House Hunters International - General Discussion

[chocolatine]

19 hours ago, AuntiePam said:

Tonight's Edinburgh episode -- surprised that anything could be found in that beautiful city for $750.

Yes, that surprised me too. I lived there more than 10 years ago, and back then 1-bedroom apartments started at 500 GPB/month. $750 is 610 GBP, and I thought prices would have increased a lot more in 10 years.

Edited November 19, 2016 by chocolatine
grammar

[pep4]

At first I didn't care for the Edinburgh guy (nasty/dirty hair was so gross, kept wanting to look away) but by the end he seemed alright.  Nice couple, hope they really enjoy their new place.

 

Liked the Somerset couple from Vegas, too.  But hard to understand forcing your spouse to live in a place where he'd constantly be bumping his head.  Pretty much every doorway was low for him, wasn't it?  Such an affable fellow though, so maybe no big deal.

[debraran]

11 hours ago, chocolatine said:

Yes, that surprised me too. I lived there more than 10 years ago, and back then 1-bedroom apartments started at 500 GPB/month. $750 is 610 GBP, and I thought prices would have increased a lot more in 10 years.

My daughter lived there for a year and I was surprised at the prices there and even some of the other countries they go too. I'm sure they are accurate but sometimes much lower than I expected or my daughter has seen, at least  in nicer areas.

[AuntiePam]

I really enjoyed the Amsterdam episode.  The two apartments with the outdoor space were so pleasant and livable, especially the first one, with all that sunshine.  The dungeon/bedroom in the third place -- yowza, that was terrible!  It might have worked for storage but that's all.  Dark, claustrophobic. 

The dog was cute and so were the people.  Loved her hair.

[juliet73]

Amsterdam woman was odd. She had to talk with her dog about which apartment he would prefer. I guess he barked twice since she picked the second one. Ha! Does she have any friends/family besides her coworker that came with her on the house hunt? Usually, the show has them saying goodbye, etc before they leave.  She basically said she had her dog so she was leaving no one behind. Never once mentioned guests coming to visit or entertaining. At the end, no gathering with anyone, just cutting the veggies for herself. :( 

[biakbiak]

2 hours ago, AuntiePam said:

I really enjoyed the Amsterdam episode.  The two apartments with the outdoor space were so pleasant and livable, especially the first one, with all that sunshine.  The dungeon/bedroom in the third place -- yowza, that was terrible!  It might have worked for storage but that's all.  Dark, claustrophobic. 

The dog was cute and so were the people.  Loved her hair.

That bedroom is literally my ideal bedroom, the darker more cave like the better!

[AuntiePam]

3 hours ago, biakbiak said:

That bedroom is literally my ideal bedroom, the darker more cave like the better!

I like dark too -- it always surprises me when shoppers want sunny bedrooms.  But that one was so small -- or maybe the ceiling was too high for the size of the room.  I thought it was creepy.  If there had been some outdoor space for the dog, it wouldn't have been a bad choice -- she could always sleep in the living room and use the bedroom for a guest, or for storage.

[buttersister]

Auntie Pam, you're so much nicer than I am---my living room couch is the most comfortable place in town (or so say my guests), I'm in my bedroom.

I liked her friend. Where does he live? Would he like to find a new place and we could watch?

[TVForever]

Jack the One-Eyed Pomeranian:

That dog was ridiculously cute!

My fave apartment was the third one by the canal. The only downside for me was the lack of outdoor space. I didn't even mind the strange little bedroom. If I were living alone, I would just leave the bedroom door open all the time- it would be like sleeping in a nook. Overall, the outdoor space made the apartment she chose a better choice. It was also a great place.

[copshop]

Jack Barkington ftw!

I felt like she should have bought a murphy bed for the apartment with the cave bedroom and made that her closet. Amsterdam episodes are always great, especially when they tour the homes on bike. I hope she meets someone--she was super cute.

 

There was something in the news recently about (duh) HH being fake. I don't mind at all, but it drives me batty that they never discuss any specifics about the legalities--work visas, etc. They could eliminate the repetition and give us just two minutes of detail. I would find it so interesting!

[Kohola3]

Quote

They could eliminate the repetition...

Gosh, yes!  I get so sick of the rehashes when I have so many questions that would be interesting to have covered.  Are taxes different?  Visa requirements?  Ownership regulations?  All good trivia to learn.

[magemaud]

The delightful Adrian Leeds is back in Paris episodes! 

[pep4]

So yeah, no way did that Texas to Paris couple ever actually consider a 190 sq ft studio.   But Adrian's glasses were cool.  Cringed at the touristy metal silhouettes of Paris landmarks in their renovation.

 

$250k seems cheap for a basically move in ready (wasn't all their 100k in renovations just personal taste items?) in the city, if it really was in the 18th Arrondissement.  Not really that far out geographically, does it border a bad area, or are parts of Paris more reasonably priced than conventional wisdom?

Edited November 23, 2016 by pep4

[Spunkygal]

Texas to Paris....wow, the reno of the gut job apartment was gorgeous, except for those Paris-scape metal structures. No way would I have allowed that. But otherwise, I loved the design and color scheme, and it looked so cheery until you looked at those stupid sculptures. 

[magemaud]

Okay, now I'm confused. I thought they went with Option #2, the windowless gut job in the city center and not the move in ready place near Montmartre? Anyway, those metal city scape silhouettes looked like they should have been in the Moulin Rouge! 

[Spunkygal]

@magemaud, yes, they chose the second house, the gut job. Their designer sure had great vision because I couldn't imagine what they were going to do with it. I personally would save that money and just rent great apartments on an as-needed basis. Owning a second home in another country is not attractive to me. I guess it will also be offered for rent but they never addressed that.

[AuntiePam]

1 hour ago, Spunkygal said:

Texas to Paris....wow, the reno of the gut job apartment was gorgeous, except for those Paris-scape metal structures. No way would I have allowed that. But otherwise, I loved the design and color scheme, and it looked so cheery until you looked at those stupid sculptures. 

I kinda liked the sculptures -- it was a clever way to fake a window and get some light in there.  But I would have become tired of looking at them after awhile. 

I wonder if the sculptures can be removed so that they're left with just the fake window.  Or changed to a landscape, flowers, trees, birds, etc. 

[chocolatine]

I'm confused, how do they get fresh air into the apartment if it has no windows? I once stayed at a friends apartment for a night in a windowless bedroom, and I absolutely hated it. I can't imagine living that way, even if it's in the heart of Paris.

[Irlandesa]

4 hours ago, chocolatine said:

I'm confused, how do they get fresh air into the apartment if it has no windows? I once stayed at a friends apartment for a night in a windowless bedroom, and I absolutely hated it. I can't imagine living that way, even if it's in the heart of Paris.

I could be wrong but I think there were windows in the front of the apartment where the door was which is why they didn't build any walls. But then I was kind of confused about the layout from what they showed. 

I do think they made a wise choice.  It's rentable and that apartment, given its location, would probably sell for quite a bit.

[awaken]

On November 18, 2016 at 7:19 PM, chessiegal said:

I'm a firm believer in everyone's right to wear hair on any body part the way they prefer, but I found the dreadlocks so distracting I remember little else. My problem. I've been to Edinburgh once and enjoyed it very much.

For me it wasn't so much the dreadlocks themselves, which were fine, but the broken, flyaway halo of hair on top of his head that was distracting!

[SmithW6079]

I ended up liking the Edinburgh couple too (well, the husband more than the wife, whom I found "prickly," especially her weird thing about "noise"; that's why they make white noise machines/apps for your phone, sweetie). I visited Edinburgh ages ago on a work/pleasure trip, and I loved it; I would love to go back. In some of the long shots, I recognized places I'd been, which was exciting.

RE: the couple moving to Cologne. I really wanted to like them, because I admire people who just pick up and move to experience another culture, but OMG, if the wife said, "German character" one more time, I was going to slap her. I wanted to ask, which German "character" did you want -- the Wiemar Republic, the Nazi era, or the communist one? If you're talking about post-reunification, then you're pretty much in generic "Western" mode. If you're talking pre-German Empire, then you're talking about individual German states, which had their own "character."

[mojito]

Quote

except for those Paris-scape metal structures.

I was okay with the structure. But wasn't it international, depicting other European landmarks (I remember, for instance, a windmill). Not trying to prove anyone wrong, just wondering.  I kind of liked the silhouette because it depicted an international skyline, or so I thought.

HHI Costa Rica. The 50-something woman who takes her lifetime savings of $200K to open a B&B. She was a successful high-tech consultant, I believe, and had chucked it all to try her hand in this new biz. One of those stories with a lot of missing pieces. She got tips from a local barfly and was shooting from the hip. I kept thinking that I hoped she also had a 401K plan on the side.

Edited November 25, 2016 by mojito

[AuntiePam]

37 minutes ago, mojito said:

HHI Costa Rica. The 50-something woman who takes her lifetime savings of $200K to open a B&B. She was a successful high-tech consultant, I believe, and had chucked it all to try her hand in this new biz. One of those stories with a lot of missing pieces. She got tips from a local barfly and was shooting from the hip. I kept thinking that I hoped she also had a 401K plan on the side.

Me too, especially since one of the sites she was shown was already a BnB -- and a very nice one.  Did it fail or was it just there for comparison?  Because if that really nice BnB didn't succeed, the one she chose probably won't succeed either. 

Did she tile those countertops?  Or at least scrub off what looked like mildew?

Edited November 25, 2016 by AuntiePam

[mojito]

Quote

Me too, especially since one of the sites she was shown was already a BnB -- and a very nice one.  Did it fail or was it just there for comparison?  Because if that really nice BnB didn't succeed, the one she chose probably won't succeed either. 

Did she tile those countertops?  Or at least scrub off what looked like mildew?

Don't remember what she did with the counter tops. The concrete floors didn't look like they'd been finished, I remember that. Even if the other B&B was successful, hers would not attract as good a clientele, I wouldn't think. 

The back story and conclusion were fishy. 

[biakbiak]

8 hours ago, mojito said:

I was okay with the structure. But wasn't it international, depicting other European landmarks (I remember, for instance, a windmill). Not trying to prove anyone wrong, just wondering.  I kind of liked the silhouette because it depicted an international skyline, or so I thought.

 

The windmill was the Moulin Rouge.

[AuntiePam]

Canadians searching for a second home in Mexico -- did the wife realize how stupid it sounded to quibble about $5K when the budget is $825K?  I really hope the husband agreed with the choice of the condo, because that house they turned down was perfect. 

She complained about maintenance.  I've never owned a vacation property, so maybe there's more to it than I realize.  But in a temperate climate, it seems that all they'd need to do to when they're away is lock the doors and windows and turn on the security system.  What maintenance?  There's cleaning to do wherever you live.

On a shallow note, her soft voice was annoying as hell. 

[Pickles]

I agree about the Canadian woman's voice. Ugh. So annoying! And her outfit was bizarre too. Those long black shorts and then a silky top with a jeweled neckline. Does that go together? I wanted to do a makeover on her.

[juliet73]

I agree about her voice.  And her "excited" voice was the same as her "worried"  voice.  She was odd and the husband gave me the creeps.  I loved all 3 of the options, but the single family home would have been my pick for sure.  

[snarts]

Was it the Canadian couple's second time on the show?  They mentioned having too quickly jumping on the two bedroom.  He looked familiar while she didn't.

It takes a special person to run a B&B.  I wouldn't have picked her as the type.  I will admit that I love the escapism of watching people with similar corporate careers chuck it all and move somewhere tropical.  The difference is, I don't want to work when I get there! 

[KAOS Agent]

I can't figure out how come these people freak out about how the house is overbudget and then buy a condo for $20k less. They do recognize that the HOA on the condo will be lots higher than the difference on the mortgage, right? 

[Kohola3]

Quote

They do recognize that the HOA on the condo will be lots higher than the difference on the mortgage, right? 

Apparently not and HH conveniently neglects to mention anything about those types of things. If young folks are watching this to be educated before starting a house hunt, they are going to be sorely screwed.

[Irlandesa]

They used to mention things like HOA fees but certainly  not consistently.

Although, if this is a second home that they will not be living in full time, I see the advantages of choosing a condo with the security and upkeep as part of the package.  They might need to hire a management company if they bought a single family home which could rival the cost of the HOA fees.

[mojito]

Quote

But in a temperate climate, it seems that all they'd need to do to when they're away is lock the doors and windows and turn on the security system.  What maintenance?  There's cleaning to do wherever you live.

@AuntiePam, someone has to keep the landscape maintained. You have to worry about storms that might blow the roof off and earthquakes/tremors in the region. Additionally, even with an alarm system, can you count on the authorities to take care of it? And they'll get there after the burglary. An empty home is also a great place for squatters and don't forget, that's a big drug trafficking region. What can you do from Canada if something happens? No way I'd purchase a standalone home in Sonora. I'm with wifey: condo all the way.

[biakbiak]

1 hour ago, mojito said:

@AuntiePam, someone has to keep the landscape maintained. You have to worry about storms that might blow the roof off and earthquakes/tremors in the region. Additionally, even with an alarm system, can you count on the authorities to take care of it? And they'll get there after the burglary. An empty home is also a great place for squatters and don't forget, that's a big drug trafficking region. What can you do from Canada if something happens? No way I'd purchase a standalone home in Sonora. I'm with wifey: condo all the way.

Also, if you are going to rent it out why you aren't using it you have to have someone to cleanit between guests and do any repairs. In these condos they are already set up for that sort of thing and usually manage it all including the reservations.

[Nysha]

On 9/15/2016 at 11:10 PM, JasmineFlower said:

You think you've seen and heard everything on House Hunters and all its varieties when a who needs a much better bra game kicks out "I'm a very sensitive and sensual person..." I'm speechless at the word usage. There were just so many other ways to say that.

I was shocked that they were moving b/c of the winter weather, specifically because of snow. If I remember right, they were living in the west side of Oregon that gets one or two snow storms at best, the rest of the time it rains. I guess they didn't like the sun that much either, b/c you can rent Casa Indya.

[Irlandesa]

The Villefranche-sur-mer was some of the best travel porn I'd seen in ages.  The colors were so vivid and gorgeous--it out-Monaco'd the Monaco episode.  I liked the apartment they chose.  It was nice inside and had exquisite views.  However, I did love the quaintness of the terrace at the old monastery and that would have almost sold me on it. 

[AuntiePam]

Massachusetts to Malaga, Spain.  I don't understand the reasoning behind choosing the smallish condo.  Yeah, it had a pool, but it didn't have any office space.  Mom and cousin said the condo would allow mom and the kids to meet people, make friends.  That's true, up to a point -- it depends on who's living in that building.  Is it singles, retirees, families with kids?  If there's a good mix, then it will work and they'll meet people.  But what if it's not?  They're stuck in an apartment building with a pool.

Kids will generally make friends in school, and that gorgeous villa (which was on budget) has all the space they need -- for mom's office, and for the kids to bring friends home. 

[chocolatine]

Malaga Mom: But the condo doesn't have the Spanish flair.

Cousin: You're in Spain, so there's your Spanish flair!

Can the cousin be on every episode, please?

[biakbiak]

The villa was out of town more than 20 minutes so depending that could be 2 hours out of her day (they always lowball the amount of time) and they said that there were no families in the area. Add to that it was at the top of the budget and didn't include maintenance of the grounds and pool it was actual over budget.

As illustrated her "office" is basically a laptop and a portable printer, so she doesn't need a dedicated space and the master was a decent size with plenty of room for a desk. Not to mention it was $900 cheaper and closer to town, the beach and the schoold it seemed like a nobrianer. 

Edited November 29, 2016 by biakbiak

[juliet73]

I'm totally surprised she didn't take the beach condo! So what if it didn't have a pool,  it had the BEACH right across the  street!! She didn't seem too bright to begin with anyway.   I liked her cousin though. 

[pep4]

Got a condo to meet people in the local community, closing shot of her family and a couple of Brit expats at the pool.  Though to be fair, Malaga is expat central for Spain.  Do people never trip on the stairs in Europe?  So many dwellings with crazy no bannister staircases, like at that villa.  

[Pickles]

I just kept thinking how sun damaged the Massachusetts to Spain mom looked. And then no sunglasses in the blazing sun. Did her job transfer her to Spain or was it one of those-I've always wanted to live in Spain? I missed the beginning.

[mojito]

MA to Malaga

She and her cousin are physical therapists and she's now on the admin side of the biz.

I would have picked the condo that she picked. Gets the kids a pool (I'm of the belief that kids have more fun in a pool than in the sea, plus they come home clean) and $900 more a month in her pocket.

The thing about the condo....I have a feeling that she's not going to meet many Spanish people there, which takes her even farther away from her Spanish "feel". 

[debraran]

I just watched the young woman who went to France to teach and her boyfriend. Not the best show. It was the first my daughter watched with me and she taught in France for a year as a teaching assistant.  She spent 100 euros a month staying at the boarding school apartment (most kids board) and had everything including a balcony and washer. Was the 2 bedroom request for guests?

She said to me, if she says "French culture" one more time, I'm leaving" at one point and laughed when her young boyfriend "left a long standing career", he must have just gotten out of college. You don't leave a good career to go to France for a year where you can't work unless you are rich. I assume both were judging from her dad's job.

Not the best show and I wish they showed more of the surroundings and touched on the large amount of paperwork involved in moving and getting an apartment when not from France.

[AuntiePam]

I enjoyed the Japan episode.  The search was in a rural area, and it was nice to see something other than apartments in big cities.  I didn't like the husband's paternalistic attitude toward his wife but maybe he was just being extra considerate. 

I love that they chose the guest house -- it looked like something out of Shogun or Sayonara.  Hoping the wife gets a bigger stove to cook on, but then maybe she only needs two burners. 

[truther]

Japan was . . . interesting.  Lovely scenery and the guest house was cool.  But it was one of those episodes where the lack of a coherent backstory made it all really strange.  They were day traders with a young child?  And they moved to rural Japan simply because they were friends with that woman?  But they had never before lived in Japan and spoke no Japanese?

I wish they'd just explain why these people felt the need to move to this particular town to be next to this particular person.  

[AuntiePam]

I don't think they chose Japan because of their friendship with Yuka.  It's not clear if they knew her before the move.  He said they'd been traveling for ten years and Japan was the place that "kept calling to them." 

Yuka wasn't even a realtor, was she?  Just someone who could speak English and knew how to help them find a place. 

[pep4]

Enjoyed the Melbourne episode having one pleasant, low-key client instead of the usual fake bickering couple.  Could swear they showed a George Costanza mural in the 2nd neighborhood.  

Edited December 1, 2016 by pep4

[chocolatine]

2 hours ago, pep4 said:

Enjoyed the Melbourne episode having one pleasant, low-key client instead of the usual fake bickering couple.

He seems like a nice guy, but I thought he was a little too hung up on the spare bedroom "for guests", as many HHIs seem to be. You can get a quality sleeper sofa for your living room and have your guests sleep there, or if your guests absolutely must have their own bedroom, you can put them up in an AirBnB and, unless they visit multiple times a year, it will be cheaper than what you would be spending on a bigger place year-around.

[magemaud]

Finally! Duwando's friend in the Melbourne episode was the voice of reason and said what I have been screaming at my TV every time people insist they need a larger place just for when family and friends come to visit...something like "Do you really want to go $300 a month over budget because people may come and visit? I've been here for two years and my family came ONCE!" Duwando had said that if someone came all the way from the US, he felt he should provide a place for them to stay. I'm willing to bet there are plenty of Air BnB rooms in the neighborhood that he could book for the occasional guest.