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“It was a nice $350k house” (He listed it for nearly $4m)

How former Hollywood exec David Christensen used storytelling to turn a modest ranch into a global real estate event.

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Elite Agent Editor
December 06, 2025

THOUGHT LEADERS
REAL ESTATE REIMAGINED

This week: Samantha McLean sits down with David Christensen, a man who has sold one of the most famous homes in television history. Between working in Hollywood and literally diving to the bottom of the ocean to see the Titanic, David has seen it all. But his process for turning a modest ranch home into a multi-million-dollar enterprise has become a signature career move.

When the opportunity came to sell the “home” of the White family from the iconic TV series Breaking Bad, David Christensen faced a stark reality regarding the price.

On paper, it was a nice, modest three-bedroom ranch in Albuquerque. Zillow and the market data valued it at roughly $US 350,000.

"If you list it as a residential home, you lose."

But how do you price a piece of pop culture history to maximise the vendor return?

The strategy was bold: stop selling a house and start selling a business. He pitched the property to investors as a commercial attraction, turning the steady stream of tourists from a nuisance into a major selling point.

In this week's episode of Thought Leaders, we sit down with David to find out exactly how he navigated that deal, using his "Hollywood Storytelling" philosophy.

Why hit play (30< min):

  • The $4 million reframe: Discover how David turned a $350k asset into a marketing powerhouse by identifying its "intrinsic pop culture value."

  • The Hollywood crossover: The single most important skill David learned from the high-ego world of managing music talent that he uses every single day in real estate.

  • The Second Act: David opens up about the pressure of the industry, the power of sobriety, and how to find your purpose when you have to rebuild your life from scratch.

Plus, much more.
– Samantha McLean

Listen/Watch now:

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