The Royal Oak 'Christmas House' put up for sale

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) - An easy to recognize Royal Oak home is hitting the market with a hefty price tag attached.

It's nicknamed "The Christmas House” famous for its elaborate holiday displays and big parties. 

It sits near the corner of 12 Mile and N. Washington, a piece of history known for its elaborate, over the top Christmas decorations.

"People would come and either ask how many Santa Clauses we had or they would try to guess what was new every year," said owner Ethlyn Unger.

But Ethlyn is selling the Christmas house after her husband John passed away in December.

"He really was a Christmas person and that was what he loved," she said.

Built in 1924 it has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and more than 3,500 square feet of living space. The asking price is $475,000.

"I'm looking for a smaller house," she said. "I've raised children and grandchildren; I've always been a caretaker. I would like to take care of myself now."

The Ungers stopped putting the Christmas decorations up in 2013. Ethlyn says it just became too much - and oh those electric bills.

"It was over a thousand dollars, $1,500 for two months," she said.

The decorations have since been sold but a few remain outside the house. The big tree out front still has its Christmas lights. She says they went up in 1978 and never came down.

"My sons are coming over to pull the lights out of the tree," she said. "Not everyone wants Christmas lights."

And no matter who buys it Christmas will still be with this house.