Actor Macaulay Culkin (right), who was 10 years old when the blockbuster movie 'Home Alone' hit theatres in 1990, became a star in its aftermath. Photos: Dawn McKenna Group, Handout
A suburban Chicago house made famous by the movie Home Alone was sold for US$5.5mil (RM24.6mil) in a rare deal that closed above the asking price.
The Georgian colonial, at 671 Lincoln Avenue in the affluent North Shore suburb of Winnetka, went under contract within a week of its listing in May. Owners Trisha and Tim Johnson had sought US$5.2mil but they received multiple offers, upping the price.
“While it’s the end of an era for the sellers, we know the new owners will create many wonderful memories here,” Dawn McKenna, the Coldwell Banker Realty agent representing the sellers, said in a news release on Jan 16. Lori Nieman of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate represented the buyers.
The 9,126-square-foot home has five bedrooms and was renovated in 2018. The Johnsons purchased the house in 2016. The buyers were not named and information on the sale is not yet public in county records.
The house becomes a tourist attraction during the holidays, when fans of the movie flock to see its iconic brick exterior. Nieman said the new owners were ready to embrace the property’s fame.
“My clients are fully aware of the home’s iconic status and the joy it brings to so many people, especially during the holidays,” she said. “They truly embrace its significance and understand what it means to fans around the world. They’re excited to honour that legacy.”
Actor Macaulay Culkin, who was 10 years old when the 1990 blockbuster hit the theatres, became a star in its aftermath. He told the New York Times in 2024 that he “had half a mind to buy it - just for giggles” when the home went up for sale.
“The sale provided a wonderful opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history,” Nieman said.
The deal was first reported by Crain’s Chicago Business.
The transaction contrasts with many others in the Chicago area, where sellers of homes at the top of the market often need to offer price cuts to get a deal done. Another famous house on the North Shore, the former home of NBA legend Michael Jordan, recently closed for US$9.5mil, a 67% reduction from the initial asking price of US$29mil. – Bloomberg
