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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West may already own a massive compound in the gated community of Hidden Hills, Los Angeles, but apparently it’s not quite big enough—which may explain why they’ve just purchased yet another property next door, for $2,975,000.
Kimye’s massive compound was born in 2014 when they bought the main mansion for $19.75 million, and they’ve added bits and pieces to their sprawl ever since. This most recent 1.5-acre purchase brings their total parcel up to nearly 8 acres.
Plus, this new property comes with a ranch-style, four-bedroom house, a pool, gardens, a four-car garage, plus an equine wonderland across the street (think horse barn, tack and feed room, and corral).
Apparently, the L.A. power couple plan to combine lots to form guest spaces, a personal home spa, and even—get this—a private farm for the kids, including organic veggies and a citrus orchard. Putting farm-to-table living right outside the door is no big deal for Kimye, though it’s hard to imagine either one of them pulling up carrots. But if they did decide to dig in the dirt and then tote the veggies inside for a snack, the kitchen is certainly large enough for everyone to grab a peeler and help.
But is this back-to-nature lifestyle feasible here—and will Kimye keep the ranch house on site? If you’re curious about putting in a few grapefruit trees or an organic garden of your own, here’s some help from the pros.
Will Kim and Kanye keep the new house, or tear it down?
Cedric Stewart, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Washington, DC, believes the house is a keeper—but notes that adding a level (up) and reconfiguring the first floor to offer more space for entertaining might be a smart move.
“The house is in relatively good shape, so adding another floor would make almost 8,000 square feet or more if you extend the home to use all of the available lot,” he notes.
Freshen up the outdoor area and horse stables, and you’ll have a fantastic guesthouse, along with loads of acreage for someone to use their green thumb.
The benefits of growing a garden and orchard
The couple are actually on-trend when it comes to adding a personal farm, notes Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping. Her company regularly installs citrus and avocado trees as well as edible gardens.
“These integrate well with native gardens, don’t require chemical fertilizers or pesticides to thrive, and they’ll attract beneficial pollinators,” she says.
And by starting an orchard, the star couple will help rebuild the tree canopy in their area.
“L.A. has lost 55% of its tree canopy in the past 10 years, which makes the city hotter and may feed the wildfire risk,” Aoyagi points out. Planted spaces absorb and clean rainfall, which refuels the groundwater table.
Yet all hillside communities in L.A. need to be fire-aware, notes Aoyagi—and Kimye’s new parcel is no exception.
“This area is just east of Bel Air and the UCLA campus, so it wasn’t affected by the Getty fire, but Bel Air was the site of other major fires,” she says.
Trees, however, if smartly placed, can be protective, she explains. “Tree canopies can catch flying embers, preventing them from reaching homes and other structures.”
How to grow an orchard—is it easy?
Before you run to the nursery, consider tree placement in relation to your home and check the size of what you’re planting.
“Will your tree’s mature roots affect nearby structures? And will its canopy reach any wires, particularly power lines?” Aoyagi asks.
Wannabe orchard farmers should also know that fruit trees are a thirsty bunch!
“They need more water than a typical California garden, but you can use grey water from the laundry to irrigate, and this lessens the strain on the city’s supply,” says Aoyagi.
Kimye have acres to work with, but you can plant your own orchard in a much smaller spot. Western Redbud and Palo Verde produce edible blooms and grow well in small spaces, and the native Catalina cherry can be pruned to a hedge, says Aoyagi.
“We recently planted a family orchard with several trees, including stone fruits, in a 3-by-35-foot space adjacent to their driveway,” she notes. The result? The trees bear more fruit than the family of five can consume.
The post Kim and Kanye Just Bought the House Next Door for the Hippiest, Dippiest Reason appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/kim-and-kanye-just-bought-house-next-door-for-hippy-dippy-reason/
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