Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star Josh Flagg reveals hardest part about being agent, advice for Aussie buyers
Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star and realtor Josh Flagg.
Celebrity tantrums, mansions with shark tanks and deal-making with America’s biggest egos are all in a day’s work if you’re Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles star Josh Flagg.
The elite agent told News Corp in an interview ahead of a planned speaking tour of Australia later this year that aspects of being one of the world’s top agents weren’t always glamorous.
The agent, 36, has been a mainstay on TV screens for nearly 16 years, joining the cast of the highly successful real estate show in 2006, where he has traded some of the world’s most expensive houses.
He stars alongside other agents such as arch rival turned best pal Josh Altman and Tracy Tutor.
Flagg has been a cast member of Million Dollar Listing since 2006. Picture: Maarten de Boer/Bravo
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It’s a world swirling with 16-room mega-mansions with bowling alleys, Hollywood stars and nine figure prices, but the big dollar signs can often mask the frustrations behind the deals, Mr Flagg said.
“None of my celeb (clients) have been good to deal with,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
He said the hardest part of the job was dealing with difficult and demanding clients with a “big ego”.
“They don’t get a deal at a price they want. People can be like children, especially the wealthy.
“When (they’re) trying to buy and can’t strike a deal, buyers can get angry and have a temper tantrum.”
He said the reasons were simple: “It always comes down to money”.
Josh Flagg and Tori Spelling. Picture: Josh Flagg/Instagram
Mr Flagg’s extensive celebrity client list includes: Adam Levine, Milla Jovovich, Pete Sampras, Steve Aoki, The Gettys, Stan Lee and Prinec Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Flagg, who will be returning to Aussie shores for the second time, said he wasn’t surprised at some of the mammoth prices being recorded for Sydney houses.
“It’s a stunning place,” he said, adding that, like in the US, low interest rates appeared to be encouraging wealthy people to spend big.
“It certainly seems like people have more money,” he said.
He admitted that spending most of his time in plush Beverly Hills and Bel Air mansions had desensitised him to some of the glamour.
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A recent $US20m listing for Flagg.
Flagg has sold some of Los Angeles’ most expensive homes.
“I get impressed, but I’m not enamoured by it,” he said. “I’ve seen plenty of houses for $100 million, theatres, gyms, bowling alleys. There’s so many I love.”
Buyers with more modest budgets in Australia could probably get good deals soon, he said.
“Prices might be coming down soon. It might be time to strike. There’s going to be more inventory, more opportunity.”
Flagg, along with co-star Altman and special guest Matt Altman, will star in a show on stage in Sydney and Melbourne in September where they will give more insights into buying and selling for the world’s wealthiest celebrities.
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