Remember the movie Father of The Bride? Whether you saw the original Spencer Tracy version or the Steve Martin remake, one thing has remained constant — the look of that iconic house. The white, two-story colonial with green shutters is the quintessential all-American family home.
So when we saw 3628 Mockingbird Lane pop up in new listings, we did a double take, and then a little research. Sure enough, it could be the stunt double for either of the original movie locations. And oddly enough, one of those California homes, 500 N. Almansor, in Alhamba, is also for sale. In fact, it just went pending — so be glad you live in Dallas and still have a shot at owning this Mockingbird Lane colonial with star power potential.
Dallas has a reputation of being a great place to film. Location scouts knock on doors every day seeking the perfect house for everything from commercials and TV series to feature films. It’s a great way to pay off the mortgage early and it can also be a lot of fun — more on that in a future post. So we’re serious about this home’s star power and we think it’s far superior to the N. Almansor house.
Although both homes have four bedrooms and four bathrooms as well as fireplaces in the master bedrooms, the interior similarities stop there. The Mockingbird Lane house was built a few years earlier, in 1917 as opposed to 1925 for N. Almansor. However, the Mockingbird house has been meticulous maintained and remodeled over the years to keep up with modern family needs.
The most recent remodel, in 2009, took this home to real star power status. The kitchen was enlarged to create a better flow through the home, yet it still retains an intimate feeling. Hardwood floors keep that warmth going and marble countertops maintain the classic look.
“I love all the natural light, there are so many windows and French doors in this house that you feel like all the lights are on when not a single bulb is burning,” said listing agent Anne Lasko with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International, who has this home on the market for $1.699 million. “When people walk in there is always an audible sigh and the first words are, invariably, about how beautiful and comfortable the home is. We hear the word ‘tranquil’ a lot.”
And the bathrooms… well those California buyers would do well to drop their offer, move to Dallas and purchase Mockingbird Lane based on bathrooms alone.
When it comes to location, you’d be hard-pressed to do better. Nestled between the Dallas Country Club and Southern Methodist University, it seriously does not get much better than that. Do not, we repeat, do not worry about Mockingbird traffic — remember it’s slow moving. “The house is shockingly quiet,” Lasko said.
You also seldom find a yard this size in Highland Park. So often houses are razed and replaced with gargantuan zero-lot-line homes that are not sympathetic to the land. This home provides a refreshing sense of proportion and grace. It’s lovely to see an original Dallas mansion that has been spared the wrecking ball and renovated with care and sensitivity.
At 3,912 square feet the main house is only 485-square-feet smaller than the N. Almansor house, but of course, this one has a 620-square-foot guest house and a pool, both sadly lacking in the California home.
It’s obvious why we have so many folks from California moving to Dallas — better deals, flawless remodels — and it’s plain to see we offer better movie location star power! If you’re ready to live like a star give Lasko a call and put this $1.699 million beauty to work!
