Bob Hope estate saga awaits a punchline - Los Angeles Times
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Bob Hope estate saga awaits a punchline

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The Bob and Dolores Hope estate in Toluca Lake is now priced at $12 million — nearly half the previous $23 million asking price — and $15.5 million less than what it came on the market for in 2013.

The English Traditional-style house was designed by Robert Finkelhor and built for the Hopes in 1939. In the mid-1950s, Hollywood Regency-style architect John Elgin Woolf was commissioned to remodel and update the home.

Hidden from the street behind fences and privacy hedges, the compound centers on a 14,876-square-foot main house with grand formal areas, a billiards room, a library and five bedrooms, including a master wing.

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Other structures include a two-bedroom guesthouse and separate staff quarters and offices. There are eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Two floors of living space take in views of landscaped grounds containing a swimming pool, a one-hole golf course, mature trees, rose gardens and a large expanse of grass. An indoor swimming pool and spa sit adjacent to the guesthouse.

The price adjustment is similar to the steep cut that the Bob and Dolores Hope estate in Palm Springs saw in December. The John Lautner-designed estate on 6.2 acres in Coachella Valley was reduced in price to $24.999 million — less than half the $50 million originally asked.

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Bob Hope, who died in 2003 at age 100, had a prolific career as a comic actor, singer and dancer, appearing in scores of films that included the “Road†series with Bing Crosby. He won five honorary Academy Awards and one humanitarian award. His wife, Dolores, died four years ago at 102.

Craig Strong of John Aaroe Group is the listing agent.

Prettying up her realty portfolio

Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts has listed a New York City co-op for sale at $4.5 million.

Features of the West Village unit include a terrace, a wood-burning fireplace and city views. The open-plan living room, dining room and library/den have glass doors opening to terraces with room enough for outdoor lounging and dining. The kitchen sits beyond the dining room.

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There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms in the two-level, 2,000-square-foot co-op.

Amenities in the 92-unit, pet-friendly building include a doorman, garage parking and outdoor space.

Roberts, 47, won an Oscar for her work in “Erin Brockovich†(2000) and was nominated for “August: Osage County†(2013), “Pretty Woman†(1990) and “Steel Magnolias†(1989). She’ll be in the upcoming films “Secret in Their Eyes†and “Money Monster.â€

Her real estate holdings include an estate in Hanalei, Hawaii, that she listed this year at close to $30 million, and homes in New York City and the Los Angeles area.

Alexa Lambert of Stribling & Associates is the listing agent.

An offseason spot with a view

Kris Humphries has found a new home court in the 90210.

The Washington Wizards forward, who in recent months was seen scoping out L.A.’s luxury home inventory, has bought a house in Beverly Hills for $6.2 million.

Some 3,300 square feet of open living space is highlighted by walls of glass, skylights, a center-island kitchen and a den with a wet bar. A two-sided fireplace divides free-flowing living and dining rooms. The master suite has a fireplace, a large soaking tub and a walk-in closet for a total of three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. An additional bedroom is currently used as an office.

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Glass doors open to a covered terrace with a barbecue and wet bar. A kidney-shaped swimming pool with a spa completes the setting. The house came on the market in May for $6.495 million, records show. It previously sold for $1.15 million in 1999.

James Harris, David Parnes and Mauricio Umansky were the listing agents. Jason Oppenheim of the Oppenheim Group represented the basketball player.

Humphries, 30, has spent 11 seasons in the NBA for the Jazz, Raptors, Nets, Celtics and Wizards. He averaged 8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 64 games with Washington last season.

Besides his basketball status, Humphries is known for his brief marriage to reality television star Kim Kardashian.

Actress lists her chic cottage

Mia Maestro, star of the current TV horror series “The Strain,†has put her nicely turned out place up for sale in the Beverly Crest area at $1.325 million.

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Described as a “canyon chic†Traditional-style cottage in the listing, the 1,300-square-foot house was built in 1953 and has been remodeled to include modern interiors, a sleek kitchen with an eat-at island, marble bathrooms and custom cabinets. Shingled exteriors add to the rustic vibe.

A living room with a fireplace, a dining area, two bedrooms and two bathrooms are among the mostly whitewalled interior spaces, which feature dark hardwood or tile floors. The long windows are frosted on the bottom half to increase privacy while letting in natural light.

The lot of slightly more than one-third acre has a rear patio, terraced gardens and a large wooden deck accessed via railroad tie stairs. There’s a two-car garage.

Maestro, 37, stars in the “The Strain†and this year appeared on “Hannibal.†She was a regular on “Alias†from 2004 to 2006.

Her film work includes “Poseidon†(2006), “The Motorcycle Diaries†(2004) and “Frida†(2002).

The Argentine singer-songwriter released her debut album, “Si Agua,†last year.

She bought the property a decade ago for $1.182 million.

Barry Gray of Deasy Penner & Partners is the listing agent.

Duck migrates to coast

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Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, who bought a house with a view in Corona del Mar this year, has put his home in Tustin on the market for $4.9 million.

The Spanish-style home, built in 2002, sits on a cul-de-sac in gated Tustin Ranch.

Within the 6,900 square feet of living space is a kitchen with two islands, a home theater, a game room, a wine cellar, five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. There are fireplaces in the family room, living room and master suite as well one outdoor fireplace.

Inviting outdoor entertaining, grounds of about an acre contain a sports court, a putting green, a swimming pool and spa and two covered patios. Canyon and mountain views complete the outdoor setting.

Getzlaf bought the house in 2010 for $3.76 million, records show. Joseph Martelli of Joseph Martelli Real Estate Investments is the listing agent.

In March, he paid $6.1 million for a 5,200-square-foot home with unobstructed ocean views in the Cameo Shores enclave of Corona del Mar.

Getzlaf has spent his entire career with the Ducks, making three NHL all-star teams in 10 seasons. The 30-year-old center won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and has twice won Olympic gold medals with the Canadian national team (2010, 2014).

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He is entering the third year of a $66-million contract extension he signed with the team in 2013.

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