Hollywood Hills
Canyons, stairways, and the sign above it all.
Living in the hills above Hollywood.
The Hollywood Hills rise from Franklin Avenue up into the Santa Monica Mountains, between Studio City and Burbank, Griffith Park, and Los Feliz. Streets wind up narrow canyons, homes sit on steep lots with big views, and some of the most famous houses and landmarks in Los Angeles are tucked in among them.
I'm Breanne Wahl, a real estate agent with ACME | SERHANT., and I help buyers and sellers here in the Hollywood Hills.
Photos by Neue Focus; Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress; and Brandopaquio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
a few Places Within
Laurel Canyon
The winding canyon road between Hollywood and the Valley. In the 1960s and 1970s it was home to a famous music scene, and the Laurel Canyon Country Store is still the neighborhood's meeting place.
Beachwood Canyon
Home of Hollywoodland, the 1923 development the Hollywood Sign was built to advertise. Storybook and Mediterranean-style homes climb toward the sign.
Outpost Estates
Developed by Charles E. Toberman in the 1920s, with Spanish and Mediterranean homes under red tile roofs. It borders Runyon Canyon Park to the west.
Hollywood Heights
Just above the Hollywood Bowl, with walk streets, stairways, and the High Tower, a private five-story elevator from 1922 that residents ride home with a key.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Hollywood Hills?
From Hollywoodland to the hills we know.
The Hollywood Bowl held its first season, and the High Tower elevator went up in Hollywood Heights.
Hollywoodland opened in Beachwood Canyon, and its giant HOLLYWOODLAND sign went up on the hill to advertise it.
Mulholland Drive opened along the ridgeline, and Charles E. Toberman began developing Outpost Estates.
The last four letters came down, and the sign has read HOLLYWOOD ever since.
Architect John Lautner finished the Chemosphere, the octagonal house on a single column that became an icon of the hills.
Laurel Canyon became home to a generation of songwriters and bands that shaped the sound of the era.
The city bought Runyon Canyon, which became one of the most popular hiking parks in Los Angeles.
The hills are still a mix of 1920s originals, mid-century modern landmarks, and new homes built into the slopes.
Homes I've Sold
A 1990 home with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and about 2,286 square feet. I represented the buyers, who won it over 20 other offers. Listed at $1,295,000, it sold in 7 days for $1,608,470.
A duplex above the High Tower, and my very first sale, in 2010. I represented the buyer of this 1957 duplex in Hollywood Heights, reached by the High Tower elevator. It sold for $500,000, and the downstairs unit helped pay the mortgage.
Buying and selling in the Hollywood Hills: FAQ
What are the Hollywood Hills known for?
The Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Bowl, canyon neighborhoods like Laurel Canyon and Beachwood Canyon, Mulholland Drive along the ridgeline, and hillside homes with big city views, from 1920s Spanish-style houses to landmark modern ones.
Where are the Hollywood Hills?
In the Santa Monica Mountains above Hollywood, rising from Franklin Avenue between Studio City and Burbank to the north, Griffith Park and Los Feliz to the east, and Hollywood to the south. The Hollywood Freeway (101) runs through the Cahuenga Pass in the middle.
What is the High Tower?
A private, five-story elevator tower built in 1922 in Hollywood Heights so residents wouldn't have to climb the hill. It's for residents only, and you need a key to ride it.
What should I know before buying a hillside home in the Hollywood Hills?
Many homes sit on steep lots, so I always walk buyers through foundations and drainage, permits on any additions, fire zone rules and brush clearance for the exact address, how fire risk can affect insurance, and parking and access on narrow canyon streets.
How do you get around from the Hollywood Hills?
The Hollywood Freeway (101) runs through the Cahuenga Pass, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive connect the hills to the Valley and the Westside. Hollywood is minutes downhill.
Does Breanne Wahl help buyers and sellers in the Hollywood Hills?
Yes. I specialize in Northeast Los Angeles, plus Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Los Feliz, and I'm right there with clients wherever else in Los Angeles their search takes them, including the Hollywood Hills.
“She has a keen understanding of how to make your offer stand out in a highly competitive market and deeply cares about her clients finding a home that will fit all their needs. We beat out 20 offers on a home because of Breanne's savvy and knowledgable approach.”
Thinking about buying or selling in the Hollywood Hills?
Let's talk. I'll walk the neighborhood with you or pull comps for your street.