Armen Realty Inc. (Since 1963)

12/31/2025

12/23/2025

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

12/23/2025

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 ESV

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)." Matthew 1:23 ESV

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 ESV

11/27/2025

Rejoice Always!

1 Thessalonians 5:16

11/27/2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).

11/25/2025

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 NIV

10/13/2025

02/02/2024

Armen Realty Inc.
1963-2025
Celebrating our 62th Anniversary In Hollywood!!!

02/28/2023

Armen Realty Inc.
1963-2025
Celebrating our 62th Anniversary In Hollywood!!!

11/01/2022

Zare D. Makasjian
(September 2, 1931-October 12, 2022)

A 65 Year Legacy in Hollywood!

Our father, Zare Makasjian, was born in Alexandria, Egypt on September 02, 1931, to loving parents David & Elize Makasjian surrounded by siblings, Alice, Edward, & Leon. He attended his primary, elementary education at the Mekhitarist Fathers Armenian School in Alexandria. From a young age, father was a bright, hard-working, and conscientious student. While attending school, his father fell ill. As a result, at the tender age of 11, he felt the responsibility of taking time out from his studies to help manage his father’s shoemaking business. He continued his education at Lycée Francaise where he acquired a love for geography, history, and was fluent in many languages. Upon graduation and with a degree in business, he began working at a British insurance company where he was loved by his colleagues.

Exactly 65 years ago in 1957, he was forced to leave the beautiful Mediterranean city of Alexandria due to the revolution with only $50 in his pocket, coming to Los Angeles as a student. Zare faced great difficulty working a dollar an hour graveyard shift and supporting his ailing brother Leon. He worked day & night working on B-52 aircraft wing parts saving every single dollar. His co-workers and foreman were amazed at his perseverance as he came to work even with high fevers or any ailment he may have had on a given day, without taking a break. Sadly, Zare tragically lost his beloved brother Leon, a virtuoso violinist at age 21 in 1958 which left him heartbroken.

Later that year, he overheard his co-workers talking about real estate, not knowing what it meant. Zare then found a newspaper clipping of a small very old income property for sale in Hollywood near Vine. He made an offer (not even reading the contract) hardly knowing what he was getting involved in. In 1959, by saving every single dollar and borrowing a few thousand dollars with great difficulty, Zare (at age 27), purchased his first income property in Hollywood. This pivotal move got him involved in real estate! In 1960 as he got his real estate license, he was esteemed by his earliest clients of all nationalities, colleagues, and co-workers.

In 1963, Zare founded Armen Realty (naming it in anticipation of a future son he would have) in Hollywood. He was of great service to the growing Hollywood community as well as the newly emigrating Armenians from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He repeatedly advised all his clients & friends to buy real estate without hesitation, never sell and in many instances, he even gifted his commissions to help with their down payments!

A few years later in 1969 at age 37, Zare was one of the main founding fathers of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Hollywood which later became the Saint Garabed Church. At this time, he was one of the chief visionaries and founders of the Armenian Day School of Hollywood (later known as Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School) which started with zero capital in a small apartment unit on Gramercy in Hollywood before moving on Alexandria. During these critical and formative years, alongside his wife Maro, Zare worked tirelessly giving time, energy, personal funds surpassing obstacles ranging from chauffeuring the children in his station wagon, clearing clogged sinks/toilets, paying teacher salaries when no funds existed, and keeping the church candle stands behind his station wagon for weekly service. It was his firm belief from 1963 that Hollywood needed an Armenian school & Church side by side and even a college one day. Hence Zare was the catalyst, directly responsible for nearly every real estate parcel purchase (approximately 12 parcels) the entire Pilibos school & St. Garabed Church rest on today on Alexandria, Mariposa & Kenmore. In fact, Zare gifted every single dollar of his commissions making these purchases possible! He further used his incredible skill and ability to be able to put these twelve separate parcels together (even when sellers refused to sell) making the birth, growth, and expansion of the school & Church possible to what it is today.

Zare never wanted name, recognition, or applause. Until his last few days, he reiterated that only our Lord can make this all possible and nothing ever can be done without His involvement and Grace!

Until recently, Zare has given advice to his fellow clients who have remained dear friends after decades and has always been a firm believer in Hollywood & real estate reiterating; "there is only one Hollywood” and "never sell."

Most importantly, Zare has been a God-fearing individual always praising, trusting, and thanking God for all his successes, blessings, in all life circumstances. He has always told all his clients, friends, family that without our Lord you can do nothing, and all credit should be given to Him, always!

Next to God, his family was his entire world; it was his priority. He was a beloved husband, devoted father, and loving grandfather, who enjoyed planning & organizing trips with his wife Maro and their three children, Linda, Armen, and Leon. With great anticipation, he gathered the family on his favourite road trips to his beloved Yosemite & Lake Tahoe for decades. With great excitement he encouraged his relatives and friends to do so as well. He took great joy in sharing his beautiful experiences with others after travelling to different places around the world and in surprising his children and grandchildren with family cruises.

We always knew our father as kind, very humble, generous, full of positive energy, caring and supportive. He always gave sound advice as well as guidance to family, friends and even strangers. He always embraced our Lord, life and loved adventure. Nature, swimming, hiking, boating, & fishing were his favourite past-times; he also had an innate love of the sea.

This past year proved critical with all his falls and major injuries. Despite his ongoing pain, father was a fighter, kept positive, always praising and thanking God in all circumstances until the very end. He always reiterated the importance of having good communication with our Lord at all times. During his final months, he arranged to book a family Thanksgiving cruise vacation with his children and grandchildren (Talar, Sevag & Mariana) in November looking forward in spending time with his loved ones once again.

Unfortunately, that final wish was not fulfilled. He sadly departed from us on October 12, 2022, from his home surrounded by his loved ones and was reunited
with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

An incredible legacy!