House Hunters International - General Discussion

[chessiegal]

Tonight's show ticked off one of my pet peeves 3 minutes in. Wife says "for Jason and I". I mourn the apparent death of the objective case of the personal pronoun. She was old enough to know better. I'm beginning to believe they no longer teach grammar and usage in school anymore,

[scootypuffjr]

And it's not even that hard!  Just take out the other person!  You wouldn't say, "Me went to the store," so don't say, "Johnny and me went to the store."  You wouldn't say, "Do you want to go to the store with I," so don't say, "Do you want to go to the store with Johnny and I?"  Me, I mean I, just don't see what's so complicated about it and why, given a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, people fail much more than half of the time.  It physically hurts my brain.  Sorry for the rant, but this is a continual bug in my ear, as it were.

[Quof]

scooty, come on over to the grammar thread where you see us weep over the expression "and I's", as in "Billy and I's decision..."  "my husband and I's car...." Just typing that makes me sad.

[Pickles]

The couple moving to the Netherlands and leaving the two college sons in Illinois. The wife kept saying how she hoped the move would reignite their marriage or cause sparks to fly or whatever. Lol. It was probably the producers harping on her, but good lord. It made it sound like she was fed up with the marriage and the husband was a big dud. The husband just stood there silently every time she said it. 

[Babalooie]

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

[Ohwell]

The weird thing about the Netherlands episode was, not only did the wife sound flat and lifeless, the sons sounded the same.   Wife did seem kind of unhappy like something was going on in the marriage, so maybe it's good for the sons that the parents have moved away.  

I liked the condo next to the soccer field but I can understand not wanting to be in the  midst of all those people going to the soccer matches.   

[Jeremiad]

Manufactured drama in each HI episode:  local charm vs modern, city vs country and, of course, life would be insupportable without granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.  Not to mention a second bedroom for the imagined potential guests.

The Netherlands couple seemed troubled.  What possessed them to appear on national TV?

[Kohola3]

Quote

What possessed them to appear on national TV?

Like so many "reality" show "stars", they wanted their 15 minutes of fame.

[dga28]

why do people move to a quaint european town, claim they want authentic european charm, then when they get it, they complain the rooms, kitchen, etc. ..are too small and the bathrooms aren't americanized?.....lol

its almost like the idiots with a family of 5 and 3 dogs who brag about wanting a tiny house, then complain they are too cramped.....

people have some serious issues...

[SmithW6079]

I liked the Netherlands couple at first -- quiet, no drama. It was as the episode progressed that I began to think things weren't quite right.

Maybe it was the producers looking for a hook, but the wife kept mentioning about putting the spark back in their marriage,  and when they "decided" on the house, they didn't even hug or kiss the way most couples do. I fully expected to see them shake hands. 

And when her "friends" asked how her Dutch was going and she said not at all, I was disappointed. In the beginning, she mentioned how she was going to take language classes and immerse herself in the culture. 

By the end, I was wondering how soon it would be before the wife was having an affair with either one of the husband's colleagues or a native Dutchman.

While I know the choice of home is long since decided, I still get caught up in which one will they pick. I liked the city apartment. The husband's complaint about the church bells was idiotic. I liked to that they didn't talk about all the family who would be coming to visit them, only the sons, and that the boys didn't need their own bedroom each. 

Edited May 15, 2016 by SmithW6079

[Ohwell]

I'm no psychiatrist, but I thought there was a chance that the Netherlands wife was suffering from clinical depression or something.  She just seemed so "off" and lifeless.  I was thinking that maybe the husband took the job overseas, hoping that perhaps a new location would help. 

[izabella]

I'm the oddball again; I didn't think the Netherlands wife was that bad.  I think she did want a change of scenery, but I think she just has a touch of empty nest syndrome with both the boys in college now.  And if they've lived in that St. Louis suburb for a long time, the Netherlands will seem very scary.  But, hey, they already found a good cheese shop, so they're on their way. 

[Ohwell]

Empty nest syndrome, perhaps, but even at the end it seemed like the women she was with weren't exactly "friends" (although they probably have fake friends a lot on the HHI episodes).  She just seemed like such a Debbie Downer. 

[truther]

20 hours ago, SmithW6079 said:

And when her "friends" asked how her Dutch was going and she said not at all, I was disappointed. In the beginning, she mentioned how she was going to take language classes and immerse herself in the culture. 

Having spent a little bit of time in Holland, I can say that it's one of those countries where people who aren't motivated to learn the language don't learn it.  Virtually everyone speaks excellent English.  You can run into expats, usually people in the oil/energy industry, who've lived there for months and even years and barely learned anything beyond a few simple phrases.

[SmithW6079]

8 hours ago, truther said:

Having spent a little bit of time in Holland, I can say that it's one of those countries where people who aren't motivated to learn the language don't learn it.  Virtually everyone speaks excellent English.  You can run into expats, usually people in the oil/energy industry, who've lived there for months and even years and barely learned anything beyond a few simple phrases.

I can understand how that might happen, but the wife seemed so enthusiastic about the move and partaking of the language and culture in the beginning. By the end, it seemed she was reduced to being a "lady who lunched" -- going to restaurants and shopping. Maybe depression is a factor in her life. 

[scootypuffjr]

Eh, some people just don't have much inflection in their voices.  I'm one of them - I sound dead serious when I'm joking, and paired with my somewhat sarcastic and aggressive sense of humor and my unfortunate resting bitch face, I can come across very badly and make a very poor first impression if I'm not careful.  (Oddly enough, my sister has the exact opposite problem and can't sound serious or threatening under any circumstance.)  Add some possible uneasiness about being in front of a camera, and maybe not being a very good actress, if I appeared on a show like this I'm sure people would think I was a serial killer or child abuser or such.  (I promise you I'm not either of those things!)  I didn't find the Netherlands wife that odd.

I was glad she got her downtown apartment.  The house was lovely, but that was not what she wanted.  She wanted a smaller place with less upkeep and plenty to do and see close by, and living in an older house in rural PA, I can't say as I blame her.  If you're moving to a whole 'nother country, might as well make a real change and get what you want, is what I say.  I was afraid the husband would talk her into his preference, so I'm happy she got her way and I thought she seemed happy enough as well.

Edited May 17, 2016 by scootypuffjr
Need to join Editors Anonymous

[NJMom]

This episode made crazy. My DH is from Holland and we are over there every year or two. This couple wanted to live in Groningen and the realtor took them to see one house in Haarlem. That is at least 2 hours from Groningen! I know the show is fake as far as picking a house but they could at least pretend to show them homes in towns close to each other.

[Peanutbuttercup]

Single mom moving to Perth from Scotland . . . how does a part-time dance instructor with four children to support afford $2,000 a month for rent? Trust fund baby? Child support from the ex? Secretly dealing drugs? What gives?

[SmithW6079]

20 hours ago, NJMom said:

This episode made crazy. My DH is from Holland and we are over there every year or two. This couple wanted to live in Groningen and the realtor took them to see one house in Haarlem. That is at least 2 hours from Groningen! I know the show is fake as far as picking a house but they could at least pretend to show them homes in towns close to each other.

 

DH? Designated hitter? :-)

Eh, to most Americans, Foreign Land is not 'Murica, so they don't care. They can't even tell which countries are which on a map; they're not going to tell that one town is two hours from another.

[Ohwell]

1 hour ago, Peanutbuttercup said:

Single mom moving to Perth from Scotland . . . how does a part-time dance instructor with four children to support afford $2,000 a month for rent? Trust fund baby? Child support from the ex? Secretly dealing drugs? What gives?

I was guessing alimony and child support from a fairly well-off ex.

[proserpina65]

On ‎05‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 10:08 AM, Babalooie said:

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

I didn't like that it was a high-rise condo but I did like the view into the grounds - free football!  I think they chose the right place in the end.  It's the one I would've picked.

[proserpina65]

Duplicate post for some weird reason

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[proserpina65]

Argh!

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[proserpina65]

duplicate post

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[proserpina65]

*!@##$%&**

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[proserpina65]

....

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[proserpina65]

Seriously, sorry about this.  I don't know what the heck was up with my computer.

Edited May 19, 2016 by proserpina65

[proserpina65]

computer glitch

Edited May 19, 2016 by proserpina65

[proserpina65]

On ‎05‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 10:08 AM, Babalooie said:

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

I didn't like that it was a high-rise condo but I did like the view into the grounds - free football!  I think they chose the right place in the end.  It's the one I would've picked.

[proserpina65]

On ‎05‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 10:08 AM, Babalooie said:

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

I didn't like that it was a high-rise condo but I did like the view into the grounds - free football!  I think they chose the right place in the end.  It's the one I would've picked.

[proserpina65]

On ‎05‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 10:08 AM, Babalooie said:

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

I didn't like that it was a high-rise condo but I did like the view into the grounds - free football!  I think they chose the right place in the end.  It's the one I would've picked.

[proserpina65]

On ‎05‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 10:08 AM, Babalooie said:

To me, the Illinois woman was lifeless and expressionless.  Moving to the Netherlands will not fix that. Like the old song says, "You can't run away from you".  I rather liked the high-rise condo next to the soccer field.

I didn't like that it was a high-rise condo but I did like the view into the grounds - free football!  I think they chose the right place in the end.  It's the one I would've picked.

[KLovestoShop]

I sometimes have to scratch my head at the dumbness of some of these buyers. The couple moving to Florence was ok, but the wife was not prepared for what these apartments are like.  The kicker was when she said, "They don't take Americans into account when they build these places".  I wanted to throw my shoe at the tv after that remark.  The building in the city center was probably built decades ago, but she thinks they should have taken Americans into consideration?   Yeah, and how many developers here build residences with foreigners in mind.  

[Albino]

1 hour ago, KLovestoShop said:

I sometimes have to scratch my head at the dumbness of some of these buyers. The couple moving to Florence was ok, but the wife was not prepared for what these apartments are like.  The kicker was when she said, "They don't take Americans into account when they build these places".  I wanted to throw my shoe at the tv after that remark.  The building in the city center was probably built decades ago, but she thinks they should have taken Americans into consideration?   Yeah, and how many developers here build residences with foreigners in mind.  

Until she clarified, I thought they needed the extra storage for Jen's boobs, not her shoes.

And again with picking an over-budget apartment based on dogs. The realtor looked as if he loathed both of them. Has there even been a woman as clingy as Pecan Jen? She was always hanging onto him for dear life.

[proserpina65]

I apologize to all and sundry about the multiple post - I tried to fix it, but no luck.

9 hours ago, Albino said:

Until she clarified, I thought they needed the extra storage for Jen's boobs, not her shoes.

And again with picking an over-budget apartment based on dogs. The realtor looked as if he loathed both of them. Has there even been a woman as clingy as Pecan Jen? She was always hanging onto him for dear life.

In fairness, they picked one with a park nearby, which wasn't completely unreasonable.  Still over the budget, though.

[Spunkygal]

I personally hate tee shirts that have slogans. Touristy tee shirts are ok....."Yellowstone" or "Boston" or a sporting event or team. But the Florence husband's tee shirt at the end irked me.. "This guy loves his sexy wife." And at a wine tasting or whatever they were at...when they are at a big table with others around and talking about getting engaged in Florence and then he smooches her, then the camera pans to a young lady at the table who is smirking and looking at someone across the table, I felt like she was thinking "they didn't pay me enough to be here." 

In case you couldn't tell, I hated this couple, but love the dogs.

[SoCalAgain]

I'm sorry- I really feel there was either something wrong with the Illinois woman moving to the Netherlands, either that or she was playing a roll for  the cameras. As someone unthread commented, one of my first thoughts was she would be having  an affair with a local in no time.  The bike riding didn't seem to come natural to her, and her attitude towards leaving her boys behind seemed very odd to me.  My husband does a lot of work in the Netherlands, and often I think how great it would be to move there for a time.  And I would , given the opportunity.  However, I have also have two college aged kids, and I would agonize over leaving them.  I would do it--- but it would be hard, and I'd be making plans for them to come visit whenever they were able.  Both of their attitudes to leaving their boys behind I found kind of shocking.  Not that the boys weren't old enough to care for themselves, they certainly were, but the nonchalance with which the wife kind of dismissed the whole issue.  She was a strange one.

[Ohwell]

I agree about leaving the boys, even though they were old enough to fend for themselves.  The sons are still living in the house so I guess the parents send money home for them to pay for their expenses and for the housing expenses?  Now that I think about it, something was "off" about both of them although he acted more normal than she did.

[aguabella]

Given the HHI 6 month editing period, the Brussels episode would have been filmed b4 the attacks.   WRT to the one guys' obsession with "curb appeal", I thought he was just overacting.  And the last scene, when they sat down b/c their "favorite show was coming on", uh, sorry guys but HHI doesn't air overseas.  (It's why they have difficulty casting hunters.)   So, unless they brought a dvd along with them ...

Guess you can take the guys out of Glendale / Hollywood but you can't take the Hollywood out of the guys!

[SmithW6079]

On 5/21/2016 at 9:09 PM, SoCalAgain said:

I'm sorry- I really feel there was either something wrong with the Illinois woman moving to the Netherlands, either that or she was playing a roll for  the cameras. As someone unthread commented, one of my first thoughts was she would be having  an affair with a local in no time.  The bike riding didn't seem to come natural to her, and her attitude towards leaving her boys behind seemed very odd to me.  My husband does a lot of work in the Netherlands, and often I think how great it would be to move there for a time.  And I would , given the opportunity.  However, I have also have two college aged kids, and I would agonize over leaving them.  I would do it--- but it would be hard, and I'd be making plans for them to come visit whenever they were able.  Both of their attitudes to leaving their boys behind I found kind of shocking.  Not that the boys weren't old enough to care for themselves, they certainly were, but the nonchalance with which the wife kind of dismissed the whole issue.  She was a strange one.

 

 

On 5/21/2016 at 10:00 PM, Ohwell said:

I agree about leaving the boys, even though they were old enough to fend for themselves.  The sons are still living in the house so I guess the parents send money home for them to pay for their expenses and for the housing expenses?  Now that I think about it, something was "off" about both of them although he acted more normal than she did.

 

In the Skype call home, one of the sons mentioned a new job that he was starting "tomorrow," and the couple did want a two-bedroom home so the boys would have a place to stay when they came to visit.

[Ohwell]

1 hour ago, SmithW6079 said:

In the Skype call home, one of the sons mentioned a new job that he was starting "tomorrow," and the couple did want a two-bedroom home so the boys would have a place to stay when they came to visit.

Yeah, I remember the son saying that he'd started a new job.  However, he looked young enough that this was probably his first "real" job.  Even so, is he making enough to cover mortgage and expenses for the house, and to take care of his younger brother?  I doubt it.  So I'm guessing that dad is sending money home. 

[laredhead]

I'm just getting around to watching the couple who moved from Florida to Florence.  I agree with a previous poster who talked about the wife never letting go of the husband.  She was clinging to him in almost every scene.   Also, when they showed a picture of them when they first met, I thought he had met another woman because she did not look anything like the picture.  The dogs were cute, but taking them outside several times a day down 5 flights of stairs would get old for me.

[Sean at Vida Asana]

On November 29, 2014 at 7:53 PM, izabella said:

I was amazed they were spending $1M on a B&B in a foreign country with their first baby on the way.  Since it wasn't some kind of life long dream, I wonder how they came up with the idea.  B&B's are a lot of work, aren't they?  It sounds like a lot of work to me.

 

I liked the one they chose.  It seemed like a fun kind of place to live

I know this is dated now, but I'm just seeing this forum for the first time.  I'm the husband in this episode.  When I was 16 I told all of my friends that I wanted to move to Belgium to race bicycles for a living, or to Costa Rica to open a surf camp.  27 years later, after originally going to Belgium, I ended up in Costa Rica with a yoga camp in a surf town in Costa Rica.  I know it wasn't precisely a life long dream, but it was quite close.

If anyone has any questions about the show, or how we are doing, I'm happy to share.

For the person who didn't see it ending well, it has ended well beyond our wildest dreams, though I totally understand your cynicism.

Blessings, Pura Vida, y Namaste,  Sean/Jess/Juju and the Vida Asana Family

[Sean at Vida Asana]

On December 1, 2014 at 10:42 AM, sugarbaker design said:

 

They didn't invest their life savings, the million came from the sale of their NYC apartment.  They were going to use other funds for start up, renovation and staff costs.

I definitely invested my life savings, with the exception of my 401k, which is intact and should secure Juju's financial well being, if things ever go terribly wrong for me and/or Jess.  We didn't make anywhere close to $1 million on the condo, and didn't have $1 million in the world.  The million dollar budget would have required a loan, on top of my life savings.

BTW - for some reason they never mention the actual sale price that we negotiated, which was about $200k less than the asking price.

Pura Vida,  Sean

Edited May 28, 2016 by Sean at Vida Asana
added "$" in two places.

[Sean at Vida Asana]

On November 29, 2014 at 7:13 PM, Peanutbuttercup said:

I just saw the NYC - to - Costa Rica and opening a B&B couple. I don't know, I don't see that ending well, a couple with absolutely zero experience in hotels or hospitality deciding to move to another country and invest their life savings in a B & B. Maybe I watch too much Hotel Impossible but I am already imaging the intervention with Anthony Melchiorri trying to explain to them what a maintenance schedule is and that guests don't like sleeping on moldy pillows. On the other hand, they seemed like nice people (apart from naming their daughter - what was it, Julep? They were calling her JuJu anyway which is weird IMO) so I wish them luck.

Thanks for the kind words, sorry that you don't like the name Julep, though I totally appreciate why it is not for everyone.

 "Juju" is actually a synonym for karma, so a pretty appropriate name for our beautiful child growing up at a yoga and permaculture center.  A  julep is a "sweet tropical drink with medicinal quality," which as an older dad, moving to the tropics, really feels appropriate to me.  Her middle name is "Belgium."  It was important to us to create a name that would give her lots of options to play with when she was older.  That way, if she feels the same way about Julep that you do, she could go by, Jules, Julabel, Bella, JB, or whatever feels right to her.

Thank you for watching our episode, it is a treat to read these comments.  If you're ever in our part of the world, please stop by and say hi.

Edited May 28, 2016 by Sean at Vida Asana
typo

[laredhead]

Has HGTV been airing new episodes of HHI Renovation this past week?  My DVR caught one a couple of nights ago, but looks like the episode before the one recorded was also HHI Reno in Paris.  I don't remember that episode.  My DVR, Uverse schedule and the TV Guide do not seem to be in sync these days.   

[Albino]

An "adventurous" couple relocates to Grand Cayman island and are looking to rent a home.  Surprisingly...they want an ocean view!  IKR?  Their budget is $2000/month and they look at a couple of places.  

At one point they're out on the ocean in a boat whose pilot tells them he lives on the boat!  Much excitement!  And he's planning on selling said boat!  Hmmm... 

Anyway, they look at the obligatory 3 homes and space is an issue for 2 of the choices...living room and bathrooms were teeny.  So they decide to buy the guy's boat and live on it.  Did I mention they had two sizable dogs?  

This is not an Onassis-type boat.  The kitchen is smaller than the bathroom they complained about.  Needless to say...no granite countertops or stainless appliances.  In fact, I didn't actually see any appliances at all.  And absolutely nowhere to place a barn door!  But it is open concept since the bedroom (or mattress...) is open to the kitchen which is open to the living room (or chair...).  Add 2 dogs to the mix and it's hell on water.  

The couple wasn't that bad...not much bickering or "ewwwws"...but I was kind of horrified by the choice.  But then again, I don't have to live there.  Thank god.

Edited May 31, 2016 by Albino

[KLovestoShop]

I could not believe the Grand Cayman couple who bought the sailboat.  She didn't like that the washer/dryer was in the kitchen of two condos, but they buy a boat with no laundry at all?   And where do they get fresh water for showers and cooking?  And two big dogs in a tiny boat?  Seriously?  Can't wait to see what they'll do when the first hurricane hits. Grand Cayman is very often in the path of major storms.  

[laredhead]

Does anyone remember the episode a few years back about the husband who was insistent on moving his family to a sailboat?  That episode generated a lot of discussion on this forum.  Wonder whatever happened to them?  

[biakbiak]

17 hours ago, KLovestoShop said:

I could not believe the Grand Cayman couple who bought the sailboat.  She didn't like that the washer/dryer was in the kitchen of two condos, but they buy a boat with no laundry at all?   And where do they get fresh water for showers and cooking?  And two big dogs in a tiny boat?  Seriously?  Can't wait to see what they'll do when the first hurricane hits. Grand Cayman is very often in the path of major storms.  

You get fresh water in the marina.