Million Dollar Listing LA - General Discussion

[Sweet-tea]

On 8/24/2024 at 9:31 AM, rhofmovalley said:

When they showed that flashback of Heather a few years ago I thought it proved she had had plastic surgery, but what's more likely is she was at a healthier weight back then and her face showed it.  I think she looked better with more weight on her, btw.  She is just so very thin. 

When I was extremely thin people were asking me if I was OK.  I wonder if anyone in her life is asking her if she's all right.  At least they showed Tracy voicing concern (not about her weight but about her stress level.  And as I found, stress and anxiety do indeed cause weight loss.)

My inclination is Heather is thin because it’s the LA gold standard. She’s gotten thinner over the years the same way she’s gotten blonder, her face more sculpted and taking on a slightly “done” look.

Being a double 0 is a status thing to them similar to having a Birkin bag or plumped up lips. I doubt people there are asking her if she’s ok in terms of her weight, but perhaps they are due to her stress. 

I did notice during the dinner episode she looked very thin and also in another scene of a house tour when she was wearing the short black skirt outfit. Josh is probably clueless as he is surrounded by other women who look similar. For LA, it’s normal. 

I don’t think she’s on the shot. Probably more likely she is super careful and even rigid about her intake of food, similar to Lisa Rinna on RHBH and many of the other HWs. There is a running joke that they barely eat. I’ve also read a competitive element is a factor. They begin comparing themselves to their friends. who are also underweight. This skews their perspective, and they want to be even thinner. They don’t realize their basis of comparison is not a healthy-weight woman. 

I am concerned about Josh Flagg. He doesn’t look well. 

 

Edited September 7 by Sweet-tea

[Mindthinkr]

43 minutes ago, Sweet-tea said:

am concerned about Josh Flagg. He doesn’t look well. 

That crossed my mind too. I thought it might be because he was still exhausted from his Paris trip, but he did look paler. 

[ByaNose]

I actually wish the season was longer. I’m not ready for MDL to end so soon. 

Random thoughts. Altman seems to work very hard on his deals. I like his brother even more and I appreciate that he doesn’t want to do the show or need it full time.

Flagg was looking ragged by the end of the episode. When he was out with his assistant discussing the video he was looking like he was on deaths door. I then forgives it was because he didn’t have makeup on which might be worse.

Tracy is very pretty but trying wayyyyy too hard to be 39 instead of 49. Granted she’s got the body for it but it’s a bit much. I will say her daughters seem very normal and they never glam up for the show. They look like normal teens but with a rich parent living in California. 

The house with the very tall door really is impressive. The inside while it’s OTT big it is actually kind of normal looking inside. I’ll be curious to see/hear if someone bought it.

Finally, the plastic surgeon guy is creepy. Super rich but creepy. 

[Milburn Stone]

On 9/4/2024 at 2:39 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

Altman is not only going to rep the house to Dr. Ben, at Benedict Canyon, this is the house bult by Altman's first developer client, Max Nobel, who is buying the fixer estate. House is on the market for $48 million. Altman wants Dr. Ben to buy this house, and sell the current property, and the land, and have a move-in ready home.  The 10 car garage is fantastic and can hold 20 cars with lifts or something.   

I've taken it for granted that big movie stars and top Hollywood execs can afford $50M houses. But my mind boggles that apparently any successful person in Los Angeles can! I mean, I'd expect a top-grade Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to do very well for himself. But well enough for himself to own a $50M house and 20 collectible cars? Or some mid-level exec or investment banker to be able to lease an apartment for $80K a month? I buy this as true, it just astonishes me.

[Shrek]

WTF was that skirt Tracy was wearing that was see through to what looked like granny panties? Whoever told her that was a good look needs to stop giving fashion advice, it would have looked awful on a younger woman but on Tracy it was 🤢, FFS act your damn age & dress professionally at any open house you're hosting. 

[ByaNose]

8 hours ago, Shrek said:

WTF was that skirt Tracy was wearing that was see through to what looked like granny panties? Whoever told her that was a good look needs to stop giving fashion advice, it would have looked awful on a younger woman but on Tracy it was 🤢, FFS act your damn age & dress professionally at any open house you're hosting. 

I think that she thinks it makes her look young(er). Sister is hanging on for dear life. She’s pretty and in great shape the clothes she wears (or not wears) are so obnoxious. 

[ML89]

What was weird to me about the doctor (besides everything) is that he seemed basically like Terry Dubrow or Paul Nassif - rich plastic surgeon who was a bit odd and hamming it up for the camera - when he was walking that house with Altman and then at dinner seemed like he would murder you in an alley. It was bizarre. Also, yes, Tracy, I would have been asking for dessert in the first minute.

Also...he has cars in his kitchen? Living room? I need details on this. Also, as much as I would like all that money, there is no way I could live in one of those boxes and have all those cars. It's like living in a marble barn plus all those cars - the staff and the upkeep would eat up all the money.

However, Flagg's property in Pasadena? I would buy that.

I agree that Heather looks too thin and Flagg is looking rough. Altman isn't aging well, Tracy is but my lord, when Stacey and Clinton start their new show, she needs an intervention.

 

 

[TheLastKidPicked]

On 9/8/2024 at 6:05 AM, Milburn Stone said:

I mean, I'd expect a top-grade Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to do very well for himself. But well enough for himself to own a $50M house and 20 collectible cars? Or some mid-level exec or investment banker to be able to lease an apartment for $80K a month? I buy this as true, it just astonishes me.

We can explain this in two words:  Trust Fund.

All that generational wealth has to end up somewhere.  A good example is Edith Flagg, Josh's grandmother.  Her estate was $100,000,000.   We only know of two grandchildren of Edith Flagg so we can do the math there.  If Josh inherited a chunk of that then he would be able to afford a home for $80K per month. 

Here's a cute story told by Ed Potts, grand nephew of Ray Croc (Mcdonald's Ray Croc, whose family fortune grew to over $2.5 billion):

"When I was little, people would say that Uncle Ray would be too busy to attend family events, but I always called him anyway to invite him.  I'm glad I did because when I graduated high school the biggest present came from Uncle Ray."

To put a finer point on it, if you can call people "Uncle Elon, Uncle Donald, or Uncle Jeff (Bezos) then you are looking at a ton of money coming your way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 08:14 PM by TheLastKidPicked

[CrazyInAlabama]

Josh's parents are pretty well off in their own right.   Then, there is the factor of generation skipping  trusts to limit estate tax to one transfer instead of leaving trust to child and then grandchild.  So, I imagine Josh Flagg has a lot of money, either his own or his parents.  

Tonight's new episode is the season finale, Season 15 Episode 10.   

New, "Ending On A High". New, 9/11/2024,  Season 15 / Episode 10. 

"Heather hopes to complete the Orange County office before the grand opening while Josh tries to meet his year-end goals, leading to tension; Flagg gives a tour of his historic Pasadena estate; Tracy shows off the high-end penthouse lifestyle".

I wasn't thrilled at Flagg's video tour of the Pasadena house.  The in person broker tours are so much better.  $36.5 million is the listing price.  Tracy comes to the tour, and Altman shows up late, but in time to see the Tiki Room. The 46 seat theater is amazing. 

Altman's Laguna Niguel, Ocean's 13,  house listing is magnificent.  13 acres. House is listed for $26 million.  His goal for the year is to have $500 million in listings for the year, and he's only at $382 million plus.  The game room, Ferrari bathtub, and the finishes are amazing. Altman wants to list it for $40 million. He pitches the global reach for buyers.  Potential commission is $1 million. 

I don't care how much they cleaned and replaced in that penthouse, after seeing the detailed explanation of the damages, I wouldn't want to buy or rent it.    She is getting showings.  Listed for $26 million, or $80,000 a month for rent. 

Tracy's meeting with James and Frances about Crescent Bay again, still debating pricing.  Finally an offer for $7.550 million, buyer is qualified, but James wants more money. Another duel agency deal. They finally make the deal. 

Finally, the grand opening of the Altman's Orange County/Newport office.  Flagg and Tracy attend, but since the building interior isn't finished, it will only be the exterior that's open.  The exterior isn't even stuccoed yet. 

Spoiler

The office finally opened on 29 August 2024

I'm sure since they're doing everything in the parking lot, that Flagg asking about the interior is a total set up. 

Tracy and Heather discussing the ups and downs and stresses in Josh and Heather's marriage is tacky.   They're adding another office in Scottsdale too. 

The year end recap for Tracy is $366 million in listings, down about 30%, and she's expanding to Dallas. 

Flagg was down 26% too. Castle Place sold, to the seller who is getting divorced, so that's why when he's buying his ex wife out, so house was drastically cut in price. 

Altman said his company had $1.5 Billion in listings.    

(I suspect Heather is like a friend of mine, when she's stressed she can't eat.)

Edited Thursday at 11:40 PM by CrazyInAlabama

[chessiegal]

I looked at the tv listings this morning and thought, oh goodie, a day of real estate porn! I tune in to near the end of the gang in Las Vegas. You know the joke, I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out? I felt like I went to a real estate show and an episode of Real Housewives broke out. 🤣

[rhofmovalley]

I live in LA and while I admittedly don't run in the same circles as millionaire real estate agents, celebrities or doctors I see very few women who are as thin as Heather. I see average sized women mostly, a lot of healthy looking fit people and everything in between. But alarmingly thin? Almost never. I also see very few people with that horrible plastic surgery/filler face but again, I don't hang out with the "real" housewives. 

[Sweet-tea]

On 9/11/2024 at 12:43 PM, rhofmovalley said:

I live in LA and while I admittedly don't run in the same circles as millionaire real estate agents, celebrities or doctors I see very few women who are as thin as Heather. I see average sized women mostly, a lot of healthy looking fit people and everything in between. But alarmingly thin? Almost never. I also see very few people with that horrible plastic surgery/filler face but again, I don't hang out with the "real" housewives. 

Look at how thin many of them are on the HW shows though, Orange County and Beverly Hills. Heather, Shannon, Dorit, Sutton, Kyle, Erica... all very slim. These are TV reality stars who want to look skinny on camera. Even on NJ, Margaret and Teresa are looking really thin due to the shot. Can't imagine how they look in person. 

Edited Yest. at 05:38 PM by Sweet-tea

[TheLastKidPicked]

Sad that last night's episode was the last one for the season.  I always enjoy watching the show and them coming on here to discuss it with all of you.

 

The short closeouts at the end were nice.  Each of them letting down their guard for a bit and admitting that the year wasn't that great for them.  

The problem with being a young,  good looking up and comer is that there will always be another good looking young up and comer to replace you.  Just look at the names that Flagg drops that make people say,  "Wow!  I haven't heard that name in ages."

Given time, people will be saying,  "Altman Brothers?  Yes, I remember them.  Weren't they in real estate or something?"

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 09:01 PM by TheLastKidPicked

[Sweet-tea]

On 9/9/2024 at 9:07 AM, ML89 said:

What was weird to me about the doctor (besides everything) is that he seemed basically like Terry Dubrow or Paul Nassif - rich plastic surgeon who was a bit odd and hamming it up for the camera - when he was walking that house with Altman and then at dinner seemed like he would murder you in an alley. It was bizarre. Also, yes, Tracy, I would have been asking for dessert in the first minute.

When he was looking at a house with Josh, he seemed closer to normal IMO. I don’t know what happened to him at the dinner with Tracy. He was either drunk or laying it on thick for TV, as you said. 

He also come off a little effeminate at the dinner to me, although he didn’t when he was with Josh in the earlier scene. Regardless, there was obviously no chemistry with Tracy. 

I figured plastic surgeons did well but had no idea they were this rich, but maybe so if he owns his own practice. 

Why must everyone have long hair via extensions? Is short hair so undesirable to these women? I would rather see their natural hair in a cute shorter style than these ridiculous and often obvious looking extensions. Last reunion when Teresa from RHNJ had her hair shorter, I thought she looked better than I’d seen her in a long time. Then next season, she went back to Morticia Adams hair. 

When Tracy said she knew him, my first thought was, “What work did he do on you”? LOL

Edited Thursday at 11:20 PM by Sweet-tea

[Starlight925]

Plastic surgeons make bank because it's an all cash, no insurance business.

Competitive vanity is a sport in some cities, bringing in buckets of dollars.

Remember the Sex And the City episode where Samantha's plastic surgeon black-markered lines on her whole body?  A doctor did that to a friend of mine.  She left, horrified, but many with low self-esteem say "Do it all".

 

Yeah, Altman, Tracy, Frederik, are all moving towards other cities to sell their real estate wares, as L.A. slowly sinks into oblivion.  Old Hollywood is just that....old, and only viable to the Josh Flagg's of the city, who remain loyal to its history, but the rest of the city, with insane tax rates, strict building codes, impossible permitting, is causing these realtors to look for greener pastures:  Orange County, Texas, Florida.  The double-digit percentages that they were all down was staggering.

Edited Friday at 01:41 AM by Starlight925

[heatherchandler]

2 hours ago, Starlight925 said:

 

Yeah, Altman, Tracy, Frederik, are all moving towards other cities to sell their real estate wares, as L.A. slowly sinks into oblivion.  Old Hollywood is just that....old, and only viable to the Josh Flagg's of the city, who remain loyal to its history, but the rest of the city, with insane tax rates, strict building codes, impossible permitting, is causing these realtors to look for greener pastures:  Orange County, Texas, Florida.  The double-digit percentages that they were all down was staggering.

I wish they had put all of the building code restrictions and size restrictions in LA wayyy back before the obscenely large cement homes ruined the ecological system.  The homes always skewed large but people appreciated the unique landscape, the mountains, etc.  Now it is just huge ugly box after huge ugly box.  Can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.