‘Weird house?’ Or just a great deal? Massive home for sale has sparked a debate
An incredible deal has landed on the real estate market in Council Bluffs, Iowa — but it’s caused somewhat of a debate on a popular social media site.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence is listed for $250,000 and while that may sound normal, it’s the inside that draws a lovely surprise: it’s over 5,000-square-feet.
That’s one massive space.
“Once a beloved B&B, ’The Lion’s Den’ is ready for its next chapter! This Folk Victorian home is pre-inspected,” the listing on Zillow.com says. “Outside, you are greeted by stone lions, stucco artwork, stained glass windows, two porches, and two balconies. Inside, you’re welcomed by a grand bent glass picture window, an ornate staircase, and stunning oak linen presses.”
There are also some interesting features that you don’t normally see in an everyday home, per the listing, including:
Bonus living space with kitchen
Large attic
Basement with a bar
Sauna
Hot tub room
Storage area
While the price tag is certainly attractive, folks on the popular real estate page Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page that highlights interesting homes on the market all over the country, disagree on certain aspects.
“Pretty!!!” one person wrote. “*pretty haunted*”
“This house was a doctors office I think for therapy or something similar for many years also has a funeral home across the street,” another pointed out.
“It has a hot tub and sauna! I’m in,” someone noted.
“It’s workable. Not fond of wallpaper or wood paneling in bathrooms but those can be fixed,” one person commented.
“It actually looks really good to me. I wonder why it’s so cheap, even for the Midwest,” another said.
“Such a weird house lol I love it so much!” someone commented.
Council Bluffs is about a 130-mile drive southwest from Des Moines.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM.