House Hunters - General Discussion

[chocolatine]

My personal opinion is that SF is a shithole of a city with no redeeming qualities (I have to go there a few times a year for work and hate it every time), so I can't fathom spending $1.8M on half of an old house with a shared yard and tandem garage there. I would have picked the Oakland house in a heartbeat, and used the money saved to take every trip on my bucket list. Even the high rise condo in what seemed to be Mission Bay would have been a better option because there's barely any upkeep, it has functional bathrooms, and no other cars need to be moved to get in and out of the garage. I'm sure the "dream" of living in an old Victorian will fade very quickly once the everyday reality of it sets in.

Edited September 28, 2022 by chocolatine

[CrazyInAlabama]

The woman moving from Las Vegas to Houston was interesting.  She certainly had a compelling background, and was such a success.     I really liked her dad.   

I liked the first and second properties.    Her son was so much fun.    I like that they bought house #1that fits all of their needs, and at $425k (I think that was the one, I was switching back and forth from hurricane coverage), but she had to bid over, and settled at $500k, or some posters say $550k.    I hope she loves her house, and all of them are very happy living there.   (Thanks to stewed squash for the price update). 

I didn't like anything about the third property, 

(apparently watching Ian coverage interfered with paying attention to the actual episode, sorry about that). 

About 2011 an acquaintance was buying a house.   It was priced low, $115,000 as I recall.   It was an estate sale, and the adult siblings priced it about $10k under appraised value.   They thought they would get a bidding war.   The sellers were wrong, and my acquaintance was the only offer, and she wanted her closing costs paid, and they agreed to get rid of the property.     

The sellers apparently were ticked about not getting more money, because at the closing table, one sibling said at the end that 'you better hurry, the utilities are getting cut off today when the utility company closes'.    My acquaintance grabbed her competed paperwork, and the realtor led her to the utility company, and they got there about 30 minutes before the utilities would have been shut off, and she would have had to pay extra to get them turned on, and only during regular business hours.    So, some bidding wars just don't happen. 

Locally houses were going for way over appraised value, often for cash, but that seems to have stopped.  

Edited September 28, 2022 by CrazyInAlabama

[stewedsquash]

It was $400,000 something and she said since she was a loan person that she new she had to go over and wound up at $500,000 something, right at $100,000 over the listing price. I had the thought that being a loan person she did some kind of creative financing because the dad said he was putting down 20% for his part and wanted under 500,000 so I thought he probably had $100,000 to put down and that’s the amount she went over. 
I loved her sons! It was awwww inducing when the son was so interested in the kitchen and cooking and explained that he would sit and talk with his mother about life things in the kitchen while she cooked and that’s how he learned how to cook. 
That third option was horrible.

[rhofmovalley]

My brother was looking to buy a house last summer. He didn't seem to understand today's market. So he would make a list of houses that met his criteria and then contact his agent at the end of the week asking for him to setup viewings. After the agent probably picked himself up off the floor from laughing he would tell my brother that all those houses were already under contract. I had tried to tell him but he refused to believe me. He also refused to do a pre-qualify or a pre-approval and was shocked when no sellers would allow him to view their properties. He ended up having to raise his budget, schedule viewings the day the property was listed and do the pre-approval process. And even so, he ended up with a house that needs a lot of work in an area he doesn't really want to live him. He couldn't afford to be as picky because the house he was renting was sold and he had to be out in 60 days.

Such is the market today. Rentals are just as bad.

I did like the Vegas to Texas family. The son is nice looking and seems like a really nice young man too. I got a kick out of the dad too. I thought the house was pretty amazing too.

I did lol at the "spool". That thing looked completely useless.

[ECM1231]

I think the Houston house was listed for 450K, iirc. I thought the buyer's dad was very generous to be contributing so much for a down payment. I honestly thought she was going to choose house #2, which was close to 200k more, but under her 750K max budget. I'm glad that she didn't. But honestly, to go 100k over list price seems insane to me, but I guess that's what today's market is like.  I wonder if her comments about not liking carpet, and other complaints, were just for something to say, or if she's going to rip all that carpet out and put in hardwood or tile? I think she didn't like the darker wood kitchen cabinetry, either.  

[Crashcourse]

Yeah, I thought the house was listed for $450k and she paid $550k.   I liked that family, and the dad was a hoot with his dry humor.

[amarante]

As I posted above many homes are deliberately priced lower than what the seller wants or the agent thinks the house will ultimately sell at.

There are a variety reasons to do this starting with your home showing up in more searches when people have filtered for an "up to" price. 

Many people might not have a realistic idea of the market and so when they see a house they like they are willing to bid up to fair market value.

Also there is no doubt a pschological aspect to getting people in the door and having them extend even an initial offer and the realtor then letting all of the people know there are multiple offers. People might be tired of looking - realize this is the best they will get for the money or have in someway emotionally moved themselves in. 

The reverse of this is when a seller has no real need or desire to sell and sets a price that exceeds fair market value and the house will just sit on the market because the seller won't sell unless they get their high asking price. There is an apartment in my condo that has been listed for over a year - many apartments have been sold in that period but this one lingers on the market because the price is unrealistically high. Seller has zero motivation to sell as it is her pied a terre and she bought years ago so has no mortgage and just relatively low taxes and monthly condo maintenance fees. But it is cheaper and more convenient for her to have a pied a terre when she wants to come into the city and/or she has lodged friends for awhile as well so she has no reason to sell. 

[proserpina65]

On 9/24/2022 at 5:59 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

o Fix or Not to Fix in Wisconsin, Racine, Wisconsin.    She doesn't want a house near a cornfield, because "she's afraid of the children who will come out of it".    That has to be a joke, right? 

I can sorta understand that because I would never live near a cemetery because of the zombies.  Yeah, I know, it's illogical and completely crazy but it is what it is.

[ECM1231]

1 hour ago, amarante said:

Also there is no doubt a pschological aspect to getting people in the door and having them extend even an initial offer and the realtor then letting all of the people know there are multiple offers. People might be tired of looking - realize this is the best they will get for the money or have in someway emotionally moved themselves in. 

Yeah, but there are always going to be some people not willing to play that game. If you want a higher selling price, or think a higher price is the fair market value, then price it as such.

My husband and I have been looking for a rental property in our county. We're not wholeheartedly looking, but if I see something that is within our price and what we're looking for, we check it out. Our youngest is marrying next year and pays a ridiculous rent for a 1 bedroom apartment. He'd be open to buying a 2 bedroom co-op or condo, but the HOA fees around here for such units run from $900/monthly to $1500. That doesn't include taxes, or the mortgage. He can't afford that. So, we're open to buying a small bungalow and having him pay rent. We saw a home at an open house. I asked the realtor about possible offers and she said she expected quite a few, and for them to go over asking price. The next day we put in an all cash offer, no contingencies, full asking price. She wrote back saying there were multiple offers, all over asking price, and was that the best we could do? Why yes! If the seller wanted upwards of 50k more for their house, it should have been priced accordingly, and would have saved my husband and me the trip. I've soured on the whole home buying process.

[amarante]

1 hour ago, ECM1231 said:

Yeah, but there are always going to be some people not willing to play that game. If you want a higher selling price, or think a higher price is the fair market value, then price it as such.

My husband and I have been looking for a rental property in our county. We're not wholeheartedly looking, but if I see something that is within our price and what we're looking for, we check it out. Our youngest is marrying next year and pays a ridiculous rent for a 1 bedroom apartment. He'd be open to buying a 2 bedroom co-op or condo, but the HOA fees around here for such units run from $900/monthly to $1500. That doesn't include taxes, or the mortgage. He can't afford that. So, we're open to buying a small bungalow and having him pay rent. We saw a home at an open house. I asked the realtor about possible offers and she said she expected quite a few, and for them to go over asking price. The next day we put in an all cash offer, no contingencies, full asking price. She wrote back saying there were multiple offers, all over asking price, and was that the best we could do? Why yes! If the seller wanted upwards of 50k more for their house, it should have been priced accordingly, and would have saved my husband and me the trip. I've soured on the whole home buying process.

Obviously not every marketing tactic works for everyone. For whatever reason you don't want to pay over asking price but there are rational reasons why a realtor prices a home expecting it to go over asking.

Also the realtor in your example was completely candid that they expected it to be a multiple offer situation so you knew that it was unlikely that your offer would be accepted so that was on you.

Maybe with the market softening this scenario will change and there will be new tactics used to increase potential sales. Because for a realtor to a great extent it's a numbers game in terms of getting people in the door to look at a property. Also realtors actually get new clients through open houses even if they don't buy the specific home.

[ECM1231]

39 minutes ago, amarante said:

Also the realtor in your example was completely candid that they expected it to be a multiple offer situation so you knew that it was unlikely that your offer would be accepted so that was on you.

True, but we weren't talking about chump change. I thought perhaps a full price, all cash offer with no contingencies would be more appealing than someone needing a mortgage. We could only afford what we could afford and I would not have even looked if I knew they were expecting it to sell for much higher. The home was clean and structurally sound, but in dire need of updates. A 1920s home that hadn't been updated from perhaps the 60s or 70s. We also have to factor that real estate taxes here are 10k+, and that's on the extreme low end. The home was right off an extremely busy main thoroughfare, which to me, might have been a reason it was priced lower, or worth less, along with the other reasons. It was a shame because it was located in the town where my son works. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Gretchen is a bartender and house hunting in Rochester NY, with her Mom, Fe.  Parents will pay 20% down payment.   She wants to live downtown, Mom wants suburbs.  She wants room for her pool table and gaming. 

House 1-$99,900, in the city. 948 sq ft, Mom is upset about stairs in front of the door.  3 bed 1 bath.  1 bedroom, and bath are on the first floor.   screened porch, and nice back yard.  basement wall need to be smoothed out with concrete, and floor looks rough.   Second floor has two decent size bedrooms.    I think it needs a shower bathroom on the second floor for roommates. 

House 2-$139,000, in suburbs, built in 1942, 4 bed 2 bath, nice kitchen, but no stove and fridge, lots of cupboard space, she wants a room for her pool table, Back yard is huge, and level, no deck.   Great upstairs shower bathroom. realtor thinks house will go for $180k.   Still almost half of rent she's paying now.   I like this one, no odd basement that needs a lot of work, and bathrooms on both floors. 

House 3-$129,900 in Rochester, Victorian.4 bed 2 bath built in 1890 1700 sq ft, move-in ready.   I love the sitting room fireplace, and living attached is big, kitchen is big, needs stove adn fridge, nice back yard, all fenced, ceiling has patched water damage, main bedroom upstairs is nice, and secondary bedroom is big, there's a full attic but it need insulation and drywall,   realtor thinks it will go for $140k.   Mortgage would be half her current rent.  

She picks #1 , I would have picked #2, or #3 if I could afford to finish the attic.   I wonder if heat goes to the attic?  If not that means a new furnace probably.  $126k was the selling price after a bidding war.  

I bet you mom has someone in mind for the daughter, and keeps talking about him.   And he'll be from their friends circle, or church.   

Edited September 30, 2022 by CrazyInAlabama

[rhofmovalley]

6 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I can sorta understand that because I would never live near a cemetery because of the zombies.  Yeah, I know, it's illogical and completely crazy but it is what it is.

But zombies aren't dead. They're the undead.

[Kiddvideo]

Washington state: He’s the realtor. I missed why he hated stairs so much. I started thinking he must have a degenerative disease where he’ll end up wheelchair-bound.

She liked to talk over him, which was annoying, but she had a really energetic positive vibe, so maybe it was natural excitement.

Of course they picked the new build, but I’m sorry, if you’re hedging being able to make your mortgage payment on juggling your grocery and entertainment budgets, you’re cutting it too close.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think the Washington state realtor said he has bad knees or something, so he didn't want to have to do stairs very much.   However, I'm getting cynical, so I figure when they're selling a perfectly adequate house for some McMansion, that they're really keeping the original house for themselves, and renting the other one out, or flipping it. 

[proserpina65]

13 hours ago, rhofmovalley said:

But zombies aren't dead. They're the undead.

They're reanimated dead, so they could crawl out of those graves.  Depends on the type of zombies, I guess.

Edited September 29, 2022 by proserpina65

[amarante]

Rochester must be an economically depressed area if the housing stock is that inexpensive. Not that I liked any of her choices but those same depressing choices - especially the large Victorian would have been much more money even in non-primo locations.

FWIW I googled Rochester housing prices and evidently the City of Rochester has the dubious distinction of having the highest tax rate IN THE COUNTRY - not just New York State. I guess it's all relative since a high tax rate on a $100,000 home is still going to be less net than a lower tax rate on a more expensive home. In some of the suburbs surrounding NYC the taxes for a *standard* middle class home can be $15,000 a year.

[pdlinda]

32 minutes ago, amarante said:

Rochester must be an economically depressed area if the housing stock is that inexpensive. Not that I liked any of her choices but those same depressing choices - especially the large Victorian would have been much more money even in non-primo locations.

FWIW I googled Rochester housing prices and evidently the City of Rochester has the dubious distinction of having the highest tax rate IN THE COUNTRY - not just New York State. I guess it's all relative since a high tax rate on a $100,000 home is still going to be less net than a lower tax rate on a more expensive home. In some of the suburbs surrounding NYC the taxes for a *standard* middle class home can be $15,000 a year.

Rochester used to be a primo location because of a very prestigious university (U of Rochester( and Kodak.  However, since Kodak essentially folded (moved jobs overseas) I guess the economic toll on the community might be seen in the dreary choices the young lady had to choose from in her HH.  

[rhofmovalley]

My best friend and her husband were paying $30,000 a year in property taxes. And this was back in 2011. Blew my mind. This was in Kansas, though.

I don't like it when mothers push their daughters to get married and have babies when said daughter isn't even dating anyone. It makes me think those mothers aren't particular about whether or not their daughter finds a good man as long as there's some male human who is willing to marry and impregnate her. Good for the daughter for pushing back.

Edited September 29, 2022 by rhofmovalley

[mojito]

2 hours ago, pdlinda said:

Rochester used to be a primo location because of a very prestigious university (U of Rochester( and Kodak.  However, since Kodak essentially folded (moved jobs overseas) I guess the economic toll on the community might be seen in the dreary choices the young lady had to choose from in her HH.  

Xerox was founded in Rochester over 100 years ago. 

Few people want to deal with Rochester winters.

What an annoying mother. First, she doesn't realize that a number ending in zero is an even number. Second, she's superstitious. Third, I think she needs a hobby or two to focus on something other than dictating how her daughter should live her life. 

[jcbrown]

6 minutes ago, mojito said:

What an annoying mother. First, she doesn't realize that a number ending in zero is an even number. Second, she's superstitious. Third, I think she needs a hobby or two to focus on something other than dictating how her daughter should live her life. 

I hope that was amped up for the show because if not, she is an incredibly annoying and  presumptuous PITA. And she gives her daughter a hard time for being immature? I wonder how she ended up that way? Can't be from being infantilized by her micromanaging mom.

[Empress1]

On 9/28/2022 at 3:10 AM, CrazyInAlabama said:

The woman moving from Las Vegas to Houston was interesting.  She certainly had a compelling background, and was such a success.     I really liked her dad.   

I liked the first and second properties.    Her son was so much fun.    I like that they bought house #1that fits all of their needs, and at $425k (I think that was the one, I was switching back and forth from hurricane coverage), but she had to bid over, and settled at $500k, or some posters say $550k.    I hope she loves her house, and all of them are very happy living there.   (Thanks to stewed squash for the price update). 

I loved her. Their multigenerational family was so nice. Her sons were sweet and her dad reminded me of a “play uncle” of mine. She really turned her finances around if she went from welfare to $750K budget. I thought they’d go with the second house.

[chessiegal]

Tonight's "new" episode in Oahu is a repackaged Hawaii Life. The production company was not Pie Town which does HH, but Left/Right that produces Hawaii Life. Plus, the real estate agent didn't go into the homes.

[Thumper]

6 minutes ago, chessiegal said:

Tonight's "new" episode in Oahu is a repackaged Hawaii Life. The production company was not Pie Town which does HH, but Left/Right that produces Hawaii Life. Plus, the real estate agent didn't go into the homes.

Yes.  I was surprised they took the house that was over an hour commute for him.  It was the nicest place, though.

[Kiddvideo]

Hawaii: Naval husband and Mexican wife with infant. I don’t know much about the military, but being stationed on a ship or sub in the Middle East isn’t like being an infantryman on the ground, I’m guessing. Still, I respect the pressure it must’ve been on their family with him being away from home.

I’m surprised there aren’t the same inventory of homes that pass from service member to service member as their assignments change. He gets stationed in Hawaii and someone else gets transferred out? (I read an article about a car in Europe that just kept selling from one person to another within the military family.) How long can they guarantee they’ll be stationed in HI, and will they be there long enough to justify the money spent on bank and realtor fees?

Finally, there is no way I’d pick a home with a 2+ hour daily commute for my partner. What’s better for their family — a larger kitchen or Dad being home and less tired 5+ hours a week. Did they move to Hawaii so she could be a single mom 95% of the time?

I liked the couple well enough, but I think they focused more on their furniture than what was best for their family.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Kiddvideo

[Kiddvideo]

RI to Savannah: Hated her. Someone who couldn’t see beyond the colors of the walls. I thought the real estate agent was the redhead from Paris at first. They had a corgi, though, so some points in their favor.

[Hedgehog2022]

6 hours ago, rhofmovalley said:

My best friend and her husband were paying $30,000 a year in property taxes. And this was back in 2011. Blew my mind. This was in Kansas, though.

I don't like it when mothers push their daughters to get married and have babies when said daughter isn't even dating anyone. It makes me think those mothers aren't particular about whether or not their daughter finds a good man as long as there's some male human who is willing to marry and impregnate her. Good for the daughter for pushing back.

Both mother and daughter were annoying. Yes, daughter was immature and seemed to be more of a party girl who was more concerned with her pool table and "entertaining" her friends aka beer pong parties, etc. etc. She was kind of quirky in her body movements and speech. I got the vibe that she and her mom locked horns a bit when she was a teenager and maybe she was a bit of wild child...grandma must have been a saint because I don't think I could have handled a teenage girl with a party streak in her.

Her mom on the other hand was a broken record with the non stop nagging about marriage and children...oy! That girl was nowhere near being ready to get married and have kids...leave it be Mom!

[Grrarrggh]

1 hour ago, Hedgehog2022 said:

Her mom on the other hand was a broken record with the non stop nagging about marriage and children...oy! That girl was nowhere near being ready to get married and have kids...leave it be Mom!

More like that woman made a choice that not having children period was the road for her. And society couldn't handle it because every "girl" (a word that should only be used to describe female children aged 1-25) is supposed to have an almost inbuilt need for babies, otherwise they're unnatural and cold. 

[amarante]

The mother who wants their daughter to buy a home that is suitable for a family is somewhat of a theme on this show.

What makes it even more puzzling is that generally if people get married and then have children, they look for a home that is suitable for their new circumstances.

It is as if the mother is thinking either the daughter is going to be an unmarried mother who just had a sperm donation or that the future man in her life would be an economic loser who would not have their own income enabling the new couple to pool resources and buy a home that they decide they can afford and which is a better fit.

I wonder if the mother married a soldier stationed in the Philippines given the obvious difference in their backgrounds. 

[Empress1]

On 9/23/2022 at 4:58 PM, Angeltoes said:

For having known each other for years, that San Francisco couple had zero obvious chemistry with each other.  

Agreed. And they both said he was older than she, but I wouldn’t have thought there was a big age gap. I’d never have bought the first place. A shared yard and tandem parking for nearly $2M?! A friend of mine lives in a duplex in north Jersey and they have tandem parking with their neighbors (who they really like, which helps) and it’s a major annoyance.

On 9/26/2022 at 4:00 AM, amarante said:

I grew up in a two family house in Brooklyn which my parents bought in 1955 for $15,000. It recently sold for over $1 million. Even adjusted for inflation that amount is only equivalent to about $160,000.🤷‍♀️

My relative just died and her Brooklyn house that she’d owned forever (my whole life, at least) is going on the market for $800K, and it’s only that “low” because it needs updating. 

[amarante]

2 hours ago, Empress1 said:

Agreed. And they both said he was older than she, but I wouldn’t have thought there was a big age gap. I’d never have bought the first place. A shared yard and tandem parking for nearly $2M?! A friend of mine lives in a duplex in north Jersey and they have tandem parking with their neighbors (who they really like, which helps) and it’s a major annoyance.

My relative just died and her Brooklyn house that she’d owned forever (my whole life, at least) is going on the market for $800K, and it’s only that “low” because it needs updating. 

My childhood home in Brooklyn was built just after WW I and there were three identical two family homes built next to each other. Two of the homes still are standing which is where I got the current value from but the actual home I grew up in was torn down as was the home next to it and someone built a huge McMansion on both plots so the real value was the land in that location. Essentially someone paid close to $2 million for just two small lots - because these were standard narrow New York City lots - not attached or semi detached but with only a very narrow driveway between each home. 

Whenever a HH complains because they can see a neighbor's window at a distance I just snort because we were literally just a bit more than a car's width from the homes next to us and could look into their homes if we wanted to - which is why people had blinds and shades on the side windows. And of course people had the good grace to not spy or eavesdrop. 

My childhood neighborhood is not in one of the hipper parts of Brooklyn LOL but it is lined with large old trees and it is a narrow one way street traffic so not much traffic - just from people who live on the block - as kids you could play in the street without much danger or interruption from cars. 

The rise in Brooklyn neighbors is fueled by different demographics. What most astounds me is the "hipness" factor since when I was growing up my chief desire was to escape Brooklyn into the sophistication of Manhattan. It wasn't the same demographic as the Italian neighborhood from Saturday Night Fever but my neighborhood was VERY provincial. You wouldn't shop there and you wouldn't eat there unless you wanted standard Americanized Chinese food or pizza of course. After I left I was astonished that my very humble pizza place where my father would pick up a pie had turned into a foodie destination - DiFaro on Avenue J. The neighborhood was always Jewish for the most part but turned into an area with very Orthodox Jews and many of them are Sephardic instead of Ashkenazi. The original Jews of the area were fairly non-observant as was my family - Seinfeld instead of Shtisel LOL

Edited October 1, 2022 by amarante

[Empress1]

52 minutes ago, amarante said:

What most astounds me is the "hipness" factor since when I was growing up my chief desire was to escape Brooklyn into the sophistication of Manhattan.

I told my mother I was going to a party in Williamsburg and she said when she was growing up, Williamsburg was not a destination for anything, let alone parties.

It's dreary so I'm catching up on episodes. Just watched the Rochester mother and daughter. Mom REALLY wants her daughter to get married and have kids, huh? The basement in the house she bought was a pit, and did anybody ask her dad if he wanted to spend every day fixing up her house?

On 9/30/2022 at 12:39 AM, Hedgehog2022 said:

I got the vibe that she and her mom locked horns a bit when she was a teenager and maybe she was a bit of wild child.

The daughter said so - she said she and her mom are close now, but it wasn't always that way and that she used to sneak out of the house as a teenager. I'm guessing Mom was strict and they were able to connect more when the daughter was grown and Mom didn't have dominion over her life (though given how much she told her daughter she needed to "grow up," I'm guessing she still wants that authority).

[CrazyInAlabama]

Today's OWN reruns, mostly 2015, must have a theme of "Really annoying people, who should get separate houses from their partner".   No one agrees about anything.  The couple looking in Iowa, she wants a southern colonial.  He needs room for his red British phone booth (that phone booth is too small to be real).     The couple on the rerun before this were looking near Tampa, that scares me for them.    There will be a couple of 2011 episodes too. 

[deirdra]

Before cookie cutter homes, builders often positioned windows so as NOT to look directly at the neighbours' windows, if at all possible, so even if they were close you didn't have the current situation of kitchen windows over the sink facing each other.

It always amazes me when I go for evening walks how the majority of people have their curtains wide open, putting their life on stage for anyone walking by. My mother taught us to close them when it gets dark and I feel nekkid if I don't.

Edited October 1, 2022 by deirdra

[amarante]

22 minutes ago, deirdra said:

Before cookie cutter homes, builders often positioned windows so as NOT to look directly at the neighbours' windows, if at all possible, so even if they were close you didn't have the current situation of kitchen windows over the sink facing each other.

It always amazes me when I go for evening walks how the majority of people have their curtains wide open, putting their life on stage for anyone walking by. My mother taught us to close them when it gets dark and I feel nekkid if I don't.

My comment on HH being *horrified* if they could see their neighbors was directed when they could literally just see a house pretty far at a distance - not necessarily for some homes which are built on tiny lots - typically with a front facing garage and so there is almost no space between the homes.

[deirdra]

Some don't want to be able to see any houses anywhere but still be "close to everything" and "stay under $X00,000" (usually an amount lower than the average price in the area). I've always found that you can do wonders with blinds, shutters & curtains. You can partially close drapes and angle blinds & shutters to let in a lot of light but not really notice the other homes.

I sometimes wish a realtor would respond to their impossible demands with "but you cannot afford that".

Edited October 1, 2022 by deirdra

[Bastet]

6 hours ago, amarante said:

Whenever a HH complains because they can see a neighbor's window at a distance I just snort because we were literally just a bit more than a car's width from the homes next to us and could look into their homes if we wanted to - which is why people had blinds and shades on the side windows. And of course people had the good grace to not spy or eavesdrop. 

I love in an old (for L.A.) neighborhood, and that's how our houses are -- separated by a one-car driveway (which widens only when you get behind the house and approach the detached two-car garage) and a flower bed of just a few feet.  But the houses are built so windows don't directly face each other.  As you said, sure we could stand and stare if we wanted to, but we're not remotely that interested in each other.

3 hours ago, deirdra said:

It always amazes me when I go for evening walks how the majority of people have their curtains wide open, putting their life on stage for anyone walking by. My mother taught us to close them when it gets dark and I feel nekkid if I don't.

I generally just leave my shades up until I go to bed.  I like to see out, and I don't care about anyone seeing in.  People don't stand out on the sidewalk and stare (I'm not that fascinating), they just maybe glance up as they're walking by.  I like the little glimpses of interior architecture and decorating I catch while walking the neighborhood, but that's all they are -- brief glimpses.

Edited October 1, 2022 by Bastet

[rhofmovalley]

53 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I generally just leave my shades up until I go to bed.

Pretty much everyone in my city (or so it seems) leaves their window coverings open all the time.  If you drive or walk down a street you can see right into everyone's living room. I close mine when I change my clothes (trust me, no one wants to see that) and when I go to sleep because it makes me feel icky to think someone might be watching me sleep, even though I live on the second floor, as I live next to a high rise and they could see in.

[Grrarrggh]

2 hours ago, rhofmovalley said:

Pretty much everyone in my city (or so it seems) leaves their window coverings open all the time.  If you drive or walk down a street you can see right into everyone's living room. I close mine when I change my clothes (trust me, no one wants to see that) and when I go to sleep because it makes me feel icky to think someone might be watching me sleep, even though I live on the second floor, as I live next to a high rise and they could see in.

I'm with you. I've read too many crime novels. 

[Soapy Goddess]

15 hours ago, amarante said:

Whenever a HH complains because they can see a neighbor's window at a distance I just snort because we were literally just a bit more than a car's width from the homes next to us and could look into their homes if we wanted to - which is why people had blinds and shades on the side windows. And of course people had the good grace to not spy or eavesdrop. 

My childhood home in WNY, NJ, was the same way...with facing side windows no more than an arm's length. Our neighbors were my aunt & uncle. If my mother needed a "cup of sugar" all she had to do is grab a coat hanger, tap on my aunt's window...and just like a drive-thru, my aunt would hand her whatever she needed.

Of course this went both ways. They used their hangers like we use a text message 🤣

[mojito]

On 10/1/2022 at 5:00 PM, Bastet said:

People don't stand out on the sidewalk and stare (I'm not that fascinating), they just maybe glance up as they're walking by.  I

Sidewalk gaping is for amateurs. I prefer getting into your shrubs and using my periscope.  You're more fascinating than you think.

[cameron]

On 9/29/2022 at 8:13 PM, jcbrown said:

I hope that was amped up for the show because if not, she is an incredibly annoying and  presumptuous PITA. And she gives her daughter a hard time for being immature? I wonder how she ended up that way? Can't be from being infantilized by her micromanaging mom.

The mother didn't bother me, it was that airhead daughter.  Talk about a loon.

[pdlinda]

31 minutes ago, cameron said:

The mother didn't bother me, it was that airhead daughter.  Talk about a loon.

I agree and from the general course of discussion with the "dear child" and the presumed type of work schedule she keeps as a bartender, I was wondering how the general maintenance (cleaning...light, medium and heavy) was going to work out???  I could see that place becoming a mess (dirty).

[CrazyInAlabama]

New Episode, BillingscMontana. with Lucais and Clark.      They were in Michigan, looking for jobs in MD, but clicked on MT, and a job came up, partner can work remotely.  

Budget is $300k, Realtor warns that in a few months the $300k houses will be $325k or more.

House 1,  $300k, 2 bed 2 bath, bedrooms are smaller, new build townhouse and only shares one wall, HOA $175 a month, snow removal.   $4300 for a fence. 

House 2, $299,900 single family in town, two story, close to downtown, 3 bed 2 bath, there an ADU out back, and they used to rent the front house for $1600 a month, and ADU for $500.(I might not have the rental prices exactly right.   The ADU needed work.  Main house is nicely remodeled, but original windows.  all 3 bedrooms upstairs,

Realtor says each window replacement could be $2500 or more, no ensuite.    Can they replace the windows without historic association approval?   Or are the windows sizes that will require custom sizes, and cost that much to replace?  I'm guessing the realtor showed this house to someone else, and knows about the window replacement prices.    

House 3, single family fixer, $240k, 3 bed 1 bath, older windows, 4 types of carpet so far., lots of windows, decent size bedroom.  I'm guessing the windows are standard sizes, and could be replaced easier than on house #2,  wood floors under the carpet.   What they could do to save money is rip the carpets out themselves, and have a contractor refinish the floors. Needs new counter tops. actually needs new kitchen,   finished basement, higher ceiling for a basement.  third bedroom is in the basement, but no egress windows.   Adding an egress window to the basement could be thousands of dollars.    Clark wants to make the downstairs bedroom attached to the bedroom an ensuite, and giant closet (terrible idea), no egress window, plumbing to basement bathroom will be very expensive because of the cement foundation, main floor bath is a gut job.   1 car garage.  

They buy #3 the fixer.     I wouldn't do anything to the basement, but put a master suite addition off the back of the first floor.  Clark wants to rip out the kitchen, and do the ensuite.   They have no future as house painters though, I bet a first floor addition of a master suite will need a furnace replacement for a bigger, more efficient unit.    I would never jack hammer the basement floor for an added bathroom.   

I hope the two men didn't rip down walls, and do anything but rip out the carpet and tack strips.    Taking down walls is not for amateurs.   In an area that gets heavy wind storms, lots of snow and ice, taking down a wall without engineering reports that say it's safe can get you killed. 

Edited October 5, 2022 by CrazyInAlabama

[ECM1231]

I think the estimate of $2500 each for replacement windows was steep, but it's been a while since we replaced ours. Idk how handy Clark is but if they purchase standard thermopane vinyl replacement windows and install themselves, they would save a fortune. And for a normal size we are talking way under $1,000 per window.

[Crashcourse]

17 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

 They have no future as house painters though,

Based on their ineptitude when painting, I seriously question their ability to do any renovations themselves.  I'm especially looking at you, Clark.  LOL   

[chessiegal]

Chicago: Mike, ceilings are low, not short. The real estate agent said replacing (what looked like granite) counters would be about $2,000. In your dreams, unless you're putting in cheap laminate. We replaced about a similar amount of laminate countertops this year with quartz, and it was around $5,500.

[Grrarrggh]

24 minutes ago, chessiegal said:

Chicago: Mike, ceilings are low, not short. 

Please tell me he at least didn't say it was literally short. 

[chessiegal]

3 minutes ago, Grrarrggh said:

Please tell me he at least didn't say it was literally short. 

No, he just said short. The woman commented in another house the ceilings were "tall". No, they are high.

[BAForever]

Chicago- she bugged. Between her overusing the term "hosting" and the ever popular "it's not really my style", she was annoying. And the whole curb appeal angle. My home has wonderful curb appeal, but that's not a reason to buy or not buy. They didn't seem like a couple to me, more like siblings. That all being complained about, they picked the right one.

And don't get me started on the whole short term rentals. No matter how awesome it is, you will never get as much in rental as you think. Cleaning, insurance, wear and tear, etc all take a piece of profit.