'Spider-Man's' Maguire gives up his nest
Michael Sells Celebrity homes

'Spider-Man's' Maguire gives up his nest

By Ruth Ryon, Times Staff Writer
June 17, 2007

"Spider-Man 3" is a box-office smash, and now Tobey Maguire, who played Spidey in all three films, is cashing in on selling his Hollywood Hills home.

Maguire sold the house for $11.5 million — a tidy sum considering that he bought the house as a first-time buyer in 2002 for $3.7 million.

The actor, who is celebrating his first Father's Day today as a dad, had shared the home with his fiancée, Jennifer, daughter of Universal Studios President Ron Meyer, and their baby, Ruby Sweetheart, born in the fall.

The one-story, 5,000-square-foot residence was built in the early '60s and rebuilt in 1990. Cuban-born Waldo Fernandez, who gave the Beverly Hilton Hotel a face-lift after Merv Griffin bought it in 1987, also redid Maguire's house after the actor bought it in 2002. Maguire will turn 32 on June 27.

The Mediterranean-style home has three bedrooms, a gym and city views. It also has a spa, infinity pool, courtyard entry, chef's kitchen and maid's quarters.

Maguire and his fiancée haven't decided where the family will live next, and he is still considering possible film projects.

Besides starring in the superhero franchise, Maguire appeared in "The Ice Storm" (1997), "The Cider House Rules" (1999), "Seabiscuit" (2003) and "The Good German" (2006).

Brett Lawyer of Sotheby's International Realty, Sunset Strip, had the listing, and Michael Collins of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Beverly Hills East, represented the buyer.

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Six Architects Selected to Receive the 2006 American Institute of Architects' Young Architects Award
For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C., January 27, 2006 — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the six recipients of the 2006 AIA Young Architects Award. Young Architects are defined as professionals who have been licensed 10 years or fewer regardless of their age. This award honors individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers. This year’s recipients are impressive in their broad range of contributions— advocacy, innovation, sustainability, national leadership, and design excellence. The Young Architects Award will be presented to the recipients at the AIA 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition in Los Angeles in June.


Patrick Tighe, AIA
Santa Monica, Calif.
As the founder of his firm, Tighe Architecture, Tighe has gained recognition for projects that transform substandard conditions into functional spaces. Sustainable design is an important aspect of his work and his firm has won National AIA Honor Awards for its work on Los Angeles projects including The Collins Gallery, The Jacobs Subterranean project, and the Black Box house. Additional work includes the 2,500-square-foot Peroni Studio, the Ocean Front Walk Residences in Venice Beach, Calif., the Redondo Beach House, and the Ocean Park Hatch Shell in Santa Monica’s Clover Park. In her nomination letter, Ann E. Gray, FAIA, Balcony Press (publisher of LA Architect), writes, “His exploration of angles of experience using complex combination of planes and voids has become more sophisticated with every project without losing the freshness of discovery.” Adds Michael Collins, president, The Collins Gallery, “What sets Patrick apart from the others is his ability to analyze a situation, provide solutions, communicate effectively, and ultimately get the job done. He is capable of offering unique, practical, and beautiful solutions to complex problems and overcoming obstacles that might otherwise lead to the predictable and the tried.”
Jury Comments: “We are impressed by his significant pro bono work. He’s a real talent and it’s wonderful to see that his significant work is nationally recognized and varies in type.”

About The American Institute of Architects
For almost 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. AIA members have access to the right people, knowledge, and tools to create better design, and through such resources and access, they help clients and communities make their visions real.

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Celebrity Real Estate
On google from Ruth Ryon

Follow this link to read about Michael's services.

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Celebrity Real Estate
On google from Ruth Ryon

Follow this link to read about Michael's services.

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Celebrity Real Estate
On google from Ruth Ryon

Follow this link to read about Michael's services.

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President’s Award of Excellence Recipients
Summer 2005

Michael Collins has been congratulated by Betty Graham, President & Chief Operating Officer, Greater Los Angeles Company, Robert Foster, Executive Vice President and Malcolm MacEwen, Branch Manager of the Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills East office on being named the first recipient in the Westside Region of the Company of the President's Award Of Excellence for 2004.

Michael has been with Coldwell Banker for nearly 10 years and is a Previews Estate Director as well as a Condominium/New Housing Director for the firm. He has consistently received awards for his top production annually. Michael was raised and educated in Beverly Hills. He serves as a Director of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Community Foundation, as well as his office’s Charitable Activities Committee.

Michael's entire office along with everyone else at Coldwell Banker congratulates Michael on having received this prestigious award.

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Michael's umbrella
goes to Russia!

One of Michael's clients took Michael to Russia. Well...took Michael's logo umbrella to Russia.

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- Tracking The Big Cats -
By Ruth Ryon

HOLLYWOOD -- [...clip...]

A member of the Walton family, heirs of the late Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart), has purchased a property adjacent to a Bel-Air home she bought in October for $20 million.

The property has a house on it that was described as "basically a teardown." The buyer was known to want the 1.7-acre site, which she purchased for $6 million, as a buffer to give her more privacy.

The home she bought in October had belonged to Freddy DeMann, Madonna's former manager and co-founding partner of Maverick Records, and his wife, Candy.

The Art Deco-style home has five bedrooms, including a 2,000-square-foot master suite, in 20,000 square feet. The house, with a pool and a tennis court, is on three acres with city-to-ocean views.

Michael Collins of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills East, represented the Walton heir in buying, sources said, and Joe Babajian and Kyle Grasso of Prudential Estate Properties, Beverly Hills, represented the seller of the adjacent property.

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HOT PROPERTY
It's been a long goodbye
By Ruth Ryon, Times Staff Writer

Richard Dreyfuss has sold his former Sherman Oaks home for about $1.9 million.

The Oscar-winning actor had owned the property for more than a decade, but he and his wife, Janelle, have lived primarily on the Westside since they married in 1999.

The home was sold to Abe Hoch, a talent manager and TV producer, and Leigh Brillstein, senior vice president of TV talent at ICM. The compound, on slightly more than half an acre, was listed in July at just under $2.5 million.

The home has five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in slightly more than 3,700 square feet, behind gates. Three of the bedrooms are in a separate wing. The house, built in 1940, is traditional in style and has terraced gardens, a veranda, decks, a pool and views of the San Fernando Valley. There is a country kitchen with tile floors and granite counters.

Harrison Ford, known for his carpentry skills before he became a movie star, built a separate building now being used as a gym. Actress Talia Shire owned the home before Dreyfuss.

Dreyfuss, 57, won a best actor Oscar for his performance in "The Goodbye Girl" (1977). He earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in "Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995).

He starred in the 2004 Broadway revival of "Sly Fox." He was scheduled to appear in the London production of Mel Brooks' musical "The Producers." The show's backers, however, issued a statement saying it had proved difficult for the actor, who is not known for his singing or dancing abilities, "to fulfill the rigors of the role."

Dee Nep of Coldwell Banker, Sherman Oaks, represented Dreyfuss in selling the house, and Michael Collins of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills, represented the buyers.

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The Hunt
House Hunters: Episode HNT-406

Newlyweds Julie and Adam Olsen are ready for a change in lifestyle. They currently carpool from their home in the hills to their jobs in the city. They have been living with Adam's father for the past year, saving enough money to buy their first house. They hope to find a home that's close to the city and large enough to start a family.

To help them find their first home, the young couple has enlisted the help of their friend, real estate agent Michael Collins. Collins first shows them a three-bedroom house that just hit the market in a family-friendly neighborhood, butt they feel that the house is not big enough for them. Next, he shows them a newly renovated home that is much larger than the first home, but its proximity to a hillside and lack of yard does not appeal to them. They decide to meet again in a week for some more house hunting.

Collins decides to show the Olsens a new listing that's located in a great neighborhood and includes a number of the features they want--a large family room and a spacious backyard. After a challenging search for a house that fits their needs, the Olsens have finally found one they can truly call home. They write up an offer in hopes of turning their dream home into a reality.

Lucky for them, it doesn't take Collins long to give them the news that they're homeowners! Soon they begin to enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with being first-time homeowners. They are thrilled not only with their new house, but also with its great location. Now that the Olsens have a beautiful new home, they're ready to take that next step and start a family.

GUESTS:
Michael Collins
Realtor, Coldwell Banker

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