillside breezes make the outside brick patios a magical place to entertain. With proper landscaping technique in planting trees and constructing walls, each home has the ability to offer a quiet, secluded living space that is private and protected from the eyes of neighbors or surrounding freeways.

Because Glassell Park is a booming market, be certain to perform your due diligence and choose an experienced Glassell Park real estate agent who has a proven track record in helping buyers and sellers navigate through the potential opportunities and pitfalls of real estate investment. Only an experienced Glassell Park realtor will help protect and serve your interests and get you the best deal possible. That’s what real estate investment is all about.