House Hunters: Buying in the USA

[bubbls]

 

And a guy could be a mass murderer, but if he loves his old dogs, he gets a pass from me.

 

 

My personal litmus test for dividing people into good and bad humans.

[Crisopera]

I have to say, I was wondering just how much demand there is for a vocal coach in Paducah?

[Tara1665]

Did anyone else think Reno business partners were a couple and not just friends??? They seemed really into the master bedroom and she never mentioned spare bedrooms for herself. However I really like their attitudes.

[camom]

Yes, the relationship of the Reno pair was strange and not explained well.  I did think they were a couple.  So why not just say so?  In fact, trying to figure that out made me not pay attention to the homes very much.

[lizzy07]

 

Yes, the relationship of the Reno pair was strange and not explained well.  I did think they were a couple.  So why not just say so?  In fact, trying to figure that out made me not pay attention to the homes very much.

 

The story I came up with was that he's going through a messy divorce and it would somehow hurt his case to broadcast a new relationship.

[Empress1]

Did anyone else think Reno business partners were a couple and not just friends??? They seemed really into the master bedroom and she never mentioned spare bedrooms for herself. However I really like their attitudes.

Yep, it struck me as very odd to move in permanently with your business partner if you're just partners and aren't running a business that requires that you both live on the premises (like a B&B or something), so I assumed they were a couple. I liked them, but it struck me as odd that they weren't addressing the elephant in the room.

[KLovestoShop]

I never knew that Reno has such nice houses.  I've been there a couple of times, on the way to Lake Tahoe, and it just didn't look like a place that had such nice homes.  

 

The comment the woman made about critters made me laugh.  She obviously has never lived outside of the big city.  When we lived in Arizona, we had tarantulas, scorpions,  rattlesnakes, javelinas, jackrabbits and a lot more.  And we lived in a city.  Where we live now, we have lots of critters including deer, wild turkey, bunnies, groundhogs, and every now and then, black bears.  

 

I didn't like the "views" outside the windows of the second house.  To me, it looked like you're looking out at a stone quarry, and the water feature didn't up the ante for me in terms of a view.  

[DownTheShore]

I missed the opening, so my first impression was that she was a second wife that he had left his first for. They seemed to have that vibe.

[ByaNose]

I couldn't tell if the Reno guy was gay (nothing wrong with that), if they were business partners with benefits, strictly friends or they were indeed dating. It was an odd story intro. Of course, HH can only tell what they are given, right? I was surprised about the size of house you can get in Reno for the price. They were large 4-5 bedroom homes and they weren't $800-$900 which for some reason I thought they would be. Hopefully, they will show the house on HH Renovation episode. I'm curious to see how they opened up that killer kitchen. I still have the the episode on my DVR. I loved the glass tile backsplash from one of the houses. I would love to mine like that and I need a reference point. I'm not sure if that was the final house or not though.

[Pickles]

I liked the twin sisters in Galveston tonight. They had a good sense of humor and had me laughing.

[ByaNose]

Twins & two houses. It was meant to be. So, they bought both & one is going to live in one & the other house is going to be rented out, right? In the end, I wasn't sure if each sister was taking a home or not. Also, that's a great deal with both houses under $200,000 (or lower) all together. Another house I want see when it's all finished.

[KLovestoShop]

The Texas Twins were fun.  One thing I wondered, the announcer said they own several rental properties, it would have been nice to hear more about that, like how many rental properties they own.  They're turning into real estate specialists, which I applaud for women so young.  The two houses were the best choice for them.

[laredhead]

For those of you who might not know, HH is doing "HH Where Are They Now" episodes this week.  Last night was a couple in Hawaii, one in New York state, and the single woman in Chicago who had a house gutted to the studs, the basement dug out and the entire thing reconfigured.  Her episode generated a lot of comments at the time.  i was impressed with the wife of the New York state couple because she was the handy one and did many of the improvements herself, including installing wood flooring.  Her husband was very complimentary of her skills. 

[biakbiak]

I know it's only two days into "where are they now" I think all.the renos have been so crazy shitty that if I saw the renos on HH and the new buyers wanted to gut the spaces I would agree!

Edited September 23, 2015 by biakbiak

[CherryAmes]

I saw the last 15 minutes of an episode with a couple buying a house in Florida.  They set up the usual "conflict' by having her want a colonial and him want Mediterranean.  I could get past that manufactured tension (it was pretty fake) but the guy was just so fricking annoying about everything and the woman was almost as bad.  Here's a clue future participants of HH you don't have to hate every damn thing about a house.  Sometimes it's possible to just not like it.  And all the "oh my god I hate this" stuff and surprise surprise that was the house you bought.  Ugh.

[Tara1665]

New York to Arizona Where Are They Now...I really hate to disparage anyone's design taste but lord that hideous. Also she's still as pretentious as I remember.

[Pickles]

I agree about the New York to Arizona couple's design choices. Incredibly awful. Just ugly and so much going on! I couldn't even focus.

[laredhead]

Last night's HH Where Are They Now episode featured the Washington, DC couple who took on a huge fixer.  I was a bit confused as to whether they added a new 1700 sf area to the house, or if that was already part of the house when they bought it.  That house was beautiful when they finished it.  I enjoyed their banter back and forth and especially the little joke about their dog's name.  

 

The Chicago(?) couple who bought the loft might regret that decision as their baby gets older.  Lofts are great if there are enough windows and light for all of the rooms, but when you have to make rooms w/o windows other than a bathroom or a media room, I am not a fan.  He was hung up on finding a place for his Chesterfield style sofas.    

[Homily]

Were they trying to make a room a bedroom without any windows?  I saw a show a few years ago where the couple doing the renovating did that and I kept wondering why no one told them that was illegal - or at least they'd never be able to sell a house claiming that room was a bedroom. 

Edited September 25, 2015 by Homily

[Empress1]

I remember the Chesterfield sofa couple. (Not a fan of the name Kensington for a baby. There's a neighborhood in Philly called Kensington.) I agree that there wasn't quite enough light in the loft for my taste, and I'd also guess that it'll start to feel small as she gets older or if they have another. They seem like lovely people though.

 

That 1800s renovated DC house is probably worth millions now between the upgrades, additional bathrooms, and roof deck with those views. It turned out really beautifully. I loved the living room, den, and dining room. I didn't see that episode when it aired, but I really liked the couple.

 

I also saw the ep with the woman in Chicago who flipped (I don't believe she actually lives there) the house. She did a ton of work and it's impressive, but the house overall felt really sterile to me. It looked like a showroom. It was all gray walls (and I like gray; my bedroom is gray), tile backsplash, chevron rugs.

[bubbls]

All-over-the-world to Winston-Salem couple--wow, that wife is annoying. She's standing in the UNFINISHED basement and loudly announces it's not livable. Ya don't say?? I think I own the same sparkly beige shirt she's wearing. I find her so annoying I'm horrified by this.

[laredhead]

Homily, from what I saw, they took some space from the entry area (I think), and then made the walls go all the way to the ceiling to cut down on noise, to make a bedroom for the baby.  No window that I could see.  I was also under the impression that you can't market a house and claim a room as a bedroom if it doesn't have a closet and a window.  Maybe they plan to call it a media room or den when they sell.

[Bastet]

(Not a fan of the name Kensington for a baby. There's a neighborhood in Philly called Kensington.)

 

Maybe they're one of those couples who names their poor kid for where it was conceived.  (When I hear Kensington, I think London rather than Philadelphia, but I certainly don't think "You know, that would be a nice name.")

[DownTheShore]

I was wondering what they were going to wind up nicknaming her - "Kenny"? They're going to get awfully tired of saying that whole name after a while.

IMO, that's simply a pretentious name to give a child as a first name. I think that it would work better as a middle name.

[biakbiak]

I have heard Kensie as a nickname for Kensington and not just on Southern Charm.

Edited September 26, 2015 by biakbiak

[Patrizio]

I really was looking forward to the Washington couple- I just thought they were nice guys, both with a  great sense of humor.  I did get a flip vibe though.  I mean seven bedrooms and six bathrooms for two people?  I didn't get a feeling that the place was lived in either- seemed off some how.  Also, that couple with those ugly chesterfield couches bugged me, I think lofts are good for singles/couples without children. As for the name Kensington-  I work on a maternity dept. do you know how many little girls are named Mackenzie?  Or Sidney?  At least Bella and Ava dried up.  For little boys-Hunter, Cole, Zack, and Joshua.  We had a Mary and a Glenn a few weeks ago, I think those parents were overwhelmed with our compliments!

[DownTheShore]

Speaking of names, I was watching a Yankees - Red Sox game and I saw that the Sox have a player named "Brock Holt". Now if that isn't an example of a mother who either watched too many soap operas or read too many romance novels, I don't know what is.

I feel bad for some of those kids who are given pretentious or very long first names, and whose parents don't want any diminutives to be used. I have one in my family and his mother attempted to make me call him only by his given name - initially. At last count, he answers to five different nicknames I use for him, and I've heard his mother use two of them herself - lol.

=========

My sister bought a Chesterfield sofa recently. It looks very elegant but it is the most uncomfortable thing to sit on. The back is way too low; there's no support.

Edited September 29, 2015 by DownTheShore

[biakbiak]

Rockford dude, "when I think of Frank Loyd Wright, my preferred style, I don't think of older homes," stop using references you don't

understand!

[NYGirl]

The boyfriend of the girl last night who wanted a traditional house in Dallas was really annoying.  Hey dude you're not living there so just stop trying to talk her out of what she wants.  His big thing was "electrical".  I know he was looking out for her but he was annoying

 

She did pick the best house for her needs.  But if you want traditional, you're not going to get open concept.

Edited September 30, 2015 by NYGirl

[Pine]

Dallas boyfriend was worse than annoying.

[lizzy07]

 

The boyfriend of the girl last night who wanted a traditional house in Dallas was really annoying.  Hey dude you're not living there so just stop trying to talk her out of what she wants.

 

Yes, I loved how he kept bitching about older houses, assuming HE would have to fix everything. Dude, she could dump you tomorrow, so don't get so worried about fixing her house just yet.

[MichaelaRae]

Tonight's new House Hunters couple in Maine. I cannot even pay attention to it because the wife has won the irritating vocal tic hat trick: Vocal fry, up talking and an affected lisp. Kill. Me.

[Empress1]

Tonight's new House Hunters couple in Maine. I cannot even pay attention to it because the wife has won the irritating vocal tic hat trick: Vocal fry, up talking and an affected lisp. Kill. Me.

I came here to say the same thing. I feel bad about thinking it and some of it isn't her fault (the high pitch, the lisp), but she has one of the most unfortunate voices I've ever heard. I couldn't stand listening to her talk. Also I have a hard time getting interested in episodes that feature new construction houses because they all tend to run together.

[laredhead]

MichaelaRae, I haven't watched the Maine episode yet.  Thanks for the warning.  Wonder if closed captioning will work.

 

I thought the young woman from Dallas was amusing when she said she wanted an old house for the character, yet she was totally turned off by the pink bathroom.  Pink bathrooms are prized by people who want the 50's style MCM house.  I think her boyfriend called her out on that by saying she wanted to pick and choose from the character menu as to what features she wanted, and she agreed.  No need to gut a pink, or any other color bathroom of that vintage, because the tiles can always be coated to any color, as can the sinks and tubs.  I did not like the exterior color of the house she bought, but that's something else she can change if she wants to.  She was going for location first and that house was the best.

[MichaelaRae]

I am reasonably sure that lisp is affected. It's part of that little girl lisp speech pattern that was going on a while ago. And the pitch didn't bother me. But the up talking? With the question? After every statement? KILL. ME.

[Bastet]

God, the voice!  I'll give her a pass on that which she can't help, obviously, but the rest ... the episode is unwatchable for her cutesy shit.  You are an adult, talk like it!

 

Plus, your house is boring.

 

Next.

[ByaNose]

Wow! Here I thought Cindy Brady had the worst lisp but this HH was 100 times worse. I seriously couldn't imagine being with her 24/7. The high pitch, the lisp and the visible tongue when she speaks would drive.me.up.a wall. That said, the house they picked was nice and I liked what they did with the kitchen. I loved the island the PB light fixtures. very nice looking.

[DownTheShore]

I came here too to comment on that Maine woman's speech. OMG, if I was her spouse and had to listen to it for the rest of my life? What a sentence of purgatory on Earth! I wanted to put a gag in her mouth just to stop the aural pain.

Truly, love is blind in this instance.

[truther]

Also I have a hard time getting interested in episodes that feature new construction houses because they all tend to run together.

 

 

 

Plus, your house is boring.

 

Next.

That was really my main problem.  It was such a paint-by-numbers approach.  I don't think they could have made southern Maine look any less interesting had they tried. 

[Ohwell]

I lasted about 15 minutes with the Maine couple.  Her husband was a dentist and, I swear, I'd rather for him to give me a root canal than listen to his wife's voice.  I couldn't take anymore and tuned out.  

[Babalooie]

The Raleigh couple was same old same old with the wife and the irritating.voice.  All that I could think of was how the dogs were ruining those nice wood floors already.

[Peanutbuttercup]

ugh Princess Shrieky from last night! The beautiful dogs were my favorite part of the family. They can come mess up my floors any time.

Edited October 2, 2015 by Peanutbuttercup

[laredhead]

I really think the producers of this show screen the tryout videos and try to find the most annoying voices just so they can come to this site and laugh when we complain about them.  That Raleigh woman had one of the most annoying voices I have ever heard.  She actually dropped it a register or two a couple of brief times during the show, and that's when I realized she really could talk in a less grating manner.  Her demands were a little unrealistic, and the realtor said as much.  If they just had to have a farmhouse sink, a bedroom not off the entry, a screened porch, no brick, no front stairs, etc., then find an empty lot in one of those subdivisions and build a custom house.  Don't go to every house and complain about something.  They can screen in that covered area at the back of the house they bought.  It looked like a porch to me.  In the end, they took the house with the longest commute - right?  Yes, the dogs were very pretty.

[KLovestoShop]

The Raleigh wife made my ears bleed. And what was with her using her bottom lip and top teeth to form her words instead of using both lips? And not only that, her wish list was beyond awful, with the no brick, no steps into the front door and actually wanting an HOA. Another thing was her comment that having to walk up a few steps into the front door was too much work. What a lazy witch.

Unless you buy acreage that's usually pretty far from the city, or you have a budget of a million, you're going to have neighbors. With a budget of $400K, you will your neighbors.

Their attitudes also need major adjusting. His comment about what do they have to do to get what they want in that market, and her spoiled brat comment that she ALWAYS gets 100% of what she wants, just made me want to punch her.

I was surprised they chose the house they did. It didn't have the exterior fancy finishes that he wanted, and there were a lot of stairs to the front door. Plus, the houses in the area all looked alike.

[ByaNose]

The Raleigh wife was annoying with her demands. Her husband was a stud and seemed really happy with her. They say true that love is blind, right? LOL!!! She wasn't that bad but her list of no front stairs, no brick & wanting an HOA was really annoying but I guess we all have our must haves for House Hunting. The house they chose was nice but it was everything she supposedly hated. I think they were most happiest about the kitchen. That said, the house was pretty pricey. IMo!!!

[KLovestoShop]

OMG, like, I think we, like have, like Romy and Michelle like buying a house. What an obnoxious couple of women. Jersey Shore meets SoCal, in the worst way. If I had to hear the blonde, who's actually buying the house, say "beachy feel" one more time, my foot would go through the TV. And her witchy friend, whom I think won't last long as a room mate, was not in the right demanding a say in the purchase. When you rent, you get what you get, and tough noogies to if you don't have freaking tile floors. And to say that she didn't think it was fair for the owner to have a bigger bedroom was way out of line.

And of course, we have the Valley Girl speech. No way would I want that woman as my realtor. She comes off as a bubble head.

[Empress1]

On a shallow note, I thought both women were rather homely.

The best friend was really obnoxious. "I don't want to share a bathroom!" Then buy your own place with an ensuite bath and shut up. It's not your house! She was lucky her friend even gave her a say.

[DownTheShore]

I was wondering why she was swanning around in that long dress when she was going to be tramping through houses.

"Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up"?

[esquared]

And she called herself a "realator."

[NYGirl]

Just watched the Raleigh couple with the beautiful dogs...and yes her voice was terrible.  I discovered that she doesn't shut her lips when she talks.  It was very strange.  And wanting a HOA?  Why?