If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember TGIF, a primetime block of family friendly sitcoms that dominated airwaves in the ‘90s. Each 30-minute show was filled to the brim with heartwarming lessons. It didn’t matter if you watched the Winslows, Tanners, or the Lambert-Fosters; you knew in the end everything would turn out for the best.
Nostalgia for TGIF is rampant at the Movoto Real Estate HQ. So when we heard ABC was attempting to revive the brand this fall with veteran funnyman Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” and “Malibu Country,” a new series with country star Reba McEntire, we immediately thought of the once great line up’s glory days.
This led us to ask, where are they now? Where are Uncle Jesse and Steve Urkel? At least one person dared to ask: Does the Urkel Dance stand up to Balki Bartokomous’ Dance of Joy?
We aren’t the right people to answer these questions. What we do is real estate, and when it comes to TGIF, the houses were as crucial as the cast. Below Movoto revisited our favorite TGIF homes. Who says you can’t go home again? We certainly don’t.
Full House
The house at 1709 Broderick St. in San Francisco is allegedly the house used in the opening credits of "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 by a drunken driver. In need of help, Danny recruited his brother-in-law and best friend to help raise three girls.
Fun times was had by all.
There’s some debate about where exactly the real “Full House” house is located. Most of the internet argues the Tanner’s abode is at 1709 Broderick St. 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).
The other option is 722 Steiner. A few years back, this Painted Lady went on the market. Among the house’s talking points was that it was the real “Full House”. The largest thing against 722 Steiner’s authenticity is its bay window, which is located on the wrong side of the structure when compared to house in the opening credits.
It’s hard to change architecture. So we’re throwing our weight behind 1709 Broderick St., 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. That’s San Francisco for you.
Family Matters
The house at 1516 W. Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago can be seen in the opening credits of "Family Matters".
“Family Matters” was Steve Urkel. It’s true 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.
It was catchphrase at first sight.
Did I do that?
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 over 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.
Step By Step
This house in South Pasadena, California can be seen in various episodes of "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.
