Celebrity Real Estate: Mexican DJ El Piolin (Tweety Bird) Lists Mansion in Calabasas

[Update October 30, 2013]: This home has been re-listed for $7,275,000 with the details view-able in a post here. 

[Update April 18, 2013]: I am extremely late to this but TMZ reported back in October 2012, that rapper Tyga has purchased this property for $6.5 million. I wasnt able to verify this information with online property records which means he didnt purchase this property or the county is extremely slow at updating this transaction. Its also possible Tyga is renting this home but somehow was misconstrued in the media as being a home purchase. To put things into perspective, Justin Bieber purchased a similar home for the same price and he is a worldwide star. While Tyga is definitely well known in the rap game, I am not sure if he can support a $6 million dollar home. But maybe I am wrong and the adult film he directed is paying dividends. 

On a separate note, Eddie "El Piolin" Sotelo sold his Livermore home discussed at the bottom for $465,000 on April 12, 2013 translating into a gain of $84,000 before expenses which is not terrible bad for having first purchased in 2000.

[Original Post]:

We are a couple of months late on reporting this but the man known as "El Piolin" or Tweety Bird (translated in English) has listed his Calabasas mansion in the exclusive Estates at the Oaks for $7,450,000 on March 12, 2012 which is the second highest listing in Calabasas behind the massive 24 acre ranch of film producer James Wilson at $25 million at the time of this writing. 

El Piolin's real name is Eduardo "Eddie" Sotelo who is a Mexican radio personality that stars in his own weekday morning show, Piolin por la Manana, on Univision's KSCA La Nueva 101.9 FM. El Piolin's show is the top ranked morning show in Los Angeles regardless of language and is syndicated in over 50 different markets making it the #1 radio show in the country beating Ryan Seacrest and Howard Stern.  El Piolin is now heard on over 100 Spanish radio stations.

El Piolin's start in the radio business is rather unique as he entered the country illegally in 1986 across the Tijuana desert where he was almost captured by the Border Patrol but managed to hide and jump into the trunk of a waiting car. He eventually landed in Santa Ana where he attended Saddleback High School. After he graduated, his opportunities were slim being undocumented and relied on meager tasks like recycling and washing cars to pay the bills During that time, he practiced his radio persona until he got his big break for a radio station in Corona. He would continue honing his craft and perform his radio shows starting in Oxnard's Radio Laser in 1991, Super X in Sacramento, and Radio Tricolor in San Jose in 1997 before eventually landing at KSCA in LA in 2004.

His story is truly remarkable and proof that hard work pays off and dreams can be reached regardless of any perceived setbacks. El Piolin was ranked in 2006 as one of the 100 most influential people in Southern California by the LA Times and probably a majority of Southern California has never heard of him. He has interviewed prominent figures such as President Barack Obama, entertainer Vicente Fernandez, George Lopez, Oscar de la Hoya, Mel Gibson, and Will Smith. I also recommend reading a Washington Post article from 2006, An Immigrant DJ's Morning in America by Darryl Fears, the Mother Jones July/August 2006 issue, Making Radio Waves, by Sara Catania, and Poder Magazine's November 2006 issue, Piolin Moves the Masses, by Andrea Alegria.

In addition to radio, El Piolin has been cast in several films and TV shows starring in the upcoming Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3, Rob, The Muppets, Family Guy, and A Better Life.

According to the listing, this 7 Bed/9.5 Bath home on 9,279 sqft on a total lot size of slightly under 1 acre built in 2005 states: 

STUNNING CUSTOM IN THE ESTATES AT THE OAKS! THIS ONE HAS IT ALL! 7 BEDROOMS, DEDICATED OFFICE, THEATER WITH RECLINING SEATING, GAME ROOM, GYMNASIUM, BILLIARD ROOM, GOURMET KITCHEN! QUALITY FEATURES INCLUDE NOCHE TRAVERTINE FLOORS, VENETIAN PLASTER INTERIORS, TWO STORY LOFTED CEILINGS WITH HAND PAINTED MURALS, FAMILY ROOM WITH RECESSED PANELING & MOTORIZED CURTAINS, GOLD LEAF ENTRY DOME, MARBLE & WROUGHT IRON STAIRS, FOUR FIREPLACES, CRESTRON AND MULTI-STATION CAMERA SECURITY SYSTEM! FIVE CAR GARAGES PLUS CIRCULAR DRIVE WITH HAND LAID PAVERS. THE GROUNDS ARE A TRUE RESORT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES A FULL TENNIS COURT, HUGE LAGOON POOL (SALT WATER & PEBBLE TECH) WITH ISLAND, LONG SLIDE AND WATERFALLS, SPA FOR 25, THREE HOLE GOLF PUTTING GREEN, CABANA WITH TV, FIREPLACE & POOL BATH, FULL OUTDOOR BBQ CENTER WITH ALL VIKING EQUIPMENT, FIRE PIT & FIREPLACE, IN GROUND TRAMPOLINE AND MORE! TO MUCH TO MENTION! THIS HOME SHINES FROM START TO FINISH!

This home was last purchased at the peak of the market on May 31, 2006 for $5,850,000. As I have mentioned before, I am surprised to see homes sell for more than the peak price of 2006 especially if the home has not been significantly upgraded justifying the higher price. 

Images courtesy Prudential California Realty

In this case, El Piolin intends to sell for $7,450,000 which is about 27% higher than original purchase price during a time when home prices as a whole in the LA area are down 30% - 40%. As a comparison, Justin Bieber recently purchased the former Nicole Murphy (Eddie's ex) on April 6, 2012 for $6.5 million which is just down the street and roughly one month after El Piolin listed his home. However, there is some competition with 2 similar sized homes priced in the mid $5 million price range so we wish El Piolin luck in selling his home at his desired price because he has truly deserved it and also has a cool nickname.

Nearby neighbors include Katherine Jackson and the rest of the family, Travis Barker, Britney Spear's former leased home,  James Wilson's massive ranch, and Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine to name a few. 

Prior to this home, El Piolin lived in a relatively smaller 5 Bed/7 Bath 4,682 sqft home located directly north in the same gated community. El Piolin purchased this home on March 24, 2003 for $1,081,500 and sold at the peak of the market (which also coincided with his purchase of his current home) for $2,375,000 earning a decent gain of $1,293,500 before taxes, commissions, expenses, etc.

Image courtesy Bing maps

And prior to the above mentioned home, El Piolin lived further up north in Livermore (if my research is correct) assuming when he worked at Radio Tricolor in San Jose. This homes measures a modest 1500 sqft home that was purchased on September 29, 2000 for $381,000 and still continues to be owned by El Piolin I am guessing as an investment property or for relatives.

Image courtesy Google Maps

The reason for this sale and his future home are unknown but I am speculating that El Piolin might be moving across the 101 Freeway to the more exclusive and equestrian friendly enclave known as Hidden Hills. El Piolin may want to consider the massive 3 acre 19,000 sqft Britney Spear's former leased home currently owned by Ron Tutor. Also The Rock's $5 million 9,000 sqft mansion recently became available.

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