Derober

According to Forbes.com,

Even Hollywood’s rich and famous can’t avoid the housing downturn that’s sweeping the nation. In Los Angeles, only 4,430 homes were sold in December, down 48% from the previous year. And prices fell 11% to an average $470,000.

Mark David, who runs the (super-awesome) celebrity real estate site The Real Estalker says homes generally don’t demand a premium just because a celebrity was living there. At the same time, famous buyers are unlikely to get any kind of a bargain, since sellers often push famous folks to pay full price..

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

The 23-year-old rocker, Avril Lavigne, may have finally sold her five-bedroom house in Beverly Hills. She listed the property almost a year ago for $6.9 million. After reducing the price by $1.1 million, the 6,900-square-foot home is now in escrow.

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

Brad Garrett’s massive 10,000-square-foot home comes complete with a pool, screening room and Zen garden. In September 2006, he listed it for $9.75 million. The Everybody Loves Raymond star has since reduced the price to $8.8 million. So far, no takers.

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

The 36-year-old mother of two, Denise Richards, sold her home in Hidden Hills, Calif., just north of Los Angeles, for $3.8 million in November 2007, after listing it the previous March for $4.5 million. The sale amounts to a loss for Richards, who bought the five-bedroom home in June 2006 for $4 million.

More Celeb home values after the jump

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

Johnny Carson’s former sidekick, Ed McMahin, has struggled to sell his Mulholland Drive Mediterranean estate. He put it on the market in July 2006 for $7 million, but there were no takers. He re-listed it in February 2007 for $6.7 million, and even after another $1 million reduction, the six-bedroom home is still sitting on the market.

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

The That 70s Show star, Wilmer Lalerrama, sold his suburban five-bedroom home last month for $200,000 less than his $1.95 million asking price. He still owns three other homes in the Los Angeles area.

~ roll mouse over image to Derobe ~

Vidal Sassoon owns a piece of Los Angeles history on Mulholland Drive. The house, designed by Richard Neutra, is an important piece of modernist architecture. The home was originally being sold privately for $25 million but is now listed at a $5 million discount. Houses at this level are less affected by the economy, since there are already few buyers who can afford the price tag.