Heidt’s Horace Estates

I don’t want to give this a great review because I want to keep it a secret! Love. Moved away for a job, can’t wait to come back! Staff awesome, neighbors awesome. This is home.

I just joined Unilocal and I’m reviewing all of my favorite places in LA first…
This is the best hidden gem in LA… Amazing location for creative people to get work done for an affordable price… Lots of history here too… Great management as well…
Very thankful to live here :)

Lived here for two years, loved it! Very clean and the management and staff are so kind and always quick to help with any issues. If anything went wrong in my apartment there was always someone there to fix it within 24 hours. Felt secure since there is a nightly security officer.
My only issue is that I am young and it’s all mainly senior citizens, so plan on being extremely quiet or else you will get noise complaints. Everyone is very friendly though and being young moving to a new state I felt like there was help and support all around me!

This review isn’t for anything bad about the property, but just a word of caution to those still thinking this place is super affordable. I was hoping to move my grandparents out here and the spot sounded perfect. However, the prices have gone WWWWaaay up. Their 1BR prices are not far off from what I currently pay for a 2BR/​2BA close to Ventura…

I used to live there a while ago back in 2006.
My apartment was great but I had one neighbor from HELL. Literally!
This community is 80% senior citizens and they’ve been living there for many many years and do not like younger people, kids or young families.
I used to complain to the manager about my neighbor and all the disrespectful things she used to say to me and to my children but the management office didn’t really care.
I’m glad to be out of there!

Okay, here’s the straight truth about «Horace Heidt’s Magnolia Estates»: you sacrifice perfection for eccentricity. We toured the place about 8 months ago when we knew we were selling our condo and getting back into the renting game. I was intrigued by the amenities, but a bit underwhelmed by the conditions. So we looked around for months and months. After all that searching and viewing and deliberating… we now live at Horace Heidt’s and are as happy as we’ve ever been with any living situation. We got a large two bedroom townhouse for a steal, and are so grateful every day that we did. As some of the reviews mentioned (rather nastily I might add), there are some drawbacks. The complex is a step back into the 1940’s, and some of the residents are straight from that era. A few can be cross, but most that we’ve met have been delightful, even to our two young (loud) boys. But with any large community, you are bound to encounter a mix of attitudes and characters. All the neighbors in our particular area have been exceedingly welcoming, generous and kind. Now it’s true that not everything is brand new and in perfect working order. But with all the amenities, I don’t see how any place could keep up with all the maintenance and still charge what Horace Heidt’s does. There are four pools (one heated year round), a spa with sauna, steam room, weight room and large jacuzzi, a tennis court with a basketball hoop, and tons of green grass and palm trees lining the 18 hole «golf course» (a bit of a laugh, but beautiful and charming nonetheless). My sons love walking the grounds, looking at the waterfalls (it’s true), and playing in the grass. Not to mention that there is a gigantic, sprawling park directly across the street. And the staff, particularly Ruby, has been swift, friendly and accommodating ever since we moved in. (She was essential in our decision to move here.) We have found the entire staff to be attentive, responsive, friendly and professional. Much like the complex, they’re not perfect, but charm goes a long way. So if you’re looking for a living situation like none other, Horace Heidt’s Estates is a rare find in an otherwise frustrating metropolis.

We have lived here since last year and we LOVE it! If you are going to live in California, you should live in a place like this. There is so much great outdoor space (pools, grass, beautiful trees) for our daughter to run around. I think all the apartments are pretty different but ours is very, very large for a two-​bedroom and a lot of them have their own washer and dryer. Everyone who visits comments on how fantastic and yes, bizarre this place is. When we have family in town we just hang out by the pools and they get a good California experience. Yes, some things are a bit run down and the walk from parking can be far for some tenants, but that is a small price to pay to live in such a unique place! What I really love about living here is the sense of community. We know all of our neighbors (they brought our daughter Christmas gifts! How sweet!) and all of the office staff by name. It’s great to be able to pop in and talk to the office staff and not feel like you are dealing with a huge corporation who couldn’t care less about you. When we drive by the office my daughter yells, «I want to see Ruby!» This place really feels like a home to us.

I have been looking for a 1 bedroom apartment in sherman oaks for a while. I checked some new ones (amli & grand), and a few older ones, until I came across this very different complex! my god apartmets are spacious? who gets 900~1000 sq. ft for 1 bedroom? & the rent was lower than the 660sq. ft i saw in other places…
they have studios too & many of them are like a small one bedroom. THEY HAVE A SEPARATE SLEEPING AREA! where in new buildings you see that?
They have a full time maintenance crew of 7,8 people who are constantly here taking care of different matters.
there are 4 pools, one heated, tennis/​basketball court & a mini golf course. it’s very quite & away from street noise. it has a feel of community & is Hawaiian themed.
VERY UNIQUE place. certainly worth checking out.

OKAY– I was SOOOO excited when I drove past the little bamboo hut into the tropical oasis that is this place!
Definately stands out among all the cookie-​cutter, run of the mill apartment complexes that speckle the valley. Being a sucker for anything different, creative, and interesting, I was knocked off my feet when I saw this place…
— The grounds are gorgeous, green, and well maintained
— The very kitchy theming of the place might be too cute for the more serious crowd, but personally I couldn’t help smiling at the whimsical Hawaiian street names and totum poles. I absolutely love it.
— The apartments are beautiful, generously sized, and very well maintained. Don’t let the fact that the buildings have a few years on ‘em fool you… the owners have done very well in updating, renovating and keeping tenants happy inside!
— The staff is friendly, helpful, and down to earth. Everyone I spoke with had alot of character and seemed very genuine
— The amenities are great! Especially for such an affordable place! Four swimming pools with great landscaping (one is heated year round), fitness center, breakfast club, tennis and golf!!! Sounds like a good time to me. Plus, they have entertainment for tenants, occasionally putting on shows or inviting guest speakers, and holding events for the community to enjoy. Great community atmosphere!
If you’re put off by standard apartment living, like me, check out this place, it’s a total breath of fresh tropical air.

Work in LA but would rather hide in Hawaii? Your wish can come true.
After my divorce, I sought a peaceful place for my heart’s healing and found it a mile from my office. This Hawaiian hideaway has lurked behind high hedges in the heart of the San Fernando Valley for 60+ years, originally built as a home for the big band leader’s band members as an alternative to faraway vacations. Half of the complex is built to resemble a Palm Springs resort, the other half resembles a Hawaiian hotel, complete with tikis and hibiscuseseses [sp!]. The clientele still predominates in retired show biz folks and musicians, which makes for some priceless poolside conversations.
Four swimming pools, one tennis court and a miniaturized golf course. Not miniature golf with windmills, but a full 18-​hole course scaled down to fit in the greensward, for the devoted putters. Holidays are a treat at this complex; look forward to the Labor Day Luau featuring talented residents whose names you will recognize, as well as the Christmas party and carolling amongst the buildings.
If you want to just hide in your cubicle, you won’t like the place, but if you want an actual Neighborhood where everyone gives you a cheery greeting every day, check in to the Horace Heidt Estates!

Over 11 years ago, when I moved to Los Angeles, I remember looking at an apartment in this bizarre enclave. Today, on a whim, I decided to see if it was still there. It is indeed. And nothing has changed.
If you have a penchant for all things weird like I do (and, boy, do I) this is a must-​see. I highly suggest stopping by and sneaking on to the premises as soon as possible.
This place is so kitsch that it’s hard to believe it’s withstood the test of time. Imagine a miniature golf course, a retirement community, and It’s A Small World all rolled into one. There you have it.
Nothing I can say can do it justice. Luckily, they have a brand new fancy Flash website so that you can see for yourself. (It’s important to note here that the video – which, by the looks of the cars in it, may be from the early 80s – bears little to no resemblance of the actual complex.)
Here are a few of my favorite highlights:
* Right off the bat, they refer to the place as «Country Club Estate Apartments.» (A contradiction in terms, don’t cha think?)
* A voiceover beckons you to «leave the rest of the world behind when you walk past our bamboo gatehouse into another world.» (That’s an understatement.)
* The Amenities pages welcomes you to «enjoy our breakfast club, which meets every morning in our clubhouse, the Aloha Room.» (Confession: That sounds a little bit awesome. I may crash the Aloha Room one of these mornings.)
* Last, but certainly not least, do not miss the Media page. Upon scrolling to the bottom, you’ll find a yearbook of the celebrities who «have called Horace Heidt Estates their home through the years.» (Dick Van Patten. Need I say more?)
Think of me when you hear the sweet caw-​caw of the parrots and the gently bubbling waterfall.