Perched above the Sunset Strip, Villa Hillside has spent the past two years moving in and out of the Los Angeles luxury market, with its asking price repeatedly changing along the way. The 3,002-square-foot Hollywood Hills residence, once owned by filmmaker Michael Mann, has now found a buyer for $3.5 million, closing another chapter in the property’s unusually eventful sales history, states an online report by California Luxury Homes. Built in 1929, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom home sits across two contiguous parcels totaling roughly 11,700 square feet. Its combination of Mediterranean-inspired architecture, mature landscaping and sweeping views gives it a distinctly secluded character despite its location minutes from some of Los Angeles’ busiest neighborhoods, states the report.
A Hollywood pedigree of its own
Mann, known for films including Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice and Ferrari, was the property’s original owner, according to its marketing materials. That connection adds an unmistakable piece of Hollywood history to a residence that otherwise feels deliberately removed from the city’s entertainment industry. Villa Hillside was designed by architect Daniel Romualdez, whose work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, while landscape designer Sarita Jaccard shaped the gardens. Racing Green is also credited with construction. The architecture favors warmth over spectacle. Cream-colored plaster walls, dark wood floors, French doors and arched openings give the interiors a Mediterranean character, while the surrounding gardens soften the transition between house and hillside.
A private screening room hidden in plain sight
The report adds that one of the property’s most distinctive details is tucked inside the main living room. A concealed projection screen can descend in front of the room’s large picture window, turning the space into a private screening room while allowing the Los Angeles view to remain the focal point when the screen is raised.The formal dining room continues the home’s traditional aesthetic, with an elongated table and olive-green velvet chairs. An adjoining breakfast nook sits beneath an archway near the kitchen, which features gray shaker cabinetry, white countertops, stainless-steel appliances and arched windows. Upstairs, the primary suite centers on a sculpted plaster fireplace and opens toward a private balcony. Its adjoining bathroom features pale stone, a double vanity, arched detailing and a deep soaking tub incorporated into an open shower area. Two additional bedrooms occupy the upper floor, continuing the restrained combination of white plaster, wood flooring and dark-framed windows.
The hillside becomes part of the house
Outside, Villa Hillside’s relationship with its terrain becomes even more apparent. A raised wood deck steps into the slope, surrounded by succulents and drought-tolerant planting before descending toward the pool and entertaining areas, adds the report. The pool terrace includes built-in seating, a dining area and a rectangular fire pit. A dark-bottom pool and spa sit beside pale paving and a cascading water wall, giving the outdoor area the feel of a compact private resort. A secluded outdoor bathing area adds another unusual feature: a freestanding claw-foot tub tucked among tropical greenery on a small wooden platform.
A long and winding path to $3.5 million
The latest sale follows a series of price changes. Villa Hillside was marketed for $4.595 million in February 2025, later appearing at $4.499 million and $3.95 million before reaching $3.55 million in October. By March 2026, the asking price had fallen to $3.35 million, followed by another listing at $2.5 million in April. The property then changed hands for $2.6 million on June 2. That was not the final transaction, however. Villa Hillside returned to the market in July, eventually selling for $3.5 million on September 15, 2026. Based on its reported living area, the latest sale works out to roughly $1,166 per square foot.
Above the Sunset Strip
The home’s location remains one of its strongest features. Set in the Hollywood Hills, it offers quick access to the Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Hollywood while retaining the privacy and elevated views associated with hillside living. Its mature landscaping and carefully arranged outdoor spaces make the property feel larger than its 3,002 square feet suggest. Rather than relying on enormous interiors, Villa Hillside builds its appeal around views, architecture, gardens and the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. With its latest $3.5 million sale, the 1929 residence has completed one of the more unusual recent journeys through the Hollywood Hills market. Its Michael Mann connection adds a layer of cinematic history, but the house ultimately stands on its own as a secluded hillside retreat above Los Angeles.Images Courtesy: California Luxury Homes
