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Lance Bass confirmed as a bidder for the 'Brady Bunch' house listed by former Highland Park agent

Ernie Carswell, a Beverly Hills-based real-estate agent who got his start selling homes in Highland Park, lists the 2,477-square-foot house in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Updated 10:15 p.m., July 31, 2018 with a list of prospective buyers.

Ernie Carswell has had big listings before. The Hollywood Reporter once chose the Beverly Hills-based agent as one of Hollywood's top-25 real-estate agents.

Now, his highest-profile listing -- The Brady Bunch house -- has drawn at least five prospective buyers.

Ernie Carswell, who began his real estate career in Highland Park, has the exclusive listing...
Ernie Carswell, who began his real estate career in Highland Park, has the exclusive listing for the Brady Bunch home.(Ernie Carswell & Partners)

Carswell, who cut his real-estate chops in Highland Park in the 1980s, confirmed Tuesday that former NSYNC star Lance Bass is one of the bidders on the Studio City split-level home.

Besides Bass, Carswell said "two corporate buyers"  and "individuals or families much like the Brady Bunch" put in bids.

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In an earlier text, Carswell said opening offers would be fielded Tuesday night.

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"The likely result would be a counter offer sent back to the bidders," he texted. "Then, the final decision will be made once those secondary responses are received. We're getting closer."

Last week, Us Weekly reported that Bass and Miley Cyrus were considering buying the house that was listed at $1.885 million.

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The home's pop culture value became obvious two weeks ago when Kelsey McCallister Whitmer, who inherited the house along with four other grandchildren after their grandparents died, put the 2,477-square-foot, two-bedroom home on the market.

 Lance Bass wants to turn the Brady Bunch house into its "original, original" state.
Lance Bass wants to turn the Brady Bunch house into its "original, original" state.(Richard Shotwell / Invision/AP)

Carswell, who knew the family but didn't know they owned The Brady Bunch house, signed on as the exclusive agent.

Bass appeared on Off the Block with Ross and Marissa, a Facebook-only reality show, and said that he wanted to restore the house.

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"I'm going to turn it into the TV house, because you know it doesn't have a second floor and all that stuff, but I'm going to go back to the original, original house," he said. (Bass is performing at Lava Cantina in The Colony on Aug. 3 as part of the Pop2K Tour.)

The house has been updated and upgraded. But -- spoiler alert -- the interior layout does not resemble what was featured on the show, which ran from 1969 to 1974. Those scenes were shot in a studio.

The split-level home was bought in 1973 for $61,000 and the children are selling the property. The home is second only to the White House as the most photographed resident in the U.S. and attracts a stream of 30 to 50 fans each day, Carswell said.

Outside of its pop-culture value, the allure of the property is enhanced by the 12,500-square-foot lot, which abuts the Los Angeles River. The area is ripe for tear-downs and new developments. The owners will give first consideration to bidders who want to keep the home intact, Carswell said.

Upon hearing about the interest when the listing became public, the sellers now seem to realize the home's sentimental value, Carswell said.

"They're now recognizing the enormous groundswell of affection and popularity of this house that's been in their family for 45 years," he said.