Is the so-called “California exodus” real or just a myth? Much has been by proponents of the alleged phenomenon, who believe that droves of hardworking Californians are leaving in favor of more tax-friendly states, or less populous states, depending on whom you ask. But in any case, L.A. real estate prices remain at an all-time high, with supply near a correspondingly all-time low. So when Safiya Nygaard put her Studio City home of barely a year up for grabs, she didn’t have any trouble getting $3.1 million for the place, about $200,000 more than she paid in late 2019 — despite zero renovations.
And yes, the popular YouTuber is actually exiting California. To hear her tell it, she bought the big L.A. house prior just prior to 2020. But once the reality of the pandemic set in, she and her husband/frequent collaborator Tyler Williams realized the importance of living closer to their respective support systems — Nygaard hails from Chicago, Williams has family in Philadelphia and North Carolina. So the couple packed up their new house and began a cross-country roadtrip that eventually led them to Raleigh, North Carolina, where they’ve resettled.
If Nygaard’s name isn’t immediately familiar, it might be because she tends to evade the near-constant drama and controversy that surrounds many other popular YouTube creators. But make no mistake, the 28-year-old Stanford University is a big deal; after college, she was employed as a video producer for Buzzfeed before leaving to focus on her own creative endeavors. Today, she sports more than 9 million subscribers and nearly 1.5 billion lifetime video views.
Records reveal the buyer of Nygaard’s former home is also a well-known face — Emmy-winning Hollywood actress Uzo Aduba, best known for her breakout role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange Is the New Black.” Since that Netflix show wrapped in, Aduba has been busier than ever, signing a lucrative overall deal with CBS Studios and starring in HBO’s “In Treatment.”
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Image Credit: Redfin Located in a leafy, family-friendly, and notably desirable pocket of Studio City, Aduba’s new home goes for a prim, East Coast traditional look with medium blue paint and bright white accent trim. There are three full floors of living space, with the two-car garage located on the lowest level and the cherry-red front door directly above, up a long stairway shaded by a row of palms.
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Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin On the main level, the from door opens directly into a combo living/dining room with a fireplace, recessed lighting, and medium brown hardwood floors. Like many YouTuber homes, the place is bright and nearly all white — a must for filming purposes — a theme that carries over into the eat-in kitchen, equipped with high-end Viking appliances and Calacatta marble countertops, and adjacent family room. Bisecting the formal dining area and the kitchen is an oversized butler’s pantry/prep area.
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Image Credit: Redfin Six bedrooms are tucked within the 5,000 square foot structure. One of them lies on the main level and offers its own ensuite bath and walk-in closet — ideal for a longterm houseguest or a live-in employee. There’s another ensuite bedroom on the lower level, which seems ideal for a gym conversion or children’s playroom, giving that it shares the floor with other rest and recreation-themed spaces like a movie theater with coral red trim, and a wine cellar. There’s also a dedicated laundry room and private office on this level.
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Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin The home’s top floor offers four more bedrooms, two of them ensuite and two that share a single full bathroom. The sumptuous master includes a vaulted ceiling, fireplace and sitting area in the bedroom, plus a closet with custom built-ins and a marble-slathered bath.
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Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin While the backyard isn’t particularly big, it’s well-equipped with a covered loggia for shady outdoor dining, a wee patch of grassy lawn, and a rectangular plunge pool built into a retaining wall.
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Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin Zsuzsanna Nagy of Keller Williams held the listing; Peter Maurice of Rodeo Realty repped the buyer.
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Image Credit: Redfin