House Hunters: Buying in the USA

[seenspotz]

Since I live about three miles from Roseville Woman, today I got curious and drove over there.  For one thing, I wondered if the vacant lot actually had signage indicating it was for future commercial development.  Nope, nothing.  There are houses - including hers, of course - built on three sides of said vacant lot and the main drag is on the fourth side.  I even started looking at the master plan for the West Park community where her house is located.  It's a large and newish master planned community.  But the document is 50 pages long so I didn't follow through. I'd like to think the (pseudo?) realtor might be wrong and it's going to be a park.  That would be a whole other thing.

 

Part of my curiosity is fueled by the fact that "we" in my nearby neighborhood are affected by the traffic to and from Roseville Woman's neighborhood. I agree about the resale value if indeed a strip mall or equivalent goes in there.  Walmart probably won't as we already have a SuperWalmart in Roseville.

 

As far as HH goes, of course they didn't clarify that RV Woman's new build house would be subject to California's lovely Mello Roos taxes which will increase her property taxes by potentially the low four figures (it varies by location) each year, over and above her "normal" property taxes. So the low HOA fee is the tip of the iceberg.

 

Oh, and yes, Roseville has its quaint old downtown, but it's hardly a wide spot in the road.  Last population figures showed approximately 130,000 residents - and that doesn't include the unincorporated part.

 

So now you know the "rest of the story", at least as much as I'm privy to!

[topanga]

Since I live about three miles from Roseville Woman, today I got curious and drove over there.  For one thing, I wondered if the vacant lot actually had signage indicating it was for future commercial development.  Nope, nothing.  There are houses - including hers, of course - built on three sides of said vacant lot and the main drag is on the fourth side.  I even started looking at the master plan for the West Park community where her house is located.  It's a large and newish master planned community.  But the document is 50 pages long so I didn't follow through. I'd like to think the (pseudo?) realtor might be wrong and it's going to be a park.  That would be a whole other thing.

 

Part of my curiosity is fueled by the fact that "we" in my nearby neighborhood are affected by the traffic to and from Roseville Woman's neighborhood. I agree about the resale value if indeed a strip mall or equivalent goes in there.  Walmart probably won't as we already have a SuperWalmart in Roseville.

 

As far as HH goes, of course they didn't clarify that RV Woman's new build house would be subject to California's lovely Mello Roos taxes which will increase her property taxes by potentially the low four figures (it varies by location) each year, over and above her "normal" property taxes. So the low HOA fee is the tip of the iceberg.

 

Oh, and yes, Roseville has its quaint old downtown, but it's hardly a wide spot in the road.  Last population figures showed approximately 130,000 residents - and that doesn't include the unincorporated part.

 

So now you know the "rest of the story", at least as much as I'm privy to!

What a great inside view. Thanks. 

 

Let us know if you spot her walking down the street! No reason, it would just be cool to say I have a cyber-acquaintance who saw a house hunter in real life!

[AnnaMayWong]

Kiki620, he said he was a sales representative in Arlington, but no mention as to what he sold. She was a student at Baylor in her last semester and after graduating would have a human resources job. In one scene she was commenting that she had a busy week because she was studying for 5 final exams. I forgot to note in my original post that the furnishings in their chosen house were really quite nice for first time buyers. Yes, i think mommy and daddy were contributing to this first house in a big way. Maybe the mommy and daddy from both families, but we never saw her family even though they were both from Arlington. Wonder if they are married now and what that wedding cost.

... I have an in-law who at the age of 27 married a girl of 18. She was desperately in love with him and EXTREMELY pampered by her parents. The girl didn't want an apartment or its like so, the parents purchased for them a newly built home that most couples would never be able to afford regardless of age. And, a new luxury truck was thrown in to ease her awful burden of attending college. I was flabbergasted. My husband and I were 6 years older, working, and living in an apartment. Upon visiting us, she disdainfully glanced aground and stated, magnanimously, "at least it's a new complex and no one has ever lived in your apartment." Yep. Wasn't that nice of her(?)<sarcastically >.

[proserpina65]

I missed most of last night's episode in Baltimore, but from what I saw, the couple was nice, reasonable in their needs/wants/budget, and chose the house I would've chosen.  I even liked most of what they did to the house, especially the color scheme in the living room.

[Peanutbuttercup]

God bless the Baltimore hipster couple and their love for "closed" (lol) floor plans, non-painted woodwork, and non-white kitchens.

[Empress1]

God bless the Baltimore hipster couple and their love for "closed" (lol) floor plans, non-painted woodwork, and non-white kitchens.

YES. And when the husband said he liked homes where you can see that someone lived there, I did a little internal fist pump. The first house, which I couldn't believe was only $205K, was gorgeous, although I thought it would be too big for two people and the third one needed too much work, so the second would have been my choice. I loved the living room - and I saw a bookcase! I also liked the closet they had built in the bedroom.

[DownTheShore]

That first house was great, and it was right across the street from a lake, too. Even if it was a money pit, I think that I would have gotten that one because it seemed to be a steal at that price. There's no rule that says you have to immediately furnish every room in your home, so the homeowners could have let some of the rooms lie fallow until they figured out a purpose for them.

[laredhead]

I also liked the Baltimore episode, but it was not a new one even though TV Guide indicated it was and my DVR thought it was.  I watched it anyway because I couldn't remember which house they chose until I saw the second one.  I loved the first house, but it would have taken some serious money to keep that house maintained.  So nice to see buyers who don't want to rip out vintage bathrooms that are in good shape and replace the original, colorful tile with boring finishes that can be found almost everywhere.  I also cheered when they both expressed their appreciation for paneling and did not want to rip it off the walls or paint it.  Painting that beautiful walnut would be a crime.

[proserpina65]

That first house was great, and it was right across the street from a lake, too. Even if it was a money pit, I think that I would have gotten that one because it seemed to be a steal at that price. There's no rule that says you have to immediately furnish every room in your home, so the homeowners could have let some of the rooms lie fallow until they figured out a purpose for them.

True, and I did like what I saw of it.  I just preferred the second one, but I would've taken any of the three in a heartbeat.  Depending on their respective neighborhoods, of course; this is Baltimore, after all.

I liked the woman in the Ashtabula, Ohio, episode HGTV ran at 10pm last night.  From her appreciation of non-open floor plans to her love of French doors to her calling out of the realtor misusing 'colonial' to describe at least two of those decidedly non-colonial style houses.  Her not wanting an ensuite bathroom was a little weird, but then again, I have to pee like a racehorse first thing in the morning so I want a bathroom as close to my bedroom as possible.  (Sorry for the tmi, lol.)  I'm glad her friend didn't convince her to knock down walls.

[NYGirl]

She also wanted white appliances! I like the house she picked and what renovations the boyfriend already made.

[laredhead]

Just looked at the TV schedule for HH next week, and it will be new episodes of HH Where Are They Now - YAY!  Set your recorders.

[Kohola3]

I hope that they are honest and don't only show the happy ending stories.  Having seen some of the nasty, negative and polar-opposite couples, I can't believe all of them are still together.

[juliet73]

The TroyLynn episode was on this afternoon.

[DownTheShore]

Handing juliet73 some brain bleach... ;->

[Spencer Hastings]

I liked the Nashville couple last night who were musicians. A complete opposite of the traditional House Hunters entitled young couple, I kept wanting these two to ask for MORE than what they were seeing! The first two houses were pretty bare-bones (some spots even a little gross) and yet they were thrilled with and excited about what they saw. The first home was my least favorite but they made it look absolutely adorable with their decorating.

I went to college with the wife, Stephanie, and I wasn't at all surprised to see how unfussy she was. I probably haven't seen her in 9 or so years but she was an absolute doll back then. When I heard she would be on this show I cringed a little but she came off exactly how she is in real life.

[scootypuffjr]

I saw this morning a repeat of a blond couple from Colorado wanting to open a bed and breakfast in Hawaii - already deleted the episode, and I can't remember their names. But the lady kept complaining that none of their options was a Victorian, though WHY she expected to find a wide variety of Victorian houses in Hawaii is beyond me. She wanted a large yard so she could have an organic garden, and a dedicated place for yoga as well. I've never run a B&B, but I imagine it takes a fair amount of time and I'm not sure how much time she'll have for gardening. Of course they went way over budget, and then took the BEST room for themselves. As you walk up to the house, there is a big upstairs porch (I have always had a real thing for second story porches, though I have never been lucky enough to actually have one). I can't speak for everyone, but I personally would be so annoyed if I rented a room there, saw that porch (which would be the number one place I'd want to hang out at) and be told that porch was off limits. Maybe they'd let me sit there but I don't imagine they'd want me in their bedroom. I thought it should have been made into some communal space that all the guests could enjoy. Again, I have never run a B&B and maybe I'm being too hard on these people, but shouldn't your guests come first?

[DownTheShore]

I always wondered if they ever did start that B&B.

[juliet73]

Handing juliet73 some brain bleach... ;->

[juliet73]

Thank you :)

She was bad, but not nearly as bad as that one girl in San Diego (I think). She and her boyfriend had like a $300K budget for a single family home...in SAN DIEGO! And she expected SS appliances, granite countertops,etc. She was so pretentious! I think her episode is under the worst HH category.

[izabella]

I just watched last night's "Where are they now?" episode.  I didn't remember seeing the Colorado couple when they had their episode, and I wish I had.  They were hilarious together, and obviously enjoyed each other.  They did a nice job on their house, and had a reasonable budget.  I couldn't believe she hadn't told him about the beam supporting the house, lol!

[laredhead]

Izabella, I also thought the Colorado couple was delightful, and he was especially funny.  I watched the episode tonight and thought the woman who bought the 400 sq foot tiny house worked wonders with the decor and finishes.  She moved it from the original location to another piece of land a few miles away, and she said it cost $10,000 to move it.  Wow!  I don't think you would be moving that around very much at that rate.  

[NYGirl]

She was my favorite tiny HH. I LOVED how beautiful she made that house

[biakbiak]

According to the episode guide tonight's Where Are They Now revisits the doctor in Fargo with her gorgeous Victorian.

[Empress1]

I just watched last night's "Where are they now?" episode.  I didn't remember seeing the Colorado couple when they had their episode, and I wish I had.  They were hilarious together, and obviously enjoyed each other.  They did a nice job on their house, and had a reasonable budget.  I couldn't believe she hadn't told him about the beam supporting the house, lol!

I liked them too. He was funny. I remember them because he wanted a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves, which is something the dream home I have designed in my mind has. I'm often struck by how few bookshelves I see in these homes.

 

I just watched an ep with a 23-year-old buyer in Orlando. Her mother was with her, and she had this insane shellacked swooped-up bang thing happening. I loved her (cute) realtor and his colorful jackets.

[juliet73]

I love the Fargo doctor! The house looks fabulous! She did a great job restoring it!

The Chicago flipperc was on tonight too. I like what she does to the houses because everything is clean and shiney and bright, but they all look the same. And they look like new builds. No character, no original anything. She even mentioned she tries to make her houses different...and by different that means putting a stereo in the shower?

[DownTheShore]

Yes, I was expecting something more different than a shower head-radio combo. That sure wouldn't make me buy her house. Her second floor addition had no architectural tie-in to the former historic look of the first floor. The house looked bastardized.

[laredhead]

Love, love, love that the Fargo doctor respected the history of her house and has taken such care to restore it.  That porch is fabulous.  

 

The Chicago woman wanted a traditional Chicago brick house, which she bought and then immediately destroyed the character of it, especially on the exterior.  That house could have been anywhere after it was finished, because there was nothing left to identify it as something pertaining to Chicago housing styles.  I hope someone on this forum can find out if it has sold and for how much.  Wonder how many more times she will appear on HH in the future since she said she has 5 projects in the works.   Music in the shower isn't exactly high on my list of must have luxury features.

 

I liked the cabin redo that the California couple tackled, and that they did most of the work themselves for a reasonable price.  It's a weekend getaway, not the Taj Mahal.     

[biakbiak]

The Chicago exterior was a travesty and the inside bland and boring.

Thank goodness for the Fargo woman and her sparing no expense to bring that house back to life, it was a necessary palate cleanser after the Chicago house.

[Empress1]

Yes, I was expecting something more different than a shower head-radio combo. That sure wouldn't make me buy her house. Her second floor addition had no architectural tie-in to the former historic look of the first floor. The house looked bastardized.

I hate that second story. It looks so cheap. And the house looks like every other house - white shaker cabinets, subway tile, white quartz counters, blah blah blah. BORING! It was a unique little bungalow before and she stripped it of all its character. That seems to be her MO; she did the same with the first house she flipped.

 

I didn't see the Fargo doctor the first time around, and I gasped (in a good way!) when I saw it. It's stunning! That library! "I really fell in love with this tile because it's kind of like a man's suit." I love her.

[izabella]

I was appalled and so angry with the Chicago flipper.  I grew up in one of those old Chicago bungalows, and what she did to it is appalling.  She destroyed almost every bit of what makes those homes such classics.  If she had to add a second story, she needed to set keep the same angled rooflines instead of that flat roof second story. 

 

I was so glad to see Dr. Mary in Fargo.  She's done amazing things with that home.

[laredhead]

On HH Where Are They Now last night one set of homeowners finally admitted they had purchased a "money pit" and even the wife, who wanted that old farmhouse, seemed to agree that buying a newer house might have been the wiser choice when it came to upkeep.  They have done some great things to the house, but many people seem to think it takes a lot less time and money than they anticipate to fix up and maintain a 100 year old house.  I love old houses, but along with them come some problems that cannot be totally fixed sometimes, and you should have a healthy maintenance account in the bank to deal with that.

[SpiritSong]

I get so peeved with these people who want to raise chickens by their homes.  If I had a neighbor that had chickens, I'd be pissed beyond belief.  The noise the smell and all that aren't meant for the city.  Now, if you had lots of land and put the chickens far away from anyone else's house, that's a different story.  But city lots do not allow for raising chickens. 

 

Huh. I live in the middle of my city and 3 of my neighbors have chickens. There is no smell and very little noise (roosters are banned). The occasional clucking I hear from the house directly across from me is kind of pleasant. And you can't beat all the free, fresh the day they are laid eggs that are generously shared.

[Peanutbuttercup]

Chicago idiot flipper, you can't even call that house a bungalow anymore. Bungalows don't have full height second floors! That's part of what makes them bungalows!

Ugh, it made me so sad to see how she destroyed all the charm and character of that house.

Dr. Mary is now officially my favorite house hunter ever. Can we give the Chicago ex-bungalow to her and let her restore it back to its former glory?

[laredhead]

With regard to the Chicago flipper episode, I was wondering what the family of the former owners thought when they toured it at the end of the show.  All the woman said was that she remembered the fireplace which had been closed off for safety issues.  I did not hear her gush about how beautiful the house was.

[Mittengirl]

The former owners' family didn't look very impressed to me. And why would they? I have fond memories of my great-grandparent's house from when my great aunt lived there. My young kid memories are of the kitchen and parlor. I don't think I would be that impressed to go back now and see it with white cabinets, gray walls and a subway tile backsplash. It wouldn't be my aunt's kitchen anymore and that is what the nice memories are of.

Not to mention, she really butchered the outside of that house. What is she going to do next, buy a beautiful Victorian and rip off the porch and turrets?

Edited March 13, 2016 by Mittengirl

[DownTheShore]

You think that she was hoping that HGTV would give her a house-flipping show to do?

[NYGirl]

That's one show I would never watch.

[jrzy]

I was appalled and so angry with the Chicago flipper.  I grew up in one of those old Chicago bungalows, and what she did to it is appalling.  She destroyed almost every bit of what makes those homes such classics.  If she had to add a second story, she needed to set keep the same angled rooflines instead of that flat roof second story. 

 

I was so glad to see Dr. Mary in Fargo.  She's done amazing things with that home.

I shouted at the television,  would have loved to see the old family really comment on their thoughts, she destroyed that beautiful old Bungalow. 

[SanDiegoInExile]

Interviews from the 31-year-old beefy bearded musclehead uber-fit athlete-trainer-online-MBA student and his almost-32-year-old beefy bearded artistic musclehead self-described BFF roommate-to-be, aspiring to share their Austin TX homesearch.

 

[juliet73]

I don't even know what say about the 2 guys from Austin. First, the buyer's hair! Really?! Secondly, he still lives with his parents at 31? Seriously?! The fireplace mantel is "weak sauce". C'mon! Wasn't that slang from teenagers like 15 years ago? Finally, 2 grown "beefcake" men in that little tiny 700 sq ft house?! What are they thinking?!??!!

[Vivigirl10]

 

First, the buyer's hair! Really?!

As if the hipster beard wasn't enough....let me add this absolutely ridiculous mullet/mohawk combo to the mix!  He seemed to think he was quite precious!

 

I missed that these two jokers were in their 30's???  The only reason I gave them the mildest of passes was because I figured they had to be like 23.  Saying that the neighbors in the duplex better like their partying?  Grow up.  And I'm including the realtor in that too.  

[ByaNose]

The most expensive & the smallest house. Whatever. LOL!!! I thought it was kind of weird that they were "so old" and buying a house together. I could understand in their 20's but in their 30's it's a little strange but I doubt unheard of. They seemed like nice enough guys but haven't grown up entirely. I will say that the one guy does nice handy work. It's always nice to have someone like that around the house.

[IndianPaintbrush]

I missed the first part of the Austin beefcake episode.  Were those guys a couple?

[MissT]

I don't even know what say about the 2 guys from Austin. First, the buyer's hair! Really?! Secondly, he still lives with his parents at 31? Seriously?! The fireplace mantel is "weak sauce". C'mon! Wasn't that slang from teenagers like 15 years ago? Finally, 2 grown "beefcake" men in that little tiny 700 sq ft house?! What are they thinking?!??!!

Seriously!!   I watched this show and immediately thought they were "a couple", then realized they weren't.  Just two very immature men.    I was totally turned off and thought they acted like two 16 year old boys with no ambition in life and suddenly realizing that mom and dad won't pay the way for them anymore. 

 

They reminded me of Beavis and Butthead.  

Edited March 15, 2016 by MissT

[juliet73]

Haven't seen this episode yet, but from what you guys are describing of these two, they sound like text book covert homosexuals (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I really don't think they are...his haircut alone tells me that. They just seemed like 2 immature guys that didn't realize the party ended 10 years ago. I'm sure they still smash beer cans against their heads and think "bathroom humor" is hilarious.

[NYGirl]

What about the guest bathroom that the second guy had to use?  There's no way he's fitting on that toilet bowl.  I was shocked when I saw it.

[ByaNose]

I thought the toilet bowl was a bird bath. It was so small and the both of them are huge muscle guys. Such a strange purchase of a house for these guys. I really don't get it.

[laredhead]

Thanks for SanDiegoinExile for posting the videos.  I took the time to watch them and a lot of the questions were answered.  The buyer is naive and after seeing his parents house it looks he has led a life with lots of privileges and assistance from them.  He's living in his parents pool house which wasn't that bad.  After listening to his comments about why he doesn't like white tile or floors or white appliances and why he likes the multi-colored granite counters, it became obvious that he doesn't like to clean.  That white topped range was a mess.  I have one and it can be kept looking new with the right product.  Mine is 13 years old and looks brand new, but it requires wiping and cleaning on a regular basis.  I can only imagine the hair that is involved with those beards, so a white tile bathroom would probably be a turnoff.  If he's planning to have a girlfriend he'd better step up his cleaning - IMO - because that would be a big negative in my book.  I do wonder how they are addressing the toilet issue in that bathroom for the roommate.  I think Austin's motto is "Keep Austin Weird", so these guys fit right in.

 

On another note, where do you find these audition tapes because they certainly do explain a lot of the background we don't see on the shows?     

Edited March 15, 2016 by laredhead

[Tara1665]

Watching the Austin episode I immediately thought they are trying to get into the house flipping biz. That way they can live where they are flipping. Why else would you buy less then 800sq for two huge guys?

I mean 20mins outside of downtown isn't that far.

[StatisticalOutlier]

I watched the lunkheads in Austin, and did some sleuthing.  The house the mulleted one bought is actually a condo.

 

You can see the nice new fence at the back of the back yard (which I think they put up--it was a chain link fence in a photo of the property with a "coming soon" for sale sign in front).  Behind that is another dwelling that according to the appraisal district has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath in 422 square feet.  Yikes.  That one should be on Tiny House Hunters.  Anyway, those two units comprise the condominium project.

 

I can't tell how you get to that other dwelling, but it's listed as "unit B," while the one the HH bought is unit A, and the property description for both says it includes 50% interest in the common area.  The people who sold the house to the HH still own the other unit.

 

This is in East Austin, which is rapidly gentrifying, where people who have lived there forever are unable to afford their houses any more and have to sell.  The taxes on the HH's condo are about $5,000/year.  Maybe turning it it into condos is a way to sell half the lot, so the people could continue to afford to live in the back.

 

I found some sort of map for the appraisal district, and there are a bunch of "condominium complexes" located on one residential lot in that neighborhood.  I wonder if a person can un-condo it at some point in the future, if both owners are willing to sell.  Also, not so much in this area in particular, but coming soon for sure is buying these houses as tear-downs, to be replaced by a much bigger house.  I'm not sure how that would work in a condo situation.  And I'm still not sure what the "common area" in this particular one is, since there's a solid fence that bisects the lot.

 

I also watched the audition video linked to upthread, and they used some of the dialogue from that in the episode that aired, making it a voiceover because they were wearing different clothes in the audition video.  Great.  Now I'll be paying attention to the voiceovers to see if any of it has a matching head talking.

 

Aah, good old House Hunters--it's never what it seems.

Edited March 16, 2016 by StatisticalOutlier