ABC has been talking about reviving their TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Friday) brand with some new shows: Tim Allen's Last Man Standing and Malibu Country, a new series starring Reba McIntyre. We immediately thought of TGIF's glory days of the past. Where are they now? Where are Uncle Jesse and Steve Urkel?
But, we're a real estate company, so instead of discussing the shows from an entertainment perspective, we figured people would respect our opinion more if we talked about the programming from a real estate perspective. So we picked three properties from the shows and ran some numbers to see if the TV families would be able to afford their homes in today's markets, based on the houses used for the show settings.
Full House
Is there a show that's more associated with the '90s than Full House? Set in San Francisco, the series followed the Tanner family after Danny Tanner's wife was killed in a car accident. In need of help, Danny recruited his brother-in-law and best friend to help raise three girls.
What about the house? There's some debate about there the real Full House was located. Most of the Internet argues the Tanner's abode is at 1709 Broderick Street. In the series' opening credits a house that resembles the Broderick home can be seen for about half a second. (The house appears around the 1:18 mark). It's a 2,484 square foot single-family home that was built in 1900. According to public records, the house is two stories with three bedrooms and three baths.
We estimated the TGIF landmark would go onto the market for $1,738,000, based on a comparison of similar home sales in the area. Thankfully America's favorite dad has a musician and stand-up comedian to supplement the mortgage -- plus, at some point, his sister-in-law Becky (a co-host on his show) made some decent coin. Perhaps they could all chip in to pay the mortgage.
Family Matters
Was there a more recognizable figure on television during this time than Steve Urkel? Even though the bespectacled nerd isn't a member of the Winslow family, but he was the reason people tuned in to the show. Midway through the series' first season we were introduced to the Winslow's lovelorn neighbor.
Unlike the supposed Full House house there seems to be little doubt the real life Family Matters house is located at 1516 W. Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago. The series' opening credits end with a slow reverse tracking shot of the house. (The house appears around the 0:46 mark.)
This two-story, multi-family house includes two baths. We estimated this 2,762-square-foot house, which is more than 100 years old, would go on the housing market for $885,000. Interestingly, the house is relatively small compared to similar homes in the area. Carl Winslow was a policeman, so it might have been difficult for him to manage a large mortgage payment and have wiggle room to attend Bears and Bulls games.
Step By Step
Running from 1991 to 1998, Step By Step chronicled the story of Frank Lambert and Carol Foster, a divorcee and a widower, who impulsively married after meeting on a Jamaican vacation. Each brought a brood of three children, and in the case of Lambert, a nephew that lived in a van, to the union.
The series reached its height of popularity in 1995-96, finishing the year as the fifth most popular show in its time slot. The opening credits show the family at an amusement park. Yet when directors needed to clue the audience to the location of the action, they used an exterior shot of a South Pasadena home. The Lambert-Foster house is located at 2011 Fletcher Avenue. (The house appears around the 2:37 mark.)
This 3,168-square-foot, single-family home has three bedrooms and three baths. We estimated the fabled Lambert-Foster house would go on the market for $1,109,000 -- that's a pretty penny for a beautician and a contractor.