History Recap / TheSimpsonsS9E9RealtyBites

* PoliceAreUseless: Three more strikes for the Springfield Police: they spent God-only-knows-how-long trying to break open a drug dealer's gate (apparently one time trying to shoot it) before trying to see if it was unlocked (it was, which is [[StupidCrooks just as stupid]]), the local jail [[CardboardPrison runs strictly on the honor system]], and Wiggum's involvement at the climax happens just because Snake and Homer disturbed him from his nap.

* ShadyRealEstateAgent: The whole estate office are clearly fine with lying through their teeth to make a sale, especially her boss, Lionel Hutz. The drama of the episode revolves around the fact that she is way too honest for her own good, and then lied through omission to Ned Flanders that the dream home she sold his family is a murder house and she will not feel comfortable having Ned's money because of the lie, even after Ned makes clear he doesn't minds (heck, he actually likes) living in a murder house.

* {{Auction}}: Homer buys Snake's cutom car in a seized property auction.

* TakingTheHeat: The Murder House is ultimately destroyed by Homer, Snake and [[LemmingCops Chief Wiggum]], who [[CarMeetsHouse rammed their cars into it]] during a HotPursuit. That was grounds for a liability for Destruction of Property on ''them'' (especially Snake, who started the chase when attempting to steal the car from Homer). Instead, Marge takes the blame and reimburses the money to Flanders, still feeling guilty over having sold the house in the first place.
* ThatPoorCar: Snake is upset when he hears Homer shifting gears poorly and using regular gasoline instead of premium.

Episode - 5F06\\
First Aired - 12/7/1997

* ShadyRealEstateAgent: The whole esetate office are clearly fine with lying through their teeth to make a sale, especially her boss, Lionel Hutz. The drama of the episode revolves around the fact that she is way too honest for her own good, and then lied through omission to Ned Flanders that the dream home she sold his family is a murder house and she will not feel comfortable having Ned's money because of the lie, even after Ned makes clear he doesn't minds (heck, he actually likes) living in a murder house.

* AbsurdlyIneffectiveBarricade: Inverted with the main gate of drug kingpin "Johnny D.", which was stated to be "bulletproof, bombproof, and battering ram resistant". The only reason the police got through and arrested Johnny was because ''[[TooDumbtoLive he forgot to lock the gate]]''.

** When Marge goes to the "Murder House" to check on the Flanders, she sees them lying on the floor covered in what appears to be blood. Which leads to Marge screaming in horror. Then, the Flanders all wake up telling Marge that they were just taking a nap after they were painting a room with red paint.

This episode features Creator/PhilHartman's last appearance as Lionel Hutz before his death in 1998.

* AbsurdlyIneffectiveBarricade: One of the items for sale at the police auction is the main gate of drug kingpin "Johnny D.". Chief Wiggum lists off what the gate will resist. Principal Skinner asks what happened to Johnny D.
-->'''Chief Wiggum:''' He forgot to lock them.

--> '''Homer''': Gee, that picture makes your butt look big!\\
'''Marge''': I thought so, too! But they said it sells.

* BaitAndSwitch: When Marge goes to the "Murder House" to check on the Flanders, she sees them lying on the floor covered in what appears to be blood. Which leads to Marge screaming in horror. Then, the Flanders all wake up telling Marge that they were just taking a nap after they were painting a room with red paint.

* CardboardPrison: The Springfield Penitentiary is apparently run on the honor system, an unlocked door with a "No escaping please" sign is the only thing keeping the prisoners in.

** Larry Burns, Mr. Burns' son from "Burns Baby Burns".
** Lurleen Lumpkin from "Colonel Homer," who looks just as worn-out and drug-addled as she did in "Marge vs. The Monorail".
** George H.W. Bush from "Two Bad Neighbors"
** The redheaded hippie writer (modeled after ''Simpsons'' writer George Meyer) from "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show" who was fired for objecting to adding Poochie the dog in a vain attempt at revitalizing ''The Itchy and Scratchy Show''.

* TheAllegedHouse: This exchange lampshades a few of the common [[MetaphoricallyTrue metaphorical truths]] of real estate listings:
--> '''Lionel Hutz:''' There's "the truth" (shakes head) and "the truth." (smiles wide) Let me show you. (shows pictures of homes for sale)\\
'''Marge:''' It's awfully small.\\
'''Lionel Hutz:''' I'd say it's awfully "cozy."\\
'''Marge:''' That's dilapidated.\\
'''Lionel Hutz:''' "Rustic."\\
'''Marge:''' That house is on fire!\\
'''Lionel Hutz:''' "Motivated seller."
** The house that the Flanders' are interested in plays with this: it's a perfect house, structurally speaking, but it's a ''murder house''. ''They'' are perfectly OK with it, but everybody else is in some way nervous about the whole idea and Marge actually feels like she swindled them for not pointing it out sooner.

* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Kirk getting his arm sliced off. All he utters is a sad, "Ow!"

* ShadyRealEstateAgent: Lionel Hutz is as principled a real estate agent as a lawyer. He expects the same from Marge, and the others as Red Blazer Realty don't seem much better.

** Gil makes his first appearance in this episode, and is patterned after Jack Lemmon's character in ''Theatre/GlengarryGlenRoss''. The "cubicles are for closers" line is also a parody of the line, "Coffee is for closers".

** Snake uses [[AcmeProducts Acme]] [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Piano Wire]] when attempting to decapitate Homer.

* SexSells: Marge's real estate billboard. Parodied with The Lumber King billboard, where Homer is mesmerized by the fat, moving butt of the company mascot.
--> '''Homer''': Gee, that picture makes your butt look big!\\
'''Marge''': I thought so, too! But they said it sells.

* ShadyRealEstateAgent: Lionel Hutz is as principled a real estate agent as a lawyer. He expects the same from Marge, and the others as Red Blazer Realty don't seem much better.

--> '''Ned''': Purple drapes! All my life, I've wanted purple drapes! (high-pitched scream)

* PoliceAreUseless: Three more strikes for the Springfield Police: they spent God-only-knows-how-long trying to break open a drug dealer's gate before trying to see if it was unlocked (it was, which is [[StupidCrooks just as stupid]]), the local jail [[CardboardPrison runs strictly on the honor system]], and Wiggum's involvement at the climax happens just because Snake and Homer disturbed him from his nap.

* ThirteenIsUnlucky: The residential ID of the Murder House is "1313".

* RefugeInAudactity: Referenced by Hutz when he shows Marge some crappy homes they have on sale as a show of how much he wants her to lie. Marge points out a house that for some reason was ''on fire'' when the picture was taken and Hutz only says "motivated seller!" in response.