House Hunters "Top of Price Range"

[Sugardimples]

I admit it - I am addicted to House Hunters. But could someone explain something that really bugs me?

Buyers will say that there price range is from $150,000 to $200,000. Then they are shown a $200,000 house and reject it because "it's at the top of our price range". If the top of your price range is more than you are willing to spend, then it's not in your price range. I don't get it!

 

[Philagoofy]

I watch that show alot also and some things have me puzzled. Perhaps when they see how much they "have" to do to the house before they move in, they figure that $200,000.00 plus what they want to replace, would be over their limit.

How about when the realtors show them a house that's $50,000.00 over their price limit. Sometimes they say that it's been on the market awhile & they may get it for less but otherwise, why show them? (More money for the realtor.) Or the buyers who definitely can't go over $200,000.00, no possible way, then they see a house $35,000 over & they all of a sudden can afford it and make renovations beside.

 

[kacaju]

I admit it - I am addicted to House Hunters. But could someone explain something that really bugs me?

Buyers will say that there price range is from $150,000 to $200,000. Then they are shown a $200,000 house and reject it because "it's at the top of our price range". If the top of your price range is more than you are willing to spend, then it's not in your price range. I don't get it!

I had to stop watching that show...drives me up the wall. From what I saw in the past...the top of the price range was still a house in the buyers eyes they needed to upgrade. They would then need to spend x amount of $ to upgrade which would then put it out of their budget.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is all staged anyway. I got turned off when a few people on these boards explained that the buyers already bought the homes long before the show. I believe they are disingenuous.

 

[Swan4Me]

It is all staged anyway. I got turned off when a few people on these boards explained that the buyers already bought the homes long before the show. I believe they are disingenuous.

Its a typical fake reality show-Someone was featured in the State newspaper as being featured on an upcoming episode-I even saw the advertisment-looking for someone about to close on a house in a certain city-it was actually New orleans. then they film the couple looking at 3 housess-remember one of these houses they have already bought!

But I still watch it

 

[msjprincess]

It depends on the house. If it's at the top of my price range I want it to have certain features.

 

[krnlmustrd]

I have to chime in because I have one of those "type" shows filming in my office at this very moment. I work for in facilities for a Manhattan real estate office and have seen a number of these shows filmed. At least on my end, everything is staged. All those shots of agents at their desks on the phone or signing documents is "recreated". Even walking through the hall holding important looking files. (My personal files have been on TV!) Usually the agents here work in cubicles, but when they're on TV, they suddenly work in one of the nice executive offices. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon hanging artwork in a conference room so it would look nicer. Even the receptionist was swapped out last time they filmed here for a nicer look.

All in all, though, it doesn't stop me from watching these shows. I love them!

 

[luvmy3]

I have to chime in because I have one of those "type" shows filming in my office at this very moment. I work for in facilities for a Manhattan real estate office and have seen a number of these shows filmed. At least on my end, everything is staged. All those shots of agents at their desks on the phone or signing documents is "recreated". Even walking through the hall holding important looking files. (My personal files have been on TV!) Usually the agents here work in cubicles, but when they're on TV, they suddenly work in one of the nice executive offices. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon hanging artwork in a conference room so it would look nicer. Even the receptionist was swapped out last time they filmed here for a nicer look.

All in all, though, it doesn't stop me from watching these shows. I love them!

Wow, that is so wrong.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Just my take on it - many years ago with my ex-husband, we got prequalified when we were house hunting. We made the mistake of giving our realtor the actual letter that we received from the company...I told him to knock $40k off that number (for renovations, taxes, having to buy upkeep tools like a lawn mower, etc., all the incidentals that come with being a homeowner), yet every single house he showed us was within $5k (over/under) of the prequalification number. So even if the show is staged, I do wonder if the buyers give them the full number that they can afford, and of course the realtors show them homes up to that amount, and nobody takes those incidentals into account.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I always thought they went by how much they pre-qualified for as their price range. And they always tell you never to buy a house that costs as much as you pre-qualify for, unless you are planning to do no renovations and have no life once you move in

 

[Robinrs]

It is all staged anyway. I got turned off when a few people on these boards explained that the buyers already bought the homes long before the show. I believe they are disingenuous.

Yes, it's been a turn off for awhile to me anyway (if I hear the words granite and stainless steel ONE MORE TIME ) but after hearing they had the house picked in the first place , that broke the camel's back for me.

It's so scripted and badly acted to me now, I actually gave up on HGTV altogether, and it USED to be my favorite channel.

 

[izzy]

Yes, it's been a turn off for awhile to me anyway (if I hear the words granite and stainless steel ONE MORE TIME ) but after hearing they had the house picked in the first place , that broke the camel's back for me.

It's so scripted and badly acted to me now, I actually gave up on HGTV altogether, and it USED to be my favorite channel.

at the bolded part

Don't forget my other favorite words/phrases: hard wood floors and "make it my own."

 

[krcit]

at the bolded part

Don't forget my other favorite words/phrases: hard wood floors and "make it my own."

Or 'man cave'

 

[Janepod]

My favorite are the people who want an antique home in an established (i.e., older) neighborhood with an open floor plan. Good luck guys!

 

[gwynne]

We count how many times the hunters utter the word "dated".

 

[Heidict]

Even knowing that they have already purchased the house before and that it's all staged, I still like the show. We like critiquing the houses and then deciding which one we would buy.

Some of the buyers are so short sighted. Oh no, we can't buy this house, I hate the color of the walls!!! Painting is a pain, but if that is all that is standing between me and a perfect house, I will pick up a brush and start painting.

 

[Sugardimples]

I know its all staged but I'm still hooked on it. I really wonder if any of the buyers are embarassed when they see how they look on the shiow. And I often wonder where they get the money to have the budget they have.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Yes, it's been a turn off for awhile to me anyway (if I hear the words granite and stainless steel ONE MORE TIME )

What is up with the necessity of granite? A house in not move-in-ready because the kitchen does not have granite countertops?

I know its all staged but I'm still hooked on it. I really wonder if any of the buyers are embarassed when they see how they look on the shiow. And I often wonder where they get the money to have the budget they have.

I also wonder where they get the money. You've got a young school-teacher married to a young personal trainer in South Louisiana and their budget is more than what my house cost (2 attorneys in their 40s in Houston). Crazy! But with that budget, you can certainly demand granite countertops.

 

[jen0610]

While we do enjoy watching and guessing which house they pick, there are things that just bug us.

The key words DH hates are "it's not big enough for us to have all our friends over and entertain". Hello are you buying the neighborhood hang out spot or are you buying a home for you to live in and raise your family in.

I am right there with you guys on the granite and stainless steel. I would rather have the larger home with bigger rooms and a larger yard, then have all the bells and whistles. And it doesn't have to be a McMansion either. I'll take an older well built home that needs some TLC, as long as it's not a complete gut job. Unless the price is right and would leave lots of money in the budget. Even then, I still wouldn't but in the granite and stainless steel. I - we - have never been ones to keep up with the Jones.

 

[Andtototoo]

I often wonder what the buyers mean by their issue being that a house is at the top of their price range, especially when it's not followed up with a comment along the lines of, "Well, that's at the top of our price range and we really meant that was what we wanted to spend TOTAL when you figure in the closing costs and basic moving costs."

I know both times we were looking to buy a home, we deliberately gave realtors a figure lower than we wanted to spend, assuming that they'd go over the figure we gave them. So that way, we wouldn't be looking at homes way out of our price range, fall in love with them and be unable to afford them. And that was definitely our experience -- that the banks and realtors really try and push you up and over your price range.

Except for one time. We went to an open house and really loved the home. We were the only ones in the home and I'm sure any fool could have heard us talking about how much we loved it and thought it was perfect. (We should have kept our voices down, right? LOL) The realtor's first words to us were, "What's your price range?" We told him and the figure we gave him was $15K under the price of the house. JUST $15K. He immediately shrugged, opened his folder and said, "Well, you're wasting your time and mine then." I just stared at him and said, "Aren't you going to try and sell us on the house?" He said, "Nope. Not worth my time. See ya." And actually walked away. Truth is, if he'd showed a modicum of interest, we very likely could have bought that house that day.