Million Dollar Listing LA - General Discussion

[Slakkie]

 Totally agree this season was the best.  I like that they all got along it allowed better snark

[readheaded]

On 9/3/2020 at 8:00 PM, Stan39 said:

Did anybody else pick up when Heather said she and Josh just redid their house as East Coast Traditional? Maybe as much as Altman pretends to like all the super modern, tech heavy, giant white box houses he shows his actual preference is for a traditional, liveable family home. I never thought I’d actually like Altman on this show, but this season really showed the best of him. 

Josh and Heather are about as inauthentic as 2 people can be.

Is it just me or do Tracy and Josh Altman wear the ugliest clothes?

[oakville]

I started watching Season 2 of the show. It was the first year that Josh Flagg appeared on the show. He was 21 & was getting leads on listings from his grandmother Edith. She told him that a friend of his, Jay Bernstein who was a Hollywood agent had died. Josh got the listing on his house from the executor of the estate.

Josh's friend was Dr Sam who was his dentist. He appeared on the show multiple times.

The other agent , Chad Rogers had a hairstyle that was bizarre. He looked like a Beatle from the 1960's.

Madison was the third agent who specialized in selling property in Malibu.

[howiveaddict]

1 hour ago, oakville said:

I started watching Season 2 of the show. It was the first year that Josh Flagg appeared on the show. He was 21 & was getting leads on listings from his grandmother Edith. She told him that a friend of his, Jay Bernstein who was a Hollywood agent had died. Josh got the listing on his house from the executor of the estate.

Josh's friend was Dr Sam who was his dentist. He appeared on the show multiple times.

The other agent , Chad Rogers had a hairstyle that was bizarre. He looked like a Beatle from the 1960's.

Madison was the third agent who specialized in selling property in Malibu.

Guess that's why they didn't have Flagg trying to sell it this time.  I will have to look up that episode to rewatch.  Love old Hollywood.

[Grrarrggh]

2 hours ago, oakville said:

I started watching Season 2 of the show. The other agent , Chad Rogers had a hairstyle that was bizarre. He looked like a Beatle from the 1960's.

GASP! The Beatles had MUCH better hair! 😉 But Chad did look like he was about 15. 

[oakville]

8 minutes ago, Grrarrggh said:

GASP! The Beatles had MUCH better hair! 😉 But Chad did look like he was about 15. 

He was 30 when he first appeared on the show. His family lived on the prestigious Colony Road in Malibu.

His hair stylist tried to get him to change his hairstyle & cut off some of his hair. Chad refused to make any changes.

Chad spoke very slowly & was afraid of his client, Ron Richards who was the owner of 2 condos in Sierra Towers.

[Jextella]

On 9/3/2020 at 4:21 PM, SoCalAgain said:

I love that they’re all getting along.  It’s so much more fun to watch.  I’d given up on it a couple of years ago because they were all so awful.  They all have way more chemistry together than I ever would have guessed.  But I can totally do without Frederick being injected into the mix.  He’s just too weird. 

 

On 9/5/2020 at 8:01 AM, Slakkie said:

 Totally agree this season was the best.  I like that they all got along it allowed better snark

Bravo should take note! 

I haven't always watched MDLBH but I really enjoyed this season primarily because of the relationship of the cast.  They all seem to get along and support each other....mostly.

I'd really like it if the Real Housewives franchises went in this direction. I get that they might need a little more drama than other shows, but ... they've become too toxic to watch. 

Question....were the two Brit's always working for Mauricio or is that a new development?

[CrazyInAlabama]

If I understand it correctly, James and David had their own agency in England, that also sold a lot of high $$$ L.A. real estate.  Then they moved to L.A. full time and went to work at Mauricio's The Agency.   This was at the same time as Madison left the show, and James and David joined it, in 2014 (I think 2014). 

[TV Diva Queen]

tracy's outfit at the Barrymore meeting with the stager was ridiculous!!  Does she NOT know how to put a jacket on.  NOT EVERY SINGLE JACKET IS MEANT TO BE WORN ON YOUR SHOULDERS.  ahhhh..

I didn't know that East Coast tradition was a design style - I can picture what it should be, I wonder if Heather means it the same way.  

I need more Flagg - and I also need for Flagg to get some shirts that fit.  There's no shame in weight gain, just get clothes that fit - what he's doing only draws attention to what he's trying to camouflage.  

 

 

[TheLastKidPicked]

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2020 at 5:04 PM, Jextella said:

Question....were the two Brit's always working for Mauricio or is that a new development?

 

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2020 at 5:37 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

If I understand it correctly, James and David had their own agency in England, that also sold a lot of high $$$ L.A. real estate.  Then they moved to L.A. full time and went to work at Mauricio's The Agency.   This was at the same time as Madison left the show, and James and David joined it, in 2014 (I think 2014). 

Here's why I have grown to enjoy James and David:

Josh Altman seems to have a persona of,  "This is hard work.  I work harder than anybody else."  And I appreciate that and believe there is some truth to it.

Josh Flagg seems to have a persona of being a bit "above it all".  And in a way he is, because he has inherited so much money that he doesn't need to do any of this.

The Brits?  They are the ones who have this vibe of,  "This is so much fun.  The houses are so cool!  The people are so eccentric!  We are having a blast and can't believe we are getting paid for this."

I like that.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and they are fun to watch.

 

[sugarbaker design]

13 minutes ago, TheLastKidPicked said:

I like that.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and they are fun to watch.

They are fun to watch, and just one more thing to add to your list.  The Brits are super polite and friendly to everyone they encounter:  servers, stagers, party planners, valets, and other agents.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think how you treat people you meet is a big factor in showing what kind of person you are.   The Brits are a class act.   When the one's brother was diagnosed with brain cancer, and the other one told him to go home to be there for his brother was wonderful.   

 

I read a short article talking about Fredrik, and how many houses he has.   He's renting the one in Connecticut (and then will sell, the rental market is super profitable right now), is renting the Bel Air house for now.     I suspect he'll keep looking, and buy a permanent place in L.A. so his family can settle down, and it will be close to where his brother is living in L.A.     And he's buying a place in Tuscany as a retirement place, and vacation place until then.     

Edited September 10, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Jextella]

23 minutes ago, TheLastKidPicked said:

 

Here's why I have grown to enjoy James and David:

Josh Altman seems to have a persona of,  "This is hard work.  I work harder than anybody else."  And I appreciate that and believe there is some truth to it.

Josh Flagg seems to have a persona of being a bit "above it all".  And in a way he is, because he has inherited so much money that he doesn't need to do any of this.

The Brits?  They are the ones who have this vibe of,  "This is so much fun.  The houses are so cool!  The people are so eccentric!  We are having a blast and can't believe we are getting paid for this."

I like that.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and they are fun to watch.

It's a REALLY great cast all the way around for my tastes - including Tracy.

[TheLastKidPicked]

On 9/9/2020 at 12:36 PM, sugarbaker design said:

They are fun to watch, and just one more thing to add to your list.  The Brits are super polite and friendly to everyone they encounter:  servers, stagers, party planners, valets, and other agents

 

On 9/9/2020 at 12:42 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

I think how you treat people you meet is a big factor in showing what kind of person you are.   The Brits are a class act.   When the one's brother was diagnosed with brain cancer, and the other one told him to go home to be there for his brother was wonderful.

Isn't there an old adage that applies here?  "When you first start dating a person, watch how they treat the staff at the restaurant."

On 9/9/2020 at 12:46 PM, Jextella said:

It's a REALLY great cast all the way around for my tastes - including Tracy.

Tracy won me over when she was talking about selling her house.  She didn't dwell on the upgrades and finishes.  She spoke mostly about the memories of raising her daughters in that home.

She is around all that wealth all the time, but seems to have her priorities straight.

 

[Jess14]

On 9/4/2020 at 2:50 AM, Surrealist said:

I like Fredrik, but his presence on this show throws off the balance.

100% agree. Not only do I think that the LA cast is good as it is, but I think Million Dollar Listing NY (if it continues) needs Fredrick. I hope they aren’t planning to switch him to the LA show permanently.

[TheLastKidPicked]

On 9/10/2020 at 1:49 PM, Jess14 said:

100% agree. Not only do I think that the LA cast is good as it is, but I think Million Dollar Listing NY (if it continues) needs Fredrick. I hope they aren’t planning to switch him to the LA show permanently.

And this goes to show how different areas of the country have different personalities.  Fredrick is more New York just as Josh Flagg couldn't be Josh Flagg anywhere but L.A.

 

[Marley]

I think Fredrik is just extra into himself lately and it makes him annoying to watch to me.

[KHenry14]

Interesting, Kathy Griffin is listing her Bel-Air estate....and the Altman Brothers have the listing: 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2020/09/15/comedian-kathy-griffin-lists-majestic-bel-air-estate-for-16-million/#66ef20741f6b

This has gotta make the show, don't you think?

 

[sugarbaker design]

22 hours ago, KHenry14 said:

Interesting, Kathy Griffin is listing her Bel-Air estate....and the Altman Brothers have the listing: 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2020/09/15/comedian-kathy-griffin-lists-majestic-bel-air-estate-for-16-million/#66ef20741f6b

This has gotta make the show, don't you think?

 

Isn't there huge bad blood between Kathy and Andy Cohen?

[Marley]

Yes I think they hate each other.

[CrazyInAlabama]

There have been a lot of issues between Griffith and one of the neighbors too.   

https://pagesix.com/2018/07/24/kathy-griffin-sued-by-neighbor-for-invasion-of-privacy/    This feud has been going on since at least 2018.     The neighbor actually was claimed to have said a gay slur during a fight, and lost 25% of his annual bonus over that (he claims he wasn't the voice on the tape).    I hope Altman remembers that he has to disclose issues like an ongoing battle with a neighbor.   

[Booger666]

My husband said Fredrik looks like a goofy Mike Myers character and now I can’t unsee it.

[Stan39]

I’m so bored I’m going back and rewatching past seasons of this show. I’m currently at season 3, when they are being hit by the Great Recession. It’s crazy, that was a housing bubble with Southern California being considered ground zero, yet these agents are buying/selling houses actual people live in for $1-10 M. Fast forward to the past few seasons where we’ve seen properties turn into these sterile, museum pieces that nobody lives in selling for $20-100M. I realize the agents and the Show have become more popular so their clients might change, but it still suggests to me there’s another real estate crash on the horizon. The “overpriced mansions” from 2007-2008 seem like peasant shacks compared to the properties we saw this year. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I've read the San Francisco, NYC, and other hugely expensive markets have people fleeing the city in droves, and prices in San Francisco have actually dropped in certain price ranges.     I noticed this season the agents saying that the old sales plan of over pricing, and then letting buyers get a lower price is not happening.    No huge bidding wars on properties either, so the down turn might already have started, and then Covid showed up.   I'm suspecting that the next season, whenever it's filmed may have places at relatively bargain prices, because the foreign buyers are selling to get the mansions off their inventory, and people who are moving out of central areas to the country side.  

[Stan39]

It’s also eye opening to see clients gripe about receiving low bids in a falling market on the order of tens of thousands of dollars. It seems like a lot of these mega mansions across the country are selling for tens of MILLIONS of dollars below listing, often for close to 50% of the original list price. Makes you wonder who is making the market and coming up with these insane valuations. Properties like the Castle are never going to sell. 

[Stan39]

Now I’m in Altman’s first season. It’s crazy, knowing who Josh is now makes him seem subdued back then. It’s so jarring. I remember how obnoxious he was, but going back and rewatching he’s actually more normal than he is now. And it’s cute to see him and Heather together, because they do seem genuine. They’re very flirty and from the beginning Josh treated her with respect and really championed her. I’m to the part where Heather wants to become an agent and Madison has turned it into something about him, a stance I always took issue with and thought Madison was just being selfish. It’s even more clear in hindsight. Madison’s stance doesn’t really make sense, unless he just expects Heather to be his assistant forever and never pursue her own goals. This is actually the second time Madison did this. In one of the first seasons his assistant takes a job for more money, she’s a single mom. Madison doesn’t say congratulations or he’ll miss her or even “I’ll pay you more money to stay” he just tells her it puts him in a bind. I remember liking Madison but now he just seems very self centered and selfish.  

[Stan39]

Every negotiation by every agent on every house in every episode of this show ever. 
 

[sheetmoss]

On 9/10/2020 at 1:57 PM, TheLastKidPicked said:

 

 

She is around all that wealth all the time, but seems to have her priorities straight.

 

Re: Tracy

If memory serves, isn't her father supposed to be very wealthy?

Edited November 10, 2020 by sheetmoss

[Marley]

I read Tracy’s dad is a billionaire or close to it.

[TheLastKidPicked]

On 10/5/2020 at 12:48 PM, Stan39 said:

Now I’m in Altman’s first season. It’s crazy, knowing who Josh is now makes him seem subdued back then.

I understand Altman's position the first few seasons.  The others came from family money and most of their listings came from family and friends.  Josh Altman came from outside and didn't have those advantages and he had to create his own client base.  I respect that but the,  "I have to work harder than anybody else because I don't come from family money" got old fast. 

10 hours ago, sheetmoss said:

Re: Tracy

If memory serves, isn't her father supposed to be very wealthy?

 

10 hours ago, Marley said:

I read Tracy’s dad is a billionaire or close to it.

He may have a few bucks:

From Wikipedia:

Pegasus V was ordered in 2002 at the Danyard A/S Frederikshavn shipyard in Denmark.  Ron Tutor owned Pegasus V in 2012 and he threw a party listing Pegasus V for sale for $95 million in 2013.

 

[lynxfx]

2 hours ago, TheLastKidPicked said:

Josh Altman came from outside and didn't have those advantages and he had to create his own client base.  I respect that but the,  "I have to work harder than anybody else because I don't come from family money" got old fast. 

He also modeled his personality after Ari Gold from Entourage for the first couple seasons. I think a client even commented on that once. 

Because of that I found him cringy at first. Years later he grew on me and he mellowed down after getting married. 

[Stan39]

Altman’s parents have an estate in Aspen, so he and Matt didn’t really start with nothing. And he worked at the Agency for a bit, which seems to do a good job mentoring and bringing up talent. The Brits came to LA without knowing the area and supposedly sold over $100M their first year. Not saying Altman doesn’t work hard, but I think all of these agents had a good leg up in the industry. A lot of people like to market themselves as “starting with nothing” as a way to market themselves as the scrappy upstart. 
 

Rewatching old seasons, there are a couple of rough years where it got bad. Josh and Matt were just jerks for years, picking fights and yelling at people just to start stuff. I think it was the season that Josh’s grandmother passed away, just a lot of negativity going on. And surprisingly Flagg stayed pretty consistent through the series. Altman was out of line but Flagg always had charm and fun. And I forgot Flagg called out Altman for lying about his numbers and watching Altman curl up and lose all confidence because he knew he was called out on his bs, priceless. 

[SunnyBeBe]

I wasn’t sure where to post this about Fredrik.  Apparently, he’s sober now and feeling much better.  Is he bi-coastal?

https://pagesix.com/2021/03/26/fredrik-eklund-is-160-days-sober-was-a-high-functional-addict/

[CrazyInAlabama]

I so happy for Fredrik.

I've read that he's not only operating out of the NYC, and LA offices with teams in each location, and he will be a cast member on both shows. 

[Marley]

Fredrik has annoyed me for a while. I rather he wasn’t a cast member on this one.

[sugarbaker design]

10 hours ago, Marley said:

Fredrik has annoyed me for a while. I rather he wasn’t a cast member on this one.

I agree, he brings such a negative energy to a light-hearted show.

[Stan39]

21 minutes ago, sugarbaker design said:

I agree, he brings such a negative energy to a light-hearted show.

Agree. MDL LA is the original and successful in its own right. Why bring in Fredrik to make it more like the NY version? If he’s that popular then just give him his own spin-off show. 

[Marley]

He’s so fake over the top too and I find him very superficial. Like they all are but he seems worse somehow. I’m sure he loves his kids but he cares so much to make everything picture perfect it’s gross to me. I stopped following him on ig because of it. I also still find the article about him buying a home in Tuscany like a vulture last year after all the Covid issues gross. I’m not stupid I know ppl do stuff like that but read the room don’t brag about it.

Rant over lol..kind of.

[dleighg]

11 minutes ago, Marley said:

He’s so fake over the top too and I find him very superficial. Like they all are but he seems worse somehow. I’m sure he loves his kids but he cares so much to make everything picture perfect it’s gross to me

I totally agree. It doesn't take me to a "hate him" level but I don't think it's a really "healthy" family dynamic. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I don't think kids should be shown off as little trophies and testaments to your good taste.

[Surrealist]

On 4/5/2021 at 5:09 PM, Marley said:

He’s so fake over the top too and I find him very superficial. Like they all are but he seems worse somehow. I’m sure he loves his kids but he cares so much to make everything picture perfect it’s gross to me. I stopped following him on ig because of it. I also still find the article about him buying a home in Tuscany like a vulture last year after all the Covid issues gross. I’m not stupid I know ppl do stuff like that but read the room don’t brag about it.

Rant over lol..kind of.

I used to like him a lot, but his IG feed started getting too over-the-top for my taste, so I also unfollowed.

I'm glad he's sober now. That's a great thing, but I don't want him on MDLLA.

Edited April 8, 2021 by Surrealist

[Jextella]

On 11/11/2020 at 11:20 AM, Stan39 said:

Altman’s parents have an estate in Aspen, so he and Matt didn’t really start with nothing. And he worked at the Agency for a bit, which seems to do a good job mentoring and bringing up talent. The Brits came to LA without knowing the area and supposedly sold over $100M their first year. Not saying Altman doesn’t work hard, but I think all of these agents had a good leg up in the industry. A lot of people like to market themselves as “starting with nothing” as a way to market themselves as the scrappy upstart. 
 

Rewatching old seasons, there are a couple of rough years where it got bad. Josh and Matt were just jerks for years, picking fights and yelling at people just to start stuff. I think it was the season that Josh’s grandmother passed away, just a lot of negativity going on. And surprisingly Flagg stayed pretty consistent through the series. Altman was out of line but Flagg always had charm and fun. And I forgot Flagg called out Altman for lying about his numbers and watching Altman curl up and lose all confidence because he knew he was called out on his bs, priceless. 

I believe the Brits had really successful careers in England. They may have been new to LA, but they didn't start in the states without money.

All the others came from family money - including the Altmans, Flagg, Tracey, Madison and Fredrik too, for that matter. 

I feel they all work super hard for what they have and deserve every penny they've earned, but let's face it. They had it at least a wee bit easier than most. And taking it further, much more than a wee bit easier than for minorities.

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by Jextella

[readheaded]

On 4/29/2021 at 2:03 PM, Jextella said:

I believe the Brits had really successful careers in England. They may have been new to LA, but they didn't start in the states without money.

All the others came from family money - including the Altmans, Flagg, Tracey, Madison and Fredrik too, for that matter. 

I feel they all work super hard for what they have and deserve every penny they've earned, but let's face it. They had it at least a wee bit easier than most. And taking it further, much more than a wee bit easier than for minorities.

 

And not only do they have family money to prop them up, they have wealthy family connections who buy high-end real estate. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Even before the Brits moved to L.A., they were selling there.   I think they had about $100k in commissions, and they were only part -time in L.A.   

[Vivigirl10]

Quote

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I don't think kids should be shown off as little trophies and testaments to your good taste.

Based on the comments here, I had to go check-out Fredrik's instagram for myself.  Wow, you guys weren't kidding.  His children are beautiful, like straight from a story book.  But they are like little staged characters from another time; not funny, squirmy, sometimes grumpy, messy, KIDS.  Fredrik also did this lengthy post about a Daddy Daughter vacation he had taken with the little girl.  It was this long narrative of laying in bed with her, smelling her, dreaming of her.  It wasn't just a little gross.  It was something you would write about your girlfriend, not your daughter.  Yuck.  He should use better judgment.

Super late to the party but I just finished up the last season and it was terrific!  The Barrymore house was such a conundrum!  I am beyond a fan of old Hollywoood, old homes, homes with a story, etc.  But that house made me sad.  It wasn't inviting.  It was pretty ugly.  You wouldn't want to update it but it didn't seem appealing to live in its' current state.  So what would you do?  The staging was HORRIBLE.  I think you would need to lean into the old fashioned style of the home, not try to make it "modern" with trendy and ugly furnishings.  The designer brought in all that Z Gallerie looking crap but then chose to leave those dusty, pitiful, too short curtains hanging in the dining room?  Also, what the heck was the Atrium?  Was it really cement walls and floor?

I like Tracey, her hustle, and the respect she seems to command.  I don't think she's necessarily a naturally pretty woman, but she is so shined up, styled, dressed to the nines, that she becomes attractive.  I actually got a kick out of the videos Flagg took of her that they showed at the end when she had messy hair and no make-up!  So not her usual self!

Loved all of the real estate porn.  Hope there is more to come!      

[Surrealist]

I'm loving the vibe and friendship between the LA brokers as seen on their respective IGs.

I'm a little worried that Fredrik will be on the LA version more and disrupt it. I say this as someone who used to like him a lot, even though he's a bit of a braggart. I get that he's grateful for his lot in life, as he should be because he earned it. This pandemic has made me look at people in a new way and that includes celebrities of all stripes.

I actually deleted the NY version of the show from my DVR. I don't want to have to do that with the LA version.

Edited August 3, 2021 by Surrealist

[Marley]

Yea Fredrik doesn’t need to be on the LA version. He is going to ruin the vibe.

[Stan39]

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/million-dollar-listing-stars-josh-185257016.html

So I guess Josh will get an offer at $6, come back at $9, sell for $7 and gloat about what a great agent he is. Lol. 

[Stan39]

Excited the show is coming back. Not excited that we were all right and Fredrik is more prominent in this series. If they were going to add someone I wish they promoted Tracy’s assistant, Erika. She’s taking her own listings, but she’s in a serious relationship and maybe less interested in being on TV 🤷‍♂️

 

https://people.com/home/watch-fredrik-eklund-clashes-million-dollar-listing-la-agents-season-13-trailer/

Edited August 9, 2021 by Stan39
Forgot link

[Grrarrggh]

26 minutes ago, Stan39 said:

Excited the show is coming back. Not excited that we were all right and Fredrik is more prominent in this series. If they were going to add someone I wish they promoted Tracy’s assistant, Erika. She’s taking her own listings, but she’s in a serious relationship and maybe less interested in being on TV 🤷‍♂️

 

More like MDL isn't interested in having more than one women per programme. 

[Stan39]

8 minutes ago, Grrarrggh said:

More like MDL isn't interested in having more than one women per programme. 

That was my thought ☹️ Wish they re-thought that one. Tracy has been a great addition.