Ah, the fanciful world of television sitcoms! They have entertained us and inspired us for decades by inviting us into their homes. It didn’t matter one iota that Desi and Lucy’s apartment (I Love Lucy) was just a sound set in front of an audience or if the comfortable home where Beaver lived wasn’t real (Leave it to Beaver). And who can forget the wonderful sunken living room in the Brady’s living room in the 1970s (The Brady Bunch)?
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Not only were liberties taken with the actual home or apartment, but many of the places of residents in our favorite shows were unrealistically affordable by the characters profession or job. The going rate in today’s thinking is that only about 30% of income should be spent on housing. According to some analysts who actually figured out salary and housing formulas for such shows as Seinfeld, New Girl, Roseanne, The Big Bang Theory and even the Simpsons, here are some of their findings:
The families living within their means (30% or below):
· Family Matters
· The Big Bang Theory
· Roseanne
· The Simpsons
Those who were very, very close making it possible (between 32% and 35%):
· Seinfeld
· New Girl
· Mad Men
The unrealistic abodes of those who would not be able to afford them (way off!):
· Fraser
· Friends
· Married With Children
· Full House
Al Bundy, a shoe salesman, would not have been able to afford his large Illinois home according to experts. But, with a little artistic license, maybe he had a hidden trust fund? All the characters in Friends did not realistically seem to make enough money to afford their Manhattan, New York apartments, with the exception of possibly Joey. More realistically portrayed were characters like Will and Grace (Will and Grace) who made enough money as a lawyer and interior designer to afford their upper west side NY digs. But, really who cares? They brought their homes into our homes.
If you would like to look at homes that you can afford (unlike our favorite TV characters), call AGENT LADY, your Philadelphia realtor, at 215-518-5193 or schedule an appointment.
Source http://www.movoto.com/blog/novelty-real-estate/sitcom-cribs/
About Agent Lady: Cherise Wynne is a leading real estate agent in Philadelphia, helping home buyers and sellers navigate the City of Brotherly Love, with a special focus on first time home buyers. To chat about getting started with your first time home buying experience, click here.
