I am addicted to HGTV's House Hunters. I think I need help

[Flaxbee]

Just saw a couple shopping in Fort Collins, now a couple (TWO MEN! I had no idea HGTV was so wonderfully open minded!) looking in Buenos Aires.

But the couples rarely ever choose the homes I'd choose.

Anyone else here similarly afflicted re House Hunters?

[Raffi Ella]

1. I like it too, the international one especially.

Yeah, they often have gay and lesbian couples on that show. :)

[Flaxbee]

5. right now there's a single guy looking in Italy ...

his budget is $140K or so, reasonable (but it *is* a second home and he lives in San Diego).

Very cool that they work with singles, married couples, young couples, old couples, gay/lesbian couples...

[BeyondGeography]

20. HHI totally rules in my household

An irresistible combination of real estate and travel porn.

[PassingFair]

2. Quit torturing yourself, you'll never afford it!

I'm hooked too, especially the "International" House Hunters.
It KILLS me to see their budgets...

Hans is a schoolteacher and Ingrid is a massage therapist,
their budget is 1.5 million US....

:wtf:

[Flaxbee]

6. Right now someone's looking in Italy with a $140K budget

... it IS a second home, but still -- much more accessible fantasy than those who have million-plus budgets.

I often wonder how really young couples have such large budgets -- no school debt, or family help, or just a high-paying job, I guess.

[MorningGlow]

3. My brother and SIL are totally addicted to HGTV

and I get sucked in when I visit them every summer. House Hunters is my favorite. But I'm the same as you--I wonder what in the world they're thinking when they choose what I think is the ugliest house.

I remember a gay couple in West Hollywood (? somewhere near there) chose what I thought was a boring, hideous house over a funky bungalow with tons of character, including real wood trim, French doors, Mexican tile, etc., just because the bungalow's rooms had been painted bright colors (especially the kitchen). Pfft. Repainting ain't nothing. I would have done it for them for a fraction of what it cost them to buy the ugly bland house.

Still, sometimes I'm impressed when the chosen house turns out nicely. Maybe the houses are different "in person" rather than on screen. :shrug:

[Flaxbee]

8. The choices some people make just astound me... but you're right, perhaps

in person the house is much better, or a better location, or whatever. I'm getting to the point in my life where I really do NOT want to have to contemplate much (if any) renovation, or at least not major - plumbing or structural - renovation. So were I looking around now, that would be a huge consideration.

But it seems many newer homes that don't require much work have been built so shoddily, with bad or cheap materials. So that's another trade-off.

And sometimes people go for square footage over any other consideration, which boggles my mind. A small, nice home is so much better than a McMansion.

[MorningGlow]

16. TOTALLY agree with everything you just said

We are on our third "piece o' shit" gut-and-renovate, and I informed Mr. MG that if we ever move again, I am NOT buying a fix-er-upper, no way, no how. I want move-in condition. I am too old for this shit!
:rofl:

I also prefer older homes to new builds. People complain about all the repairs and maintenance older homes need, but I think new homes don't have much character, and they're cheaply made. I'll take an older home every time. Mr. MG complains about our present house, but I say if the place has been standing for 143 years, it's going to last a bit longer.

We have about 2,000 sq. ft. right now, which is fine, but sometimes I dream of a small Arts & Crafts cottage...maybe the next one...

[pink-o]

4. HGTV is totally my guilty pleasure! All my gay friends are responsible.

I'm a straight woman, living in a studio flat in San Francisco--I can NEVER afford to buy a house here. Yet I see these young couples on House Hunters getting a 2 bedroom house in the Mission for 600,000 and I still don't hate the show!!

I like "Get it Sold" and especially "Divine Design" as well. Candice is an amazing designer.

[Flaxbee]

9. I'll have to check those other two out...

thanks for the suggestion!

[madinmaryland]

7. My wife and I used to watch that six or seven years ago. It got way

too predicable and annoying after a year or so. My wife watches it occasionally, but I can't watch it anymore.

[Flaxbee]

10. I can see how it could get old...

but what does Sonia think about it?

:hi:

[madinmaryland]

18. Sonia is happy where she is! The last place was to small. She actually

prefers to watch Keith Olbermann or football!!

:hi:

[mtnester]

11. Totally interesting now with the new Short Sale episodes

California is a WHOLE lot more affordable.

[Odin2005]

12. I like Food Network.

"Unwrapped" is one of my favorite shows!

[Flying Dream Blues]

13. Me, too! HGTV addicted... nt

[XemaSab]

14. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't

I would much rather see someone look for a bungalow in Selma than a brand-new tract house in Vegas, and I would rather see someone look for a funky apartment in Olympia than a condo in Houston.

I wish they would show places that aren't in major cities. What can you get in Minot, or Augusta? What can you get for under $100,000 in Brownsville or Flint?

I don't understand why that show is so often about places with no character. It makes me want to crawl into a hole and die. :(

[Flaxbee]

22. yeah, I agree. Last weekend there was a couple

looking for a soulless, hideous suburban home (forgot where - obviously forgettable!)

I wish they'd find little gems in big or mid-sized cities, or neat small towns, rather than always Chicago, or Denver, or Los Angeles or Boston. Gimme non-tract-homes with some character in interesting neighborhoods.

The Fort Collins couple today was leaving the 'burbs for downtown.

The prices, though, and what you get for the price, can really be depressing.

[XemaSab]

23. The prices are VERY depressing

but I wonder what the bottom of the market in most of these cities look like. :shrug:

[carlyhippy]

15. I love house hunters...I find myself screaming at the TV at the end #3...#2 is a dump....#3 #3

I think I have seen all of them. These people are looking at homes 300,000 and usually more than that, I know I cant afford a house payment for that amount, where do they get their money>?????? Also, I would like for them to do a follow-up show and see how many of them are still in their homes. ....

[GalleryGod]

17. Absolutely! Love it!

International is my favorite,though.
Btw...I just can't go without my "Holmes on Homes" every night!

[bluedigger]

19. I spend way too much time house hunting.

Watch hdtv and online on zillow and realtor.com.

Think I might have found something, too.

[bigwillq]

21. I love that show, too!

:)