Hollywood Hills is probably as close to Hollywood as you can get. And for most wealthy families these days, renting a mansion in the Hollywood Hills is the closest they can get to becoming neighbors with the likes of Paris Hilton and Ryan Philippe.

Hollywood Hills is the unofficial label for the part of Los Angeles from the eastern part of the Santa Monica Mountains to the Los Feliz district and Hollywood itself. It also covers the southern part of the valley, which extends to Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu.

Residential development in the Hills began as early as the 1920s. These days, the Mulholland Drive, Laurel Canyon, Mount Olympus, Beachwood Canyon, and Nichols Canyon areas are fully developed with sprawling mansions of the wealthy Hollywood class.

So what is Hills allure all about and why do many people move into purchased homes or are considering renting a Hills mansion? Imagine a peaceful haven right in the center of Los Angeles, smack dab in the middle of downtown, ocean, and valley, amid sprawling lush green hills, and/or tucked away in the secluded foothills. How about renting a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, in stunning Tuscan architecture? And, of course, who doesn’t want the finer things in life that come with a Hollywood Hills address: being able to stroll down quiet, sunny streets, taking in the panoramic views and relaxing aura of tree-lined avenues? The pictures are as enticing as can be, and renting a Hollywood Hills mansion comes with the promise of living in the lap of luxury.

In addition to the exclusivity and privacy that leasing a mansion in the hills offers, it also gives you the opportunity to choose to live in the house of your dreams without having to build it. The basic style of the house in the Hollywood Hills are those that are Tudor-inspired, which are inspired by the 1500s architecture of the Tudor dynasty of England. Reconstructions and renovations over time have given way to a modern version of this traditional architecture, now known as the Tudor Revival.

In contrast, there are also homes in the Hollywood Hills that have Mediterranean-inspired architecture. Others are a fusion of Spanish and Mediterranean, broadly reflecting the bright hues of the surroundings. For those who want a more private home in the Hollywood Hills, there are homes that are built along the classic lines of the typical American bungalow. This style is structurally simple, in contrast to the ornate lines and curves found in Tudor and Mediterranean houses. The American bungalow style is a hit with families who seek functionality and utility over fanfare, and who are comfortable with classic lines and rooms that flow from one to the next, making efficient use of available space.