Rent to the Movies: Is Your House a Star?

The housing market may still be in the tank, but business is booming for location scouts who've found a way to put homes to work as settings for TV shows, films, and commercials.

Here are some real numbers: On Long Island, N.Y., the right house can earn anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000 a day. No word on whether "Law & Order"-style blood-and-guts scenes warrant a price bump.

For 20 years, Long Island scout Debbie Regan has maintained a database of more than 5,000 area homes-for-hire. She's booked houses, including her own, on shows that include "The Good Wife" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," and in commercials for brands like JC Penney and Reebok. Next week, celebrity chef Sara Moulton will film an ad for Mission Foods' tortillas in one of Regan's listings.

"It's a good way to offset expenses," says Regan. "We're always putting money into our homes. It's about time your home starts giving back!"

But can anyone's home earn Hollywood bucks?