Most of the homes we sell and rent never start with a listing. They start with a conversation. An owner in Trousdale mentions they may move next year. A landlord in the Hollywood Hills asks what their house would rent for. An agent we have worked with calls to say a seller wants to stay quiet. That is how most of our deals begin: with real people, on the ground, who know us by name.
LA Luxuries is a Beverly Hills brokerage led by Jordan Pollack (DRE 02010832). Jordan speaks personally with thousands of homeowners across Los Angeles. This page explains how those relationships are built, how we keep them, and what that means for owners, buyers and renters.
What "off-market" really means in Los Angeles
An off-market home is one that an owner is open to selling or renting but that is not advertised on the MLS or the public portals. In practice it usually falls into one of four groups:
- Owners who would move for the right offer. They have not hired anyone and are not advertising. They just told someone they trust that they would listen.
- Private listings. The owner has signed a listing agreement but has instructed, in writing, that the home stay off the MLS. California MLS rules limit how these homes can be shared (more on that below).
- Homes that came off the market. A listing expired or was withdrawn, and the owner still wants to move, just not with a public campaign.
- Rentals before they're advertised. A landlord is between tenants, or an owner who was planning to sell would consider renting it out.
None of these show up in a portal search. You find them by knowing the owners, and by being the person they call first.
How our relationships are built
There is no secret list. There is steady, personal work, day after day:
1. We talk to owners directly
Jordan reaches out to homeowners himself, by phone and by text, in the neighborhoods we work. When a home is listed for sale, we sometimes ask the owner a simple question: would you consider renting it out instead, and if so, what would you ask? Many of our rental listings began with that one question.
2. We bring owners real information, not a pitch
Before we ask an owner for anything, we try to give them something useful. For a street we know well, we put together a short brief of what has actually sold and rented nearby, with prices per square foot and days on market, pulled from MLS records and the County Assessor. Owners keep those. A year later, when they are ready, they remember who sent it.
3. We know the properties, not just the addresses
We keep our own database of more than 1,800 Los Angeles properties, and for about 1,500 of them we know the owners by name. Each record holds the home's history: past prices, rentals, features and, where public records allow, who owns it. When a buyer describes exactly what they want, we often already know which owners might be open to a conversation.
4. We stay in touch after the deal
Relationships don't end at closing or move-in. Jordan checks in with tenants about a year after move-in to see how the home is working. We help owners decide each season whether to sell, rent or wait. For the homes we manage, we keep a direct group chat with the owner, so questions get answered the same day.
5. We work with other agents, in plain terms
A lot of off-market inventory sits with other brokers. Jordan asks them directly and specifically: a neighborhood, a lot size, a price band, a rental term. When we co-list or show a colleague's home, we put the arrangement in writing so everyone knows who brought whom. Clear lanes keep relationships good for the next deal.
6. We keep a personal network, not a mailing list
Jordan's own contacts hold about 3,677 people: owners, tenants, buyers, business managers, attorneys and agents he has worked with. When a client needs something specific, we start with people we already know.
For owners: sell or rent quietly
If you would rather not have your home on every portal, you have options. We start with a private conversation about your goals, timing and what needs protecting, then give you an honest price opinion based on real comps. We do not inflate a number to win a listing.
From there you can:
- Test interest privately. Under California rules, a seller can sign the C.A.R. Seller Instruction to Exclude Listing from the MLS (form SELM). The home is then not advertised to the public, and it is shared one-to-one with qualified clients of our brokerage. We walk you through the trade-offs, because less exposure can also mean fewer offers.
- Rent it out instead of selling. Many owners in Beverly Hills, Bel Air and the Hollywood Hills rent their homes out for a year or two while they decide. We place long-term and furnished rentals of 30 days or more.
- Go public when you're ready. If you choose the MLS, the relationships we built while the home was private carry over into a stronger launch.
Learn more about our listing process, see what your Beverly Hills home may be worth, or read about our discreet, private approach.
For buyers: access starts with a clear brief
Off-market access works best when you tell us exactly what matters: neighborhood, setting, lot, views, privacy and timing. With a clear brief, Jordan can go to owners and agents with a specific ask instead of a vague one, and owners take specific asks seriously.
What to expect:
- A short conversation about what you want and why.
- Introductions to homes that fit, public and private. Private homes are shown by appointment only, and sellers may ask for proof of funds and a confidentiality agreement first.
- Honest guidance on price. Off-market does not automatically mean cheaper. Sometimes it means a fair price with less competition; sometimes an owner asks for a premium to move without a public sale.
Start with our buyer and tenant representation or browse homes for sale now.
For tenants: rentals that never hit the portals
Some of the best luxury rentals in Los Angeles are rented before they're ever advertised. Owners call us when a tenant is leaving, and we match the home to clients who are already looking. Tell us your bedrooms, areas, furnished or unfurnished, move-in date and rental term, and we will reach out to owners we know in those neighborhoods.
See our luxury rental agency and Los Angeles houses for rent.
Where we work
We work where we know the owners and the streets:
- Beverly Hills, from the Flats to the hillside streets. See Beverly Hills and 474 S Clark Dr.
- Trousdale Estates, where view homes rarely come up and owners value discretion. See Trousdale Estates.
- The Summit and Mulholland Estates, two guard-gated enclaves. See 11955 Pinnacle Pl and 13947 Durham Rd.
- Bel Air, including Stone Canyon and Bel Air Crest. See Bel Air, 1016 Stradella Rd and 2374 Earls Ct.
- The Hollywood Hills, from the Bird Streets to Laurel Canyon. See Hollywood Hills and 9270 Kinglet Dr.
- Los Feliz, including gated Laughlin Park. See 2035 De Mille Dr.
- Santa Monica Canyon and Pacific Palisades. See Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades.
- Sherman Oaks and the Valley. See Sherman Oaks and 13836 Davana Ter.
- Malibu. See 3909 Villa Costera.
How we keep private things private
Discretion is part of the relationship. We schedule every showing personally. We don't post private homes publicly, and we don't share an address until the owner says it's OK. Every private listing starts with the proper paperwork, and we follow MLS rules on what can and can't be shared.
Frequently asked questions
What is an off-market home?
An off-market home is a property whose owner is open to selling or renting but which is not advertised on the MLS or public sites like Zillow. In Los Angeles these homes are usually found through direct relationships with owners and agents.
How do I find off-market homes in Los Angeles?
Work with a local agent who talks to owners directly and give them a specific brief: area, size, lot, price range and timing. Specific requests get real answers from owners. Portal alerts will not show off-market homes.
Are off-market homes cheaper?
Not always. Some owners accept a fair price in exchange for privacy and fewer showings; others ask for a premium because they don't need to sell. A good agent checks every off-market price against recent comps.
Are pocket listings legal in California?
Yes, with limits. A seller can keep a listing off the MLS by signing a written instruction (C.A.R. form SELM). Under MLS rules the home then can't be publicly marketed; it may be shared one-to-one with the listing brokerage's clients. Once it is marketed publicly, it must go into the MLS within one business day.
Can I rent an off-market luxury home in LA?
Yes. Many luxury rentals are placed before they're advertised, when an owner calls their agent about an upcoming vacancy. Tell an agent your bedrooms, areas, furnished or unfurnished, move-in date and rental term so they can ask owners directly.
Why would an owner sell or rent off-market?
Common reasons are privacy, testing the price before going public, avoiding a long public listing history, or simply preferring fewer showings. Some owners are also open to renting out a home they had planned to sell.
How does LA Luxuries find off-market homes?
Jordan Pollack speaks personally with thousands of homeowners across Los Angeles, keeps a database of more than 1,800 LA properties, and asks other agents directly for homes that fit a client's brief. Most of our opportunities come from those relationships.
Which neighborhoods does LA Luxuries cover for off-market homes?
Beverly Hills, Trousdale Estates, The Summit, Mulholland Estates, Bel Air, the Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Santa Monica Canyon, Pacific Palisades, Sherman Oaks and Malibu, along with other areas where we know the owners.
Read more:How to Find Off-Market Homes in Los Angeles · Why Talking to Homeowners Beats Waiting for the MLS · Trousdale Estates Off-Market Homes
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Call 323.238.5225 · [email protected] · Contact us
LA Luxuries Estate Agency · 333 S. Beverly Dr, Suite 104, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
About the author: Jordan Pollack is the broker and founder of LA Luxuries Estate Agency in Beverly Hills. He sells and rents fine homes across Los Angeles and personally manages every client relationship. Meet Jordan. Jordan Pollack, LA Luxuries, DRE 02010832
