House Hunters International - General Discussion

[proserpina65]

On 8/17/2023 at 10:33 AM, mojito said:

I was reflecting my boredom living on the coast of the ocean or the sea where your view is only sky, water, and some sand, which was the view in this particular episode. 

I wouldn't find that boring in the least.

On 8/17/2023 at 6:17 PM, Orcinus orca said:

but I would be more concerned about hurricanes. 

Hurricanes are something I would worry about.  A friend's family has a house in Rodanthe, NC, and every year she fully expects it to be washed away.  Hasn't happened yet, but a couple of nearby places went in a big storm last summer.

Medellin to Melbourne - I really disliked the guy.  He didn't give a damn how far his fiancee had to commute to work as long as he got everything he wanted.  Yeah, I know, made up problems but still, it was annoying as hell.

 

[Grizzly]

Siem Reap, Cambodia. Cute kid but I'm not fond of mama bear. My child needs space! We can do a drinking game with either "space" or "pool". I agree with Kyle, just get a place and after you've gotten jobs, you can get a better place. You don't hear him bitching if a place doesn't have a gym. 

[cinsays]

10 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Siem Reap, Cambodia. Cute kid but I'm not fond of mama bear. My child needs space! We can do a drinking game with either "space" or "pool". I agree with Kyle, just get a place and after you've gotten jobs, you can get a better place. You don't hear him bitching if a place doesn't have a gym. 

yeah, she was a bit much

and wanting all that for $250 a month?  quite high expectations

 

[aghst]

I don't know why the Siem Reap realtor showed them a place which is twice their budget, though the budget is very low.

But while brand new, the place was cramped too.

Easy elimination.

Her thing about space may be an honest demand, not something concocted by HHI.  But maybe being near parks would be a good idea if they can't get a place with a backyard.

You can tell they've put up some modern buildings in recent decades but you wonder if they're trying to cram as much buildings as possible in these old SE Asian cities or they're planning things like parks and other communal spaces.

[Jodithgrace]

I thought the mother was going to get a job at NASA, she was so interested in space! I couldn’t believe how cheap the apartments were!

[aghst]

I would think the low cost of living is one of the main reasons they moved.  They said something about Johanesburg, how it was challenging.

So during the house hunt they said they didn't have jobs but probably had lined up teaching jobs before they moved to another country, though maybe the cost of living, particularly housing, is low enough that they could live for awhile on savings.

 

[Mediocre Gatsby]

Cambodia, holy moley was that wife annoying. I figured she was teaching kindergarteners, because no one with any more life experience than that could stand to be in a room with her all day. She obviously thought she was adorable with her singsongy "space!" It was amazing that what Olive "needed" was exactly what her mother wanted. 

Cambodia looked lovely, and it was hard to believe how cheap it was. 

[StatisticalOutlier]

11 hours ago, Mediocre Gatsby said:

It was amazing that what Olive "needed" was exactly what her mother wanted. 

OMG, that mother.  I love how the dad was saying he could use this one room for a gym "when Olive isn't..." and the mother said it could be Olive's sanctuary place (not space!!) where she can learn and grow and read and play and dance.  She left out "explore" that time.

Olive better like Cambodia, that's all I'll say.

On 8/18/2023 at 12:38 PM, Crashcourse said:

That Aussie realtor got on my last nerve because he was trying too hard to be funny.  

Agree, plus I don't like his buggy eyes.

Quote

Little Sophia was adorable though. 

That baby was good looking enough to be on Call the Midwife. 

[TVForever]

Cambodia:

"Space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space."

And then I fell asleep.

Which place did they choose?

Did it meet Olive's needs?

 

[Mediocre Gatsby]

2 hours ago, TVForever said:

Which place did they choose?

Did it meet Olive's needs?

 

They chose the first SPAAAAACE! home (in my head it's like BRAAAAAAAINS!) and the wife congratulated herself on giving up the 2nd bathroom and the pool in #2 in order to get what Olive needs. 

[Chit Chat]

8 hours ago, TVForever said:

Did it meet Olive's needs?

She's already calling the shots and doesn't know it!!  She might be hell on wheels in later years.  ;)  

[Mediocre Gatsby]

8 minutes ago, Chit Chat said:

She's already calling the shots and doesn't know it!!  She might be hell on wheels in later years.  ;)  

She was absolutely adorable. I feel like she'll be a benign ruler. 

[Grizzly]

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She looks older than he does. These places are really modern. I don't think there's a bad choice.

[Thumper]

37 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She looks older than he does. These places are really modern. I don't think there's a bad choice.

Did they say at the end if he had found work?  Or maybe he was going to be a stay-at-home dad.  

[twoods]

I don’t think he found a job yet, so he seemed to be staying home which made sense since the kids are still young. 
 

The next episode was the German guy moving to Cambodia to be near his girlfriend. I liked that they were practical and picked the cheaper place since he hadn’t found a job yet, even if it was the furthest from her place. Then there was a blurb in the end about how he did find a job. Yay for practical people!

[aghst]

PV husband isn't wrong to prefer to buy instead of "wasting" money on rent.

But do Americans buying in Mexico get to write off mortgage interest like they do with US property?

Or he's counting on the property appreciating in price so that they can make money even if he doesn't get tax advantages?

If his job situation is uncertain -- may not have a work visa -- it may be right not to want to burn their savings on rent.

The wife really sold the luxury condo rental.  But when it came time to choose, she didn't really push it.

 

[ArtFossil]

On 8/24/2023 at 10:54 PM, Grizzly said:

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She looks older than he does. These places are really modern. I don't think there's a bad choice.

My first thought was that she was older than him. 

And I guffawed when she whined about a twenty year old building being so old. 

What’s he going to do for work?

Meh. Both of them are so vapid. 

Edited August 27, 2023 by ArtFossil

[aghst]

Well they ended up going with the 20 year old building and she didn't put up a fight about it.

So her concerns weren't real, maybe just something for her to say on camera so that the choices seem equally comparable.

[Je suis Rachel]

Have any burning questions about the show?

Check out my post chronicling the behind the scenes  of shooting our episode!

https://www.maisonavaison.com/whenprovenceblog

[tessaray]

On 8/27/2023 at 9:41 AM, Je suis Rachel said:

Have any burning questions about the show?

Check out my post chronicling the behind the scenes  of shooting our episode!

https://www.maisonavaison.com/whenprovenceblog

Your behind the scenes account was a fun read.  It's such a beautiful location. 

[Grizzly]

Gloucestershire, England. I love the history of England too, but I wouldn't need to have it in my home. Nice for Kam to admit on camera that charm may not be practical. I'd take the place next to the royal estate because how often would you get that chance? Just 1 bath would be a deal breaker for #3. Can't get over how much better Duncan looks now than when he was young.

[Thumper]

37 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

Gloucestershire, England. I love the history of England too, but I wouldn't need to have it in my home. Nice for Kam to admit on camera that charm may not be practical. I'd take the place next to the royal estate because how often would you get that chance? Just 1 bath would be a deal breaker for #3. Can't get over how much better Duncan looks now than when he was young.

I was so worried they were going to take that last place that had no usable play area for their kids — but had so much “charm!”  

[aghst]

I looked up the price to visit Highgrove.

Gardens are like £26 and they have private tours which go up hundreds, all profits for charity.

Charles was always a wanker — just watched The Crown episodes when he was bullied in school.

Looked like the wife hoped to get work at one of the costly Heritage site in Gloucestershire and The Cotswold area.

His job seems to be in Gloucester city.  Maybe no charm of the English countryside in the city though.

[cinsays]

9 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Gloucestershire, England. I love the history of England too, but I wouldn't need to have it in my home. Nice for Kam to admit on camera that charm may not be practical. I'd take the place next to the royal estate because how often would you get that chance? Just 1 bath would be a deal breaker for #3. Can't get over how much better Duncan looks now than when he was young.

what?  you mean you don't think he was better looking with a nose ring? huh

didn't much care for her and i really don't see what the big deal was about having a bedroom near the main living space/living room

it's not like they are going to be having loud parties that would keep the kids awake, at least it didn't seem like they were that type

[seacliffsal]

I would so pay extra to be in King Charles' neighborhood (it's a rental-don't have to stay there forever...).  I so get tired of hearing the same complaint over and over-I know it's producer direction but don't the hunters know how they will come across to viewers?  I did like the realtor, I don't recall seeing her before but would like to see her again.

[proserpina65]

On 8/29/2023 at 11:02 PM, Grizzly said:

Gloucestershire, England. I love the history of England too, but I wouldn't need to have it in my home. Nice for Kam to admit on camera that charm may not be practical. I'd take the place next to the royal estate because how often would you get that chance? Just 1 bath would be a deal breaker for #3. Can't get over how much better Duncan looks now than when he was young.

I totally would love a house with historical charm over a bland modern box.  I would've take the first place in a heartbeat.  Honestly, there's no reason why girls that age couldn't have shared a bedroom and then the father could've used the 3rd bedroom for an office.  Of course, I don't share the obsession with open plan layouts and absolutely want my kitchen to be cut off from the living room.  I do NOT want people to see the kitchen from my sofa.

The place they chose was boring as hell, imo, and I'd never have gone for it.

On 8/30/2023 at 8:47 AM, cinsays said:

didn't much care for her and i really don't see what the big deal was about having a bedroom near the main living space/living room

it's not like they are going to be having loud parties that would keep the kids awake, at least it didn't seem like they were that type

Yeah, I didn't get that either.

[ArtFossil]

Gloucestershire. Couldn’t get over how they could let their children ride bikes with their helmets just sitting on the back of their heads instead of, you know, protecting their brains. 
 

Also don’t understand why a sloping garden with steps is dangerous. Looked like a great place to play and explore. But then I’m old. 

[Jodithgrace]

I know. It’s not like their kids were toddlers. 

[aghst]

San Diego to Madrid.

Couple sold their big San Diego home and their business to go teach in Madrid.

Husband talks about the low salaries they accepted to move but they should have plenty of money.  Maybe they enjoy teaching but they probably don't need to for the income.  Nice to have an income, nice to have a routine but he must want to leave a pile for their children.

I can't believe they ever considered the suburban place.  It would have been an hour commute and they didn't move from San Diego to Europe to live in that place, though he says he had little interest in travel until the wife prodded him.

They chose the right place because they're more in the mode of enjoying life and having experiences as they said.  So tapas bars nearby, though he wanted to be near a park, Retiro park is bounded on one end by a very busy street, without the nice tapas bars.

They say they enjoyed Madrid a lot on their previous visit.  Weather change for the San Diegoans, because it gets pretty cold in winter and early spring and very hot in the summer, so much that the natives tend to go north in the summer.

 

[Orcinus orca]

I always roll my eyes at the couples talking about their small budgets due to loss of income but talk about needing to be in the center of an area with loads of bars and restaurants.  Do they think the food is free?  If you are truly watching your pennies, you eat at home not out every night.

[Crashcourse]

That Madrid woman's chirpy voice got on my last nerve, so I didn't even see the ending and which place they chose.

[Pine]

Scrolled quickly through the San Diego to Madrid couple.  I just didn't like them at all.  Either of them.

[cinsays]

3 hours ago, Pine said:

Scrolled quickly through the San Diego to Madrid couple.  I just didn't like them at all.  Either of them.

i'm glad i am not the only one.  not sure exactly what it was but, yeah, glad they found each other

[Chit Chat]

On 8/31/2023 at 1:06 PM, proserpina65 said:

Of course, I don't share the obsession with open plan layouts and absolutely want my kitchen to be cut off from the living room.  I do NOT want people to see the kitchen from my sofa.

I agree!  These people looking at older homes should know that an open concept plan is probably not that common.  Some of them act like the kitchen is way out in the barn!  Your guests WILL wander around and find you if you're in the kitchen!! 

On 8/31/2023 at 1:06 PM, proserpina65 said:

I totally would love a house with historical charm over a bland modern box. 

That lady got upset with one house because the lower level had character, but the upper level was newer and didn't.  I thought it was a nice home and she could stay downstairs in order to get her fix of character!! 

Edited September 3, 2023 by Chit Chat

[Je suis Rachel]

Check out more BTS of shooting our Episode of “Quibbling Over Quirk in Vaucluse”

https://instagram.com/p/CwccqXSOA18/

Edited September 3, 2023 by Je suis Rachel

[Mediocre Gatsby]

On 9/1/2023 at 2:03 PM, Pine said:

Scrolled quickly through the San Diego to Madrid couple.  I just didn't like them at all.  Either of them.

Oh my gosh, same. At least the husband didn't get his way for a third time, after not letting her date anyone after they JUST MET in college, and not letting them get married like she wanted until they both had jobs. 

[aghst]

Calgary to Dublin, newlyweds moving to Ireland to connect with his side of the family, though he has a job lined up so it may be about his career too.

She is giving her job up in media (TV?) but will take this opportunity to go back to school near the center of Dublin.

$1900 budget, he wants city center and modern, she wants Irish charm, the usual setup in HHI.

However, the wife is chirpy, quick with one-liners.  She really does want the charm, from her comments, which aren't the usual canned remarks you see on HHI.

First property is $100 below their $1900 budget.  It's tiny but in the best location, closest to her school.

Second property is a Mews property, a former stable converted and full of charm.  She loves it but it's $200 above and she doesn't want to go over budget since she's not contributing income.  However, she says for the charm she's willing to go over budget.

Third property is residential, almost suburban.  Most spacious and on budget.  But no pubs nearby for him and no Irish charm plus longest commute to school so they both eliminate it.

She tries to push for the Mews apartment but he's saying their visitors would have to go through their bedroom to get to the only bathroom.

How many people do they plan to host in these tiny 1 bed, 1 bath apartments?

He also wants the pub life and she likes the short commute so they agree.

Turns out they don't really cook and like to go out a lot.

 

[Orcinus orca]

3 minutes ago, aghst said:

Calgary to Dublin, newlyweds moving to Ireland to connect with his side of the family, though he has a job lined up so it may be about his career too.

I liked both of them, they seemed genuinely happy with each other and there wasn't a bit of snark.  She did have some good lines.  I wish them well.

[Pi237]

His accent was interesting... Canadian obviously but a touch of ....something...

They seem fun. 

[Grizzly]

7 hours ago, Orcinus orca said:

I liked both of them, they seemed genuinely happy with each other and there wasn't a bit of snark.  She did have some good lines.  I wish them well.

Their children are going to have the deepest dimples.

[Notabug]

14 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Their children are going to have the deepest dimples.

Wasn’t she pretty?  Really enjoyed them and their positivity.

[eel2178]

22 hours ago, Pi237 said:

His accent was interesting... Canadian obviously but a touch of ....something...

I think he was trying to do an Irish brogue, but he didn't quite have it right yet.

[eel2178]

On 9/6/2023 at 9:30 AM, aghst said:

How many people do they plan to host in these tiny 1 bed, 1 bath apartments?

They started out saying the usual "we have to have a second bedroom for all our guests;" however, all of the places they were shown were one bedroom. They seemed to accept that 2 bedrooms was going to be out of their budget very gracefully. It never got mentioned again.

I think it's time to just let your family and friends know that they will be staying in a hotel.

[Jodithgrace]

Well, they did entertain the idea of letting family sleep in the living room, I guess, because they were concerned about overnight guests having to trapse through their bedroom to get to the bathroom. I can understand that that is not a desirable situation and was part of the dealbreaker on that place. 

[mojito]

San Diego to Madrid

I thought the couple was fine. He was still coming to terms with the new lifestyle in Madrid, adjusting his mind to living in a smaller place, even living in the city. He was clearly the homebody and stated that they ate at home a lot. She was all on board and was more interested in living in Spain (and eating out), and not having Spanish charm inside the place that they got. They were pleasant and pleasant with each other.  They had some pretty decent places to choose from. 

Edited September 8, 2023 by mojito

[proserpina65]

On 9/6/2023 at 11:30 AM, aghst said:

He also wants the pub life and she likes the short commute so they agree.

Turns out they don't really cook and like to go out a lot.

They chose the right place for them.  They went with the best combination of price, layout and location, but I totally wanted that mews house.  I get that having to go through the bedroom to get to the bathroom can be a hassle in that it means having to keep the bedroom neater than one might otherwise, but since I had friends who had to do that when we were growing up, it didn't seem that big a deal to me.

On 9/6/2023 at 11:30 AM, aghst said:

How many people do they plan to host in these tiny 1 bed, 1 bath apartments?

I thought maybe that referred to friends who'd be over for the evening rather than visiting family.

They were a nice couple.  Seemed genuinely to like each other and wanted to enjoy Dublin.

[debbie311]

Canada to Costa Rica.

They sold everything they owned and moved with 16 year old daughter to Costa Rica.  Blended marriage, two older children have just started college in Canada.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it odd/surprising that they would leave the country with two kids in first year of college.  My granddaughter just started college last year and I cannot imagine her parents leaving the country. Not in a million years. OK, maybe there is another parent who is in Canada, but they just said, well, the older two just started college so we thought that was a good time to move to Costa Rica.

 

 

[aghst]

Canadian wife kept harping on ocean views, over and over again.

They also wanted 3 bedrooms and only one property had 3 bedrooms as well as larger rooms.

The one property with ocean views was further away from town and beach, which the husband wanted to be close to.

She also didn't want any renovation projects but the ocean view property had some renovation required.

But she dropped the view thing and agreed it would be best to be in the roomier place, close to town, not just for them but their daughter as well.

All 3 properties were well under their budget IIRC.  Gold Coast of Costa Rica prices maybe not so out of control.

[Grizzly]

Ojochal, Costa Rica. They must have a lot of rental units in AZ for that type of budget. The prices surprised me. And that was not the house I thought they'd pick.

[buttersister]

I figured Mr. Fix-it would take on a project. Eventually. Since they were already in the house and I didn’t see the two new bedrooms, opportunity and expansion didn’t come with urgency, anyway.