House Hunters International - General Discussion

[aghst]

Ohio to Bellarine Peninsula, Australia.  A couple with two young children, one of them autistic, which requires the wife to be full-time home school teacher and caretaker.

They're moving for the husband's job, which transferred to Melbourne.  However he will also be working from home and she insists they be close to the beach if they're doing this move.

So Bellarine Peninsula is 50-60 miles from central Melbourne and he needs to be near public transportation to make this work.  She wants either beachfront or within walking distance.  She promised the kids they'd go to the beach a lot.

Their budget is $3000 a month for a home by the beach or within walking distance, 4 bedrooms because they need two office areas, one for the husband and one to home-school the 8-year old autistic son.

Homes they saw are all some distance from the beach.  The closest is about 15-minutes away.  They choose budget and space which meets their space requirements, a home that is the furthest from the beach, because the reasoning is that they have to deal with the space every day and when they do go to the beach, they have to pack up a lot of stuff so they need to pack it up in a car anyways.

This is a real move, says they've sold their home and cars back in small town/suburban OH. 

They're happy to get away from the winters.

[Chit Chat]

On 4/5/2024 at 12:01 PM, aghst said:

They choose budget and space which meets their space requirements, a home that is the furthest from the beach, because the reasoning is that they have to deal with the space every day and when they do go to the beach, they have to pack up a lot of stuff so they need to pack it up in a car anyways.

I think that they made a wise choice based on their needs.  It's a really nice house that they chose.  IIRC, it had a little more yard space than the other two.  

I didn't like that this couple corrected the Realtor with his pronunciation of 'peninsHula.'  There is no 'h' they both proclaimed!!  I thought that was rude. 

[Chit Chat]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:32 PM, Grizzly said:

Tamarindo, Costa Rica.  A catamaran business, something other than a wellness retreat. 🙄 Sounds like they didn't research the cost of housing. Sarah will set them straight on what their money can get them. I think  they made the right choice.

Seems like a lot of people who are relocating abroad don't research home prices very well.  I liked the condo, but since they needed more space for the family, that wasn't going to work.  I liked the locale of it though - close to their business and to town.  The container house was nice, but it was too small and didn't seem to have much privacy in the home.  I'm not sure how well insulated those are.  The pool was under a tree, so they'd have to scoop out leaves daily.

I liked the secluded home they chose.  The view was gorgeous!  I do admire people like this couple who have an idea for a business and are brave enough to make a move like that.  I hope their business is a success and their family continues to thrive there!

[LexieLily]

Nashville to Paris was a weird episode, not only for the fact that they chose to move to an entirely different country when Wife is eight months pregnant with Baby #2. 

It was strange because the story the realtor gave was that the listing for the third house fell through so they ended up looking at a different house than the one they'd planned. The dorm-style kitchen had no oven or stove, it had a washer but no dryer and the bedroom in the attic had no closet yet the toddler was apparently supposed to sleep up there. Both the house hunters and the realtor hated on first look and no one even pretended like it was a viable option for the search. 

They ended up choosing the second choice they looked at, the apartment closest to the city center that had a metro-station nearby that would take Wife straight to work. There was a yard in the back for the two hundred-pound (each) Golden Retrievers, but it had no bathtub. The end scene had the Husband procuring a large bucket/shipping container (?) from somewhere, which, okay, that might work for the first couple of weeks or months with a newborn but not so much with a toddler. (Baby #1 was almost two, they said.) Husband was going to be a Stay-at-Home Dad and the house had only two bedrooms. 

Edited April 11 by LexieLily

[aghst]

One of my DVRs recorded what appears to be a Paris episode on the 10th of April.

But my cloud DVR didn't.

Anyone else get this Paris episode?

 

 

[chessiegal]

3 hours ago, aghst said:

Anyone else get this Paris episode?

Yes, we watched the Paris episode with Adrian. I wonder how long the couple had really been in the country.

[BAForever]

1 hour ago, chessiegal said:

Yes, we watched the Paris episode with Adrian. I wonder how long the couple had really been in the country.

Me too @chessiegal. Can't fly at 8 months pregnant. They didn't seem to match as a couple. Bet it's a short term move.

[chessiegal]

8 minutes ago, BAForever said:

Me too @chessiegal. Can't fly at 8 months pregnant. They didn't seem to match as a couple. Bet it's a short term move.

Well, you don't have to fly to get to Europe. The 3 times I've been we took the Queen Mary 2. I hate to fly. 

I don't remember what job opportunity she got that prompted the move, but I agree they'd probably been there awhile.

[Crashcourse]

I think the wife said she was studying biology or something.  

Adrian looked wacky as ever. 🙄

[chessiegal]

I just checked Cunard's policy on pregnant passengers. They won't take anyone past 24 weeks. 8 months would be a no go.

[seacliffsal]

For whatever reason, Adrian bothered me this episode.  Maybe it was her "Americans think they have everything and we have nothing' comment, which, maybe some Americans think that, but don't lump/stereotype all of us because it's just not true that we all think that.  Or her statement about getting the best health care ever.  Again, maybe, maybe not.  She certainly was tainting Americans and America-but limit the criticism.  Some Americans, some healthcare... Adrian has never been my favorite realtor but she just rubbed me the wrong way here.

They chose the right apartment for themselves, but the way the husband focused on the dog barking made me a bit concerned about how much their dogs bark.  I have new neighbors with three non-stop barking dogs and it's kind of driving me crazy.  So, if he's already concerned about how much their dogs bark, maybe it's an issue with which they should deal.  Otherwise, I thought the couple seemed really nice.  I often watch shows and wonder if I could be friends with the featured participants and I definitely could be friends with them (the sniping, critical, entitled house hunters are the ones I definitely couldn't be friends with...).

[snarts]

Paris: story was that the wife recently finished her doctoral studies at Vanderbilt (logo flashed) in something science-y, couldn't find a job in Nashville and was recruited by a renowned research organization based in Paris. Hence the move.

Guessing they'd been in a short term rental and were now moving into a place long term. 

[aghst]

Great for her career but he's young to not be working in a career-track job himself.

They chose to have a family rather early, just before she got the big job.

But they did seem to sightsee around France a bit, there were some snapshots including a selfie with Mont St. Michel.

[buttersister]

I liked them (and they liked each other). For reasons covered, they’ve been in France, or Europe, for awhile. Possibly in ugly house—quickly deconstructed. And yes, his concern about the noisy dogs felt confessional.

Quote

Maybe it was her "Americans think they have everything and we havenothing' comment, which, maybe some Americans think that, but don't lump/stereotype all of us because it's just not true that we all think that.  Or her statement about getting the best health care ever.  Again, maybe, maybe not.  She certainly was taintingAmericans and America-but limit the criticism.  

1. Watched an expat in France yesterday talking about various levels/details/costs of Healthcare there. The point was everyone could get care, but for some, not in Paris, waiting six months for a scan could be a disaster. (So is no scan for you, here.)

2. Adrian’s spiel felt completely “realtor dealing with expats.” Between her newsletter, website and YouTube videos, she’s always hustling. She definitely dialed it up here.

[Pi237]

Paris one got me/I thought for sure they’d already been living in the house fitted out for a baby with spacious bathtub & so, would choose that one. Was surprised they chose the one where their dogs will torture all of the surrounding neighbors- and if you live by endless barkers, trust me, it’s torture. 

[snarts]

Scotland: cute family. Kids are the perfect age for the move. Sounded like she was able to keep her current position/working remotely. He seemed very excited to leave education and it appeared the home-based business was doing well.

They seemingly chose the best option for them. #1 lacked the workspace he needed and seemed to be a longer commute to town. #3, the condo with no outdoor space at all, was not a good fit. Plus, both we're at the top of their budget $320k. #2 was a stand-alone home with a workshop and backyard, and was in town and underbudget $285k.   

[buttersister]

What’s the over/under on Aussie dad putting in that second bathroom? Or Mrs. Scotland hiring GC? 😀

[aghst]

I get that she has family back in Scotland but that has to be a downgrade on lifestyle.

Big adjustment in weather.

Guess they liked cashing out on selling their Melbourne home and saving money on housing in Scotland.

Usually, Australians move to the UK for career opportunities but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

[Notabug]

On 4/11/2024 at 9:31 AM, BAForever said:

Me too @chessiegal. Can't fly at 8 months pregnant. They didn't seem to match as a couple. Bet it's a short term move.

This is a common fallacy.  Lots of people fly with medical conditions.  The airlines can make suggestions or recommendations, medical caregivers can do the same, but, if a pregnant woman chooses to travel outside of expert recommendations; no one is going to stop her from what I've seen.

It is not inherently dangerous for mom or baby to fly on a commercial airliner these days.  People worry about cabin pressures, etc, but these are risks everyone else takes to fly.  Airlines allow people in wheelchairs dependent on oxygen who cannot walk independently to hop on board; a pregnant woman is the least of their worries.  There is concern that an OB emergency might occur in the midst of the flight, but that is exceedingly rare and, let's face it, plenty of pregnant women live in situations where medical attention is not quickly available.

I practice OB in the midwest.  I had a pregnant patient who was British, living in the US for her husband's job.  She came to see me just a couple weeks before her due date; her father in London died suddenly, she needed to go home and wanted a copy of her records.  She figured if anything happened once she got there; well, Great Britain has a better record that the US when it comes to childbirth.  It was late fall, she wore a baggy overcoat, went home for a week and returned and had her baby here.  No one at the airport, on the plane or anywhere else said a word about her pregnancy, let alone tried to determine if she was breaking their arbitrary rules.

On 4/11/2024 at 1:42 PM, chessiegal said:

I just checked Cunard's policy on pregnant passengers. They won't take anyone past 24 weeks. 8 months would be a no go.

Only if she admitted she was pregnant when booking the trip. Don't ask, don't tell seems to be the norm in these situations.

[BAForever]

Thanks for the information @Notabug, did not know all of that. I moved to a new state 6 months pregnant, and it was a struggle getting a new OB, new pediatrician, touring hospital, etc. Can only imagine how difficult an international move would be. I'm guessing they had been there in short-term housing a few months.

[proserpina65]

On 4/11/2024 at 6:32 PM, buttersister said:

I liked them (and they liked each other)

I did too.  They seemed reasonable in their requests and also understood that they might not get everything they wanted.  And they weren't insisting on central Paris for a change.

I liked the couple in Falkirk for a lot of the same reasons.

On 4/11/2024 at 2:11 PM, seacliffsal said:

Maybe it was her "Americans think they have everything and we have nothing' comment, which, maybe some Americans think that, but don't lump/stereotype all of us because it's just not true that we all think that. 

Yeah, that was annoying.  I know damned well that other countries have things we don't.  France, for example, has pastries the quality of which you cannot get here, even in the best bakeries.  (Ummm, eclairs!)

On 4/11/2024 at 2:55 PM, aghst said:

Great for her career but he's young to not be working in a career-track job himself.

Eh, not everyone aspires to have a career.

On 4/13/2024 at 5:32 PM, aghst said:

I get that she has family back in Scotland but that has to be a downgrade on lifestyle.

Big adjustment in weather.

Depends on what kind of lifestyle you want.  But yeah, Scottish winters are going to be quite the shock.

[chessiegal]

9 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

France, for example, has pastries the quality of which you cannot get here, even in the best bakeries. 

We have a bakery near us that has pastries that are just as good as what I had in Paris. It can be done.

[chessiegal]

Amanda needs to get over herself. Psst....No one gives a crap what you are doing in your outdoor space.

[Notabug]

12 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Amanda needs to get over herself. Psst....No one gives a crap what you are doing in your outdoor space.

I found her to be a little hard to take.  She's moving to Spain but knows no one there other than the realtor?  Yet, she needs space to entertain 20 or more guests?  I get some family or friends may visit at some point, but, with only 1 spare bedroom, most are going to sleep elsewhere.  She is going to have to get busy making friends locally if she wants to hold big parties.

I also found her 'I am stubborn and always get my way' schtick annoying.  It's not the realtor's fault she wanted every amenity under the sun and wanted to pay a pittance for it.  It doesn't work that way, and, having traveled and lived all other the world, she must surely know that by now.  And, how does someone with her extensive travel background, decide to move somewhere permanently while apparently doing nothing to learn the language before arriving?

All in all, I found her sort of vapid and overly impressed with herself.

Edited April 18 by Notabug

[chessiegal]

Amanda clearly went on this show to promote herself and business. She has her own web site plus numerous mentions on other sites. LinkedIn tells me there are 3 degrees of separation between the two of us. Yick! Don't even want to know what the connections are.

[BAForever]

Love to hate on Amanda off to Madrid. Figured she was "content creator" or influencer or something similar. 

Figured there may have been some family $$, just a guess, living alone in LA., all her travels and sleep away camps as a child.

Knew which one she'd pick. She was as annoying as advertised. 

 

 

[Pine]

We will have to add Amanda to the Love to Hate group.  Oh no, textured walls, how dare they show her such a pitiful place.   Sometimes I think some of these people really are like they portray themselves, and aren't acting on a script.

[proserpina65]

Glad I'm not alone in hating obnoxious Amanda in Madrid.  She's totally a trust fund baby who's never really had to pay for things.  Honestly, I was surprised the realtor was able to find anything in central Madrid with two beds/two baths, but of course it was to small for that whiny witch.

[Grizzly]

Kin Kin, Australia.  Matthew is good looking and seems pretty grounded. But picking up a snake, hard pass! And can't he pee inside? 

[buttersister]

18 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

And can't he pee inside? 

And if not, nobody needs to hear about that. Good luck, Lisa. 

Edited April 19 by buttersister

[aghst]

What is Amanda's business?

She talked about joining Meet Up groups, meeting other expats.

She said she was introverted so forcing herself to meet people helped overcome her shyness.

Some Meet Up groups are nothing more than businesses to try to get people to book tours or workshops.  But others are people planning get togethers around a common interest.

I've done some local hiking groups but never Meet Ups overseas -- never stay long enough to do so.

I can understand wanting space to host these events.  Otherwise they have to try to take over some restaurant and people may not want to be forced to spend at some place.

She chose one that is $1600 or 25% more than her budget.  But after the first house she admitted that she set her budget too low.

She was inspired by her grandmother to travel.  Maybe the grandmother left her money.  But I didn't get the sense that she was that well off.  She talked about working in LA and leaving because of the high costs of housing there.

She could charge some nominal fee to host events, since she may supply food and drinks.  Or maybe it could be a potluck situation.  But that doesn't seem like a profit-oriented activity. More like she chose to spend more on a bigger place because she wanted to socialize.

It may just be easier if she tried to arrange events at restaurants, with everyone spending whatever they wanted to, though the restaurant wouldn't let a group occupy several tables without them spending a good amount of money.

[LexieLily]

On 2/10/2023 at 10:29 AM, seacliffsal said:

I really didn't like the Puerto Vallarta House hunter.  Leaving 3 children behind in another country doesn't coincide with the image she was presenting.  Custody/visitation could be an issue unless her ex-husband is extremely accommodating (allowing the children to go to another country).  She said how she is sad that she will miss seeing those 3 children at various events, etc., is totally on her as she is the one choosing to move to another country.  And all the talk about finding a place for her 5 children, again, doesn't make that much sense since 3 of her children are in another country.  I know I am really overstating my dislike of this situation/choice that the mother is choosing, but it does really irk me (she was doing an online business so it's not like she had to move for her career, she chose to move and leave 3 children behind).

Oh, and I figured choice #2 wasn't going to be it as in the long shot I noticed a banner hanging from the railing that stated "for sale" (I may be wrong on that but thought I saw it).

I was more focused on how much of an ex-boyfriend the ex-boyfriend/father of the younger two was and whether or not he was in the picture at all, considering how she portrayed a clear division versus the three older children that weren't coming with her and the two younger ones that were.

[snarts]

Kin Kin, Australia: Interesting dude. Surprised his work isn't focused on the environment or sciences. I didn't quite understand the suit jacket with bare feet look in the Australian bush. #3 was definitely the nicest option but I highly suspect they were already involved and he was just moving in. 

[chessiegal]

8 hours ago, Grizzly said:

And can't he pee inside? 

He's a guy. 

[chessiegal]

7 hours ago, aghst said:

What is Amanda's business?

I took one for the team. This is from her web site. 

Quote

Amanda Weisman is a social media + digital marketing specialist who combines creativity with analytical thinking to amplify the digital presence of leading brands.

At her core, Amanda is a storyteller. She tells the stories of businesses and individuals as a content creator and social media strategist. She tells the stories of the world as a published writer, photographer, traveler, and thought leader.

Born and raised in the hustle of New York, Amanda sought early on what it meant to be a trailblazer. Her passion for media later brought her to Los Angeles where she earned global recognition for her top tier clients. Since experiencing the benefits of remote work, she now enjoys being location independent.

Amanda’s skills, expertise, and expansive network make her an ideal representative for a diverse roster of clients. She believes that everyone has a story – it’s just a matter of getting it out there. Amanda has intensive experience working with renowned clients in the fields of innovation, tech, nonprofit, health, science, entertainment, art, finance, entrepreneurship, real estate, architecture, food & beverage, design, fashion, music, environmentalism, investing, smartphone apps, film, aviation, public figures, influencers, founders, authors, news outlets, consumer products, fundraisers, social orgs, travel + tourism, and much more.

She takes a holistic approach when it comes to digital marketing. By offering a variety of services, she is able to create one of a kind experiences for her clients that are tailored to their individual goals and needs.

Amanda has spoken at conferences around the globe and has appeared on television. The places she goes and the people she meets are constant reminders that opportunities are endless when you are doing what you love. Amanda’s interests include community building, writing, data & analytics, culture, travel, photography, arts and sciences, and innovation. She is a proud alumni of Emerson College in Boston where she majored in Journalism with a Multimedia focus.

Amanda is a passionate and driven individual who is always looking to take the next big step. The best dreams she experiences are while awake: the ones she seeks and the ones she lives.

Let’s connect: LinkedIn

She seems pretty good at BS.

[BAForever]

Matthew from Kin Kin was a bit of an odd duck. Thought he'd pick #2, really thought the privacy would win out. Guy was nicely dressed (even sans shoes) all episode. He hopped out of his van in clean, unwrinkled clothes, so I'm calling some shenanigans on him. 

If the big trees were the deciding factor, and he walks a lot, why not just walk to find big trees.

Unique guy.

[Crashcourse]

The pee in the woods dude annoyed me.  I laughed when the real estate agent called him out for wearing a suit, then she jumped back when she saw him with that snake. 

[proserpina65]

12 hours ago, aghst said:

But I didn't get the sense that she was that well off.  She talked about working in LA and leaving because of the high costs of housing there.

I got the sense that she was well-off because of all the travel.  And yes, she talked about the housing costs in LA but it didn't seem to me she was referring to HER housing costs.  She said something like "people pay a huge percentage of their income on housing" but not that she spent that much.  I'd watch it again to check, but that meant I'd have to spend more time listing to her whine, so no thanks.

 

[Crashcourse]

5 hours ago, chessiegal said:

I took one for the team. This is from her web site. 

She seems pretty good at BS.

Seems like she's another influencer.  

[aghst]

Or she makes her income by selling herself so her Linked In is like people resume's with some inflation of experience and skills.

Maybe appearing on HHI helps these people who depend on self-promotion to get clients.

 

She came across strong, more than most house hunters and more than many women of her age.

Opinionated people do repel others.  But it's not the worst thing in the world for young women to be talkative.  Better that than to "know their place" and be lacking in confidence to speak up for themselves.

People who talk a lot often end up in politics so who knows where she will end up.

[Pine]

Although I didn't like her, I have to say in her defense, I am a very shy person.  Went to Europe by myself in my 20's, stayed 5 years.  All bets were 3 weeks max.  I truly enjoyed being on my own, especially museums etc....one can linger for as long as they want.  Of course I met many people and friends over there.

[proserpina65]

On 4/19/2024 at 2:36 PM, aghst said:

She came across strong, more than most house hunters and more than many women of her age.

Strong?  Not really.  She came across as whiny and totally out of touch with what to expect in her price point to me.

 

[Notabug]

On 4/22/2024 at 11:56 AM, proserpina65 said:

Strong?  Not really.  She came across as whiny and totally out of touch with what to expect in her price point to me.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't call her strong at all.  Delusional maybe.  A strong woman would've done more research and known exactly what she could afford instead of somehow thinking she could get the realtor to magically pull a rabbit out of a hat and get her a dream apartment for a pittance.  Just because you want to entertain 20 people at a time in your apartment, doesn't mean you automatically get a huge space without spending the money for it.

[chessiegal]

Julie in Munich: As if her upspeak wasn't annoying enough, she threw in some vocal fry for good luck.

[Grizzly]

30 minutes ago, chessiegal said:

Julie in Munich: As if her upspeak wasn't annoying enough, she threw in some vocal fry for good luck.

Beautiful area. So disappointed that the realtor wasn't Kevin. They seemed like a nice couple who wanted mostly the same things. But yes, her speaking style was grating. Wonder if the Germans also dislike it.

[aghst]

8 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Julie in Munich: As if her upspeak wasn't annoying enough, she threw in some vocal fry for good luck.

 

7 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Beautiful area. So disappointed that the realtor wasn't Kevin. They seemed like a nice couple who wanted mostly the same things. But yes, her speaking style was grating. Wonder if the Germans also dislike it.

They sold everything, she gave up her job and he found a new job.  So they believe in this adventure, at least for now.

She’s trying to learn German and seeing if she can get a work visa.  Maybe learning German will change her speech.

Otherwise they both seemed cheerful and enthusiastic about their move, wanting to live in the city center, to experience big city life after living in Tucson, going for the liter steins of beer at the Biergarten.

But they’ve been together for 9 years starting in college and married for 1.5 years?  So probably not a permanent move, especially if she can’t get a work visa and they plan to have children.

House they chose is just 1 bedroom, in city center with a work space for him.  It will suit their needs for a couple of years.

[seacliffsal]

Bavaria is one of my favorite regions and I really enjoyed this episode.  I liked the couple-no fake fights, put-downs, etc., but, her continual up speak at the end of every single sentence was too much.  Even in a half-hour (20 minute) show it was just too much which was a shame as they were a really nice, positive couple.

[javajeanelaine]

Amanda has made my list of most annoying house hunters.

[aghst]

One of my DVRs recorded an episode in San Mateo, Costa Rica, where a young woman from Montreal said she visited and fell in love with the place and decided to move there and work remotely.

Her friend was nitpicking all the choices.

In any event, I wondered if this was a repeat which one DVR erroneously recorded as new and the other DVR didn't.

She chose the most expensive choice with a nice wrap around terrace and she wanted to bake so it also had the biggest kitchen.

I don't recall seeing it before.

[Grizzly]

2 hours ago, aghst said:

One of my DVRs recorded an episode in San Mateo, Costa Rica, where a young woman from Montreal said she visited and fell in love with the place and decided to move there and work remotely.

Her friend was nitpicking all the choices.

In any event, I wondered if this was a repeat which one DVR erroneously recorded as new and the other DVR didn't.

She chose the most expensive choice with a nice wrap around terrace and she wanted to bake so it also had the biggest kitchen.

I don't recall seeing it before.

I think the copyright said 2024. I was getting tired of the friend.