House Hunters International - General Discussion

[Jodithgrace]

I know! You’d think she’d shown him 50 houses instead of 2! 

[AnnMarie17]

I want to live a completely walk-able life.  I want to walk to/from the grocery store and not have to carry grocery bags on public transport...AND I want to live surrounded by nature, in complete silence.  And when the realtor can't reconcile my unreconcilable demands, I'll be rude and condescending to her.

I get that the hunter needs to have a "plot" about what they want, but when it's this stupid it just makes them, and the episode, completely unlikable to me. 

Edited December 16, 2024 by AnnMarie17
Because spelling still matters.

[proserpina65]

On 12/14/2024 at 3:41 AM, Dirge said:

Hawaii to Falkirk, Scotland. 

What an ass. 

"You finally showed me what I asked for." If he hadn't asked for diametrically opposed things, she could've done better. I knew he'd take the second place. Probably whining about the bus all day. Good grief. 

That line annoyed me as well, although I didn't see the HHer behaving as an ass overall.  So not my favorite but far from the worst, imo.

3 hours ago, AnnMarie17 said:

I want to live a completely walk-able life.  I want to/from walk to the grocery store and not have to carry grocery bags on public transport...AND I want to live surrounded by nature, in complete silence.  And when the realtor can't reconcile my unreconcilable demands, I'll be rude and condescending to her.

I get that the hunter needs to have a "plot" about what they want, but when it's this stupid it just makes them, and the episode, completely unlikable to me. 

To be somewhat fair to what's his name, in some cities this would've been possible but Falkirk is not one of those cities.  But a lot of this crap is producer-driven to begin with, so I usually try to let it slide unless it's really egregious or repeated ad nauseam.   Mostly I found this guy okay-ish.

[Pine]

Amsterdam to Melbourne,  I don't see any romance here.   Honestly been there, done that.  Although I wish her the best.

[Crashcourse]

The way the guy kept looking at the camera and moving his eyes, sometimes he looked uncomfortable.   I got the feeling they were friends instead of a couple. 

[Grizzly]

4 hours ago, Crashcourse said:

The way the guy kept looking at the camera and moving his eyes, sometimes he looked uncomfortable.   I got the feeling they were friends instead of a couple. 

Then why get the 1 bedroom place? 

[Crashcourse]

1 hour ago, Grizzly said:

Then why get the 1 bedroom place? 

Maybe he sleeps on the sofa?  I dunno, but he just seemed uncomfortable in front of the cameras.  Also, since he was the one paying the rent, maybe money was the issue and that's why they close the 1 bedroom. 

[aghst]

He moved from Europe near his family to Oz.  Can’t imagine doing that only for friends.

Also not easy to get a work visa in Australia or being from the UK allows him to work in Australia?

He must be paying the bills if she really is just a student.

Her upspeak was extreme.  Usually Aussie accents don’t bother me.

 

 

[aghst]

LA to Biot, France.  Surprised nobody has posted about a New France episode with Adrienne.

A mother and her 17 year old daughter are moving for just her senior year to live and train at a tennis academy in Biot, which is a mountain village in the South of France, near Nice and Cannes.

The daughter will board at the academy but Erica, the mother, wants to be nearby so that she isn’t alone in France, her first trip overseas.  Erica is also in grief over the recent passing of her mother.

She wants a 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment with a garden and washer/dryer, because she would be doing laundry for Jewel.  A sea view if possible.  Budget is $1400.

House 1 is in nearby Valbonne.  Erica won’t have a car so they will have to rely on a bus to go to each other.  It’s a beautifully renovated apartment right in the old village.  But there isn’t a garden and the price is $1850.  They are impressed by the decor and the charm — even though Erica didn’t even mention French charm as a requirement.

House 2 is in the outskirts of Biot, a ten minute walk from Jewel’s academy.  It’s a modern but plain apt. for $1600.  It does however offer a garden space because Erica wants to do gardening.

House 3 is a penthouse apt. near the waterfront in Antibes, with a large terrace with stunning views of the Mediterranean and snow-capped mountains rising above the coast, as well as beautiful historic buildings in Antibes.  Rent is $1700.

Erica and Jewels mouth drop when they enter the apt and see the views through the windows.  But it is far from Biot, a 35 minute bus ride each way.

They eliminate House 3, because of the distance from where Jewel will be.

House 1 has a lot of appeal, would be a wonderful immersion into French culture.  But they both want to spend more time with each other, especially in light of the passing of Erica’s mother.  So Erica chooses House 2, which was also the lowest price and closest to the target budget.

 

 

[Grizzly]

LA to Biot, France.  I found this to be very similar to the mother/son who moved to New Zealand (?) so the son could play soccer. The sea view place was so nice I'd be like what daughter. Wonder how much that tennis academy cost since based on the daughter's strokes, I don't think she got a scholarship. 

[Notabug]

10 hours ago, aghst said:

He moved from Europe near his family to Oz.  Can’t imagine doing that only for friends.

Also not easy to get a work visa in Australia or being from the UK allows him to work in Australia?

He must be paying the bills if she really is just a student.

Her upspeak was extreme.  Usually Aussie accents don’t bother me.

 

 

Even if he is a citizen of the UK, it will be tough to get a work visa in Australia.  A British friend worked for a retailer that was opening its first stores in Australia and she was sent to help set things up.  She really liked it there and would've been happy to live there indefinitely, but, when her work visa expired, she couldn't get another as the authorities said there were Australians capable of doing her job.

[snarts]

7 minutes ago, Notabug said:

Even if he is a citizen of the UK, it will be tough to get a work visa in Australia.

He was a chef, which is why he likely qualified for an Australian Skilled Independent Visa. He'd already secured a position when they filmed.

They didn't seem much different from any of the other young couples who are looking for their first place together. They both seemed a bit awkward & self-conscious.

Biot, France -I agree, @Grizzly, the views from apartment #3 would make forget I even had a child!

Jewel's currently at Hampton University and was a 1 star recruit.

 

[seacliffsal]

I'm always surprised the lengths and expense some parents go through to try to make their child's 'dreams' come true.  Move to another country so child may qualify for a college scholarship?  Seems to me they could just save all that money and pay for college themselves.  Oh well, what do I know...?

[aghst]

Maybe they had a great experience together, got to see and do things which they otherwise wouldn't have been able to do if they didn't move to France for a year.

The husband and father who was footing the bill didn't visit or there weren't any plans for him to visit when they filmed?

[BAForever]

My DVR picked up Brisbane to London- but not sure if it was new. What a terribly annoying couple- usually it's American couples that I'm disgusted with, this time they were Aussies.

Between her need to be near British Royals and his pretentious attitude  they (they had become bored with Brisbane) they were just ridiculously stupid. And of course she was an influencer and he was a party planner or something. Vapid, vain, pretentious- pick an adjective, it will fit.

Hey HHI, I'm getting tired with you letting these idiots increase their social media presence by being on your show.

[Grizzly]

Brisbane to London. Violence doesn't solve anything but it would feel so satisfying to see Richard bitch-slap that couple rather than musing on who wears the pants. I noticed they had no concerns about friends or family coming to visit. Can't imagine why.

[Pine]

On 12/31/2024 at 3:57 PM, Grizzly said:

Brisbane to London. Violence doesn't solve anything but it would feel so satisfying to see Richard bitch-slap that couple rather than musing on who wears the pants. I noticed they had no concerns about friends or family coming to visit. Can't imagine why.

Is this the couple who rented the house acrosst the wall from Royalty?

 

 

e wall 

[Grizzly]

Stuttgart, Germany. I would stay in that party elevator with Kevin forever. Cynthia had a nice budget. Hope her pickiness was producer driven. Otherwise, she is on my list for making Kevin's job harder. How infirm (or drunk) are her friends that they would fall down that area at #1? I would put all sorts of knick knacks on those stairs to no where. Nice display space.

[Jodithgrace]

I was thinking of plants, since it’s under a skylight. 

[Chit Chat]

7 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

I was thinking of plants, since it’s under a skylight.

I was thinking the same thing.  It could be really beautiful with some greenery and flowers, but she might not want to water plants.  I'd love it though!  

[aghst]

Taipei, Taiwan to San Jose Province, Costa Rica.

Chante a single mother with a teen son and daughter wants nature and closer time difference to the US.  She’s originally from Virginia but have lived abroad with her children while doing an online coaching business.  Her clients are in the Eastern US time zone so the time difference was too much.

She also wants them all to be closer to nature, in contrast to the concrete jungle of Taipei.

She thought she’d also save a lot of money on housing costs but she has had to double her budget expectations from $800 to $1700 a month.  She wants to be in one of two suburbs of Costa Rica.  She’s looking for 3 bedrooms 2 baths, office space, walkability to shops and amenities such as recreational activities for herself and kids, all for $1700.

House 1 is a 3 bed 2 bath apt with pools and nature nearby but the apartment itself is basic and not as roomy as she hoped for $1600.

House 2 is also 3 bed 2 bath but a higher end apt complex.  It also has on-site pools and gym and is near a nature reserve.  The apartment is nicer too, bigger rooms and a bonus, an upstairs terrace entertaining area which could serve as Chante’s office for her online business.  But it’s above budget at $1900.

House 3 is a home outside the suburbs so it’s 25 minutes walk each way from the nearest store.  It’s a lovely older home with a big terrace with 3 bed 3 bath for $1600.  Chante likes the house but repeatedly mentions concern about it being far away, not just from a grocery store but also things for her kids to do.

She eliminates House3 as a location and chooses House 1,because of budget.  She can put the rent difference into her business.  Three months later they show her and her kids going to a grocery store and she speaks into a translation app the produce she wants to buy and the app says it in Spanish.

Clearly she chose  Costa Rica to save money over the higher COL in the US.

[proserpina65]

On 1/7/2025 at 11:02 PM, Grizzly said:

How infirm (or drunk) are her friends that they would fall down that area at #1?

I wondered what kind of drunken bacchanals she had that her friends would be at risk of falling into the window well area.

[Jodithgrace]

So what’s the deal with the new double episode? At first I thought they were going to shoehorn in both couples in one half hour, and then I saw that it was an hour long episode. I don’t like it. A half hour is perfect. I record it and watch during lunch the next day. Today I watched half of it and watched the second half during dinner. Didn’t feel right.

Couple that moved to Coventry England: Well, there go all my stereotypes about nice Canadians! Poor Richard. I do agree with the flat they finally chose, though. Having bedrooms upstairs and the one bathroom downstairs is a major pain. And now spoiled Canadian won’t have to share a bathroom!

[chessiegal]

3 minutes ago, Jodithgrace said:

So what’s the deal with the new double episode?

If it's the same BS they are pulling with "House Hunters" they are repackaging 2 old episodes and listing it as a new episode.

[aghst]

46 minutes ago, Jodithgrace said:

So what’s the deal with the new double episode? At first I thought they were going to shoehorn in both couples in one half hour, and then I saw that it was an hour long episode. I don’t like it. A half hour is perfect. I record it and watch during lunch the next day. Today I watched half of it and watched the second half during dinner. Didn’t feel right.

Couple that moved to Coventry England: Well, there go all my stereotypes about nice Canadians! Poor Richard. I do agree with the flat they finally chose, though. Having bedrooms upstairs and the one bathroom downstairs is a major pain. And now spoiled Canadian won’t have to share a bathroom!

They try to link both because they're both couples moving to Europe and living together for the first time.  Also they're moving so one of the partners can go for masters programs.

The Spanish couple, it was one going to school for masters and the other one just wanted to be near bars.

In their case, the school was outside the center where as all the bars and the interesting things in Taragona, Spain (near Barcelona) were all in the center, about a 35 minute walk away.

They didn't go for the cheapest option, which would have been closest to Dominique's school. Instead they went for one in town which was still under budget and gave the partner some things to do, so the student was willing to walk 35 minutes each way, though there was probably some kind of bus service.

For Coventry, the couple was doing long distance with the guy driving 6 hours from Cleveland to Toronto.  HE wanted to go for his masters and they decided to move in together because she was able to find a job near his school and where they'd live.

She seems to be in charge in the relationship.  He was the one driving long distance from Cleveland.  But she insisted on some things because she wasn't choosing to go back to school and lose income and she said she was used to having a nice lifestyle in Toronto which having some well-paying job afforded her.

The one thing she wanted was two bathrooms, separate bathrooms and she wanted an easy commute to work.  So she vetoed the one house which was furthest from the train to her work and the place only had one bathroom and was more outdated.

Richard was good natured about how demanding she was.  But to be fair, she wasn't choosing to go back to school so no reason they'd have to live like students.

If she really was paying the bills or at least the rent, that's a pretty big sacrifice and commitment.  They must be counting on him to make a bigger income after he gets his masters in digital marketing -- so basically learn to annoy people with online ads more effectively.

She said one thing you don't always hear on HHI, that they like it so far and they may stay at this home for "years."

 

 

[seacliffsal]

Just watched the Stuttgart episode.  So, she rejected option 1 because her drunk friends might fall down the open area (but they would have to get over landscaping (mulch and plants) before doing so (and she could put temporary low fencing around that area) but she was a-okay with having her drunk friends navigate stairs without a handrail to get up/down to her second floor apartment?  Alrighty then...

[proserpina65]

On 1/10/2025 at 6:07 PM, Jodithgrace said:

Couple that moved to Coventry England: Well, there go all my stereotypes about nice Canadians! Poor Richard. I do agree with the flat they finally chose, though. Having bedrooms upstairs and the one bathroom downstairs is a major pain. And now spoiled Canadian won’t have to share a bathroom!

I hated how Carrie talked about the kitchen in the second place.  I thought it was really cute.  She was just a bitch.  Hope she enjoys her own bathroom.  And I hope the boyfriend noped out of there pretty soon afterward.

I do agree with you about having the only bathroom be so far from the bedroom even though I really liked that house.

 

[BAForever]

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

 

 

[aghst]

Washingon State to Mexico City.

Lilia and Quinn, a young couple with some kind of online hospitality business take their toddler down to Mexico City, where the man's brother lives.  

They want to be near Quinn's brother in the Condesa or Roma neighborhoods, which are the most in-demand areas. They want furnished 3 bed and 2 bath, with a possible office space and furnished for their $2500 a month budget.

Agent Vanessa who does all the Mexico City episodes, shows them 3 choices in their desired neighborhoods.

House 1 is in Condesa, right next to a big park. It is 2 bed, 2 bath and under budget at $2200, close to the brother but it is unfurnished.

Quinn says he wants the to just be able to move in, don't want to take on the "projects" of furnishing the big expansive space in this apt, though they like the greenery setting next to the park.

House 2 is in Roma, again 2 bed, 2 bath, furnished and $1800, way under budget.  But it's 45-minute walk from the brother and Lilia thinks it's too dark and the spaces too small.

House 3 is in Condessa, closer to the brother.  It's way above budget at $2900 and has the hipster brick and concrete construction that they like. Lilia likes the furnishings which she didn't like in House 2 but worries about the price.  Vanessa claims the price is a steal for the size and location.

They eliminate House 3, too much above budget.

They don't really try to balance the remaining choices, Lilia will help with finding furniture and they pick House 1.

Maybe the business is reasonably secure and they can run it from anywhere.  The brother's girlfriend offers to babysit the toddler but otherwise, don't see a huge advantage in needing to live within walking distance of the brother.  It's not enough to live in the same city, they must be within walking distance?  Well the couples do seem to be close in age so maybe it's good to be able to socialize with people they know instead of trying to meet new people.

[surfgirl]

38 minutes ago, aghst said:

Washingon State to Mexico City.

Lilia and Quinn, a young couple with some kind of online hospitality business take their toddler down to Mexico City, where the man's brother lives.  

These two irked me no end. Lilia and her vocal fry worked my last damn nerve to begin with, but the incessant need to have a furnished apartment with furniture that they felt was worthy of them and their hipster doofus style just annoyed. The truth is, the most expensive place was wonderful, just slap some baby gates up and you're secured, but Lilia seems like a helicopter parent so that's not going to to work. The husband seemed terrified to have to pick out furniture for the empty place, and he said something like 'I have to do all that work' and intimated, at least to my ears, that she never likes what he chooses so he didn't want to deal with that bs again. So she decides she will help choose furniture and it will 'be fun', but I'm guessing it wont be fun because she does not seem like she'd know 'fun' if she ran right into it. Good luck to them.

After this I saw a South African couple who moved to China I think, now they're settling in NZ, where his mother, stepfather, and step sister have moved to. I felt for her because she needs to work from home and she also wanted to be near shops, etc. so that she didn't feel isolated. He has his family nearby, she has nobody. So it would seem she should get to choose, but he kept talking about 'WE want to be out in the countryside.' 'WE like running on trails through woods.' WE want this, WE want that' when clearly the other half of his WE did NOT want that and had clearly expressed that herself. Also disturbing was the way she spoke about running with him, and how he is the most competitive person she knows and he always has to 'win' every thing he does, sportswise. That run they took did not look fun, it looked like she is forced to run with him because HE wants to run. He seemed like a jerk, I've met a lot of SA guys like him, very old fashioned macho bs. She seemed way too compliant, like she says what she wants but he decides what they will do. I got so annoyed that I switched it off and have no idea what place they chose, but I hope for her sake, it was one of the in town options. Where the hell do they find these people anyway, that's what I'd like to know!

[chessiegal]

1 hour ago, surfgirl said:

Where the hell do they find these people anyway, that's what I'd like to know!

From the HGTV website:

Quote

Do You Want to be on House Hunters International?

Are you buying or renting a home outside of the United States? Are you English speaking living outside the United States and buying or renting a home in a new country? Either way we'd like to put your story on TV! HGTV's House Hunters International is looking for energetic individuals, couples, and families who are passionate about their search for a new home or vacation property abroad. We’re always on the lookout for upbeat personalities and interesting stories. If this sounds like you, apply now!

We are currently casting in multiple countries around the globe. If you are interested in being on the show, please send an e-mail telling us about yourselves and the details of your move to househunterscasting@leopardusa.com and we’ll send you additional information. Please be sure to include the following information in your email: your name, phone number, current location, new location, estimated move date and don’t forget to attach a photo of you and your family!

 

[BAForever]

Tried to post earlier, dumb spoiler box jumped in. I did not care for Lilla and Quinn. Pretty pretentious couple, spouting about the vibe and energy in Mexico City. I've been and parts are lovely, while other parts are desperately poor. 

Loved their choices, they picked the right one. Wonder if her "Persian" family chipped in. 

Since I need to say something positive,  their baby girl was very cute.

 

 

[aghst]

Alaska to Melbourne, Australia.

Couple with a young boy moving for her job and for the kid to be able to play baseball almost year round.  Husband will be Mr. Mom.

They want 3 bed, 2 bath and close to her job and baseball for the son, for $2000 a month.

Agent Lucas shows them a 3 bed, 1 bath house close to the job and baseball for $2000.  Wife doesn’t like 1 bathroom.  Yard is big, almost enough for the kid to do batting practice.

House 2 is 4 beds 3 baths for $2400.  Very nice furnishings and layout with balconies and views.  But it’s way over budget and the furthest from the wife’s job and the kid’s baseball.  Husband likes the modern style.

House 3 is closer to job and baseball but not as close as House 1.  3 bed, 2 bath for $2100.  Modern, doesn’t wow them with the look of the home.

They eliminate House 2 right away, mainly cost and commute.  They choose house 1 for cost and being the closest to everything.  Despite the wife’s bugaboo about having to share 1 bathroom with two males, she pushes for House 1.

Three months later, wife says she loves her job and they love their life in Australia.  The better weather seems to be a main cause of being happy with the move.

[Grizzly]

Alaska to Australia. I got real tired with the husband going on and on about how he does the cleaning. Not sure what she saw in him.

[proserpina65]

12 hours ago, aghst said:

Alaska to Melbourne, Australia.

Couple with a young boy moving for her job and for the kid to be able to play baseball almost year round.  Husband will be Mr. Mom.

They want 3 bed, 2 bath and close to her job and baseball for the son, for $2000 a month.

Agent Lucas shows them a 3 bed, 1 bath house close to the job and baseball for $2000.  Wife doesn’t like 1 bathroom.  Yard is big, almost enough for the kid to do batting practice.

House 2 is 4 beds 3 baths for $2400.  Very nice furnishings and layout with balconies and views.  But it’s way over budget and the furthest from the wife’s job and the kid’s baseball.  Husband likes the modern style.

House 3 is closer to job and baseball but not as close as House 1.  3 bed, 2 bath for $2100.  Modern, doesn’t wow them with the look of the home.

They eliminate House 2 right away, mainly cost and commute.  They choose house 1 for cost and being the closest to everything.  Despite the wife’s bugaboo about having to share 1 bathroom with two males, she pushes for House 1.

Three months later, wife says she loves her job and they love their life in Australia.  The better weather seems to be a main cause of being happy with the move.

They chose the right house.  I get that having only one bathroom is a pain.  Hell, I live alone and would want at least 1 & 1/2 baths, but the difference in travel time is huge.

I like the first house the best, even with the lack of an extra bathroom and the weird location for the dishwasher, mainly because it was the least modern in style.

I do dispute the notion that playing baseball all year long in Australia was really going to be that advantageous for the kid's ambitions, given that the quality of baseball there leaves a lot to be desired.  Same as with the 18 year old going to play soccer in New Zealand - you really want a great career, you go where the local game is at an elevated level.  But if he loves playing, at least he'll get to do a lot of it.

49 minutes ago, Grizzly said:

Alaska to Australia. I got real tired with the husband going on and on about how he does the cleaning. Not sure what she saw in him.

He cleans.  Speaking as someone who hates to clean, that counts for a lot.  I actually found her and the bathroom whining to be far more annoying.

[surfgirl]

I didn't get the impression the kid was a baseball wunderkind, I mean, if he's that good he should be living in either the US or Japan. Australia? Not so much I think.

[Seelouis]

2 hours ago, surfgirl said:

I didn't get the impression the kid was a baseball wunderkind, I mean, if he's that good he should be living in either the US or Japan. Australia? Not so much I think.

I agree. I think it was the difference between Alaska where he could only play for a really short season, and Australia where he could play year-round. It’s something he really enjoys and it was an incentive for him to get excited about the move. 

[BAForever]

2 hours ago, surfgirl said:

I didn't get the impression the kid was a baseball wunderkind, I mean, if he's that good he should be living in either the US or Japan. Australia? Not so much I think.

Don't disagree at all @surfgirl. On the positive side, he seemed to be a nice and polite child, unlike a lot of the kids we see on HH and HHI.

If he was a really talented and they were looking at a possible athletic career, baseball can be played in many southern and western states year round (or 9-10 months).

Edited Friday at 02:43 AM by BAForever

[snarts]

Alaska to Australia: it was mentioned quite a few times that one of the reasons they were moving was for a better work/life balance. In the closing scene, she mentioned having worked 70 hours/week in Alaska while her work visa in Australia caps her at 37.5 hours/week.

I recall that he was a teacher so assuming they moved over the Summer, giving him time off to get acclimated. Or, he may not yet have a work visa or the necessary certifications.  I think the kid's baseball obsession was just thrown in as a storyline. HH/HHI of late is on a kick with stories of parents moving for their kids sports.

[proserpina65]

20 hours ago, surfgirl said:

I didn't get the impression the kid was a baseball wunderkind, I mean, if he's that good he should be living in either the US or Japan. Australia? Not so much I think.

I got a little whiff of him thinking he was good enough to eventually play professionally, in which case Australia is not the place to develop one's skills.  But to just get to play a lot more than in Alaska?  Yeah, Melbourne would definitely work.