This time of year, we all like to sit down with our hot chocolate and warm blankets and watch endless holiday movies…some movies on repeat every year. But in the real estate world, we love learning how much the homes in these movies are worth. They’re always decorated beautifully and the residents have to be worth a lot to live there, right? Let’s take a look at a few of them.
It’s A Major Award
What has two stories, ancient appliances, a “fragile” major award in the window, and was recently listed for sale at 3159 W 11th St. in Cleveland, Ohio? If you’re a fan of A Christmas Story, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
This holiday-themed property includes a gift shop and a museum with original costumes, props, and behind-the-scenes photos. In addition to the original home, gift shop, and museum, the entire 1.3 acres also includes 3 other buildings and 7 total parcels.
How much is this top attraction in Cleveland selling for? Well, the listing price isn’t published due to an agreement with Warner Bros., but the owner purchased the home in 2004 for $150,000 and then ultimately purchased neighboring properties. After renovating the home and creating it into the popular destination it is today, competitive offers are expected to reach the “frageelay” major award mark of $10 million.
He Made His Family Disappear
If the quote, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal” is familiar to you, then you know what sits at 671 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, Illinois. The 6-bedroom, 6-bath home north of Chicago was featured in the 1990 movie, “Home Alone.” This home isn’t for sale, but it does have an estimated value of nearly $2.2 million.
A few of the interior scenes were filmed in the actual house, but many of them were shot at New Trier Township High School, an abandoned school in town, using a two-story set inside the gym that the filmmakers built.
Neighbors on the street love this time of year as traffic picks up with folks stopping to take photos of the home. In 2021, Airbnb offered a one-night stay for four guests in the home with Kevin’s big brother, Buzz as the host. Unfortunately, the booking period is now closed, so simply driving by will have to do.
Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag
Walter Hobbs is a successful man working for a book publisher, so his New York City apartment is affordable for him and his family, including his son, Buddy the Elf. The apartment, which overlooks Central Park, sits at 55 Central Park West and is worth nearly $4 million.
Although you see plenty of New York scenes, most of the interior shots were filmed at an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.
She Wants a New Dad, a New House, and a Baby Brother
At 771 Washington Rd. in Lake Forest, Illinois, you’ll find the dream home of Susan Walker, the little girl who wanted this yellow house for Christmas in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street. This home in the 1947 original movie was empty, but in the remake, it was furnished and beautifully decorated.
Although it appears to no longer be painted yellow, the home includes 5 bedrooms, 8 baths, and over 5900 square feet and is estimated to be worth nearly $2.7 million.
You Are Now In Bedford Falls
The “drafty old house” in It’s a Wonderful Life wasn’t a real home, but if it was, it would be worth about $850,000 today. The movie home for George and Mary Bailey was set in the fictitious town of Bedford Falls, but in reality, it was a huge set that was built on the RKO ranch in Encino, California, which was razed in the mid-50s.
The inspiration for Bedford Falls was Seneca Falls, a small town in New York, where they have an annual “It’s a Wonderful Life” festival every December.
You Serious Clark?
Set in Chicago in the movie, the Griswold home is actually on “Blondie Street” in a back lot of the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank. Because this home is the property of Warner Bros., it has been featured in other movies besides National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Although on a set, a home similar to this one in a like neighborhood would sell in the $300,000s or $400,000s, depending on the location.
Since National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the main level has been changed a number of times to fit the next movie shoot. Upstairs, you’ll find some recognizable areas, such as the landing which still features the same banister, but hopefully, they fixed that pull-down attic stair issue.
For all of the latest information on our local real estate market in Southwestern Indiana, you can always trust the professionals at F.C. Tucker Emge. Our agents have superior training and resources at their disposal to better educate you about the road to homeownership. Even if you are 6-12 months (or more!) out from making a change, there is a lot to learn about the home buying and selling process, and our agents can help you learn what you need to know so that you can be confident in your decision and have a smooth experience when the time comes. Let’s Talk!
