Jarad Higgins wasn't a guy who stayed in one place for very long once the money started hitting his bank account. Most fans know him as the face of the "SoundCloud rap" era, the kid from the Chicago suburbs who turned heartbreak into a billion streams. But if you're asking where did Juice WRLD live, the answer isn't just a single GPS coordinate. It’s a map of a career that went from zero to a hundred in less than two years. He moved fast. He lived fast. From the quiet streets of Calumet Park to the sprawling, high-security estates of Encino, his housing situation mirrored his meteoric rise in the music industry.
He was a homebody at heart. Despite the fame, he mostly wanted a place where he could record music, play video games, and hang out with his girlfriend, Ally Lotti.
The Early Days: 999 in Chicago and the Suburbs
Before the world knew him as Juice WRLD, he was just Jarad, a kid growing up in a strict, religious household. He was born in Chicago, but his family moved to Homewood, Illinois, pretty early on. This wasn't the "Chicago" you see in gritty crime documentaries; Homewood is a relatively quiet suburb south of the city.
He lived with his mother, Carmela Wallace. She’s been very open in interviews, including the Into the Abyss documentary, about how she tried to keep him away from the negative influences of the city. He attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School. If you wander through that area today, you’ll see the tracks and the parks that influenced his early lyrics. He wasn't living in a mansion back then. It was a standard suburban home, the kind where you have to keep the noise down so the neighbors don't complain about the bass coming from the basement.
He spent a lot of time in "The 808," which was basically his nickname for his creative space. Even when he started getting some local buzz, he was still anchored to the Midwest. Chicago remained his identity. You can hear it in his accent and the way he repped the "734" and "999."
Making the Jump to Los Angeles
Success changed everything. Once "Lucid Dreams" and "All Girls Are the Same" blew up in 2018, staying in Illinois wasn't practical anymore. The industry is in LA. The labels are in LA. The big studios are in LA.
So, Jarad headed West.
Initially, like many rising stars, he lived in various high-end rentals and Airbnb spots. He didn't just buy a house the second the first check cleared. He spent time in places like Beverly Hills and Hollywood Hills, but he eventually looked for something that felt more like a sanctuary and less like a tourist trap.
He settled into a massive rental estate in Encino. This is a big deal because Encino has become the "suburban" alternative for rappers who want space but don't want the chaos of the Bird Streets or West Hollywood. It’s where people like Drake and Tristan Thompson have owned property.
The Encino Estate: 4744 Louise Ave
If you want the specific answer to where did Juice WRLD live during his peak, this is the one. This house was a monster. We’re talking about a Mediterranean-style villa with roughly 9,500 square feet of living space. It wasn't just a house; it was a compound.
The property featured:
- A massive gated entrance (essential for privacy).
- A custom recording studio built right into the house.
- A high-end kitchen where his personal chefs would cook (he famously loved his junk food, but he had the best of the best).
- A pool and outdoor lounge area that appeared in countless Instagram Live sessions.
This house cost a fortune in rent—rumors put it at upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 a month. It was here that he recorded a massive chunk of his unreleased catalog. He was a workaholic. He didn't go to professional studios that often because he had everything he needed right there in Encino. He’d wake up, walk down the hall, and freestyle for five hours straight.
The Legend of the "Grail" House
There’s a lot of confusion about whether Juice WRLD actually owned a home or just rented. Most real estate records suggest he was a high-end renter for the majority of his career. Why? Because when you’re 20 years old and making $10 million a year, you don't always think about 30-year fixed mortgages. You think about where you want to live right now.
However, he was reportedly in the process of looking for more permanent roots before his passing in December 2019. He wanted a place that could house his massive collection of motorcycles and dirt bikes. He loved riding. He needed acreage.
He often stayed at the Marriott Marquis in New York or various hotels in London while on tour, but the LA house was "home base." It's where his dogs lived. It's where his cars—including that custom blue Bentley Continental GT—were parked.
Why Location Mattered to Jarad
You have to understand his mindset. Jarad struggled with anxiety. He didn't like being out in public where people would swarm him. His home had to be a fortress. When people ask where did Juice WRLD live, they’re often looking for a tourist spot to visit, but the reality is he chose locations specifically so he couldn't be found.
His lifestyle was centered around a very small circle. If you weren't "999," you weren't getting past the gate. This privacy allowed him to be vulnerable in his music. He felt safe there.
Misconceptions About the Chicago Apartment
There’s a common rumor that he kept a secret penthouse in downtown Chicago. While he definitely visited Chicago often and stayed in luxury hotels like the Soho House or the Langham, there isn't much evidence he maintained a permanent residence in the city proper after he moved to California. He was a suburban kid, and he seemed to prefer the sprawl of Encino over the density of the Loop.
What Happened to the Houses?
After his tragic passing at Midway Airport, his belongings were eventually moved out of the Encino rental. The house at 4744 Louise Ave was eventually put back on the market for rent and later sold. It remains a "holy grail" site for some fans who do "drive-bys" just to see the gates where their idol once lived.
His mother, Carmela, has focused her energy on the "Live Free 999" foundation. She hasn't turned his childhood home into a museum, out of respect for the current residents and the neighborhood's privacy. She’s been very vocal about keeping his legacy about the message and the music, rather than just the material things he owned.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you are looking to explore the legacy of where Juice WRLD lived, here is how to do it respectfully and accurately:
- Respect Private Property: The Encino house is a private residence. Do not trespass. The current owners have nothing to do with the music industry and deserve their privacy.
- Visit Homewood-Flossmoor: If you want to feel the "vibe" of his upbringing, the public areas around his high school in Illinois are where his journey started. You can see the suburban landscapes that inspired songs like "Autograph."
- Support the 999 Club: Instead of looking for physical locations, the official 999 Club often releases content and merchandise that features imagery from his homes and studios.
- Watch the Documentary: Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss (HBO) provides the most intimate look at the interior of his LA home. It shows the messy bedrooms, the studio setups, and the reality of his daily life. It's the best "tour" you'll ever get.
- Check Real Estate Archives: If you're a data nerd, sites like Zillow or Redfin for the Encino area (91316 zip code) show the architectural style he preferred—modernized Mediterranean with open floor plans.
Jarad’s life was short, but he lived in spaces that reflected his status as a generational talent. He went from a basement in Homewood to one of the most expensive neighborhoods in California in the blink of an eye. While the physical addresses might change owners, the music he created inside those walls is what actually lasts. That's the real home he built for his fans.