How Jannik Olander Found Opportunity in a Hollywood Hills Trust Sale Most Buyers Passed On
Sixteen years ago, Jannik Olander was braiding bracelets in a rented garage off Sunset Plaza, down to his last $5,000. Today, his jewelry brand Nialaya sells in 150 countries and has been worn by Justin Bieber, David Beckham, and Lewis Hamilton.
Last December, he bought a home from our team, a trust sale in the Hollywood Hills on one and a half acres that most buyers walked away from. He came to every open house. While other buyers pointed out problems, Jannik was already describing the pool, the pickleball court, and the guest houses he'd build.
I sat down with him alongside my colleague Christian Hose to talk about his story, how he evaluates property, and why he thinks buyers waiting on the sidelines right now are making a mistake. Here's what stuck with me, and what it means if you're thinking about buying or selling on the Westside or in the Hills.
Who Is Jannik Olander?
Jannik grew up in the Danish countryside, a town of 70 people, cows outside his window, no internet. By 26, he was the youngest person ever to open a Ralph Lauren store in Denmark. By 30, he owned seven stores and 50 employees, and was investing his retail profits into beach houses and apartment buildings north of Copenhagen.
Then 2008 happened. His bank went under, his loans got called, and he handed back an apartment building he'd renovated with his own cash. He was living in Los Angeles with almost nothing left.
His answer was a jewelry brand, named after Nialaya, a shaman he'd met at a flea market in Goa, India, who told him to stop chasing money and focus on his creativity. Jannik took his last $5,000, bought beads and string downtown, and started braiding bracelets at an IKEA table in his garage.
Six months later, a stylist ordered two custom bracelets for Diddy. Within a year, 17 people were working out of that garage, and celebrities were lining up outside. Nialaya has been on Melrose Avenue, right next to the famous pink wall, for over 15 years.
From world-class athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Lewis Hamilton to artists and Hollywood movie stars, Nialaya jewelry is chosen worldwide for its craftsmanship, bold character, and personal style.
The Hollywood Hills Trust Sale Most Buyers Passed On
The property Jannik bought from us in December 2024 was a trust sale. The previous owner had lived there since the 1960s and passed away at 96, a beloved neighborhood character whose walls held photos with the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton.
Trust sales tend to be priced aggressively because the estate needs to move. This one drew heavy interest and five competing offers, all close. But it was a tricky house: dated kitchen, leaking windows, a layout that confused people. At the open houses, we heard buyer after buyer talk themselves out of it.
Jannik saw something different: one and a half acres, five minutes from Sunset, with what he calls "Topanga-style living", space for an ADU, an SB9 unit, a JADU, a pool, a gym, and a pickleball court. Not a fixer. A compound he could build on for the next decade.
That's the lesson for buyers in this market: if you like the bones and you like the area, don't let cosmetic problems stop you. The wall you hate can come down. The lot can't be manufactured.
Jannik's Renovation Playbook: Moved In Six Months After Closing
Most significant renovations in Los Angeles drag on for years and burn through multiple general contractors. Jannik closed in December and moved in six months later. Here's how:
He never ran out of cash. His number one rule. He watched friends stall projects mid-renovation, still paying loans while nothing moved. He stuck to his budget, swapping an expensive marble wall for wallpaper when the numbers said so.
He showed up constantly. Morning, midday, evening, sometimes 11pm. He told his GC directly: "You're the GC, but I'm going to GC with you." That presence kept the project honest and moving.
He treated the crew like partners. Cakes and drinks every Friday. Fair pay, on time, every time. When a dispute came up, he sometimes paid the extra rather than stall the job, because a month of stopped work costs more than the fee. In the final stretch, his crew worked seven days a week for four straight weeks.
He moved in before it was finished. He and his wife slept on a mattress in a side room for two months while work continued. "Done is better than perfect. You're never really ready."
He also introduced himself to every neighbor with Christmas baskets the weekend he closed, before nine months of construction traffic hit the street. Small move, big payoff.
Why Jannik Says Buy Now, Not When Rates Drop
The most valuable part of our conversation for anyone watching the LA market right now was his take on timing.
Everyone has been waiting for interest rates to come down. Jannik has been waiting too, since he bought the house. His conclusion: stop waiting.
His reasoning is straightforward. Right now, buyer competition is thin. Sellers who need to move, divorce, relocation, estate situations, are negotiable in a way they haven't been in years. You can actually work a deal. When rates finally drop, the sidelined buyers flood back in, and we're back to multiple offers and couples crying outside open houses like 2020–2021.
His playbook for buyers:
Buy now, even if it means a smaller house or unit than you'd ideally want
Negotiate hard, this is the leverage window
Make it livable, then improve it room by room as cash allows
Refinance when rates come down
You're building equity the whole time instead of paying rent
You don't have to agree with his rate prediction to see the logic in the competition math. The best deals in any market happen when fewer people are bidding.
What This Means for Westside and Hollywood Hills Sellers
There's a seller-side lesson here too. This was a trust sale with real challenges, and it still drew five strong offers because it was priced right, marketed properly, and shown to the full buyer pool, including the buyer who could see past the flaws.
The right buyer for a challenging property usually isn't the one nitpicking finishes at the open house. It's the one asking about lot lines, permits, and what the city will allow. Our job as listing agents is to find that buyer and get them across the finish line. In this case, that meant three open houses, real conversations, and reading which of five near-identical offers would actually close.
Click below to watch the full interview with Jannik Olander
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trust sale in real estate?
A trust sale happens when a property is sold by the trustee of a trust, typically after the owner has passed away. Trust sales are often priced competitively because the estate is motivated to sell, but they may be sold as-is with limited disclosures, which is why many buyers hesitate and why prepared buyers can find real value.
Are trust sales a good deal for buyers?
They can be. Trust sales in Los Angeles are frequently priced below comparable traditional listings because the property is dated and the trustee wants a clean, timely close. Buyers who can look past deferred maintenance, and who work with an agent experienced in trust and probate transactions, often find the best value in this category.
What are ADUs, JADUs, and SB9 in Los Angeles?
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a secondary home on a residential lot. A JADU (junior ADU) is a smaller unit, up to 500 square feet, typically converted from existing space. SB9 is the California law that allows lot splits and additional units on single-family lots. In hillside areas like the Hollywood Hills, these projects require extra steps, Jannik's lot required a geologist report and an arborist review because the Santa Monica Mountains are designated habitat.
Is now a good time to buy a house in Los Angeles?
With rates still elevated in mid-2026, buyer competition is lower than it's been in years, which means more negotiating leverage and better terms, especially on properties that need work, trust sales, and listings with longer days on market. Buyers who purchase now and refinance when rates drop position themselves ahead of the demand wave that lower rates will bring.
Where can I watch the full interview with Jannik Olander? The full conversation with Jannik Olander is available on our YouTube channel — LINK TO EPISODE.
