House Hunters: Buying in the USA

[Mittengirl]

My impression of the Dallas couple was they really are a Bickersons couple who amped everything up, thinking it would look good/amusing on TV. Instead they both came off looking horrible. I didn't think she was any better than him, just nasty in a less obvious way. And those castle homes were ugly, imho.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Mittengirl

[NYGirl]

I agree laredhead.  Sometimes you get a glimpse of how people really are because production makes the same arguments for every show.  But when you see something different..that's the real person.  I'm sure paint colors is production too..it's way too common.

[Ohwell]

And those castle homes were ugly, imho.

 

Yeah, I thought they were ugly too.

[Suck It Trebek]

I was visiting family in the north Dallas area last year and one of her favorite pastimes is to go through model homes. We walked through a ton of French castle style homes: wrought iron, arches, brick, turrets, etc. what knocked us out was that it all looked SO nice, but then you start opening cabinets and they were pressboard (I think?) and baseboards were plastic (Maybe? I'm sorry-I'm not 100% familiar with the materials used nowadays.) and we were looking at homes that were $400-500k across a variety of home builders. We were just very surprised.

[Dejana]

Booty Bumpin! How many times did the HHers say it in the latest episode? The house they picked was pretty cookie cutter, but I didn't care for the sinkless bathroom house or the ranch that was "3,000 square feet" (half of it must have been in the master suite, because the house did not look that big).

Edited January 2, 2016 by Dejana

[ByaNose]

They sure got a tiny little patio for grilling. It was an inexpensive house and they got a lot for their money.

[magemaud]

I was ready to start the Booty Bumpin' Drinkin' Game! I really couldn't figure out that house with the sinks in the bedrooms but NOT in the bathroom. How are you supposed to wash your hands after you use the toilet? A sink in the bedroom would be handy but only if it's in addition to a regular bathroom sink. 

[Patti Jean]

I thought the "booty bumpin' " wife sounded just like Wanda Sykes. That would grate after awhile.

 

As far as sinks in bedrooms, 25 years ago, when Mr. Patti jean and I were house hunting, we toured a house with sinks in some of the bedrooms.  I didn't think it was a very good idea as I could envision the future children slinging water all over their bedrooms.

[Ohwell]

Booty Bumpin' wife got on my last nerve.  I couldn't even concentrate on whichever house they bought.  I just didn't care.

[izabella]

I didn't mind the booty bumpin' at all - at least booty bumpin' was something different instead of the usual "guy shuts door on wife in closet, hahahaha"  scenes, lol, or worse, when they exclaim how they "can't open the dishwasher and oven doors at the same time, ohnoz!"

 

But he is not forgiven for getting into bathtubs with his shoes on!!

[juliet73]

A bit OT, but has anyone watched My Lottery Dream Home? It's basically HH with people who won some money. There is no board for it yet so I was just curious.

[Dejana]

A bit OT, but has anyone watched My Lottery Dream Home? It's basically HH with people who won some money. There is no board for it yet so I was just curious.

 

In the Genre forum, there's a thread for real estate shows. Sometimes I wonder why they don't just put these other brief offshoots (lotto winners, sports stars) under the House Hunters umbrella, the way they've done with Tiny House Hunters. They'd probably get higher ratings.

 

Had to roll my eyes at Mr. Booty Bumpin complaining about one of the houses not having a door in the master bathroom. There was a doorway so it was was a relatively easy fix. I'm not handy at all but the house was tens of thousands under budget. Calling someone in to put in the hinges and door wouldn't have been that hard, though it was probably just something to complain about for the sake of the script.

Edited January 2, 2016 by Dejana

[KittyS]

I liked the booty bumpin' couple! They seemed to enjoy each other and despite (supposedly) having opposite desires, they both ended up compromising and appreciating their new home. The house they bought was pretty cookie cutter, but was so much better than the decoys. I'm green with envy at what that you can get for your money compared to the D.C. area, but I don't especially want to live in Columbia, SC, so I'll just suck it up.

[Empress1]

I'm green with envy at what that you can get for your money compared to the D.C. area, but I don't especially want to live in Columbia, SC, so I'll just suck it up.

Heh. I always think that when there's an episode in Buffalo. Buffalo is damn near free, apparently. Beautiful Victorian homes for a hundred grand. There was someone on the show who got a fixer for fifty grand. But you couldn't pay me to live in Buffalo. It looks like it's beautiful during the two months of the year it's not covered with snow, but that's not enough for me. And I like snow! (No offense to anyone who lives in Buffalo.)

 

I liked the SC couple. At least they seemed to like each other (I smiled when the husband said they were a tight-knit unit), unlike the Dallas couple. The house they chose was indeed cookie cutter but they seemed genuinely happy and excited about it, which was nice. I was kind of with the husband on the outdoor space though.

[drafan]

I don't think anyone here has commented on the New Orleans couple. She was sooooo annoying with her baby-doll dresses and little hipster terms for everything.  "Chandy" for chandelier comes to mind. It was like she was trying out to replace Zooey Deschanel or be the next new girl in New Girl. And what was her "job"???? Jewelry making???

He, on the other hand, was adorable. I wonder how long he will be able to stand her shtick?

I can't even remember what they bought...she was too distracting.

[DownTheShore]

A bit OT, but has anyone watched My Lottery Dream Home? It's basically HH with people who won some money. There is no board for it yet so I was just curious.

I saw two episodes of it and I liked it. It seemed like both couples chose the homes that they could financially live with.

I did love those two estates, though, in West Orange NJ that they showed.

[MsTree]

A bit OT, but has anyone watched My Lottery Dream Home? It's basically HH with people who won some money. There is no board for it yet so I was just curious.

I, too, enjoyed this show. Plus David Bromstead...you can't go wrong!

[juliet73]

The Chicago couple tonight was fine except for Tyler. Holy smokes that dude needs a personality! His voice was so boring and monotone...he could cure insomnia. I couldn't tell if he was happy, upset or anything in between. I hope they donated the "old" kitchen cabinets, appliances, etc because everything looked new.

[Sun-Bun]

The Chicago couple tonight was fine except for Tyler. Holy smokes that dude needs a personality! His voice was so boring and monotone...he could cure insomnia. I couldn't tell if he was happy, upset or anything in between. I hope they donated the "old" kitchen cabinets, appliances, etc because everything looked new.

His partner sure was a whiny manchild though, wasn't he?

(("I need vintage!" "Where's my vintage?!" "Tee-hee, I win!!"))

And of course, vintage boy gets his choice but insists on tearing apart the "vintage" new kitchen because it just isn't new and fabulous enough for his fancy tastes.

They just seemed odd together, almost like a quiet father dealing with his spoiled brat of a son---which makes me wonder if Tyler dresses his boy up like a big crying vintage baby in a vintage crib as their ongoing sexual fetish.

[NYGirl]

I thought Tyler was a young boy at first.  Then they said they'd been together 9 years..I was like..yikes.

 

Ugh what a whiner.  And he acted like such a baby at the end...I won..I won.  My goodness.  He should be embarrassed at the way he acted.  So what was that about the kitchen?  He tore out the vintage which was nice..to make it modern?  I'm confused.

[Ottis]

I was ready to start the Booty Bumpin' Drinkin' Game! I really couldn't figure out that house with the sinks in the bedrooms but NOT in the bathroom. How are you supposed to wash your hands after you use the toilet?

 

 

I was wondering if that home was used as a halfway house of some kind. They had clearly installed sinks into spaces that had been built as closets. Who would do that unless you aren't staying for long?

[proserpina65]

I was wondering if that home was used as a halfway house of some kind. They had clearly installed sinks into spaces that had been built as closets. Who would do that unless you aren't staying for long?

Possibly, but there was a real trend in the early 90s of putting the sink in a transitional area between the master bedroom and the masterbath, at least to judge by some of the townhouses I toured when I was hunting for house 11 years ago.

Edited January 5, 2016 by proserpina65

[izabella]

I thought Tyler was a young boy at first.  Then they said they'd been together 9 years..I was like..yikes.

 

Ugh what a whiner.  And he acted like such a baby at the end...I won..I won.  My goodness.  He should be embarrassed at the way he acted.  So what was that about the kitchen?  He tore out the vintage which was nice..to make it modern?  I'm confused.

 

The kitchen was an awkward shape...kind of like a galley kitchen but more awkwardly shaped.  It looked brand new, so not a vintage kitchen.  The big thing was the wall between the kitchen and the dining/living room, and they wanted to take that down.  Instead of just taking down one wall and moving the existing new cabinets and appliances, they demo'd the entire kitchen, including the new cabinets, counters and appliances so they could start from scratch.

[biakbiak]

Yeah that kitchen was small and akwardly laid out I could see wanting to redo it. As for the other guy I was SHOCKED when he said he was a fan of Roy Lichtenstein! Shocked!

[camom]

 

there was a real trend in the early 90s of putting the sink in a transitional area between the master bedroom and the masterbath,

 

My townhouse (built in 1979) has this.  There is a doorway (but no door) between the bedroom and sink area.  Then there is another room with the shower and toilet.  It's not a problem for me but can see why some wouldn't like it, especially if there was someone using the sink while they were trying to sleep.

[CoolMom]

My townhouse (built in 1979) has this.  There is a doorway (but no door) between the bedroom and sink area.  Then there is another room with the shower and toilet.  It's not a problem for me but can see why some wouldn't like it, especially if there was someone using the sink while they were trying to sleep.

 

Our house built in the early 90s has this as well but no doorway.  The bathroom sinks are off to the side of the master then you go through the CLOSET to get to the shower and toilet.  It's odd but I loved the house (and price) enough to overlook it.

[CherryAmes]

I'd rather have the sink than the tub!  We were househunting around 2006 or so and saw at least 3 houses that had the tubs right in the master bedroom.  In all cases these were older homes that had been renovated so at some point in time this must have been the "granite, stainless, open concept" thing to do.  In one of the houses I think they ended up having to have the tub in the bedroom because they renovated the hell out of the relatively small en-suite putting in an enormous walk-in shower and the de rigour double sink. 

[aguabella]

Occasionally, touring numerous homes, you come across a place built during a specific time period that reads much older.  Typically, if you check, the home was either built by an older generation builder and/or renovated by one.  Don't know for certain, obviously, but the Columbia Cape Cod (decoy #2), felt like that situation. 

 

The sinks initially looked like the typical 70's - 80's routine but on closer (minor) review, no - don't think so.  Looked like one of those bedrooms may have had an old-fashioned, say 50's - 60's style small master, i.e. a powder room, but they removed the toilet, retaining the sink.  At some point, recently, someone wanted a larger, full-sized tub unit in the family bath so they installed that with the toilet, losing that sink.  (They knew they didn't need it, lol!)

 

Then, they wanted a larger master so they designated a different space altogether as their master, installing double vanities plus a tub room.  Sorry, sellers (supposedly), it just didn't work for me.  They were trying too hard and it showed! 

 

In general, decoy #2 was an example of failing to spend sufficient $$$ in order to achieve proper space planning, IMHO.  (As an aside, Mr. SC realtor, no you can not simply throw up a closet and call any room a bedroom - not for appraisal purposes, anyway.)**

 

Moving on to #3, again, cheap, cheap, cheap.  (Sorry, if you plan to renovate - set an initial budget and then double it, minimum.  S* happens, after you begin.  Oops, stepping off soapbox.)  it's another example of insufficient $$$ and improper space planning.  They changed the uses of certain rooms to achieve their ultimate goal  - that was, a larger master.  Just my hunch, BTW.    If I had to guess, I'd say the master was previously part of the home's communal living space and may have required the removal of at least 1 wall.  I could definitely be incorrect.

 

Overall, the couple was pleasant even though their dance routine was annoying.  Pretty obvious, as a youngish couple, that they'd previously purchased the basic, newer tract home and someone designated the outdoor space as the episode's red herring.

 

Funny, neither realtors nor sellers are as thrilled to sign up for HH these days.  Given that, realtors often must use own their listings to present an add'l 2 homes to the production company.  Were those last 2 the SC realtor guy's listings?  Ouch - sorry, dumps.  Keep working, dude.  You'll get there ... 

 

 

**P.S.  If anyone wants to discuss this topic, let me know.  Don't have time to post further about that age-old issue, i.e. what's a bedroom?  Not always as simple as it sounds, lol!

Edited January 5, 2016 by aguabella

[DownTheShore]

I was watching an episode of "Escape To The Country" on YouTube last night. What a night-and-day difference between those English househunters and the ones that are on the HH show. It was just a pleasure to hear potential buyers talk sensibly about what they could live with for a few years before they change it, and what merely needed a new coat of paint. No mention of stainless steel or granite countertops at all.

[Tony]

Is it a HH rule that the females always must irrationally dislike modern/contemporary design....??

 

Yes. Yes it is.

 

The women are scripted to only want traditional and the men want craftsman. This is the way it has to be. Every time.

[NYGirl]

Don't forget those silly silly men who want houses that have a project or 2 for them..God forbid there are none.  The wives roll their eyes when they mention it.

[Empress1]

I was dozing a little when this was on, but is it me or was there nothing wrong with the master bathroom in the second house (my favorite) the Rochester couple saw? The blue toilet was weird but a) I'm sure it worked and b) it could be a funny conversation piece until they got around to redoing it. They kept talking about how it needed upgrading and I was like "?" The bathroom in the first house, the expensive one, was worse. I cracked up when the realtor was like, hello, it's only hot two weeks out of the year, you don't need central air. And I would definitely prioritize a garage if I lived in a city where it snowed as much as it does in Rochester, so that was a huge drawback for the house they chose.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Empress1

[Dawning]

 

I was dozing a little when this was on, but is it me or was there nothing wrong with the master bathroom in the second house (my favorite) the Rochester couple saw? The blue toilet was weird but a) I'm sure it worked and b) it could be a funny conversation piece until they got around to redoing it. They kept talking about how it needed upgrading and I was like "?"

I loved the last house the best, the one they bought, so I wasn't paying super-careful attention to that second one, but I will say that, while I'm sure that bathroom "worked", you do get a lot of legitimate issues with bathrooms (or kitchens) that are that old. That bathroom reminded me of my parents', which they just had redone, which also had a blue toilet and blue tub (and those colors pretty much guarantee that they're several decades old) which had lots of problems with leaking (my dad confirmed that they had to redo the entire subfloor when they redid the room), and they were also really, really hard to make clean/look good. The grout was a crumbly mess (mildewed immediately after cleaning) and the porcelain/enamel coating was completely stripped, so they always looked dirty even right after cleaning (and would attract dirt, mildew, and other gross stuff immediately after being cleaned). (My old apartment had a white kitchen sink and tub from the 1960s that had the same problems.) So while they certainly could have lived with that bathroom for a while, there are some real issues with old tubs/toilets they would have to deal with, in addition to the lack of aesthetic appeal. It's not quite the same as a "my appliances must be stainless steel!!" issue. 

 

I agree that the lack of a garage on that last house would have been a real issue for me (having just bought a house this last fall, I am SO enjoying my first-ever winter having a garage to park my car in), but the price on that last house was great, and they could potentially build a garage for the same price as redoing that bathroom and a few other things on the second house. But I was just thrilled that they didn't buy that over-budget new house -- I would have been fine with either of the other options, but my choice would definitely have been the last one (it reminded me some of my "new" (old) house, which I'm totally in love with, so I'm biased).

[JasmineFlower]

Yeah that kitchen was small and awkwardly laid out I could see wanting to redo it. As for the other guy I was SHOCKED when he said he was a fan of Roy Lichtenstein! Shocked!

 

Seriously. The episode started and I was like, so, like you some Roy Lichtenstein just a bit, huh? It was literally on every flat surface of their apartment. I loved that he said his painting were inspired by him. Inspired is bit of an understatement I'd say.

 

For the Rochester couple, I thought a few things were going on here. She said she had a dog walking business. It must be either in or near the city, so I doubt the far away Webster location was truly in play except for getting more space in an updated home. I thought it was a good possibility the bathroom in the second house looked better on TV than it did in person. The kind of bathroom most people could live with for 20 more years but if you move into a house you'd look into changing it.

 

Finally, really wish the realtor had mentioned that the 3rd house was ideal for a remodel on the top floor. That "master closet" is not really a master closet just how they were using it, their master bedroom already had two other closets too. They can get the 4 bedrooms they need by eventually converting that master closet, taking half of it and turning it into a bathroom, use the other half to make up the their master bedroom with closets, and reconfigure the rest of the master bedroom into a 4th bedroom. There was that much space within their master suite area, it was just very poorly used. And yeah, hope they figure out a way to build a garage. Wasn't clear on if there was enough space on the property for it.

 

I liked the last house the best, but that super tiny window out front would drive me to drink. I'd have to frame out a good sized one proportional to the other windows.

Edited January 6, 2016 by JasmineFlower

[garnet]

  Lack of garage + location in an environment where there's guaranteed snow every winter = no sale for me, anyways.

 

  I liked the other two houses though.

Edited January 7, 2016 by garnet

[laredhead]

I liked the curb appeal of the 3rd house and the screened porch.  It looked like there was enough room to build a garage and maybe connect it to the kitchen.  Where I live, it costs about $20,000 to construct a garage, so getting the house at $150,000 meant they could add one, especially since he said they were paying less on their mortgage than they had paid in rent.  I agree with you, Garnet, that would be a deal breaker for me if I couldn't afford to build a garage immediately.  I live where it rains a lot and I have to park under a pine tree which cannot be removed.  Between those those things, I need covered parking, but can't do it right now. 

[lizzy07]

Last night's DC couple -- At first I was annoyed by the husband, but then he cracked that if they had a ton of money, they would whine, "Why can't I have a helipad??" He won me over with that.

Cool kitchen in the house they chose.

[aguabella]

Yes. Yes it is.

 

The women are scripted to only want traditional and the men want craftsman. This is the way it has to be. Every time.

 

Now, now, the producers alternate it occasionally - just to keep things honest (cough, cough)!

[aguabella]

I was thinking the same thing - a lot of large windows is nice to have in a home, but that first house had way too many. I was thinking about how hot it would get when direct sunlight was pouring in them.

That FL-TX woman must have come over from Poland as a young child, because her speech patterns seemed to be completely American and without any accent.

Were we ever told exactly what her job was? I'm wondering if it is a real job for a company, or if she's merely a blogger?

But I agree, they were an unpleasant couple, and I don't think that it was scripted.

 

She described her business as "online home décor", DownTheShore and never used any form of the word, "blog".  So, ???

 

I had the same impression as a few other posters, i.e. that they'd jointly decided to play up the conflict.  It had a real-life bite to it, however.

 

The office storyline, that he'd changed the office when she went out for a couple of hours, didn't ring true.  Everyone notice the masculine furnishings in it?  They must have directed the movers to place those heavy items in that room.  Could be they share the office and she allowed him to use his furnishings.  Or, she likes that style and that's fine, too!

[Bronx Babe]

D.C. male partners last night.  To give one of them "personality", we were told he enjoys taking random airplane rides to nowhere in particular just to experience the flight, and that he's terrified of zombies.

[awaken]

Darn.  Sorry I missed the DC ep since I live here.  Was it a new one?  Hopefully I"ll catch it on the rerun!  

 

Just re-watched the Chicago couple with the baby even though I've seen it a few times.  I just love the architecture and mix of styles!  Did they mention what they do, to afford a 1M+ condo?  Just curious!  

[Mu Shu]

Ugh. Just saw the squatty, snotty doctor in PA with the bleeding red lipstick. She wanted an "urban" neighborhood in Bethelem PA. Also, must have ceilings and mantels conducive to her xmas decor, which included a peace sign for the outside. If she were my doctor , I would get a referral to dr Kervorkian. What an insufferable hoo haw.

[CherryAmes]

Just re-watched the Chicago couple with the baby even though I've seen it a few times.  I just love the architecture and mix of styles!  Did they mention what they do, to afford a 1M+ condo?  Just curious!

 

I don't know about this couple but almost every time I've googled a participant to figure out how they could afford what they were buying it turned out they were a doctor, or in some cases with couples, doctors.  Not true every time but often enough to see a pattern.

[KLovestoShop]

I have to say that the people who put themselves out there on the Lottery House Hunt are stupid.  When you win that kind of money, you want to remain anonymous so that not every slug out there will be looking for you to bug you for money.  While I know that the people who have done this show so far haven't been BIG lottery winners, you still don't put yourself out there as any kind of lottery winner or else you get what you deserve if you have people stalking you or even worse.  

 

Don't you hate it when one or the other of a couple says "I win" when they get the house they want?  I think it was the Texas couple where I thought the husband was totally obnoxious in wanting HIS wish list and HIS office.  When he got his house and office, he said "I win".  I've seen that with more than a couple of of shows. 

Edited January 11, 2016 by KLovestoShop

[CherryAmes]

Speaking of patterns it seems like the husband "wins" in most of the shows I've watched - at least when it seems like they've set the couples up as if they're on competing teams.  I'm not sure why they do that because we all know they've picked the house before the episode even gets filmed. When it's man cave vs hers and hers closets I don't really care but when it's his special buttercup needs vs a safer neighbourhood for the family I see red.

Edited January 11, 2016 by CherryAmes

[DownTheShore]

It seems as though the lottery winners they've had on so far haven't been any of the mega winners. I don't know about the rest of you, but here in NJ, five million isn't going to last that long what with the new house and car buying, socking away college funds, etc. ,etc. That's not going to bring people out of the woodwork to the extent that it's more than a minor nusiance. The folks on the show are also buying homes in communities where the income level is on par with theirs, so they won't be a neighborhood sensation.

Now with the current Powerball, that's a completely different story. With that kind of money, you hire people to deal with potential disturbances and you would of course keep a lower profile for a while.

Edited January 12, 2016 by DownTheShore

[magemaud]

 

Now with the current Powerball, that's a completely different story. With that kind of money, you hire people to deal with potential disturbances and you would of course keep a lower profile for a while.

I'll let you know tomorrow...

[Ottis]

My townhouse (built in 1979) has this.  There is a doorway (but no door) between the bedroom and sink area.  Then there is another room with the shower and toilet.  It's not a problem for me but can see why some wouldn't like it, especially if there was someone using the sink while they were trying to sleep.

 

 

But if I remember correctly, that wasn't what that house had. It featured bedrooms where, literally in the what have been a closet, sinks were installed. There wasn't an adjacent space with a toilet or shower or anything. It was as if someone has taken off the closet doors and put in a sink. That's why i wondered if it had been a halfway house. 

[Mittengirl]

I was thinking that had to have been some kind of boarding house at some point.

[NYGirl]

Was anybody else annoyed at the Tampa couple? I need my white cabinets ( like you can't paint cabinets) and him with where's my pool? Both had to be producer driven as they ended up with neither. I just couldn't stand the way she was demanding it.