I am Hollywood

Chapter 44: Buying Real Estate



[Chapter 44: Price Cut]

"Gentlemen, this is a selection of office spaces tailored to your needs. Here's the list for the Burbank area, the next for Santa Monica, and this one's near Hollywood, which is relatively pricier."

In the reception area of the real estate agency, a realtor named Raymond presented a stack of documents to Eric and Jeffrey. Deciding to establish a new film company, Firefly Films, they were on a mission to find an office.

As they listened to Raymond's explanations and perused the documents, Eric couldn't shake the feeling that Raymond had a peculiar, eager look in his eyes.

Finally, during a lull in the conversation, Raymond couldn't contain himself any longer. "Mr. Williams, are you the young director from that film?"

Raising an eyebrow, Eric wondered if this middle-aged man might be a fan. He nodded, "Raymond, that's me. What's your question?"

Raymond confirmed his suspicion. "So, Mr. Williams, I'm curious if you're interested in a Beverly Hills mansion. We have a stunning property atop Beverly Hills, approximately 6,500 square feet, close to Sunset Boulevard with great access, and importantly... very private."

At the mention of "private," Raymond's expression seemed a bit awkward. Clearly, he had read today's gossip and thought to pitch the mansion.

His timing was spot on; Eric was indeed troubled by the relentless paparazzi, making the realtor's proposal appealing.

"Eric," Jeffrey chimed in, "I think moving would be a smart idea. With your current wealth, living alone in North Hollywood isn't exactly safe."

Eric nodded along. "Raymond, if I'm interested, when can we schedule a visit?"

Raymond's spirits were lifted. "We can go right now! The owner has entrusted us with the property, and we have the keys."

Without much thought to his office selection, Eric left a check for Jeffrey to handle as he drove with Raymond over to Beverly Hills.

...

Following Raymond's directions, they arrived at the mansion after a thirty-minute drive, standing before a nearly two-meter-high wall, dense greenery peeking over.

"See, Mr. Williams," Raymond pointed out, "this mansion boasts excellent privacy. The high walls, combined with the thick bushes inside, completely eliminate the risk of paparazzi. Plus, there are no streetlights around, and it has two large gates, making it perfect for someone like you."

Pleased, Eric nodded. "Let's take a look inside?"

"Of course," Raymond quickly fished out the keys, unlocking the grand entrance and stepping aside for Eric to enter first.

"Welcome, Mr. Williams. This modern-style main villa was designed by Edwards Niles and features four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and two kitchens. The garage can hold up to ten cars, and there's an outdoor pool and a miniature basketball court. From the second floor balcony, you can admire the entire Los Angeles skyline, which is stunning at night..."

Eric patiently listened, strolling through the roughly 600-square-meter mansion. "Raymond, how much is this mansion?" he inquired.

Taken aback for a moment, Raymond quickly felt a thrill. Unlike the other buyers who bombarded him with endless trivial questions, Eric went straight to the price. It was a promising sign for closing this deal.

The owner had to sell the mansion due to losses from last year's stock market crash, but they were still not in dire straits. The listed price was between high and reasonable, which was why the property had been stuck in Raymond's listings for nearly half a year.

Suppressing his joy, Raymond responded nonchalantly, "Two million dollars, Mr. Williams."

Eric's first instinct was that it was inexpensive, but he quickly recalled it was 1988, not the twenty-first century when prices were soaring. Even Michael Jackson's sprawling Neverland a year ago only cost him $19.5 million. Clearly, this mansion's price seemed steep.

Even though Eric had plenty of money, he wasn't one to be taken advantage of. He fixed his gaze on the realtor, "Raymond, you know I'm serious about buying it, so how about giving me a realistic quote? Two million obviously isn't going to work."

Raymond made a pained expression, "Well, then, how about $1.95 million? That's as low as I can go."

"One million," Eric stated matter-of-factly.

Raymond nearly leaped out of his skin. "That's impossible!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

This was apparently the first time Raymond encountered this drastic bargaining tactic -- cutting the offer in half.

Feeling profoundly insulted, Raymond shot back defiantly, "Mr. Williams, if you're going to bid like that, we might as well call it a day."

Seeing that Raymond was genuinely upset, Eric quickly lightened the mood. "Alright, alright, Raymond, I was just joking. But you really don't seem to be bargaining in good faith. A discount of just $50,000 is hardly generous."

Although a bit irked, Raymond recognized Eric as a big client. If he sold this mansion, he would rake in a hefty commission, so he quickly composed himself. "Mr. Williams, the homeowner doesn't lack money, and feel free to have the entire suite of custom furnishings and decor appraised. It was easily worth over $500,000, which is why the price is set high. Originally, they were adamant about $2 million, but after some persuasion, they agreed to a $100,000 discount. So, $1.90 million is the best price."

Once that was said, Raymond stood there expectantly, clearly indicating there was no room for negotiation.

Eric pondered for a moment; he genuinely liked the mansion. He finally nodded, "Raymond, if I decide to buy, how soon can I move in?"

"If you pay in cash, we can expedite the paperwork; you could be in within three days. But if you need to get a bank loan, that would take a bit longer."

...

In the end, Eric chose to pay in full. They returned to Raymond's agency, where Eric made a call to Edward Lewis's office, arranging for a lawyer familiar with real estate to come handle the deal. He merely signed a check, leaving most of the process to his private attorney. Jeffrey also found an office building in Burbank as the new headquarters for Firefly Films, and approvingly, Eric deemed it a done deal.

After a busy day, Eric returned home in the evening and immediately noticed more paparazzi lurking nearby. They were undoubtedly riled up by that morning's gossip, eager to squeeze some valuable news from him.

For these pests, Eric could only pretend he hadn't seen them.

After dinner and a shower, Eric slipped into his comfortable home wear and considered starting on his script. As for the novel that Michael Krauss had prodded him on multiple times, Eric opted to continue procrastinating. After all, Michael was accustomed by now to his habit of dragging his feet.

In the days that followed, Eric busied himself establishing the film company during the day, while at night he diligently wrote his script. He had assumed the scandal involving Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston would fizzle out eventually, just as other celebrity gossip did. But this matter continued to escalate, creating a palpable sense of impending storm.

*****

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