Steal This House - General Discussion

[KeithJ]

Cristy Lee, known for being a motorcyclist and automotive engineer, will be hosting a brand-new series on HGTV titled Steal This House. The Detroit-based home renovation series will follow Cristy as she takes prospective homeowners looking for the perfect fixer-upper.

[KeithJ]

I watched this last night and I really hope they get better couples on the show.  I have zero sympathy for a couple who has a half million dollars to spend on a house but says they've been looking for three years and can't find anything.

[Cancun]

I love a good before and after story. I thought both the “example” house Cristy showed and the episode house were nicely done. Not quite so “ gray and white” as many other reno/flip shows. The house was the perfect project home - that lot was great. But I don’t think I could just listen to Cristy’s description of her vision and be convinced. Why not use one of those software programs (or at least drawings) to help the buyers/audience understand where the reno is headed. I wasn’t watching super closely, so maybe that happened. Also, I noticed one graphic showed neighborhood listing prices all in the same $200k range, so having a $500k home post-reno may not be smart (although if they aren’t moving anytime soon, have the cash to spend, and love it - who cares I guess.). I liked the show enough to watch another episode

[ECM1231]

3 hours ago, KeithJ said:

I watched this last night and I really hope they get better couples on the show.  I have zero sympathy for a couple who has a half million dollars to spend on a house but says they've been looking for three years and can't find anything.

I missed it! I'd been watching HGTV a few days earlier when they aired the sneak peak. MrECM, who only half pays attention to these shows, recognized the host from watching All Girls Garage. I was surprised that the couple was having trouble finding a suitable home for half a mil, especially being in the Detroit area, where homes are typically not super expensive. Will try to catch the pilot episode On Demand.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Home in Detroit are cheap, homes in the burbs can be very expensive.    Grosse Pointe has mansions, and other suburbs are very pricey also.     

If I had a choice, I would watch Bargain Block with affordable homes, not Steal This House, with one more show about making homes into trendy, soon-to-be dated, McMansions.       I was bored by this one, and I agree that the problems of finding a home to reno and buy for $500k plus isn't something I'll watch again.   

Since they apparently have neighborhood comps of $200k, and this house is now worth $500k, the couple better hope they don't need to move out of the area.    Even when I don't intend to move again, I always consider resale.  

Edited July 16, 2022 by CrazyInAlabama

[CruiseDiva]

3 hours ago, Cancun said:

Also, I noticed one graphic showed neighborhood listing prices all in the same $200k range, so having a $500k home post-reno may not be smart (although if they aren’t moving anytime soon, have the cash to spend, and love it - who cares I guess.). 

Bingo! I have a neighbor with an over-improved house that just went on the market with an asking price of $699K, more than $300K over the home two houses away that just sold for $385K. Granted, the lower priced house isn't as large, but it will be interesting to see if the high priced house sells and what they get for some pretty personalized renovations and additions. Also interesting, the two house I just mentioned were built in 1986-87 and originally sold for about $150-160K. 😊

[buttersister]

Did you catch which suburb(s) they were in? TIA.