Popular YouTuber Buys All-New Contemporary House on LA’s Eastside

It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, Highland Park was still a major part of the gang-infested underbelly of Los Angeles. These days, the much-gentrified neighborhood is little more than a highly desirable remnant of its former gritty self — and a hotbed of trendy shops and restaurants, to boot. The rapid change in affluence and demographics has been controversial with longtime residents and outsiders alike, but has also sent the neighborhood’s home values skyrocketing.

Take this brand-new Highland Park house. Completed in late 2022, the multi-level structure is built into the side of a steep hill, on a barely 5,500-square-foot lot, but recently sold for a hefty $2.2 million — its full asking price. The new owner is Jarvis Johnson, a social media influencer best known for his YouTube commentary videos, in which he lightheartedly pokes fun at other creators and internet celebrities.

It’s easy to see why Johnson, who sports 226 million lifetime YouTube views and nearly two million subscribers, fell for the house. Tucked away at the very top of a hillside street, the place is light and bright throughout, ideal for a person who creates video content at home. There are also multiple balconies and patios, nearly all of them with westward views of sunsets and DTLA skyscrapers.

But with enough stairs to rival the Spanish Steps, this place isn’t for the athletically challenged. From the street, two separate staircases lead up past the garage to the home’s glassy front door; just beyond that is a sleek kitchen with Bosch appliances servicing a fireplace-equipped family room and separate dining area, plus a convenient powder room.

There are two more indoor staircases, one leading downstairs to a huge great room — it could also be a fourth bedroom or studio space — and the other leading up to the top floor, where the home’s three bedrooms are located. Two guest rooms share a single hallway bathroom, while the master offers its own walk-in closet and stone bathroom tucked immediately behind the bed. There’s also a private master balcony blessed with some of the property’s best views.

Because the property is steeply sloped, it doesn’t really offer any outdoor gardens or greenery. But there are several large concrete patios with ample room to add potted plants, and a raised planter filled with various cacti species lies out back. The house is also close to hiking trails and shaded by mature trees in neighboring yards.