Most people know Alison Sweeney from two decades as the scheming Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives, or from her years hosting The Biggest Loser. But away from the cameras, she built something quieter and arguably more interesting — a home life that eventually pulled her away from California entirely. Her Hollywood Hills property tells one story. Her Scottsdale rose garden tells another.
The Hollywood Hills Home: Where It All Started
Alison and her husband David Sanov purchased their Hollywood Hills West home in early 2006 for $1,795,000. The original property was a Mediterranean-style house built in 1974, measuring 2,933 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
That was just the starting point.
The 2009 Renovation That Transformed the Property
Three years after moving in, Alison and David decided the house needed to grow with their family. In 2009 they completed a major remodeling project that added two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a theatre room, a new swimming pool and spa, fire pit, outdoor bar and BBQ with outdoor television and sound system — bringing the total square footage up to 4,125.
That’s a significant jump. What started as a mid-sized family home became a genuinely impressive estate, purpose-built for both everyday living and entertaining.
The property sits at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac in the prestigious Outpost Estates neighborhood, offering panoramic views of the city and canyon. The home features high ceilings, walnut hardwood floors, and a design focused on maximizing natural light.
What’s Inside the House
The interior is where Alison’s personality really comes through. Her favorite room was the family room, which features a drop-down movie screen and a wall full of built-in bookshelves displaying family photos, special mementos, and Soap Opera Digest awards from her years on Days of Our Lives.
She was candid about what that room meant to her. In a 2017 video tour with the Los Angeles Times, she said: “I love, like, a book shelf that just has family photos and memories on it. I like to read in here in the morning, by myself.”
That’s not the language of someone performing domesticity for a magazine. It sounds like someone who actually used the space the way it was designed.
Other interior highlights include a well-appointed home bar area, a sophisticated office with city views, and a formal dining room with large windows overlooking the gardens. The primary suite features a canopied bed, plush seating, and a vaulted ceiling with private balcony access.
The Wine Cellar and Outdoor Spaces
The backyard is arguably the crown jewel of the property. The manicured backyard features an infinity pool, a 2,000-bottle humidity and temperature-controlled wine cellar, fire pit, built-in BBQ and bar.
For a family with two active kids and a busy career, that outdoor setup makes sense. It’s designed for long evenings with guests, not just formal entertaining.
The home also includes various fruit trees and a private pool and spa, and grants private access to Runyon Canyon — one of the most popular hiking spots in Los Angeles. That last detail is a real perk. Runyon Canyon draws thousands of Angelenos every weekend, but most of them have to park on crowded streets and hike in. Alison could just walk out the back.
Location: Why Hollywood Hills West Made Sense
Outpost Estates and What the Neighborhood Offers
Situated in the prestigious Outpost Estates section of Hollywood Hills, the property offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city, canyon, and surrounding landscape from its private location.
Hollywood Hills West is a specific pocket of Los Angeles that sits between the entertainment industry hub and quieter residential streets. Located between the Cahuenga Pass within the Santa Monica Mountains, the area sits near the Hollywood Bowl and Griffith Park. For someone working constantly in the industry, the location cuts commute time while keeping the family in a neighborhood that feels removed from the noise below.
Why Celebrities Choose This Area
Real estate in Hollywood Hills West doesn’t stay affordable for long, and for good reason. The combination of privacy, views, and proximity to major studios makes it one of the most practical luxury neighborhoods in the city — not just the most glamorous. For Alison, who was filming Days of Our Lives at NBC Studios in Burbank and various Hallmark productions during this period, living in the Hills kept her close to work without sacrificing the kind of space her family needed.
The Rental Listing: A Peek Inside the Home in 2024
Why Alison Listed the House for $30,000/Month
In May 2024, Alison Sweeney listed her Hollywood Hills home for rent at $30,000 per month through Coldwell Banker Realty. The nearly 4,000-square-foot home, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, offered stunning pool views overlooking the city.
The timing made sense. Sweeney and her husband David Sanov had already moved to Arizona after his retirement from the California Highway Patrol, where he had served for 27 years. Rather than sell outright, renting kept their options open while letting someone else enjoy the property they’d spent years building.
What the Rental Listing Revealed
The Coldwell Banker listing gave the public the clearest look yet at the property’s full scope. The primary suite includes a spa-inspired bathroom and a private deck, along with an adjoining office with custom built-ins, a stately fireplace, and panoramic views.
At $30,000 per month, the property positioned itself squarely in the market for short-term corporate or entertainment industry rentals — the kind of tenant who needs a fully-equipped, move-in-ready home in a secure, private setting. Given the wine cellar, the infinity pool, and the Runyon Canyon access, it’s not hard to see the appeal.
Alison Sweeney’s New Home in Scottsdale, Arizona
The Move That Surprised Fans
When Alison announced the family was leaving California, people paid attention. She’d spent her entire life in Los Angeles — born there, raised there, built her career there. The move to Scottsdale wasn’t a grudging retreat. It was something she and David had been thinking about for a while.
She explained that her husband’s retirement from the California Highway Patrol created the right opening: “We wanted to take the opportunity to live somewhere else. Because most of my movies are filmed outside of California, it was the perfect opportunity to move.”
That’s a practical framing, but there’s clearly something emotional underneath it too. Alison has spoken openly about wanting her kids to experience life outside the Hollywood bubble.
What She Loves About Scottsdale
The most unexpected detail about Alison’s Arizona chapter is the rose garden. She told Better Homes & Gardens in April 2024 that the rose garden left by the previous owner had become her favorite thing about the whole house: “I pour a cup of coffee in the morning and walk around the garden, trim the roses, and take a few to put in a vase inside the house.”
That’s a long way from Hollywood Hills. And by all accounts, she’s genuinely glad about it.
She told Fox News Digital: “I am thrilled with my life. I love how normal it is.”
The whole family has embraced it. David and their son Ben are into mountain biking and dune buggies, while Alison has found great hiking and a whole new restaurant scene to explore.
How the New Life Fits Her Values
Alison has spoken at length about health and wellness — it was core to her work on The Biggest Loser and continues to shape how she lives. The Scottsdale lifestyle, with its outdoor access, quieter pace, and lower density, fits that philosophy. She’s talked about listening to what your body needs, eating well, and staying active. A rose garden and morning coffee walks are pretty good evidence that she’s practicing what she preaches.
She said: “Staying active is very important. But I do think nutrition is number one for your health, and eating well.”
Design Details and What the Hollywood Hills Home Says About Her Style
The Aesthetic Choices She Made
The Hollywood Hills home wasn’t designed by committee. Alison has been involved with every version of it, from the original purchase to the 2009 renovation to how it was staged for the rental listing. The aesthetic that emerged — warm walnut floors, built-in shelving, a grand piano in the dining room, the wine cellar with exposed brick — points to someone who values function but doesn’t want interiors to feel sterile.
The home blends contemporary and traditional design in a way that enhances both privacy and the surrounding landscape, with high ceilings and a focus on natural light and views.
The family room is the best example of this. The Soap Opera Digest awards on the bookshelf sit next to family photos — work and life integrated rather than separated. That’s deliberate.
The Outdoor-Indoor Balance
California homes at this price point almost always blur the line between interior and exterior, and Alison’s is no exception. The fire pit, the infinity pool, the outdoor kitchen, and the Runyon Canyon access work together to make outdoor living as comfortable as being inside. Given the Los Angeles climate, that makes obvious sense. But it also signals how the family actually spent their time — not sealed inside a trophy home, but using the whole property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Alison Sweeney live now? Alison Sweeney and her husband David Sanov now live in Scottsdale, Arizona. They relocated from California after David retired from the California Highway Patrol following 27 years of service.
What happened to Alison Sweeney’s Hollywood Hills house? After moving to Arizona, Alison listed her Hollywood Hills West home for rent at $30,000 per month in May 2024. The property had been the family’s primary residence since 2006.
How much did Alison Sweeney’s house cost? She and her husband purchased the Hollywood Hills West property in January 2006 for $1,795,000. After a major renovation in 2009 that expanded the home to over 4,000 square feet, the property’s value increased substantially.
What are the features of Alison Sweeney’s Hollywood Hills home? The home features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, an infinity pool, a 2,000-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar, a theatre room, home bar, fire pit, built-in outdoor BBQ, and private access to Runyon Canyon. The primary suite includes a spa bathroom, private deck, and custom office.
Why did Alison Sweeney leave California? She’s said the move was prompted by her husband’s retirement and a desire for the family to experience life outside California for the first time. She’s described her Arizona life as refreshingly “normal” and has no plans to return to Hollywood Hills.
Does Alison Sweeney still work in entertainment after moving? Yes. Since most of her Hallmark films are shot outside California anyway, the move had little impact on her career. She continues to appear in Hallmark’s Hannah Swensen Mystery series and other projects.
What is Alison Sweeney’s Scottsdale home like? While fewer details have been made public, she’s described a rose garden left by the previous owner as her favorite feature — one she tends to each morning. The property suits an active outdoor lifestyle that fits both her and her family’s interests.
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