At the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains lies Bel Air—an exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood that’s home to many A-listers in film, music, business, and politics. One of L.A.’s most prestigious enclaves, Bel Air appeals to discriminating homeowners with a taste for the finer things in life.
Living in Bel Air is a dream for many. Offering utmost privacy and tranquility, it continuously captivates luxury home buyers, making it one of the most sought-after high end neighborhoods in the country.
Considering moving to Bel Air? Here’s everything you need to know about this urban haven.
AN ELEGANT RETREAT
Entrenched in popular culture as Will Smith’s “peculiar” home in the 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Bel Air is part of the “Platinum Triangle” – a triumvirate of affluent L.A. neighborhoods that also includes Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills.
Since its founding in 1923, many have fallen in love with Bel Air because of its exceptional location. You can enjoy Los Angeles’s sunny weather and glamorous lifestyle without the noise and bustle of the big city. Bel-Air’s high-profile residents get all the privacy they need while having quick and easy access to everything L.A. has to offer.
Tourists often note how Bel Air has quieter streets than other residential areas in L.A. It’s this characteristic that many residents appreciate the most about their community. Upon entering the neighborhood, you’ll be greeted by tree-lined, landscaped streets, a backdrop of lush green hills, and beautiful expansive homes spread wide apart from each other. With one of the lowest population densities throughout the county, Bel Air offers unparalleled tranquility and generous open space to residents.
FASCINATING ARCHITECTURE
From sleek contemporary villas to Mediterranean mansions, properties in Bel Air come with one-of-a-kind designs in various architectural styles, including American Colonial, Georgian, Tudor, Spanish Colonial Revival, mid-century modern, and contemporary. Most may hide behind towering fences or hedges, but these houses represent the area’s diverse residents and their varying architectural tastes.
Living in Bel Air means being surrounded by some of the world’s most stylish homes. Some houses have classic façades with eccentric interiors, while others act as time capsules that reflect how the neighborhood must have looked like in its earliest days. Bel Air’s early residents commissioned no less than the best architects of their eras, such as Summer Spaulding, Butts and Butts, Wallace Neff, Gordon Kaufman, and others, and their timeless creations have distinguished Bel Air today as a virtual repository of architectural masterpieces.
RICH HISTORY
Originally, Bel Air was part of a 4,438-acre ranch that Manuel Micheltorena, the Mexican Governor of California, granted to Maximo Alanis in 1843. In 1921, oil tycoon Alphonzo Bell bought 1,760 acres of the land and purchased a mansion on top of the present-day Bel Air Road. He opened an estate planning office in Stone Canyon, and the building that housed it was later transformed into Hotel Bel-Air.
Realizing there was a demand for large homes with amazing views, Bell went on to buy an additional 22,000 acres of land in the area, and Bel Air grew into the coveted neighborhood that it is to this day. In 1924, Bell built the Bel-Air Beach Club in Santa Monica and the Bel-Air Country Club, which includes an 18-hole golf course.
In the neighborhood’s early days, Hollywood actors were not allowed to own properties in Bel Air. But that did not stop it from eventually becoming home to numerous stars, including some of the most legendary names in film.
PROXIMITY TO NATURE
Surrounded by the verdant hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, homes in Bel Air offer wonderful views and easy access to outdoor destinations. Nearby parks and preserves give you the perfect opportunity to escape to nature anytime you feel like it.
Go on a hike at Bel Air Crest Trail while taking in the spectacular cityscape and hilly backdrop. Spend the day fishing or birdwatching at Franklin Canyon Park, a gorgeous nature reserve within the Santa Monica Mountains. Take a relaxing walk at Stone Canyon Overlook and admire the California skyline and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Living in Bel Air, these nature retreats are practically at your doorstep.
VIBRANT DINING AND NIGHTLIFE SCENE
Bel Air and the surrounding neighborhoods feature five-star restaurants that showcase the creativity and innovation of celebrated chefs, as well as fun casual eateries, coffee shops, and bakeries where you can go for a quick break or unhurried indulgence.
Treat yourself to a quick lunch at Allegro of Bel Air Pizzeria & Café (Manny’s Pizzeria) or hang out with friends at Ava Krō or West Restaurant & Lounge. If you’re at The Getty Museum, check out Garden Terrace Café or Café at Getty Center for sweet and savory treats best enjoyed at the museum’s terrace overlooking Los Angeles.
Fine dining must-tries include Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel Air, Baltaire, and Wolfsglen. Michelin-starred restaurants such as Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Sushi Ginza Onodera, and n/naka offer diverse options for a true culinary adventure.
WORLD-CLASS SHOPPING
Living in Bel Air means being close to countless shopping and entertainment hotspots. Visit Decades along Melrose Avenue for vintage and designer outfits. Experience the ultimate in luxury shopping at Rodeo Drive where you’ll find shops of the most famous luxury brands in the world.
Westwood Village Square and Century City Mall are also popular shopping destinations around Bel Air. These shopping centers may not be within the neighborhood, but getting to them only requires a quick 10-minute drive.
TOP RATED SCHOOLS
Bel Air is a wonderful neighborhood for raising a family, and one reason for this is the city’s many top-rated private and public schools such as the Mirman School, Harvard-Westlake, and Marymount High School.
Bel Air University (BAU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are also located nearby.
PROMISING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
A property in Bel Air will make a great addition to your investment portfolio. The neighborhood’s timeless appeal, great location, undiminished prestige, and high profile ensure it will always be one of the top neighborhood choices of high-net-worth individuals from around the world. Luxury home investors can expect a Bel Air property to retain or even increase in value even through economic downturns.
The neighborhood’s appreciation rate demonstrates Bel Air’s long-term investment potential. Over the last eight years (from 2015 to 2023) Bel Air home values rose by an impressive 79% (according to this report.) From March 2020 to March 2023 alone, the appreciation rate was around 23%.
RICH AND FAMOUS RESIDENTS
From Grammy award-winning musicians to headline-making movie stars and even former presidents, Bel Air’s famous residents have been instrumental in raising the neighborhood’s profile and keeping it a buzzword among luxury home buyers.
Here are some of the renowned celebrities that live in Bel Air or have lived here at one time or another.
- Beyoncé
After renting a $400,000-per-month coastal villa in Malibu and a $150,000-per-month Holmby Hills mansion for three years, record-breaking singer-songwriter Beyoncé and her rapper-record producer husband Jay-Z purchased a home in Bel Air back in 2017. The powerhouse couple and their three kids still live in the $88 million hilltop estate, which dons a sleek and relaxed style.
- Lady Gaga
Singer, songwriter, and actress Lady Gaga once called Bel Air home when she rented a six-bedroom, eight-bathroom house in the neighborhood in 2009. The $25,000-a-month Mediterranean-style property became her quiet retreat following the release of her reissued first album, “The Fame Monster.”
- Jennifer Aniston
“Friends” actress Jennifer Aniston bought her Bel Air estate in 2011. She renovated the modern mansion to suit her tastes since initially, “it was the furthest thing from what [she] wanted,” as she said in an interview with Architectural Digest in 2018. The breathtaking property also served as the venue for Aniston’s wedding to her Justin Theroux, with the home’s warm, inviting, and Zen atmosphere setting the mood for the intimate ceremony.
- Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Aniston is not the only Jenny in the Bel Air block. Actor, musician, and one of Forbes’ “America’s Self-Made Women” Jennifer Lopez resided in the opulent neighborhood for six years. Six months after marrying Ben Affleck, she listed the nine-bedroom, 13-bathroom French-style estate for $42.5 million.
- Marilyn Monroe
While the “blonde bombshell” eventually bought an $80,000 Brentwood property in 1961, Marilyn Monroe lived in nearby Bel Air for a time. In 1948, she rented a pool and terrace suite at the iconic Hotel Bel Air for a year. She also rented a house at 595 North Beverly Glen Boulevard with her photographer and producer friend Milton Greene and his wife Amy in 1956.
- Ronald Reagan
When the late President Ronald Reagan’s second term concluded, he and his wife Nancy Reagan spent their days at their $2.5 million Bel Air home. The Los Angeles Times says a group of the couple’s friends bought the 17-bedroom property for the Reagans, but it was later transferred to a trust by deed under Ronald and Nancy’s name. In July 2016, Jerry Perenchio, a businessman and philanthropist, bought the home for $15 million in an off-market sale.
TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING A BEL AIR HOME
Whether you’re looking for a new property investment or planning on living in Bel Air, shopping for the right home in one of Los Angeles’ most desirable neighborhoods can be quite a challenge. With a significant amount at stake, you want to make sure you get the best value for your money and a home that meets all your needs and preferences.
Here are some essential tips to keep in mind:
- Pick a neighborhood
Bel Air has three distinct sub-neighborhoods:
- East Gate Bel Air – Dated estates built before World War II line the streets of East Gate. Also known as Old Bel Air, this small neighborhood originally had 128 lots sprawled along South Beverly Glen and Sunset Boulevard. Many residents combined some of these lots to build grand properties with plenty of outdoor space.
- West Gate Bel Air – The Sunset Boulevard and Bellagio Road intersection houses the entrance to West Gate Bel Air. Many properties in the area were devastated by a fire in 1963, which led to a massive redevelopment of the area.
- Upper Bel Air – Smaller lots with stunning views of the canyon, ocean, or the city dot Upper Bel Air, an area encompassing less than an acre. Due to its closeness to Mulholland Drive, getting around the city is much more convenient for residents.
- List your non-negotiables
No two Bel Air properties are the same, and every buyer has different requirements for a home. Before browsing online listings or talking to a Realtor about your property options, list the features, amenities, and qualities you want in your future home or real estate investment. Aside from guiding your purchase, this list will help your agent find a house that perfectly suits your tastes faster.
- Compare new construction and resales
Mansions in Bel Air, CA are mostly existing properties with plenty of character and often plenty of history, but there are also quite a few new construction homes with amazing contemporary architecture. Both property types have their pros and cons and one of the first things you need to ask yourself is whether you should buy a lived-in home or a newly built one.
In general, new construction homes are priced higher than older properties but in Bel Air, they’re essentially comparable in price. After all, older homes in the neighborhood are considered prestige properties that have been excellently preserved and updated with the latest features. The choice all boils down to your preference so be sure to examine potential properties carefully and weigh which one feels most like home.
- Check the area’s property values
According to Realtor.com, Bel Air properties have a median listing price of $7.5M and a median sold home price of $5M as of March 2023. However, property values can vary depending on their features and appeal.
As much as possible, research a home’s market value before making an offer. Doing so will ensure you make a worthwhile investment and keep you from overspending on a property. Your Realtor is an indispensable ally in this regard. With their local expertise and experience, they can guide you in evaluating if a home is priced correctly and in negotiating the best price with the seller.
- Tour a property in person
Many property listings today have fascinating features that allow potential buyers to tour a home virtually. From creative descriptions and professionally taken photos to interactive 3D tours, real estate websites use an array of innovative tools to market a home.
While property listings can tell you a lot about a Bel Air home, nothing is better than physically touring the property. Schedule a viewing with your Realtor to get the full experience of being in the property, allowing you to visualize what it’s like to live in the space.
- Ask as many questions as possible
As a home buyer, you have the right to learn everything about a property you’re eyeing, and this includes asking the right questions about it.
Here are some of the things you should ask the home seller before making an offer:
- Why are you selling the property?
- Did the house go through any renovations before?
- Are there safety hazards to know about?
- How much are the monthly utilities and maintenance expenses?
- What does the sale include?
- Look into the future
Never purchase a home without checking any future or ongoing development in the area that can affect the traffic, noise, and appeal of the property.
Moreover, pick a home with timeless appeal. While keeping your current tastes in mind is critical for your purchase, you should also consider the property’s long-term value and how it might interest future buyers.
FIND YOUR DREAM HOME IN BEL AIR TODAY!
Thinking of moving to Bel Air? Allow me, Caroline Fleck, to guide you in finding and acquiring the perfect property. For over 12 years, I have worked with some of the most discriminating luxury buyers in Bel Air and the rest of L.A., always driven by my commitment to provide the best home buying and selling experience to my clients. My expertise led to my membership with “International Premier,” a team of the top 1% of international agents providing impeccable global real estate services.
Start the search for your dream luxury home in Bel Air today! Get in touch with me to discover your property options by calling 310.508.5979 or sending a message here.
