Should you build or buy a cartoon inspired house?

There are admirers, and then there are people who take fandom to the next level … of their house. Superfans who love cartoons so much that they want to live in the same universe as their favorite character. And what better way to show devotion than building a cartoon replica home?

Whether it be nostalgia for a simpler time, or simply scratching a creative itch, those who build and buy cartoon replica houses are definitely devoted to the cause. But what are the pros and cons of building one yourself?

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The pros of owning a cartoon house

Uniqueness

Building or buying a home based on a cartoon is not for everyone, which makes it unique. If you are a one-of-a-kind type of person who wants your home to stand out from the rest of the subdivision, then a novelty house is for you. People may call you eccentric, but take it as a compliment. 

An immersive experience

If you want to get away from our non-magical universe for a while, what better way to do it than build your home to look like Snow White’s cottage? The IRL Snow White’s cottage in Washington has its own creek, hand-carved beams and wrought-iron doors. There isn’t a square corner in the whole place. Everytime you walk in you feel like a Prince is about to kiss you on the mouth (consensually of course). How much more immersive can you get?

Community

A replica home may be the ultimate form of fandom, bringing fans from all across the world together. But it can also bring the neighborhood together. Clint and Lynette Hamblin, the owners of the Up house in Herriman, Utah, often host community gatherings and hold fundraisers for local causes. The Disney mega-fans fell in love with Carl and Ellie’s cartoon Victorian home and knew it would be the perfect place to raise their two kids. Everything from the mantle to the wainscoting to the light fixtures are replicated exactly, bringing that Disney magic to life. Creating a place where other Disney fanatics can dream big has given them a sense of meaning, all while meeting new people and raising money for charity. It’s a great way to channel the attention a cartoon home brings into something positive. 

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A rental property

Some fans aren’t able to build or buy their own pop-culture home, but they still want to experience one. There are plenty of novelty homes for rent on platforms like AirBnB. Homes themed on Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Hello Kitty and Beauty and the Beast are all super popular rentals. Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse in Malibu, California has a pool overlooking the Pacific ocean, a pink pingpong table, and pink slide from the balcony to the pool. Fans clamor to stay in her iconic home for a few days. Barbie and Ken are making a lot of money.

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The cons of a owning a cartoon house

The neighbors

Cartoon replica homes attract a lot of attention, which may anger the neighbors. From looky-loos stopping to take pictures to traffic congestion, your neighbors may resent the extra attention that they never asked for. 

And if you live in an HOA? Forget about it. The Simpsons house in Henderson, Nevada was an exact replica of Marge and Homer’s abode, inside and out. Built as a marketing gimmick by Fox and Pepsi, the house was the grand prize in “The Simpsons House Giveaway Contest.” But things didn’t go as planned when the winner rejected her prize, and the HOA forced the bright orange house to be repainted a neutral color. The house is now devoid of almost all the original Simpson’s decor. Doh! Let’s just say that not everyone's a fan.

Expensive

Building a custom Barbie Dream House is already spendy, but throw in 20 pounds of glitter and 100 gallons of pink paint and you may need a second mortgage. The Barbie Dream House in Mall of America is literally covered in 20 pounds of glitter, not to mention the custom closet and pink stiletto fountain out front. Of course building a Barbie Dream House is something you do out of love and not because you are trying to save money. Plus, you’ll need to save cash for the pink Jeep accessory.

Resale value

The market for replica homes is certainly niche, which is a nice way of saying that it might be difficult to sell your fantasy home. Inhabiting a novelty home is a lifestyle. But who knows, maybe other retro cartoon fans like you are clamoring to buy a Flintstone house like the one in Hillsborough, California, complete with dinosaur sculptures and stone floors. Our advice: Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find that special homeowner superfan. Yabba dabba doo! 

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