Buying a pop culture icon has its price, and in this case it’s $5.5 million.
The sale of the suburban house in Winnetka, Illinois, that was the center of the 1990 Christmas classic “Home Alone” closed Wednesday for 5% above the original asking price of $5.25 million, according to Homes.com.
The house, listed in May, received multiple offers days after listing, buyer agent Lori Nieman of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate said in a text message.
“When this extraordinary property became available for the first time in 12 years, we navigated a competitive market with multiple offers and developed the perfect strategy to make their dream a reality,” Nieman said in a statement.
The 1921-built mansion looks nearly identical to its on-screen debut, with its Gregorian architecture featuring a red brick exterior, white windows, black shutters and matching gabled dormer windows. The main difference is the gate at the end of the driveway that keeps visiting movie fans sporting the classic Kevin McCallister scream face at bay, especially during the holidays.
The sellers, Tim and Trisha Johnson, purchased the property for $1.58 million in 2012. The Johnsons embraced the home’s notoriety with one-night-only stays through Airbnb in 2021 and maintaining its recognizable exterior even through a remodel and expansion. They even opted to delay the closing to spend a final Christmas in the home, agent Annika Valdiserri of @properties, the listing agent for “Home Alone” character Old Man Marley’s home next door, previously told Homes.com.
“They loved living in the home for the 12 years that they did,” said Nieman.
The house wasn’t as hot of a commodity 13 years ago. The Johnsons purchased it — from the homeowners who owned it during filming — 10 months after it was listed and for significantly less than the $2.4 million asking price.
The Johnsons remodeled and expanded the home in 2018. Although most of the movie was filmed on a set, the homeowners maintained the architectural detail of the home’s recognizable spaces, such as the foyer, staircase, living and dining rooms, according to the listing. Beyond those areas, the interior received a major overhaul.
A new home theater and indoor sports court were added during the remodel, in addition to renovating and expanding the kitchen. Other upgrades included a screened-in porch, two laundry rooms, a family room and converting the attic into a junior primary suite. It took the home up to 9,126 square feet.
Homes in Winnetka sell on average within 15 days at a median price of $1.84 million, according to Homes.com data. The North Shore suburb of Chicago is highly recognized for its schools, proximity to Lake Michigan, safety and affluent population.
"Nestled along Lake Michigan’s North Shore, Winnetka is a truly special community offering a perfect blend of small-town charm and modern amenities,” said selling agent Katie Moor of Coldwell Banker Realty in the statement. “It's a wonderful place to call home, and I'm excited for the new chapter that awaits them here."
Old Man Marley’s house is set to hit the public market at the end of January. The property at 681 Lincoln Ave., designed by architect Benjamin Marshall, will list for $3.8 million.