Realtor's 1920s Listing Goes Viral for Unexpected 'Smart' Features

A house that was built in the first half of the 20th century may not scream "modern technology," but California-based real estate agent Kelly Lopes has proven to millions that old can be gold.

The seasoned real estate agent offered the public a glimpse into the unique property—which is brimming with period touches and innovations—in a now-viral social media video.

Read more: How to Sell Your Home

With a title card theme of "things in my 1928 home that just make sense," Lopes showcased why the past's approach to convenience can, in some cases, be today's treasure.

The video, which has garnered over 8.5 million views on Instagram, saw the Keller Williams Coastal Properties real estate agent walk through the property's well-preserved interior.

Lopes highlighted unexpected features like a milk delivery window that had been cleverly situated inside a kitchen cabinet, and a hidden drawer that ingeniously housed—and still houses—one rolling pin.

A neatly tucked-away phone book holder above a still intact 1920s telephone suggests that the home was designed with practicality and ingenuity in mind. It prompted viewers to dub the property the "original smart home."

Perhaps one of the most charming features was a wooden pullout chair that sits hidden beneath the hallway's built-in telephone station. This quaint seating solution offered a spot for the original homeowners to rest during long phone conversations or bouts of stress with the operator.

Next, Lopes showed off a narrow cabinet that when opened, unfolds into a full-sized ironing board, complete with a neighboring nook to store the iron. This feature exemplifies the era's penchant for maximizing space and utility in home design.

"The idea for the video, the specific idea of 'things that just makes sense,' was my assistant's idea," Lopes told Newsweek.

"She's young and follows TikTok and saw something trending there so she suggested that we incorporate that tagline."

"The rest was me, just being kind of a dork and being very excited about promoting my listing with all of those fabulous, unique characteristics and features," she added.

The comments section of the post has been flooded with enthusiastic messages, as viewers gushed over the property's period elements. Some have expressed concern that a new owner may tear them all down and rewrite the home's historical integrity.

"It should be illegal for anyone to 'update' this house," one user wrote.

Another user added: "Please don't sell it to someone who is going to change it. It's a survivor that should go to someone who can appreciate it,"

"This was THE smart house back in the day," a third user shared.

This particular home, like many built during Southern California's real estate boom of the 1920s—a time when at least 100,000 people moved to Los Angeles alone—represents a period of prosperity and ingenuity that seeped into the architectural trends of the period.

Hollywood's growth over the decade and the luxury associated with it paralleled the design and craftsmanship evident in homes from this era and paved way for the enduring popularity of the art deco style that flourished in the 1920s.

The response to Lopes' video tour suggests that there's a significant audience for preservation over modernization. The realtor's exploration of the house underscores both the architectural and functional merits of the past and the growing trend in real estate for period features alongside modern comfort.

For potential buyers and history buffs alike, homes like these offer a rare glimpse into a bygone era of architectural innovation, no matter what their future owners decide to do.

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