20 Wildest Houses Listed on Zillow, Including a Flying Saucer and Water Tower
See real estate site's most truly outrageous homes.
Social media continues to prove one thing: We all love our real estate voyeurism. Even if we have no intention of changing residences anytime soon, there's something so satisfying about looking at homes we'd love to live in—or, conversely, couldn't be paid to. In recent years, Zillow Gone Wild (1.7 million followers on Instagram) and Zillowtastrophes (more than 714,000 followers on TikTok) have racked up major audiences for their continuing spotlight on the real estate site's most truly outrageous homes. Here are 20 of them.
1
The All-Basement House
This 70-year-old, entirely below-ground home in Sandy, Utah, is listed on Zillow for $295,000. The only part that's above the surface is the entryway, which leads directly to stairs—right down. "Perfect house for a couple of vampires," says Zillowtastrophe's More, who questions the appeal of living entirely underground—while it may be cooler in the summer, doesn't it present a fire hazard if the stairs are blocked? Some commenters were more sanguine: "The only house I could hang Christmas lights on without a problem as a 5'2" person," wrote one.
2
The Water Tower Home
Conversely, this 1920s house in the Netherlands offers eight narrow stories, straight up. The primary suite is at the very top. "Imagining how rock solid my glutes would be living there," one commenter wrote. Yours for only $1.3 million.
3
A Former Church
This previous house of worship in Cincinnati, Ohio, features "a very gothy exterior," five bedrooms, and six baths in $10,000 square feet for $1.6 million. Two separate apartments offer potential Airbnb income. "No property taxes, right?" cracked one commenter.
4
The "Never-Ending Property"
Last March, a British real-estate agent took an innovative approach to listing this sprawling home in Bedfordshire which, unfortunately, abuts a four-lane highway that seems to have been constructed in place of the front yard. She sang a tribute to the home's features to the tune of "The Neverending Story." One commenter replied: "That's a lot to unpack. From the low ceilings to the giant stuffed mice … I need a minute."
5
The Flying Saucer House
This home in Lansing, Michigan, is shaped like a flying saucer, and although it's dilapidated and overgrown, it has some cool features like a covered walkway from garage to the main property, curved walls and windows, and 20 acres on which to pursue your other … interests.
6
The Converted Missile Silo
This $550,000 home in Nebraska promises "one bed, one bath, and a great story"—it's a decommissioned missile repository from the Cold War. The circular underground living space is connected to an actual missile silo that descends eight stories into the ground.
7
The Rotating House
For $5.3 million, this San Diego house includes 3,700 square feet of indoor rotating living space (four bedrooms, four baths) on the second floor and a 1,400 sq ft rotating roof deck. Eagle-eyed commenters pointed out this was the house where Sam Rockwell danced through the climactic scene of 2000's Charlie's Angels.
8
The House With Wooden Wallpaper, Everywhere
Although this $389,000 waterfront Texas home is described as "serene," "magical," and "well-maintained"in the listing. "I don't think that description is quite accurate," More says diplomatically, pointing out that the entire interior is covered in wooden slats of various styles and sizes—"construction site extras."
9
A Stunning Frank Lloyd Wright Home
Whenever a Frank Lloyd Wright house goes on the market, it tends to go viral. Deservedly so: There are only so many homes left by America's premier architect. But Westhope in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is next level. From the outside, it looks like a government institute. The interior includes tons of light from square floor-to-ceiling windows and an atrium in 10,000 square feet. There's also a pool.
10
The "Flying Nun House"
This historic mid-century specimen is "built in the shape of a football with a soaring roof" that more than modestly resembles the wimple Sally Field wore on the classic 1960s sitcom. With four bedrooms and five baths, the Belleville, Nebraska, home is on the market for $695,000—much of the furniture, also seemingly teleported in from the '60s—is included.
11
The Super-Over-Carpeted House
This sprawling Denver, Colorado, manse is an immaculately preserved specimen of 1930s architecture and design (there's an actual ballroom), but it starts to go a little weird. Primarily: "There's a tremendous amount of carpeting in places it shouldn't be," says More—as in all the bathrooms, the (two) kitchens, the dining room, and the indoor pool area. But if you want to cosplay Dynasty in soft surroundings, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better site.
12
The Brady Bunch House
On May 25, More featured the "Brady Bunch house," the Los Angeles four-bedroom that served in exterior shots for the classic 1960s sitcom. In a recent HGTV miniseries, it was painstakingly retrofitted to match the original TV show's soundstage-housed sets. Yours for only $5.5 million.
13
An Actual High School
Where can you score 17,400 square feet of house for $60,000? In Burbank, Oklahoma, where this former high school is up for sale, including a gym, auditorium, five bedrooms, and two bathrooms (one of which inexplicably includes a heart-shaped bathtub).
14
The House With the Backyard Pyramid
This house in British Columbia, Canada, sits on 96 acres and features bucolic forestry and sweeping mountain views—and a pyramid in its backyard. A pyramid that's inspired by the real Egyptian pyramids: A "1/16-scale likeness of the Pyramids of Giza," as the owner says. All that can be yours for $3.95 million.
15
Many Angles, Low Fees
This space-age Castle Rock, Colorado, home looks like something adapted from the original plans for a planetarium or Epcot Center. The highly angular three-bedroom, four-bath $1 million home has another stunning inclusion: HOA fees of only $40 a year.
16
The Grown-Up Goth's Dream Home
Today's upwardly mobile Gomez and Morticia would likely live in this Victorian-style home, which is painted all-black on the exterior but includes airy, sophisticated interiors and a swimming pool. Commenters on Zillow Gone Wild weren't entirely down. While one drooled, "Oh my god. That's how you do a renovation of a Victorian house," another said, "This is like looking through the 'Goth' section of a Target catalog."
17
The Sheet-Metal-Covered House
This Houston home, listed for $500,000, is covered almost entirely—inside and out—with metal sheeting. "There are some of you who would say, this is a great building material," More says in her video. "But you would be wrong. Just look at all the rough edges to cut yourself on!" Commenters concurred: "All I can think of is that that house would feel like an oven," one said. "Especially in Texas where you can bake cookies on the sidewalk," another replied.
18
The Oldest House in the Country?
This Philly row house takes it back to the '20s—the 1720s. This home on what is considered America's oldest residential street (Elfreth's Alley) has three bedrooms and one bathroom, 1,200 square feet, and who knows how many ghosts for $499,900.
19
The Doll Jail
More's post about this Oklahoma listing rang up 1.7 million views on TikTok, understandably so. This home that includes a "doll jail," a separate building off the main house that houses dozens of dolls. "It's like Guantanamo for dolls," she says.
20
The "Troll Apartment"
More said this house, built on top of a bridge in Alhambra, California, is one of only 11 in this affluent area available for less than $250,000. But it's rich in mystery! "None of the articles have explained actually why there's an apartment on top of a public bridge," said More. "And the real estate agents are still trying to figure out who actually owns it."