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Are you ready to ask for something really big for Christmas? Just like Ralphie in the cult movie classic 'A Christmas Story,' you'll have to take a really big inhale and say it all in one breath: I want real estate!
Because, yes, the home featured in the movie is for sale—but you can’t find it on traditional sites like Zillow and Redfin. Instead, owner Brian Jones wants potential buyers to email him, WKYC reports, at the address ForSale@achristmasstoryhouse.com. He’s also being close-lipped about the price. It is carried on a local Cleveland real estate site Hoff & Leigh, but the price is listed as ‘contact broker for financial details.’
In a video embedded in WKYC’s article, Jones—dressed in red and green with an overcoat—erects the ‘for sale’ sign in front of the house and tells the reporter he’s looking for ‘the right person to take it over… not necessarily [for] the highest price, but someone who’s the right fit.’
Currently, the 1870 home—decorated to the hilt as it appears in the movie—is run as both a tourable site and overnight rental. In the movie, Ralphie wants an official ‘Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle’ so badly he can hardly spit out the long name in one breath. And if you’ve ever wondered why some people have a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg, it’s from this movie.
The home last sold for $150,000 in 2005, but that’s before Jones poured tons of money and love into the renovations.
What makes this home sale even more interesting is that Jones is throwing in a whole compound’s worth of property: five buildings on seven parcels, resulting in 1.3 acres of homespun Christmas memories (plus, lots of parking for visitors—we can only hope Jones wants the buyer to continue the home’s heritage as a tourist draw, since the local listing claims, ‘No other filming location provides fans with a real-world connection to their favorite movie.’) Since November 2006 when public tours began, the home has hosted more than a million guests. Details for the sale can be found on his website for the home.
Besides the house, there’s a museum and gift shop across the street, both devoted to the movie and included in the sale. A few highlights of the collection? Randy’s snowsuit and some toys from Higbee’s window display. The Bumpus House, known in the film as the neighbor’s house and used for overnight rentals, is also part of the sale. A map of the street on the Hoff & Leigh listing makes it look like this sale includes most structures for this block of 11th Street. Sounds like you could build your own Christmas story this year without shooting your eye out.
And don’t worry: if you already had tickets or an overnight reservation, those will be honored.
Looking for a Christmas vacation spot? Here's some great suggestions.
Or maybe you're ramped up for Christmas shopping? Here's our list of Christmas markets in the US.