A 1928 Spanish Home, a Private Trail Into Griffith Park, and a Closing $475,000 Below Asking
Six months of showings have finally led Lynh Tran and her buyers to the ultimate Los Angeles jackpot. There they uncovered a 1928 Spanish-style estate featuring its very own private trail straight into Griffith Park – a famous landmark known for its hiking trails, panoramic city views, and Hollywood Sign vistas.
The gated double-lot property located in Los Feliz is visually stunning. A massive arched window anchors the living room, while the primary suite boasts a classic Juliet balcony. The initial asking price sat at $4.85 million.
But getting the keys almost didn't happen. A brutal inspection report surfaced and threatened to completely derail the purchase.
Tran stepped in to keep the transaction alive. She ultimately negotiated the final closing price down to $4.375 million, saving her clients a massive $475,000.
Landing the Dream House After a Six-Month Hunt
The buyers originally connected with The Tran Group through Zillow Flex. Lynh Tran and her team spent the next half-year showing properties and pinning down exactly what the clients wanted.
The estate caught their eye right away. Between the classic Spanish architecture and the private park access, the house was stunning. But Lynh knew the steep price tag meant negotiations were going to be intense.
“I remember thinking this one would ask a lot of us, especially in negotiation, and we had to be ready,” she said.
Lynh tackled the deal alongside her brother Vinh and partner Hilton. Closing this transaction meant hitting a massive milestone. It would officially become the biggest sale in their team's history.
Negotiating a Massive Price Drop
The home had already seen a few price cuts. It originally hit the market at $5.299 million before dropping to $4.85 million. Lynh and her team ultimately secured a September closing at $4.375 million.
Getting the price down further was just one hurdle. The real challenge hit when the inspection report surfaced. The findings were severe enough that the agents had to figure out how to keep the buyers comfortable moving forward.
“After the inspections there were some tense moments, and we had to think hard about how to get our clients what they needed without losing the house,” she said.
Wanting to make sure the buyers understood exactly what they were taking on, they worked through the report line by line until the clients received everything they requested.
This is where the team's background came in to save the day.
“Our own history helped here,” Lynh said. “Vinh, Hilton and I have renovated our own homes and done flips, so we called in the contractors and inspectors we’ve worked with for years.”
Lynh and Hilton’s projects include a Spanish-style hillside home on Annan Way in Highland Park, which they designed and restored while preserving its original character. The team also renovated a home on Baldwin Street in Lincoln Heights, keeping its charm while making it more functional for daily life.
For the Griffith Park buyers, bringing in trusted contractors and inspectors helped the buyers understand the realities of the repair work. This hands-on guidance ultimately kept the transaction alive.
“They told us afterward how much that helped, and that meant a lot to me,” she added.
Handing Over the Keys
On closing day, the team greeted the buyers with keys and flowers from Lenita, a favorite local shop in Highland Park.
“They were so happy,” she said. “They’d gotten everything they asked for, and seeing that on their faces is why we do this.”
This massive closing officially set a new record for The Tran Group. Moving forward, Lynh plans to keep growing her family team's Southern California footprint while maintaining their tight-knit dynamic.
Her biggest takeaway from the deal is entirely practical. You have to set expectations early and keep your clients informed when the news gets bad. Most importantly, bring your own trusted contractors into the conversation when buyers need extra help making a tough decision.
