The Flipping El Moussas - General Discussion

[topanga]

16 hours ago, CynicalGirl said:

^ I think you mean Christina Haack El Moussa Anstead Haack Hall. 😉

😆😆

Does anyone know the custody arrangements for the kids? Not that it's any of my business, but do they live with Tarek full time? 

[CrazyInAlabama]

No, Christina has a certain number of days for her kid with Ant to stay with her, and her kids with Tarek.   I think Ant was trying to get the custody time to coincide between both sets of kids, but I don't know if it worked or not.   

[topanga]

On 7/4/2023 at 4:48 AM, CrazyInAlabama said:

No, Christina has a certain number of days for her kid with Ant to stay with her, and her kids with Tarek.   I think Ant was trying to get the custody time to coincide between both sets of kids, but I don't know if it worked or not.   

Thanks. How do you know all of this, BTW? 

[CrazyInAlabama]

It was in the custody dispute last summer, when Ant wanted the kids to be at Christina's at the same time.  It wasn't to change the number of days a month, just the schedule.   Ant also wanted Hudson off the advertisements he was being used for.  

[sempervivum]

Uh Oh

The Flipping El Moussas are accused of (I guess) attempted gentrification. Surprised this is the first time, actually. 

I feel for the tenants, at least the old lady. But that's a thing that can happen when you rent, and the $12K seems like a reasonable compensation for moving costs. The proposed project includes 14 subsidized units, too- surprised he doesn't offer these folks an option on a new apartment (once built, of course).

[b4pjoe]

6 minutes ago, sempervivum said:

Uh Oh

The Flipping El Moussas are accused of (I guess) attempted gentrification. Surprised this is the first time, actually. 

I feel for the tenants, at least the old lady. But that's a thing that can happen when you rent, and the $12K seems like a reasonable compensation for moving costs. The proposed project includes 14 subsidized units, too- surprised he doesn't offer these folks an option on a new apartment (once built, of course).

Not cool.

[cinsays]

On 8/8/2023 at 3:20 PM, sempervivum said:

Uh Oh

The Flipping El Moussas are accused of (I guess) attempted gentrification. Surprised this is the first time, actually. 

I feel for the tenants, at least the old lady. But that's a thing that can happen when you rent, and the $12K seems like a reasonable compensation for moving costs. The proposed project includes 14 subsidized units, too- surprised he doesn't offer these folks an option on a new apartment (once built, of course).

these people are just greedy showoffs

his excuse is that HE didn't evict them, the current owner did. but that wouldn't have happened if he didn't plunk down a ton of cash to get the area to develop.

[Scarlett45]

On 8/8/2023 at 2:20 PM, sempervivum said:

Uh Oh

The Flipping El Moussas are accused of (I guess) attempted gentrification. Surprised this is the first time, actually. 

I feel for the tenants, at least the old lady. But that's a thing that can happen when you rent, and the $12K seems like a reasonable compensation for moving costs. The proposed project includes 14 subsidized units, too- surprised he doesn't offer these folks an option on a new apartment (once built, of course).

I feel for the tenants too- especially the elderly woman living with her special needs son. Moving with a special needs adult child can be a LOT especially for a senior citizen (I don’t know if she has typical children who can/will help her). I couldn’t imagine my Mom trying to move my sister alone. And they are on a fixed income, considering they only pay $824 in rent per month. 
 

It sounds scummy even if it’s not illegal. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Two new episodes tonight: HGTV 8 to 9, and 9 to 10 pm central time.  

S02.E01 A Flipping Mess "Tarek and Heather take on their most extreme flip to date in Hawthorne, California; they're looking to turn a trashy flip into a treasure, but years of filth may send them running for the hills."

So, they wanted to wholesale the house to another flipper, but they have it on the market for $430,000, plus over $20,000 is carrying costs.   The place is a total hoard, you can almost smell the stench through the TV, and they want to flip a house that will only sell for $550,000 max?   I can see why they lost money on last season's flips.  I bet it will cost $20,000 or more to clean it out.  

It took 3 days and 10 trips to the dump to clean the house out. It took 5 weeks just to clean it out. They have a new contractor, Jake. Jake's bid is $184,000, without anything fancy like custom cabinets, patio or bifold doors.  So, back to $200,000 budget.  At least they have a designer on camera now. 

Seriously behind the schedule. Delay blamed on city delays with the permits. $2900 a month carrying costs, and they're at least four weeks behind schedule.

Then the ridiculous family Christmas scene with matching jammies, and the contractor calls, with more planning and permit issues, delaying the job six more weeks.

They've spent over $200,000 on the flip, still don't have permits, lots is bad workmanship.  Also, someone charred the deck surface. Tarek says it's the longest he's spent on flipping a house, but it isn't.

House is finished, another white box, with floating shelves, with expensive wallpaper that looks bland.  I guess T & H didn't read the articles that barn doors are dated.  Bathroom tiles looks like several clearance odds and ends. Why did they stage the biggest bedroom in the house as an office? 

$276,000 for rehab, paid $430,000 16 months carrying costs.  Break even $793,000.  Listing at $999,999.  Tarek thinks it will go for over $1 million.   Sold for $920,000 after a month on the market, $170,000 profit if it closes.

(They just had a trailer for the Flip Off, with Christina and Tarek talking about her leaving husband #3, and completer with each blaming themselves for some issues)

S02.E02  Changes Are in Flipping Order  "Tarek and Heather face the challenge of juggling both family and business; they look to take on a new flip all while planning Taylor's surprise 13th birthday party, hoping to pull it all off without everything ending in a let down."

Westminster, CA, in Orange County. 3 bed 2 bath right over 1,000 sq ft, not touched in 60 years.  Bought for $640,000, bet rehab will be pricey, it's a smoker's house.   What happened to Jeff the contractor?  They're using Jake from the first episode again.   The design choices are so awful, and trendy.  More permit issues. 

Taylor's 13th birthday, she's so grown up.  

Finished house looks OK, very trendy, and it's tiny.  House looks smaller with the awful ceiling it now has.   Outside decorative wood that added looks tacky, no  more pergola, sitting area by the fireplace is hideous.  Stagers did an OK job.  Bedrooms are tiny.  Everything looks so trendy, and nothing really goes together. Again Tarek wants to list way over, at $1.050 million, they settle for $999,999 (break even is $923,000) list, it will sell for $!.050 million if it closes. 

Edited December 27, 2024 by CrazyInAlabama

[CrazyInAlabama]

 

A Hot Tip on a Cool Flip

New, S02.E03, 1/2/2025

"Tarek and Heather receive a seemingly hot tip on a potential flip from social media, but they wonder if they're being catfished. Even if it's legit, they'll need to pull this reno off fast before the market cools down for the holidays."

Still using Jake the contractor.   I miss Jeff.   House might be a scam or might not.  House was an online contact.   It's in La Palma, CA.  So they just walk right into the house, no one there?   You know they already bought it.

House has two primary suites, in a five / four bedroom house, but is the second floor permitted?  I bet it's a three bedroom, 2 bath like the property records say.   Second floor ceilings are low.  However, turning the second floor into an entire suite, making it a four bedroom, with two suites works. 

They buy the house for $680,000.   Make upstairs into primary, and  have the entire upstairs as a huge primary.  Reno budget is $200,000.     Jake the contractor finds $4,000 in cash in the house, and they're giving it back to the former owners.    They have permits.  

Redesign is boring.  Tile choices look so generic again.  Break even price is $958,000.   But comps are up.  I don't see anything high end about putting tile on the risers on the steps.   

House is now black roof, garage door, gate to front courtyard, white exterior walls.  Boring.   Finished house looks OK, but nothing spectacular.   Kitchen still seems small for the house size.  Just another big, white, boring interior, with another barn door.      They keep calling everything high end, but it isn't. Backyard is all patio.  Possible fifth bedroom has no bathroom access.  Paid $680,000, $210,000 rehab, Break even $961,000.   Comps say $1.050 mil to $1.2 mil.   List is $1.299 million.  

$339,000 profit if they sell for $1.299 million.  Sold for $1,255 million.

The tile all looks very familiar, as if it's all clearance because it's on the way out of fashion.    The constant talk about how slim the margins and profit are, makes me think they're buying clearance stuff.  

Edited January 3 by CrazyInAlabama

[LoveIsJoy]

@CrazyInAlabama thanks for the recap.  My Hulu recordings always cut off the final 30 seconds of the show so I never know the full outcome.  

I was confused by the layout.  If they have 2 primary suites with bathrooms attached to each, then which bathroom do the other 2 bedrooms use?

Heather’s mom urged them to make the upstairs a full suite, because creating a 5th bedroom would mean the primary bath would have to be shared with the 5th bedroom occupant.

But isn’t that the case with the primary suite downstairs sharing a bath with 2 bedrooms?  Or was there a 3rd bathroom that I just don’t remember?

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

12 hours ago, LoveIsJoy said:

@CrazyInAlabama thanks for the recap.  My Hulu recordings always cut off the final 30 seconds of the show so I never know the full outcome.  

I was confused by the layout.  If they have 2 primary suites with bathrooms attached to each, then which bathroom do the other 2 bedrooms use?

Heather’s mom urged them to make the upstairs a full suite, because creating a 5th bedroom would mean the primary bath would have to be shared with the 5th bedroom occupant.

But isn’t that the case with the primary suite downstairs sharing a bath with 2 bedrooms?  Or was there a 3rd bathroom that I just don’t remember?

 

I think there was a third bedroom downstairs.   It was a very confusing layout.    I wonder if the sale actually closed?    Many don't close the first time.   Plus I think the rehab and carrying costs are under reported.   

Edited January 4 by CrazyInAlabama

[CrazyInAlabama]

S02.E07 My Flipping Sister
New, 1/9/2025  (Yes, they're showing these out of order). 

"Tarek puts on his teacher hat as he attempts to show his sister and her boyfriend the ins and outs of flipping; mixing family with business, however, may prove to be a flipping disaster."

Angelique, Tarek's big sister, owns two salons, and now wants to get into flipping with her boyfriend Brandon.  Brandon's been going to Tarek's classes in flipping, and Tarek asks Angelique if they want to go in on a flip they have in Cerritos. I wonder if Brandon is the same boyfriend that was an appraiser on Flipping 101?   

A 3 bed 2 bath 1300 sq ft, could sell for up to $1.5 million, bought for $660,000.  L.A. prices are insane.  Sister and boyfriend will be 10% partners, put in $80,000 for 10% of the profits.  Remodel is estimated at $200,000. Tarek's mother Dominique is also helping with the flip.   They cut moving the bedroom and bath walls around, to cut the remodel down to $160,000.  All in is $890.000, and hope to sell at $1.1 million and make a decent profit.  Jake is the contractor again.

I wonder how the fires, and loss of thousands of homes will change the listing prices?   I'm guessing the loss of inventory, and need to get into anything, will drive the market even higher there.  

The endless arguments over colors of the bathroom tile between Tarek and Heather are ridiculous, just filler.  The endless nit picking about tile colors add nothing to the show.    But just a way to show how bad the rant of Haack's ex-husband #3 is. 

They're hiring Dominique, Tarek's mother, to sell the house.  She's a licensed realtor, but never sold a house. (Tarek, Heather and Brandon are all licensed realtors). 

New kitchen floorplan and cabinets are nice.   

I just realized house is right across from the intersection, headlights will be an issue. They spent $750 to do slats behind the TV.  Main bedroom is very small, and other bedrooms are so small.  They tiled the entire patio too. 

They couldn't drywall the garage interior?  

Bought for $660,000, rehab is $175,000.  Carrying and commision $60,000, if they sell for $1.099 million, they can profit for almost $200,000.  Selling price, $1.,099 million with $200,000 profit if it closes. 

Edited January 10 by CrazyInAlabama

[Badsamaritan]

Since HGTV is flooding the zone with promos about this 'Flip Off' between Tarek and Christina, I feel like HG is low key trying to be messy. I know T & C wanna remain relevant on the channel to promote their businesses but if you look at this from a psychological point of view, it almost feels like they're doing this to see if T & C would end up back together. Christina has been through how many relationships since divorcing Tarek, and he turned around and married a younger clone of her so I feel like there might be some unresolved feelings for both of them. Putting on my armchair therapist hat, I gotta wonder why Heather would agree to it, besides the publicity. She appears to be basically an extra, at least in the promos. I'm wondering how much HGTV plans on showcasing the relationship between T & C versus T & H as a couple versus Christina. I don't even care about the flips, I am interested in seeing this messy dynamic though lol. 

[b4pjoe]

Can we assume Tarek’s arm is injured due to his constant patting himself on the back for being so awesome?

[CrazyInAlabama]

S02.E05 Flipping for a Flip

New 1/16/2025

"Tarek and Adam agree to buy a house by flipping a coin! During Heather's first walk through, however, she discovers that their 1800 square foot property may only be 1400 square feet, and this flip might turn out to be their biggest flop yet."

They do a promo segment on Home By Them, T & H's home decor stuff. 

House 1 in Orange, 3 bed 2 bath,  for $710,000 list, at least it's clean and empty. Unpermitted addition. It's 1400 sq ft without the addition.   Adam and Tarek figured out the bad addition, making house 1400 sq ft. 

Proposed rehab budget $200,000, purchase price $710,000, break even for $1 million.   Seller agent doesn't know if addition is permitted, so they make a full price offer anyway.  They flip a coin to decide to buy or not, so they buy the house. 

Turns out the extra room is only permitted as a patio, and not any type of room.  They're putting in a 4th bedroom, taking some space from the huge dining room.  

Reducing the rehab budget to $160,000 will make break even in the mid 900s.  1400 sq ft with four bedrooms makes the house even tinier. 

They had to tear down the addition. So, just keep both parts of the patio as concrete, and even it out, save thousands in dump fees and labor.  They're doing a thick stone back splash.   Now the front siding is bad, and the back of the roof has to be replaced, for $5,000 extra. The take out the front stone, and put in sod and planter boxes.   They decide to do an entire new roof for $20,000.  They want to save money, so they want to do tile on the back patio, another waste of money, and add a firepit.  Flip took 25 weeks. 

Finished house is OK.   I dislike the stone back splash in the kitchen. dining area is tiny, 4th bedrrom is very small. 

Purchase price was $710,000, rehab was $219,000, with carrying costs, etc. break even is $1,003,000.   List price is $1.149 million.  potential profit $146,000. 

Sold for $1.200,000.

 

Edited Friday at 03:00 AM by CrazyInAlabama

[Badsamaritan]

29 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

S02.E05 Flipping for a Flip

New 1/16/2025

"Tarek and Adam agree to buy a house by flipping a coin! During Heather's first walk through, however, she discovers that their 1800 square foot property may only be 1400 square feet, and this flip might turn out to be their biggest flop yet."

"Heather discovers". They got jokes lol. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

S02.E06: Brayden's First Flip
New 1/23/2025

"Tarek and Heather get a tip on a ranch style house in Laguna Niguel, California, that could be perfect for Brayden's first investment; unfortunately, huge delays hit the property which could turn this money making opportunity into a money pit."