December 22, 2025 • 38 mins
It’s a Christmas episode of The Rent-ish Podcast 🎄🏠
In this holiday special of Real Estate Reel, we break down the iconic Home Alone house, aka the McCallister Mansion, and what it would really be worth in today’s real estate market.
We cover:
- Where the real Home Alone house is located
- The current value of the McCallister house
- What could it rent for today
- Whether the family could realistically afford it in 1990
- How movie fame impacts home values
Blending Christmas nostalgia, real estate insights, and pop culture, this episode is perfect for fans of holiday movies, iconic homes, and property value breakdowns. Article to read more on this: HERE
Learn More https://innago.com/podcast/
https://joincohorts.com/
Sponsors:
Innago is a free, online property management software designed for landlords, particularly those managing small to medium-sized portfolios. It offers a range of features to simplify tasks like rent collection, lease management, maintenance requests, and tenant screening.
Ledgre is an All-in-One Accounting Software Built for Rentals. Organize property transactions, track expenses, and automate rental accounting with simple software focused on your industry.
Cohorts where serious real estate leaders level up. Join a curated peer group of founders, principals, and GPs who meet monthly in small, high-value circles. No fluff—just real insights, real accountability, and direct access to people who’ve done it before.
Follow us on Instagram
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:35):
What's going on, everybody?
Welcome to season two of theRent-Ish Podcast.
I'm Zach here with my co-hostPatrick.
SPEAKER_04 (00:41):
We're two rookies chasing the dream of real estate
investing.
In this podcast, we'll talkabout property management, wild
stories, and everything inbetween.
We don't know it all yet.
SPEAKER_03 (00:49):
But that's the point.
We're learning as we go, justlike you.
We'll bring in the experts toeducate and inform us and we'll
figure it out together.
So let's laugh, learn, and diveinto real estate side by side.
Cue the jingle bell sound effectand snow sounds.
(01:10):
I'm just imagining all thedifferent sound effects outside
of like an old poet's house inthe middle, like Charles
Dickens, you know, in the middleof winter in uh wherever he
lived.
I'm sure in London.
Yeah.
Charles Dickens from London.
It's our holiday episode.
You're listening to thisgathered around the fire.
You got you got your family allaround the maybe the tree or the
(01:30):
dining room table, whateveryou're doing for the holidays,
and you're like, family, we'regonna gather around clothes and
listen to this week's episode ofthe Rentich Podcast.
Families all over the countrydoing it.
Well, yeah, so remember, followthe show at the Rentish Pod on
social media, questions at therentish pod dot com.
You can email us with yourquestions, ideas, topic
(01:52):
suggestions.
If you're out there and you're areal estate professional or
someone famous and you want tobe on the show, email them
questions at the rentishpod.com.
Only famous people.
Only famous people, email us.
No, no, no.
If you're a normal person, youcan email us too.
And also, if you're listening tothis on Apple, Spotify, wherever
you get your podcast, give us alike, give us a follow, give us
a subscribe, and leave us acomment.
Tell your friends about the showwhile you're hanging out at the
(02:14):
Yule Tide Ball this this holidayseason.
Let everyone know about theRentish Pod.
Patrick, are you having uh areyou having a good holiday
season?
SPEAKER_04 (02:22):
Yeah, I feel like I really haven't done much in the
way of festivities.
Watch Scrooged the other night.
I think that's really the BillMurray one?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's like the Christmas Carol.
Yeah, I think that's the onlylike holiday movie I've I've
watched this year.
Um, I hate Christmas music,honestly.
What?
Dude, like there's like what'syour problem with Christmas
music?
It's okay, when people say like,oh, that song's overplayed, you
(02:44):
know, it's always a Christmassong.
No, no, no, it just in general.
Like, for like, I don't know,let's bring up like don't stop
believing or something.
Like, oh, I don't like thatsong, it's overplayed.
If you're talking aboutoverplayed songs, jingle bell
rock, winter wonderland, likethe songs that you sure, you
know, especially having workedat JCPenney and also doing
Christmas in July, also, I'm I'mso What Christmas in July?
(03:07):
Yeah, it's like a JCPenney salething.
It's like a way for them to likeYeah.
Oh, I agree.
SPEAKER_03 (03:12):
But the Christmas music only happens once a year.
It's like for a few weeks aroundthe end of November, into
December, and then it's likegone for another year.
SPEAKER_04 (03:20):
If you're dating my girlfriend, like and right after
Halloween.
No, one of those.
SPEAKER_03 (03:26):
Yikes.
I love so here's the thing a lotof those Christmas the Christmas
songs that you you mentioned,Jingle Bell Rock, Rocking Around
the Christmas Tree, whatever,like Winter Wonderland, All I
Want for Christmas is you.
Those songs, yes, overplayed.
I love like classic CroonerChristmas.
Like one of my favorite albumsto put on in the holiday season
while I'm cooking dinner,decorating the tree, is like the
(03:48):
Frank Sinatra Christmas album orBing Crosby.
It's like I'm dreaming of whatall those songs.
It's like, those are awesome.
SPEAKER_04 (03:56):
Like I love the vibe that those put.
I like the the nutcracker.
Talk about old school, thenutcracker soundtrack.
Yeah.
Isn't it?
Yeah, it might be.
I was going dun do.
Oh, and then there's also we'rea couple A-grade musicians on
(04:20):
this podcast, man.
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
I'll tell you what.
But yeah, we're doing a holidayepisode, which means we get to
just have a little bit of fun.
Uh, we've we've done a lot ofgreat episodes recently.
Shout out to the producers ofthe Rentis show, Mousse, you
included, Charlene, Elliot, youguys listening and editing.
You guys have been doing a greatjob of getting our guests to.
So we've had a lot of greatepisodes recently uh where we've
interviewed some awesome peoplein real estate that have been
able to kind of educate andinform us.
(04:43):
You learned a new LP.
You learned LP what to tell thepeople Limited Partnership.
SPEAKER_04 (04:48):
Yeah.
As opposed to an uh an unlimitedpartnership.
SPEAKER_03 (04:53):
Yeah, we're we're really learning over here.
And I hope you guys are learningout there too.
Christmas movies.
Uh I haven't watched many yetthis year either, but I always
find up wound wind up watchinguh The Muppets Christmas Carol
and uh National Lampoon at somepoint.
SPEAKER_04 (05:08):
I'm I'm I'm itching to watch National Lampoon this
year.
SPEAKER_03 (05:11):
It'll happen.
Um what about you?
Well, so well I was gonna kindof use that into a transition,
but what what do you got overthere?
What do you what are you whatare you watching around the
Christmas time?
SPEAKER_00 (05:21):
It's just because there's something, there's a kid
in all of us, you know what Imean, that wants to rebel and
just wants to fight off andfight for your family, man.
And so that's why.
SPEAKER_03 (05:32):
Well, speaking of speaking, you brought up Home
Alone.
We are gonna talk about HomeAlone because uh, you know,
we're we're gonna do the prop,uh, what is it called?
Movie, movie real?
What is it?
SPEAKER_04 (05:41):
Real reality.
Real movies, real real estate.
Real estate real, right?
Real estate real.
What's it called?
R-E-E-L, right?
Real, real estate R-E-E-L.
But yeah, the first real isR-E-A-L.
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah.
Hence the pun.
Pretty funny.
Two versions of the word real.
One affords to movies, one tothe real estate.
SPEAKER_00 (06:00):
It's funny, Patrick.
SPEAKER_04 (06:01):
Actually, where is it?
SPEAKER_00 (06:03):
It's in the dock.
SPEAKER_04 (06:03):
It's like the first sentence.
SPEAKER_03 (06:04):
Welcome back to real estate real.
Whoops.
Yeah, we're gonna talk about theHome Alone House.
I did have a very spiritedargument with my friend one year
about if Home Alone is aChristmas movie or not.
SPEAKER_04 (06:16):
So that's when people because it is.
I think most people agree it is,but like my argument, because
when people say diehard isn't aChristmas movie, my argument is
if Home Alone is a Christmasmovie, then so is Die Hard.
SPEAKER_03 (06:26):
I agree with that.
SPEAKER_04 (06:27):
So um I agree with that.
So like, yeah, if if you'resaying Die Hard isn't, that's
fine.
Home Alone also isn't.
SPEAKER_00 (06:32):
Wait, why are why is Home Alone even being
questioned?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:35):
Because it's not about Christmas.
It's like every Christmas aChristmas movie to me is
something where it like directlyinvolves like the holidays.
The only thing uh or like somekind of message of the spirit of
the season or something likethat.
But it's so it's like elfChristmas movies, Santa's elves,
all that stuff, Christmas time.
Home alone, it just so happensthat that story happens around
(06:58):
Christmas.
The family leaves to go onvacation, he's home alone.
But it's not about Christmas,it's about him stopping the wet
bandits.
SPEAKER_00 (07:04):
I'm gonna drop this on y'all.
And if you respond, I'm meetingyour mics.
Um so look, every time Christmasmorning, uh Kevin ends up there,
it ends up being like aredeeming part of it, like where
they're all like together, he'sremembering the people, and I
feel like that's kind of showingthe Christmas spirit.
(07:24):
Diehard is just like it's duringChristmas time.
Yeah, but he gets it.
It's a Christmas movie, I think.
It is diehard is, yeah, but Ifeel like there shouldn't be any
question on Kevin McCastor.
Speaking on muting the podcastjust goes silent and the episode
ends.
unknown (07:40):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:41):
No, I agree with him.
I agree.
I mean, like, unless you're ifyou're saying like the a
Christmas movie directly has tobe like have Santa in it or
revolve around, I don't know,like the birth of Jesus Christ,
those are really the only thing.
Because otherwise, like if amovie takes place on Christmas,
has Christmas music in it, haslike Christmas aesthetic as a
major part of the movie, whichHome Alone does, and Die Hard
(08:03):
also does, and ChristmasVacation also does.
I think that counts, in myopinion.
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
Sure.
I think it's all semanticsbecause it's still Home Alone is
a movie that makes you think ofthe holidays.
Yeah.
And of the winter and all thatstuff.
As a kid, I was a bit a biggerfan of Home Alone 2, Lost in the
US.
SPEAKER_04 (08:18):
That's that's okay.
Really?
Because I I actually don't likethat movie.
Really?
Yeah, still to this day.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (08:25):
When was the last time you tried to watch it?
SPEAKER_04 (08:26):
I I rewatched, because I rewatched both of them
back to back.
I I do really like the firstone, but the second one, I just
for me, the funniest thing aboutthe first one is Harry and Marv,
like the wet bandits.
Yes.
And I just think they're twoover the tops, like in the
second.
Like I just the the funniness ofthem, like they're just too
stupid and not like actuallyfunny.
(08:47):
I don't know.
It's just it ruined it a littlebit for me.
SPEAKER_03 (08:49):
Man, I gotta I love the ordinarily I would hate
something like that.
Like you have this really simplestory in Home Alone One, and
then the second one is like,okay, well, what if the kids
lost in the biggest city in theUnited States?
And what if he has to defendthis giant apartment building
against the wet bandits?
Like that would be like ratchetit up in a way that I think
would be normally bad, but it'sso comically violent.
(09:12):
Kevin McAllister brutalizesthose men.
He electrocutes Mars.
SPEAKER_04 (09:21):
Okay, I will give you that.
SPEAKER_03 (09:22):
That's so funny.
It's it's also the one where heuh he's like throwing bricks,
right?
On the top of the building.
Yeah, it pops him in the head.
I'm like, those men are dead.
They are dead.
SPEAKER_00 (09:32):
What's he blew up his head or like he put fire on
his head?
Oh, yeah.
He blew, yeah, he straight up.
SPEAKER_03 (09:37):
Catches him on fire.
The yeah, he gets like tarredand feathered too, or something
like that.
I think the first one, though.
Is that the first one?
Okay.
Well, either way.
SPEAKER_00 (09:45):
Onto real estate real.
SPEAKER_03 (09:46):
Yeah, real estate real.
Everyone's having fun.
Again, the family's all gatheredaround.
They're having a good time.
SPEAKER_04 (09:52):
An annual part of your Christmas season.
It's the Rentish part.
Make the Rentish part of yourholiday season.
SPEAKER_03 (09:57):
I remember it's like that's on the podcast art.
Yeah.
All right.
Real estate real.
We're gonna explore iconichomes, hotels, apartments, and
hideouts from film and TV, breakdown their real-world value,
quirks, and cultural impact.
And today we're heading to oneof the most beloved Christmas
movie homes of all time, theMcAllister House from Home
Alone, a sprawling, warm-litChicago mansion where Kevin
outsmarts burglars with paintcans, micro machines, and enough
(10:18):
traps to qualify for amechanical engineering degree.
It's cozy, classic, surprisinglyluxurious, and it's become the
holiday movie house.
So, Patrick, we've talked a lotabout Home Alone.
Yeah.
Obviously, the house is prettyiconic for what it is now.
I mean, what what are yourthoughts right off the bat?
What do you got for me?
On the house itself.
SPEAKER_04 (10:38):
The house itself.
Oh, okay.
It's big.
It's big.
I think if my memory serves mecorrectly, it's made out of
bricks.
SPEAKER_03 (10:44):
Yeah, it's got that like classic old world
aesthetic.
SPEAKER_04 (10:47):
Yeah.
I just in terms of the interior,I remember there's like the
staircase that goes right up.
Right down the side of the yeah,with the front door there
because he slides down it.
SPEAKER_03 (10:56):
Yep.
It always just struck me howlike big it was as a kid.
Like watching that, I was like,oh man, it's like it's like a
mansion, and they have all thesekids and they're living in it.
There's all these differentrooms, and Kevin's got his like
secret upstairs, like like hisbedroom.
I always thought was like thecoolest thing.
SPEAKER_04 (11:11):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:11):
The little like hideaway bedroom that he has.
Very cool.
But the real home is located at671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka,
Illinois.
So I don't know if I'mpronouncing that correctly.
Winnetka.
Looks how it's pretty cool.
Looks like it, but uh, yeah,it's just as gorgeous in person.
Filming used the actual interiorand exterior for many scenes
(11:32):
with a gymnasium nearbyconverted into a sound stage for
more complex shots.
Okay.
Uh Winnetka is con consistentlyranked among the wealthiest
suburbs in the US.
No shock there.
Yeah, that checks out.
Uh because that house would costwell, we'll get into the costs.
Okay.
We'll we'll talk about that.
Many homes in the neighborhoodwere built in the early 1900s
with that kind of classic brickfacade and spacious layout.
(11:53):
Uh, and I've got some fun factsfor you, Pat.
You ready?
Okay.
Yeah.
The home alone house last soldfor 1.5 million in 2012.
But today it's estimated between2.5 and 3.5 million.
SPEAKER_04 (12:05):
Wow.
Okay.
See, that's I honestly like thetwo to three million range is
kind of what I expected.
Sure.
SPEAKER_03 (12:11):
Um, but yeah, a lot of money.
Lots of money, lots of money.
Um, and we're gonna talk aboutthe the what I want you to do
while I'm reading the next funfacts.
Google what the McAllister houselooks like now.
(12:45):
Because I feel like this is animportant thing for us to talk
about.
McAllister because I think it'sgonna it's gonna more fun facts.
Oh, wait, so you want me to sayanything yet?
Don't nope.
Be quiet.
Oh, I'm just kidding.
Uh just yeah, find the if youcan go to like Google, you can
find it.
Okay, cool.
So hold on.
Winnetka's median home value isaround 1.2 million, and the
(13:06):
McAllister house is well aboveaverage.
And after the film's release,the home became a tourist
hotspot, so much so that thevillage had to install no
stopping signs next to thehouse.
SPEAKER_04 (13:15):
Yeah, I can see that being annoying for like the
neighbors and stuff.
SPEAKER_03 (13:19):
This is a problem that I think is so funny in
Hollywood, where it's like, orjust any like any TV production
or movie production that uses asingular location, like a like a
residential location, though,and makes it a big deal.
Like the uh the the White Housecomes to mind from from Breaking
Bad.
People go to that house likeit's a like a pilgrimage in
(13:40):
Albuquerque, New Mexico to seeWalter White's house.
And like they had to they had toput up like gates around the
entire house because people kepttrying to throw like pizzas on
the roof, trying to replicatethe scene in Breaking Bad.
But it's like, yeah, of course,you have this big beautiful
house in this wealthy suburb inChicago.
It's like people probably thatare huge home alone fans drove
to see the house, and it's likethat's a disruption for the
(14:02):
neighbors and stuff like that.
It's just it's just really funnythat that keeps happening until
the painted ladies in SanFrancisco for uh uh full house,
like that the houses in the infull house or whatever.
You can go to those in SanFrancisco and people just like
congregate there in front ofthese houses that are owned by
people and that make it hard tolike back out of their
(14:22):
driveways.
But um what'd you find?
Well, tell me what you found onyour on your Google searching.
SPEAKER_04 (14:27):
So it looks like they redid it, and it's like
looks like it's kind of like adisgusting like white now, like
what just like white and blackinterior, like very like a kind
of characterless hypermodern.
Yep.
I don't know if that's yeah, I Ithink it's a downgrade
personally, but um yeah, is thatwhat you wanted me?
SPEAKER_03 (14:43):
That was what I was gonna say.
Is like I encourage people to goout there and check out like
what they did to the McAllisterhouse because yeah, what you
know, hey, everyone's style istheir own to each their own per
personal taste and stuff likethat.
Patrick, I think you and I havetalked on this show about being
kind of like not necessarilylined in, like I call it the
millennial gray.
Yeah like that aesthetic is kindof what they've turned the
(15:04):
McAllister house into.
SPEAKER_04 (15:05):
Yeah, that's a that's probably a good word.
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a fan ofthe style personally.
Sure.
I also the fact that it's it'snot just like a big, nice, it's
like the McAllister house.
Like I feel like there's a sortof history to that house and the
interior of the house.
Yep.
Like that just like that's likeextra what's what's the word?
What word am I looking for,Zach?
SPEAKER_03 (15:25):
I can't tell you, man.
SPEAKER_04 (15:26):
Whatever.
The the the five the they know.
SPEAKER_03 (15:29):
Well, it's like moving away from what made the
house historically important.
Like I think it just changes thevisual style in a way where it's
like it loses the character.
SPEAKER_04 (15:36):
Yeah.
Yeah, I guess that's you know,but I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (15:38):
That's just my personal opinion out there.
Go Google what the McAllisterHouse looks like now, and if you
have an opinion on it, I wouldwe'd love to hear.
If you want to email questionsat the rentishpod.com, we'd love
to hear what you have to sayabout that.
But so yeah, in the story, or orthe film rather, the house is
portrayed as the largetraditional colonial style home.
It's got the big grand foyer andthe it's foyer, right?
Isn't that how you pronounce it?
(15:59):
Foyer.
I've I've heard foyer, and I'vealso heard foyer.
Foyer.
I feel like foyer might be metrying to be like Ross Geller
with karate.
Karate.
But I'm not I don't know.
SPEAKER_04 (16:10):
I think it's either or.
SPEAKER_03 (16:11):
Either or?
You can use either or.
SPEAKER_04 (16:13):
It's telling me foyer.
Really?
SPEAKER_03 (16:15):
F-O-F-O-Y-U-R.
Foyer.
Yeah.
Okay.
But yeah, it's got a big formaldining room, a large eat-in
kitchen, the finished attic,which is Kevin's exile room.
I like exile room.
I think that's funny.
A spacious basement, multiplebedroom and baths, a large
fenced backyard, and a classicbrick facade with symmetrical
windows and shutters.
Uh, it looks warm, lived in, andimportantly, big enough to lose
(16:38):
a child.
Yeah.
So that's the main plot.
I mean, we gotta talk about theplot of Home Alone.
Can it happen in 2025?
Patrick.
SPEAKER_04 (16:46):
I think the way they did it with how it happened,
like the one neighbor kid wasthere and they counted him and
thought that he was him.
Like, I think that was actuallya very clever way to kickstart
the plot.
And if they're in a rush too,they might not notice.
SPEAKER_03 (16:58):
Waking up late, the power outage.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It it is ultimately though, Ithink like this kind of thing
just would not happen this thesedays.
Like, yeah.
I just don't think so.
It's like if you practicallyhave your kids like microchipped
at this point, it's like doesn'tevery kid have an air tag now?
I feel like that's like a commonthing to like have like a
(17:19):
tracking device or somethinglike that to like, especially
for youngsters.
Yeah.
But they are in their own home.
I would just be curious if theyever tried to reboot Home Alone,
which they will.
100%.
They will.
It'll happen.
They're gonna do it.
They're just gonna rebooteverything.
But when they do eventually tryand make a remake of this movie,
how they kind of frame it in amodern capacity.
Or do they do a uh like a periodpiece and like set it in the
(17:40):
90s?
Why would they do that?
SPEAKER_04 (17:42):
Because money, yeah.
Duh.
SPEAKER_03 (17:46):
Like it's a 90s throwback movie.
It's like, yeah, you alreadymade it.
It's called Home Alone.
We love that movie.
Okay, so real life stats for thehouse: 5,400 square foot of
living space, six bedrooms,three and a half baths, set on
half an acre, which is large forthe area.
So not only did they pick areally nice house, but they also
picked probably an outlier forthe neighborhood.
(18:09):
Probably not a lot of placesthat have that much property
exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (18:13):
I mean, I don't remember there being like a ton,
a ton of like the yard not beingsuper big.
SPEAKER_03 (18:17):
They have a big well, it's like a big front yard
for like a residentialneighborhood house.
And then yeah, they'll they showshots of the backyard too, I
think, right?
SPEAKER_04 (18:24):
I know I he cuts down the Christmas or the a pine
tree in the backyard, right?
That's kind of all I rememberfrom.
SPEAKER_03 (18:29):
I think so.
Yep.
So cost to rent.
If it were a luxury rental,let's just do some hypotheticals
here.
A home this size in prestige inWinetka could fetch$12,000 to
$18,000 per month as a long-termrental.
That's a bill.
That's quite the bill.
Uh, and then as a short-termrental, we were looking at
probably like$1,200 to$2,000 pernight as a short-term rental.
(18:52):
Of course, this would notactually be a real thing.
Like if they were gonna rent outthe home alone house as an
Airbnb, they would probably beable to charge way more than
$2,000 a night.
SPEAKER_04 (19:02):
Yeah, that's kind of what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_03 (19:03):
Opinion, just opinion.
SPEAKER_04 (19:04):
But I mean, it's also one of those things, like,
I don't think these numbers are.
I mean, are these numberscounting the fact that it's the
home alone house and peoplewould pay extra for that?
I think so.
SPEAKER_03 (19:14):
I think you're paying for the prestige of it
being like, I'm getting to stayin Kevin's house.
SPEAKER_04 (19:18):
Yeah, right, right.
Because to me, that's so comps.
It's like when you look atcomps, which is like properties
of similar size, similar.
I I would be curious, is thislike kind of like the general
comp or is this taking intoaccount?
SPEAKER_03 (19:30):
I don't know.
We'd have to look up the rest ofthe neighborhood probably to
kind of see who the vibe wouldbe.
But uh something I I wasthinking about too is that like
if this were a short-termrental, if people were allowing,
like you get to you could pay tostay in the home alone house,
how strict do you think therules and guidelines are because
of how many people would want tolike throw paint cans down the
stairs or something?
Like tie paint cans to theceiling and try and swing them
(19:52):
down the big staircase orwhatever.
They're like, under nocircumstances are you to reenact
the scenes from home alone inthis house, please, dear God.
So the cost to buy.
We talked about it a little bitearlier, but the estimated value
right now, if it went up forsales, anywhere between two and
a half mil to three and a halfmil.
It kind of just depends on themarket conditions.
And high-end renovations couldpush it further.
(20:13):
I am curious now that they'vecompletely changed what the
McAllister house looks like onthe inside, the next time it
goes for sale.
I I will have to keep tabs onthis stat just to see where it
where it ends up.
Cost to maintain.
This is a this is a funny onetoo.
Because you don't you thinkabout like the cost of owning
the house or renting the house,but then you don't think of like
it's a big home, it's an oldhome.
Yeah, and that comes with morecosts as well.
(20:34):
So property taxes in Winnettaoften$30,000 per year or more.
That's insane.
That's disgusting.
That is a crazy number.
Heating a 5,000 square footChicago home in the winter, very
costly as well.
We don't have a number on thatone.
SPEAKER_04 (20:49):
Just very costly.
SPEAKER_03 (20:50):
It just says very costly.
SPEAKER_04 (20:52):
I mean, I I haven't met that number yet.
SPEAKER_03 (21:00):
It's a bajillion dollars.
Uh pretty, doing some research.
Insurance premiums also higherdue to the age of the of the
house, the size of the house,and maintenance on the on the
home on historic homes like thatcan be of like one to three
percent of the home valueannually.
Yeah.
Real estate fun facts.
In 1990s dollars, this house wasstill likely one million
(21:20):
dollars, making the McAllistervery wealthy by pretty much any
standard.
Which is funny.
I mean, like you have that manykids in that big of a house.
What what did the parents do forwork?
SPEAKER_04 (21:31):
I don't know that we ever I don't think we ever told
that.
SPEAKER_03 (21:34):
Yeah.
I don't think we are.
I wonder if anyone ever askedlike John Hughes that question.
Like, what did these parents dofor a living?
How are they able to afford sucha house?
I don't remember them eversaying what they did for work.
SPEAKER_00 (21:46):
Anyway, I found it it could be roughly 300 to 600
per month in the winter.
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (21:53):
That seems low.
Yeah.
My heating bill is like 150bucks, and I'm it's I live in
Cincinnati, Ohio, heating like aone two-bedroom house.
I bet you it's way more.
Yeah.
But that's just a thought.
SPEAKER_04 (22:04):
And also, Kevin's dad was a businessman.
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
That's my career.
My name is Mr.
McAllister.
SPEAKER_04 (22:15):
I'm a bit and his mom is like a fashion designer.
SPEAKER_03 (22:22):
Fashion designer.
Interesting.
I don't really remember thembringing that up, but maybe I'll
have to rewatch and pick closerto the case.
It's on Wiki.
On Wiki.
The film never explicitlydescribes Peter McAllister's
jobs, but fans have theoriesranging from crime syndicate
money to very successfulbusiness exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (22:42):
Where did you find that?
SPEAKER_03 (22:44):
The next line on the script.
SPEAKER_04 (22:47):
So the businessman thing is just a ploy.
SPEAKER_03 (22:49):
Yeah, it might be involved in the mock.
But yeah, could the McAllistersactually afford it?
It's not a middle-class home.
It's upper class suburbanChicago wealth.
You know, the job stuff, thenumber of kids, international
Christmas vacation apply.
But it's like high corporateincome, old family money, maybe
a combination of both.
That seems to be like the onlyway that this family of this
(23:11):
size could afford doing this.
And they're taking the wholefamily to Hawaii, right?
Where are they going?
Florida?
Paris.
Paris.
That's right.
Parrots.
Did that hold did that add anextra special place in your
heart when you're a kid?
SPEAKER_04 (23:24):
Paris isn't really an integral part of that.
I do know.
Uh, because there's one of, Ithink his brother Buzz says,
like, French girls don't shavetheir pits or something.
Yeah.
And I remember like one of myfriends like asking when I was
like younger, dude, is thattrue?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (23:43):
Uh but yeah, so in today's market, to comfortably
afford a$3 million home inWinneka, a buyer would typically
need a household income of$550kplus,$600k down payment, and
excellent credit.
So if you don't check thoseboxes, you might not be able to
afford the McAllister house.
Um what else?
(24:04):
What else?
What else?
Some more fun facts, I guess,and we can kind of wind this bad
boy down.
Fans estimate that theMcAllister's Paris vacation, 12
people, Christmas season alone,would be 40k.
SPEAKER_04 (24:19):
Yeah.
Flying to Paris, not cheap.
It's expensive, yeah.
I'm trying to get my flightsituated for 2026.
Yeah, it's not cheap.
SPEAKER_03 (24:28):
Not looking good.
Doesn't Cincinnati offer adirect character flight now,
yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:31):
And we we found we actually found one for a
specific week in March.
It's like$600 a ticket, which isnot bad, honestly.
It's still expensive, but like,yeah, I mean, it's been pretty
much a thousand dollars.
Cool.
SPEAKER_03 (24:44):
So the McAllister House isn't just a filming
location, it's a character inits own right.
From its warm colonialarchitecture to its grandfamily
layout, it's the perfectcinematic setting for childhood
adventure, Christmas chaos, anda surprisingly elaborate home
security showdown.
Uh in the world of real estate,it represents classic suburban
luxury, high-value Chicago areaproperty, and a home elevated to
legendary status by film.
(25:06):
So uh, like the Overlook Hotel,Jerry's apartment or the White
Lotus Villas, the McAllisterHouse invites us to imagine what
it would feel like to livethere, just hopefully without
burglars, flying paint cans, ortar-covered staircases.
Anything else to say about HomeAlone?
Any other hot takes that we needto air out?
Right into questions at theRentige Pod with your favorite
Home Alone, or if you like HomeAlone in general, or if there's
(25:28):
a property that you want to hearus cover on Real Estate Real,
feel free to send it over thereand make sure to follow us on
socials at The Rentich Pod.
Like us, subscribe, give us acomment.
If you're on a podcast servicethat allows you to rate it or
review it, please do so.
It would help the show outimmensely if you would do that.
And tell a friend while you'rehanging out this holiday season
or toasting to the new year,maybe let them know the rentich
(25:51):
is the place they need to be forthe holidays.
Yeah, trying to make it nice andsweet.
Like can you add a producers adda crackling fire over all of
what I've just a real wetcrackling fire.
Sounded like dripping.
Uh yeah, it's been it's been agood time.
(26:12):
It's been a fun episode,Patrick.
Are you are you effectively inthe holiday spirit?
Uh yeah.
Okay, well I got Zach.
He's been Patrick.
That's Musa, and we'll see youguys next time.
The Rentage Podcast is recordedin Cincinnati, Ohio, hosted by
(26:32):
Patrick Giro and me, ZachRotello.
Produced by Mousse Gebermescaland Charlene Mulcindani.
Edited by Elliot Mongenis.
Theme song by me, Zach Rotello.
What's going on, everybody?
Welcome to season two of theRent-Ish Podcast.
I'm Zach here with my co-hostPatrick.
SPEAKER_04 (00:41):
We're two rookies chasing the dream of real estate
investing.
In this podcast, we'll talkabout property management, wild
stories, and everything inbetween.
We don't know it all yet.
SPEAKER_03 (00:49):
But that's the point.
We're learning as we go, justlike you.
We'll bring in the experts toeducate and inform us and we'll
figure it out together.
So let's laugh, learn, and diveinto real estate side by side.
Cue the jingle bell sound effectand snow sounds.
(01:10):
I'm just imagining all thedifferent sound effects outside
of like an old poet's house inthe middle, like Charles
Dickens, you know, in the middleof winter in uh wherever he
lived.
I'm sure in London.
Yeah.
Charles Dickens from London.
It's our holiday episode.
You're listening to thisgathered around the fire.
You got you got your family allaround the maybe the tree or the
(01:30):
dining room table, whateveryou're doing for the holidays,
and you're like, family, we'regonna gather around clothes and
listen to this week's episode ofthe Rentich Podcast.
Families all over the countrydoing it.
Well, yeah, so remember, followthe show at the Rentish Pod on
social media, questions at therentish pod dot com.
You can email us with yourquestions, ideas, topic
(01:52):
suggestions.
If you're out there and you're areal estate professional or
someone famous and you want tobe on the show, email them
questions at the rentishpod.com.
Only famous people.
Only famous people, email us.
No, no, no.
If you're a normal person, youcan email us too.
And also, if you're listening tothis on Apple, Spotify, wherever
you get your podcast, give us alike, give us a follow, give us
a subscribe, and leave us acomment.
Tell your friends about the showwhile you're hanging out at the
(02:14):
Yule Tide Ball this this holidayseason.
Let everyone know about theRentish Pod.
Patrick, are you having uh areyou having a good holiday
season?
SPEAKER_04 (02:22):
Yeah, I feel like I really haven't done much in the
way of festivities.
Watch Scrooged the other night.
I think that's really the BillMurray one?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's like the Christmas Carol.
Yeah, I think that's the onlylike holiday movie I've I've
watched this year.
Um, I hate Christmas music,honestly.
What?
Dude, like there's like what'syour problem with Christmas
music?
It's okay, when people say like,oh, that song's overplayed, you
(02:44):
know, it's always a Christmassong.
No, no, no, it just in general.
Like, for like, I don't know,let's bring up like don't stop
believing or something.
Like, oh, I don't like thatsong, it's overplayed.
If you're talking aboutoverplayed songs, jingle bell
rock, winter wonderland, likethe songs that you sure, you
know, especially having workedat JCPenney and also doing
Christmas in July, also, I'm I'mso What Christmas in July?
(03:07):
Yeah, it's like a JCPenney salething.
It's like a way for them to likeYeah.
Oh, I agree.
SPEAKER_03 (03:12):
But the Christmas music only happens once a year.
It's like for a few weeks aroundthe end of November, into
December, and then it's likegone for another year.
SPEAKER_04 (03:20):
If you're dating my girlfriend, like and right after
Halloween.
No, one of those.
SPEAKER_03 (03:26):
Yikes.
I love so here's the thing a lotof those Christmas the Christmas
songs that you you mentioned,Jingle Bell Rock, Rocking Around
the Christmas Tree, whatever,like Winter Wonderland, All I
Want for Christmas is you.
Those songs, yes, overplayed.
I love like classic CroonerChristmas.
Like one of my favorite albumsto put on in the holiday season
while I'm cooking dinner,decorating the tree, is like the
(03:48):
Frank Sinatra Christmas album orBing Crosby.
It's like I'm dreaming of whatall those songs.
It's like, those are awesome.
SPEAKER_04 (03:56):
Like I love the vibe that those put.
I like the the nutcracker.
Talk about old school, thenutcracker soundtrack.
Yeah.
Isn't it?
Yeah, it might be.
I was going dun do.
Oh, and then there's also we'rea couple A-grade musicians on
(04:20):
this podcast, man.
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
I'll tell you what.
But yeah, we're doing a holidayepisode, which means we get to
just have a little bit of fun.
Uh, we've we've done a lot ofgreat episodes recently.
Shout out to the producers ofthe Rentis show, Mousse, you
included, Charlene, Elliot, youguys listening and editing.
You guys have been doing a greatjob of getting our guests to.
So we've had a lot of greatepisodes recently uh where we've
interviewed some awesome peoplein real estate that have been
able to kind of educate andinform us.
(04:43):
You learned a new LP.
You learned LP what to tell thepeople Limited Partnership.
SPEAKER_04 (04:48):
Yeah.
As opposed to an uh an unlimitedpartnership.
SPEAKER_03 (04:53):
Yeah, we're we're really learning over here.
And I hope you guys are learningout there too.
Christmas movies.
Uh I haven't watched many yetthis year either, but I always
find up wound wind up watchinguh The Muppets Christmas Carol
and uh National Lampoon at somepoint.
SPEAKER_04 (05:08):
I'm I'm I'm itching to watch National Lampoon this
year.
SPEAKER_03 (05:11):
It'll happen.
Um what about you?
Well, so well I was gonna kindof use that into a transition,
but what what do you got overthere?
What do you what are you whatare you watching around the
Christmas time?
SPEAKER_00 (05:21):
It's just because there's something, there's a kid
in all of us, you know what Imean, that wants to rebel and
just wants to fight off andfight for your family, man.
And so that's why.
SPEAKER_03 (05:32):
Well, speaking of speaking, you brought up Home
Alone.
We are gonna talk about HomeAlone because uh, you know,
we're we're gonna do the prop,uh, what is it called?
Movie, movie real?
What is it?
SPEAKER_04 (05:41):
Real reality.
Real movies, real real estate.
Real estate real, right?
Real estate real.
What's it called?
R-E-E-L, right?
Real, real estate R-E-E-L.
But yeah, the first real isR-E-A-L.
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah.
Hence the pun.
Pretty funny.
Two versions of the word real.
One affords to movies, one tothe real estate.
SPEAKER_00 (06:00):
It's funny, Patrick.
SPEAKER_04 (06:01):
Actually, where is it?
SPEAKER_00 (06:03):
It's in the dock.
SPEAKER_04 (06:03):
It's like the first sentence.
SPEAKER_03 (06:04):
Welcome back to real estate real.
Whoops.
Yeah, we're gonna talk about theHome Alone House.
I did have a very spiritedargument with my friend one year
about if Home Alone is aChristmas movie or not.
SPEAKER_04 (06:16):
So that's when people because it is.
I think most people agree it is,but like my argument, because
when people say diehard isn't aChristmas movie, my argument is
if Home Alone is a Christmasmovie, then so is Die Hard.
SPEAKER_03 (06:26):
I agree with that.
SPEAKER_04 (06:27):
So um I agree with that.
So like, yeah, if if you'resaying Die Hard isn't, that's
fine.
Home Alone also isn't.
SPEAKER_00 (06:32):
Wait, why are why is Home Alone even being
questioned?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:35):
Because it's not about Christmas.
It's like every Christmas aChristmas movie to me is
something where it like directlyinvolves like the holidays.
The only thing uh or like somekind of message of the spirit of
the season or something likethat.
But it's so it's like elfChristmas movies, Santa's elves,
all that stuff, Christmas time.
Home alone, it just so happensthat that story happens around
(06:58):
Christmas.
The family leaves to go onvacation, he's home alone.
But it's not about Christmas,it's about him stopping the wet
bandits.
SPEAKER_00 (07:04):
I'm gonna drop this on y'all.
And if you respond, I'm meetingyour mics.
Um so look, every time Christmasmorning, uh Kevin ends up there,
it ends up being like aredeeming part of it, like where
they're all like together, he'sremembering the people, and I
feel like that's kind of showingthe Christmas spirit.
(07:24):
Diehard is just like it's duringChristmas time.
Yeah, but he gets it.
It's a Christmas movie, I think.
It is diehard is, yeah, but Ifeel like there shouldn't be any
question on Kevin McCastor.
Speaking on muting the podcastjust goes silent and the episode
ends.
unknown (07:40):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:41):
No, I agree with him.
I agree.
I mean, like, unless you're ifyou're saying like the a
Christmas movie directly has tobe like have Santa in it or
revolve around, I don't know,like the birth of Jesus Christ,
those are really the only thing.
Because otherwise, like if amovie takes place on Christmas,
has Christmas music in it, haslike Christmas aesthetic as a
major part of the movie, whichHome Alone does, and Die Hard
(08:03):
also does, and ChristmasVacation also does.
I think that counts, in myopinion.
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
Sure.
I think it's all semanticsbecause it's still Home Alone is
a movie that makes you think ofthe holidays.
Yeah.
And of the winter and all thatstuff.
As a kid, I was a bit a biggerfan of Home Alone 2, Lost in the
US.
SPEAKER_04 (08:18):
That's that's okay.
Really?
Because I I actually don't likethat movie.
Really?
Yeah, still to this day.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (08:25):
When was the last time you tried to watch it?
SPEAKER_04 (08:26):
I I rewatched, because I rewatched both of them
back to back.
I I do really like the firstone, but the second one, I just
for me, the funniest thing aboutthe first one is Harry and Marv,
like the wet bandits.
Yes.
And I just think they're twoover the tops, like in the
second.
Like I just the the funniness ofthem, like they're just too
stupid and not like actuallyfunny.
(08:47):
I don't know.
It's just it ruined it a littlebit for me.
SPEAKER_03 (08:49):
Man, I gotta I love the ordinarily I would hate
something like that.
Like you have this really simplestory in Home Alone One, and
then the second one is like,okay, well, what if the kids
lost in the biggest city in theUnited States?
And what if he has to defendthis giant apartment building
against the wet bandits?
Like that would be like ratchetit up in a way that I think
would be normally bad, but it'sso comically violent.
(09:12):
Kevin McAllister brutalizesthose men.
He electrocutes Mars.
SPEAKER_04 (09:21):
Okay, I will give you that.
SPEAKER_03 (09:22):
That's so funny.
It's it's also the one where heuh he's like throwing bricks,
right?
On the top of the building.
Yeah, it pops him in the head.
I'm like, those men are dead.
They are dead.
SPEAKER_00 (09:32):
What's he blew up his head or like he put fire on
his head?
Oh, yeah.
He blew, yeah, he straight up.
SPEAKER_03 (09:37):
Catches him on fire.
The yeah, he gets like tarredand feathered too, or something
like that.
I think the first one, though.
Is that the first one?
Okay.
Well, either way.
SPEAKER_00 (09:45):
Onto real estate real.
SPEAKER_03 (09:46):
Yeah, real estate real.
Everyone's having fun.
Again, the family's all gatheredaround.
They're having a good time.
SPEAKER_04 (09:52):
An annual part of your Christmas season.
It's the Rentish part.
Make the Rentish part of yourholiday season.
SPEAKER_03 (09:57):
I remember it's like that's on the podcast art.
Yeah.
All right.
Real estate real.
We're gonna explore iconichomes, hotels, apartments, and
hideouts from film and TV, breakdown their real-world value,
quirks, and cultural impact.
And today we're heading to oneof the most beloved Christmas
movie homes of all time, theMcAllister House from Home
Alone, a sprawling, warm-litChicago mansion where Kevin
outsmarts burglars with paintcans, micro machines, and enough
(10:18):
traps to qualify for amechanical engineering degree.
It's cozy, classic, surprisinglyluxurious, and it's become the
holiday movie house.
So, Patrick, we've talked a lotabout Home Alone.
Yeah.
Obviously, the house is prettyiconic for what it is now.
I mean, what what are yourthoughts right off the bat?
What do you got for me?
On the house itself.
SPEAKER_04 (10:38):
The house itself.
Oh, okay.
It's big.
It's big.
I think if my memory serves mecorrectly, it's made out of
bricks.
SPEAKER_03 (10:44):
Yeah, it's got that like classic old world
aesthetic.
SPEAKER_04 (10:47):
Yeah.
I just in terms of the interior,I remember there's like the
staircase that goes right up.
Right down the side of the yeah,with the front door there
because he slides down it.
SPEAKER_03 (10:56):
Yep.
It always just struck me howlike big it was as a kid.
Like watching that, I was like,oh man, it's like it's like a
mansion, and they have all thesekids and they're living in it.
There's all these differentrooms, and Kevin's got his like
secret upstairs, like like hisbedroom.
I always thought was like thecoolest thing.
SPEAKER_04 (11:11):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:11):
The little like hideaway bedroom that he has.
Very cool.
But the real home is located at671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka,
Illinois.
So I don't know if I'mpronouncing that correctly.
Winnetka.
Looks how it's pretty cool.
Looks like it, but uh, yeah,it's just as gorgeous in person.
Filming used the actual interiorand exterior for many scenes
(11:32):
with a gymnasium nearbyconverted into a sound stage for
more complex shots.
Okay.
Uh Winnetka is con consistentlyranked among the wealthiest
suburbs in the US.
No shock there.
Yeah, that checks out.
Uh because that house would costwell, we'll get into the costs.
Okay.
We'll we'll talk about that.
Many homes in the neighborhoodwere built in the early 1900s
with that kind of classic brickfacade and spacious layout.
(11:53):
Uh, and I've got some fun factsfor you, Pat.
You ready?
Okay.
Yeah.
The home alone house last soldfor 1.5 million in 2012.
But today it's estimated between2.5 and 3.5 million.
SPEAKER_04 (12:05):
Wow.
Okay.
See, that's I honestly like thetwo to three million range is
kind of what I expected.
Sure.
SPEAKER_03 (12:11):
Um, but yeah, a lot of money.
Lots of money, lots of money.
Um, and we're gonna talk aboutthe the what I want you to do
while I'm reading the next funfacts.
Google what the McAllister houselooks like now.
(12:45):
Because I feel like this is animportant thing for us to talk
about.
McAllister because I think it'sgonna it's gonna more fun facts.
Oh, wait, so you want me to sayanything yet?
Don't nope.
Be quiet.
Oh, I'm just kidding.
Uh just yeah, find the if youcan go to like Google, you can
find it.
Okay, cool.
So hold on.
Winnetka's median home value isaround 1.2 million, and the
(13:06):
McAllister house is well aboveaverage.
And after the film's release,the home became a tourist
hotspot, so much so that thevillage had to install no
stopping signs next to thehouse.
SPEAKER_04 (13:15):
Yeah, I can see that being annoying for like the
neighbors and stuff.
SPEAKER_03 (13:19):
This is a problem that I think is so funny in
Hollywood, where it's like, orjust any like any TV production
or movie production that uses asingular location, like a like a
residential location, though,and makes it a big deal.
Like the uh the the White Housecomes to mind from from Breaking
Bad.
People go to that house likeit's a like a pilgrimage in
(13:40):
Albuquerque, New Mexico to seeWalter White's house.
And like they had to they had toput up like gates around the
entire house because people kepttrying to throw like pizzas on
the roof, trying to replicatethe scene in Breaking Bad.
But it's like, yeah, of course,you have this big beautiful
house in this wealthy suburb inChicago.
It's like people probably thatare huge home alone fans drove
to see the house, and it's likethat's a disruption for the
(14:02):
neighbors and stuff like that.
It's just it's just really funnythat that keeps happening until
the painted ladies in SanFrancisco for uh uh full house,
like that the houses in the infull house or whatever.
You can go to those in SanFrancisco and people just like
congregate there in front ofthese houses that are owned by
people and that make it hard tolike back out of their
(14:22):
driveways.
But um what'd you find?
Well, tell me what you found onyour on your Google searching.
SPEAKER_04 (14:27):
So it looks like they redid it, and it's like
looks like it's kind of like adisgusting like white now, like
what just like white and blackinterior, like very like a kind
of characterless hypermodern.
Yep.
I don't know if that's yeah, I Ithink it's a downgrade
personally, but um yeah, is thatwhat you wanted me?
SPEAKER_03 (14:43):
That was what I was gonna say.
Is like I encourage people to goout there and check out like
what they did to the McAllisterhouse because yeah, what you
know, hey, everyone's style istheir own to each their own per
personal taste and stuff likethat.
Patrick, I think you and I havetalked on this show about being
kind of like not necessarilylined in, like I call it the
millennial gray.
Yeah like that aesthetic is kindof what they've turned the
(15:04):
McAllister house into.
SPEAKER_04 (15:05):
Yeah, that's a that's probably a good word.
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a fan ofthe style personally.
Sure.
I also the fact that it's it'snot just like a big, nice, it's
like the McAllister house.
Like I feel like there's a sortof history to that house and the
interior of the house.
Yep.
Like that just like that's likeextra what's what's the word?
What word am I looking for,Zach?
SPEAKER_03 (15:25):
I can't tell you, man.
SPEAKER_04 (15:26):
Whatever.
The the the five the they know.
SPEAKER_03 (15:29):
Well, it's like moving away from what made the
house historically important.
Like I think it just changes thevisual style in a way where it's
like it loses the character.
SPEAKER_04 (15:36):
Yeah.
Yeah, I guess that's you know,but I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (15:38):
That's just my personal opinion out there.
Go Google what the McAllisterHouse looks like now, and if you
have an opinion on it, I wouldwe'd love to hear.
If you want to email questionsat the rentishpod.com, we'd love
to hear what you have to sayabout that.
But so yeah, in the story, or orthe film rather, the house is
portrayed as the largetraditional colonial style home.
It's got the big grand foyer andthe it's foyer, right?
Isn't that how you pronounce it?
(15:59):
Foyer.
I've I've heard foyer, and I'vealso heard foyer.
Foyer.
I feel like foyer might be metrying to be like Ross Geller
with karate.
Karate.
But I'm not I don't know.
SPEAKER_04 (16:10):
I think it's either or.
SPEAKER_03 (16:11):
Either or?
You can use either or.
SPEAKER_04 (16:13):
It's telling me foyer.
Really?
SPEAKER_03 (16:15):
F-O-F-O-Y-U-R.
Foyer.
Yeah.
Okay.
But yeah, it's got a big formaldining room, a large eat-in
kitchen, the finished attic,which is Kevin's exile room.
I like exile room.
I think that's funny.
A spacious basement, multiplebedroom and baths, a large
fenced backyard, and a classicbrick facade with symmetrical
windows and shutters.
Uh, it looks warm, lived in, andimportantly, big enough to lose
(16:38):
a child.
Yeah.
So that's the main plot.
I mean, we gotta talk about theplot of Home Alone.
Can it happen in 2025?
Patrick.
SPEAKER_04 (16:46):
I think the way they did it with how it happened,
like the one neighbor kid wasthere and they counted him and
thought that he was him.
Like, I think that was actuallya very clever way to kickstart
the plot.
And if they're in a rush too,they might not notice.
SPEAKER_03 (16:58):
Waking up late, the power outage.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It it is ultimately though, Ithink like this kind of thing
just would not happen this thesedays.
Like, yeah.
I just don't think so.
It's like if you practicallyhave your kids like microchipped
at this point, it's like doesn'tevery kid have an air tag now?
I feel like that's like a commonthing to like have like a
(17:19):
tracking device or somethinglike that to like, especially
for youngsters.
Yeah.
But they are in their own home.
I would just be curious if theyever tried to reboot Home Alone,
which they will.
100%.
They will.
It'll happen.
They're gonna do it.
They're just gonna rebooteverything.
But when they do eventually tryand make a remake of this movie,
how they kind of frame it in amodern capacity.
Or do they do a uh like a periodpiece and like set it in the
(17:40):
90s?
Why would they do that?
SPEAKER_04 (17:42):
Because money, yeah.
Duh.
SPEAKER_03 (17:46):
Like it's a 90s throwback movie.
It's like, yeah, you alreadymade it.
It's called Home Alone.
We love that movie.
Okay, so real life stats for thehouse: 5,400 square foot of
living space, six bedrooms,three and a half baths, set on
half an acre, which is large forthe area.
So not only did they pick areally nice house, but they also
picked probably an outlier forthe neighborhood.
(18:09):
Probably not a lot of placesthat have that much property
exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (18:13):
I mean, I don't remember there being like a ton,
a ton of like the yard not beingsuper big.
SPEAKER_03 (18:17):
They have a big well, it's like a big front yard
for like a residentialneighborhood house.
And then yeah, they'll they showshots of the backyard too, I
think, right?
SPEAKER_04 (18:24):
I know I he cuts down the Christmas or the a pine
tree in the backyard, right?
That's kind of all I rememberfrom.
SPEAKER_03 (18:29):
I think so.
Yep.
So cost to rent.
If it were a luxury rental,let's just do some hypotheticals
here.
A home this size in prestige inWinetka could fetch$12,000 to
$18,000 per month as a long-termrental.
That's a bill.
That's quite the bill.
Uh, and then as a short-termrental, we were looking at
probably like$1,200 to$2,000 pernight as a short-term rental.
(18:52):
Of course, this would notactually be a real thing.
Like if they were gonna rent outthe home alone house as an
Airbnb, they would probably beable to charge way more than
$2,000 a night.
SPEAKER_04 (19:02):
Yeah, that's kind of what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_03 (19:03):
Opinion, just opinion.
SPEAKER_04 (19:04):
But I mean, it's also one of those things, like,
I don't think these numbers are.
I mean, are these numberscounting the fact that it's the
home alone house and peoplewould pay extra for that?
I think so.
SPEAKER_03 (19:14):
I think you're paying for the prestige of it
being like, I'm getting to stayin Kevin's house.
SPEAKER_04 (19:18):
Yeah, right, right.
Because to me, that's so comps.
It's like when you look atcomps, which is like properties
of similar size, similar.
I I would be curious, is thislike kind of like the general
comp or is this taking intoaccount?
SPEAKER_03 (19:30):
I don't know.
We'd have to look up the rest ofthe neighborhood probably to
kind of see who the vibe wouldbe.
But uh something I I wasthinking about too is that like
if this were a short-termrental, if people were allowing,
like you get to you could pay tostay in the home alone house,
how strict do you think therules and guidelines are because
of how many people would want tolike throw paint cans down the
stairs or something?
Like tie paint cans to theceiling and try and swing them
(19:52):
down the big staircase orwhatever.
They're like, under nocircumstances are you to reenact
the scenes from home alone inthis house, please, dear God.
So the cost to buy.
We talked about it a little bitearlier, but the estimated value
right now, if it went up forsales, anywhere between two and
a half mil to three and a halfmil.
It kind of just depends on themarket conditions.
And high-end renovations couldpush it further.
(20:13):
I am curious now that they'vecompletely changed what the
McAllister house looks like onthe inside, the next time it
goes for sale.
I I will have to keep tabs onthis stat just to see where it
where it ends up.
Cost to maintain.
This is a this is a funny onetoo.
Because you don't you thinkabout like the cost of owning
the house or renting the house,but then you don't think of like
it's a big home, it's an oldhome.
Yeah, and that comes with morecosts as well.
(20:34):
So property taxes in Winnettaoften$30,000 per year or more.
That's insane.
That's disgusting.
That is a crazy number.
Heating a 5,000 square footChicago home in the winter, very
costly as well.
We don't have a number on thatone.
SPEAKER_04 (20:49):
Just very costly.
SPEAKER_03 (20:50):
It just says very costly.
SPEAKER_04 (20:52):
I mean, I I haven't met that number yet.
SPEAKER_03 (21:00):
It's a bajillion dollars.
Uh pretty, doing some research.
Insurance premiums also higherdue to the age of the of the
house, the size of the house,and maintenance on the on the
home on historic homes like thatcan be of like one to three
percent of the home valueannually.
Yeah.
Real estate fun facts.
In 1990s dollars, this house wasstill likely one million
(21:20):
dollars, making the McAllistervery wealthy by pretty much any
standard.
Which is funny.
I mean, like you have that manykids in that big of a house.
What what did the parents do forwork?
SPEAKER_04 (21:31):
I don't know that we ever I don't think we ever told
that.
SPEAKER_03 (21:34):
Yeah.
I don't think we are.
I wonder if anyone ever askedlike John Hughes that question.
Like, what did these parents dofor a living?
How are they able to afford sucha house?
I don't remember them eversaying what they did for work.
SPEAKER_00 (21:46):
Anyway, I found it it could be roughly 300 to 600
per month in the winter.
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (21:53):
That seems low.
Yeah.
My heating bill is like 150bucks, and I'm it's I live in
Cincinnati, Ohio, heating like aone two-bedroom house.
I bet you it's way more.
Yeah.
But that's just a thought.
SPEAKER_04 (22:04):
And also, Kevin's dad was a businessman.
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
That's my career.
My name is Mr.
McAllister.
SPEAKER_04 (22:15):
I'm a bit and his mom is like a fashion designer.
SPEAKER_03 (22:22):
Fashion designer.
Interesting.
I don't really remember thembringing that up, but maybe I'll
have to rewatch and pick closerto the case.
It's on Wiki.
On Wiki.
The film never explicitlydescribes Peter McAllister's
jobs, but fans have theoriesranging from crime syndicate
money to very successfulbusiness exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (22:42):
Where did you find that?
SPEAKER_03 (22:44):
The next line on the script.
SPEAKER_04 (22:47):
So the businessman thing is just a ploy.
SPEAKER_03 (22:49):
Yeah, it might be involved in the mock.
But yeah, could the McAllistersactually afford it?
It's not a middle-class home.
It's upper class suburbanChicago wealth.
You know, the job stuff, thenumber of kids, international
Christmas vacation apply.
But it's like high corporateincome, old family money, maybe
a combination of both.
That seems to be like the onlyway that this family of this
(23:11):
size could afford doing this.
And they're taking the wholefamily to Hawaii, right?
Where are they going?
Florida?
Paris.
Paris.
That's right.
Parrots.
Did that hold did that add anextra special place in your
heart when you're a kid?
SPEAKER_04 (23:24):
Paris isn't really an integral part of that.
I do know.
Uh, because there's one of, Ithink his brother Buzz says,
like, French girls don't shavetheir pits or something.
Yeah.
And I remember like one of myfriends like asking when I was
like younger, dude, is thattrue?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (23:43):
Uh but yeah, so in today's market, to comfortably
afford a$3 million home inWinneka, a buyer would typically
need a household income of$550kplus,$600k down payment, and
excellent credit.
So if you don't check thoseboxes, you might not be able to
afford the McAllister house.
Um what else?
(24:04):
What else?
What else?
Some more fun facts, I guess,and we can kind of wind this bad
boy down.
Fans estimate that theMcAllister's Paris vacation, 12
people, Christmas season alone,would be 40k.
SPEAKER_04 (24:19):
Yeah.
Flying to Paris, not cheap.
It's expensive, yeah.
I'm trying to get my flightsituated for 2026.
Yeah, it's not cheap.
SPEAKER_03 (24:28):
Not looking good.
Doesn't Cincinnati offer adirect character flight now,
yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:31):
And we we found we actually found one for a
specific week in March.
It's like$600 a ticket, which isnot bad, honestly.
It's still expensive, but like,yeah, I mean, it's been pretty
much a thousand dollars.
Cool.
SPEAKER_03 (24:44):
So the McAllister House isn't just a filming
location, it's a character inits own right.
From its warm colonialarchitecture to its grandfamily
layout, it's the perfectcinematic setting for childhood
adventure, Christmas chaos, anda surprisingly elaborate home
security showdown.
Uh in the world of real estate,it represents classic suburban
luxury, high-value Chicago areaproperty, and a home elevated to
legendary status by film.
(25:06):
So uh, like the Overlook Hotel,Jerry's apartment or the White
Lotus Villas, the McAllisterHouse invites us to imagine what
it would feel like to livethere, just hopefully without
burglars, flying paint cans, ortar-covered staircases.
Anything else to say about HomeAlone?
Any other hot takes that we needto air out?
Right into questions at theRentige Pod with your favorite
Home Alone, or if you like HomeAlone in general, or if there's
(25:28):
a property that you want to hearus cover on Real Estate Real,
feel free to send it over thereand make sure to follow us on
socials at The Rentich Pod.
Like us, subscribe, give us acomment.
If you're on a podcast servicethat allows you to rate it or
review it, please do so.
It would help the show outimmensely if you would do that.
And tell a friend while you'rehanging out this holiday season
or toasting to the new year,maybe let them know the rentich
(25:51):
is the place they need to be forthe holidays.
Yeah, trying to make it nice andsweet.
Like can you add a producers adda crackling fire over all of
what I've just a real wetcrackling fire.
Sounded like dripping.
Uh yeah, it's been it's been agood time.
(26:12):
It's been a fun episode,Patrick.
Are you are you effectively inthe holiday spirit?
Uh yeah.
Okay, well I got Zach.
He's been Patrick.
That's Musa, and we'll see youguys next time.
The Rentage Podcast is recordedin Cincinnati, Ohio, hosted by
(26:32):
Patrick Giro and me, ZachRotello.
Produced by Mousse Gebermescaland Charlene Mulcindani.
Edited by Elliot Mongenis.
Theme song by me, Zach Rotello.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.