1513 Arlington Ave Case Study
Arlington Heights, Los Angeles, CA
The Opportunity
1513 Arlington Ave is a 9-unit apartment building in Arlington Heights. We generally advise our sellers against spending money on their property before a sale, since sellers historically see little return on that investment from buyers. Investors targeting RSO buildings, especially ones with below-market tenants and deferred maintenance, typically bring their own value-add plan and the experience to bring a property up to market more cost effectively than a seller can. Following that approach, our selling client did not want to fund two costly items before close: replacing the property’s Federal Pacific electrical sub-panels, which insurers are increasingly requiring owners to replace, and completing the SB 721 inspection of its two exterior balconies, a state-mandated safety inspection of balconies, decks, stairways, and walkways on multifamily buildings with three or more units.
The Solution
We hosted an open house so brokers, their clients, and buyers from our own database could walk the vacant units and see the opportunity firsthand. The listing drew offers from 12 individual buyers. In negotiating the counter offers, we made sure every buyer in contention agreed to take on both the electrical sub-panel replacement and the SB 721 inspection after close of escrow, keeping those costs off our seller’s side of the ledger. The winning buyer came from our own database, a seasoned investor experienced operating RSO buildings across LA. We coordinated closely with our seller’s 1031 exchange team throughout escrow.
The Results
The property sold for $1,400,000 with the buyer contractually responsible for the electrical sub-panel replacement and SB 721 inspection. Our seller successfully completed his 1031 exchange.
See the full closed sale record for 1513 Arlington Ave.
If You Are in a Similar Situation
Planning a 1031 exchange
An exchange only works if the replacement search starts early. See our page on 1031 exchanges and our guide to capital gains and depreciation recapture to see what is at stake.
Selling a value-add or rent-controlled building
Buildings with below-market rents and deferred work sell differently from fully renovated ones, and the rent rules shape what buyers will pay. Start with our guides to selling with tenants under rent control, the 2026 AB 1482 rent cap, and how buyers value an apartment building.
“Josh Kaplan and Troy Lucero at Highlight Real Estate Group helped us close on a 9-unit apartment building in Arlington Heights, Los Angeles. Highly recommend this team for anyone buying or selling an apartment building in Los Angeles.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did 1513 Arlington Ave sell for?
1513 Arlington Ave (Arlington Heights, Los Angeles, CA) sold for $1,400,000. The building has 9 units, or about $155,556 per unit.
What happened in the sale of 1513 Arlington Ave?
Dual representation on a 9-unit Arlington Heights building drew 12 offers and moved deferred electrical and balcony work to the buyer for our seller’s 1031.
Can Highlight help me sell a similar building?
Yes. We advise apartment owners across the Los Angeles area on sales, 1031 exchanges, and trust and probate sales. Start with a free, confidential Broker Opinion of Value, or see our other case studies and closed sales.