5 Shockers About the 90210 ZIP Code—and the State of Reality TV

Every tony neighborhood seems to have its own reality TV show these days—think “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,” “Selling Sunset,” and “Selling the OC,” among others. So it’s high time that the most famous ZIP code of all has finally joined the club.

We’re talking, of course, about 90210, which is the subject of the new series “Buying Beverly Hills.” Now airing on Netflix, this show features the behemoth real estate enterprise known as The Agency forging deals for the rich and famous on some of the most luxurious properties in this affluent Los Angeles suburb and surrounding area.

The Agency’s charismatic CEO and co-founder Mauricio Umansky might look familiar to fans of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” since he’s the husband of original cast member Kyle Richards.

With the couple’s two daughters also working at The Agency, you have the ingredients for a fairly juicy family drama set against the breathtaking backdrop of some of the world’s most remarkable residences.

But there’s more to “Buying Beverly Hills” than a good helping of gorgeous real estate and office drama. To shed light on the nuances of this show and what happens behind the scenes, Umansky and the cast invited me to spend the day shadowing their every move and touring a bevy of beautiful homes. I came across a number of things that might really surprise you. As you might suspect, all is not as it seems on reality TV.

1. 90210 is no longer the swankiest ZIP code in town

The Agency’s office, of course, is in the heart of ZIP code 90210. It’s gleaming and stylish, done in almost all white with pops of lipstick red. The walls are glass, and there is not one private office in the place. Even Umansky’s office is a fishbowl.

Yet despite The Agency’s fitting location in prime 90210 territory, most of its agents don’t live in Beverly Hills—including Umansky.

Even though Umansky and Richards star in two shows with “Beverly Hills” in the title, the couple actually live in Encino, CA. It’s an uber-exclusive pocket of the San Fernando Valley, and the homes here are just as lavish as what you’ll see in Beverly Hills.

Umansky and Richards live in Smokey Robinson‘s estate, which they bought in 2017 for $8.3 million.

You’ll see their house quite often on the show, and I can confirm that it ranks among the best of Beverly Hills. (And dare I say, the neighbors are a wee bit warmer? It seems folks who live there don’t have as much to prove.)

As further proof that Beverly Hills is not the be-all and end-all of where to live, only one of the mansions for sale that I toured during my day with The Agency was located in Beverly Hills. Even though 90210 has been lauded as the most expensive ZIP code in Los Angeles, many celebrities, pro athletes, and titans of business now choose to live in other equally posh neighborhoods nearby, including Bel-Air, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and Venice.

One of the things that make “Buying Beverly Hills” unique is that it’s very much a family affair. Umansky’s father, Eduardo, started in the real estate business decades ago and is still involved with The Agency. And Umansky’s two daughters are integral parts of the business and the show.

Farrah Brittany (Richard’s daughter from her first marriage) is a consummately cool agent who has been with The Agency since its inception. She has achieved nearly $4 billion in real estate sales.

Alexia Umansky, the couple’s younger daughter, had been with The Agency for only several months when filming started. Although the 26-year-old has been shadowing her father for years, there’s still a lot she needs to learn about the business.

Of course, there’s some nepotism going on.

“She’s my baby,” Mauricio exclaims on the show as he gives Alexia listing opportunities that other agents (including her older sister) doubt she’s ready for, among them her childhood home in Bel-Air.

They also don’t pull any punches, showing Alexia making mistakes. The show highlights some excruciating moments, including times she’s stumped by homebuyers’ questions.

“I just wasn’t prepared,” Alexia tells me regretfully.

3. However glamorous, being a luxury real estate agent is hard

You’ve seen TV real estate agents swanning around gazillion-dollar mansions in designer suits, makeup expertly applied and not a hair out of place. What’s easy to miss is that their job can be grueling.

Some of the agents I met at The Agency said the hardest part of the job is convincing an elite seller that you’re the one who should list the home, or an upscale buyer that you’re the one who can find the ideal dwelling—and that the effort can take weeks or months.

Melissa Platt, the self-described villain on the show, doesn’t deal with the listings side. She’s one of the nation’s leading buyer’s agents and specializes in finding homes for top athletes, then helping them move, decorate, and find services so their lives are as stress-free as can be.

All her clients have to do is sign the deed or the lease and show up—they don’t even need to bring a toothbrush. She’ll have their pantries stocked, their beds made, their homes fully staffed, and even their closets filled with the right-sized clothes, their bathrooms with their favored toilet paper. Sound easy? We didn’t think so.

4. Being a real estate agent on TV is even harder

While being a real estate agent is harder than it looks, when a reality show is added to the mix, the challenges multiply.

Platt, for instance, had to audition five times to join the cast. But that was the easy part compared with what cast members have to do: convince their clients that they, too, should star on “Buying Beverly Hills.”

“The most difficult part of being on the show is convincing the sellers to let us show their homes on TV,” says agent Ben Belack.

While an agent can get invaluable exposure from being on TV, there’s not much value in it for the seller, because by the time the show airs, the home would have likely been sold already, Belack explains.

There are exceptions, however.

The developers of ultraluxe mansions in the $100 million-plus price range know their newly built properties could take months, if not years, to sell. That’s why you’ll see megamansions such as this $139 million property (below) on the show: It’s free marketing for the house.

Real estate agent Santiago Arana, a Bolivian immigrant who works with clients such as LeBron James, develops some of the area’s most prestigious properties. He took me on a tour of a $25.8 million Beverly Hills mansion he’d developed that features a wellness center (a humble “home gym” is not enough anymore) and a 100-foot infinity pool with a 12-person spa and a swim-up bar.

Mauricio took me on a tour of a $16 million mansion in Hollywood Hills. Sitting on a lot with remarkable city and ocean views, this not-quite-completed aerie has two wings—one for private family living, the other for entertaining or business. (They’re connected underground.)

The unique layout was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic—a place where people could feel comfortable living, working, playing, and entertaining, all in one place, he explains.

5. Reality TV shows aren’t just about stardom

So why would Mauricio choose to open himself, his family, and his agents to public scrutiny?

“The idea behind this is really to support all of us,” he says at a party at the office to celebrate the premiere of “Buying Beverly Hills.” “A high tide lifts all boats.”

Looking at the group of agents gathered, with bubbly in their hands, Mauricio says he envisions future shows such as “Buying London” and “Buying Miami.”

Or even “Buying the 818,” he jokes, referring to the area code where his own home is located.