Venice Compound Tops LA County Signed Contracts

Buyers had water on the brain, with last week’s top contracts driven by beachside communities.

Asking prices of the top homes that went into contract came in lower than usual for the Eklund Weekly Luxury Report Los Angeles as the top three deals had buyers flocking to the surf and sand of Venice, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.

Overall, dealmaking slowed last week coming off of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to the weekly report produced by Douglas Elliman’s Eklund Gomes team. Los Angeles County had 20 homes go into contract, adding up to $129.3 million in listing price volume. That’s off 42 percent from the previous week’s $221.9 million in asking dollar volume, which was across 28 contracts.

The Eklund Weekly report counts homes in Los Angeles County listed for $4 million or more in the Multiple Listing Service.

Last week’s top home under contract was a multiproperty compound at 1209 and 1215 Appleton Way in Venice, with a $13.5 million asking price.

Compass’ Tracey Becker and Elisa Crispi hold the listing.

Property records indicate the seller is a trust managed by Steve Savitsky, a prominent entertainment industry business manager. Savitsky is managing director of Ground Control, a firm that provides family office, financial planning and tax services to actors, directors, writers, producers, professional athletes and entrepreneurs.

The property features two neighboring estates sitting on nearly 22,000 square feet.

The 1215 Appleton Way home is more than 6,500 square feet with five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two offices, a den, bar, 16-seat screening room, pool and sports court.

The neighboring abode at 1209 Appleton Way has a home with two bathrooms and as many as three bedrooms, two fireplaces, a two-car garage and is billed in marketing materials as possible guest lodging.

The Venice compound was nearly tied with the Eklund Gomes’ report’s next-largest home that went into contract last week, located in Manhattan Beach’s Tree Section neighborhood. The South Bay home at 528 15th Street has an asking price just under $13.5 million.

SC Real Estate Investments & Property Management’s Giovanni Altamura has the listing.

The sellers are Y Combinator managing partner Harjeet Taggar and his wife Tatiane Souza Taggar, according to property records.

In 2022, the couple paid $10.7 million for the six-bed, seven-bath property, according to the deed.

The traditional-style home spans nearly 6,500 square feet and has oak flooring, vaulted ceilings in the family room and a basement with stadium seating and high-tech theater system.