Real Estate Intervention

[Razor X]

I've become somewhat of an HGTV junkie this summer since there hasn't been much else worth watching.  Has anyone seen their new program Real Estate Intervention?  The guy who is on it is BBC and has a killer dome:

http://www.hgtv.com/mike-aubrey/bio/index.html

[BALDANDRE]

Mikee Audry...Mr. Bald By Choice...it screams in your face...

this dude WANTS to be bald..very cool...

only thing he's just shy of having a Hilter mustache?!?...which kinda competes with the fact that he shaves off his WAY full head of hair..

odd cat..but I like him!

[Razor X]

Not a fan of the 'stache, myself.  I have a feeling it might date back to his military days.  I don't see many guys on TV who shave full heads of hair anymore, so it's pretty cool.

[R o b 6]

I think he's cool and very confident in his expertise...He isn't too arrogant, but you can tell he knows his stuff. It's amazing to watch people defend their homes to the end. But of course, the bald guy is always right in the end.

I agree, BALDANDRE, I think the 'stache looks cheesy, too. Another baldy on prime time TV, though, representin' the movement!

[Mikekoz13]

He's definetly a no BS guy and I think he plays to the camera a bit much but he seems cool..... and I agree... that sorry littel 'stache has to go....

[RodgerDodger]

I've become somewhat of an HGTV junkie this summer since there hasn't been much else worth watching. 

This dude has the shiniest dome on TV. In all honesty he should axe the Adolph stache. In this economy, unloading a property is not an easy task. Aubry cuts to the bare bones with his advice. Unfortunatley most of his clients refuse to listen to him and they're still stuck with an unsold home.

I'm a late night HGTV junkie, House Hunters in particular is a favorite of mine. It's amazing what $250,000 can buy in some parts of this country. Friggin' palaces I tell ya. In my neck of the woods, it can't even get ya fixer upper at that price! 

[Antimidas]

I have been watching that show on the weekends for the past couple of months.  He was the impetus for putting the idea in my head to go all the way.  I thought he was a cop at first.  I like the fact that he gets his point across without being mean about it unless he absolutely has to - such as the woman in Georgetown who wanted to raise the price after seeing all of the better homes in the neighborhood.  "Really?  You really think your house is worth more?  Really?"  I was waiting on him to pull out a nightstick and club her to death with it.  But he kept his cool.

[adam_r_todd]

I like him too.  No nonsense.  Go get 'em.  But the stache is lame. 

[SlyHigh]

I'm a late night HGTV junkie, House Hunters in particular is a favorite of mine. It's amazing what $250,000 can buy in some parts of this country. Friggin' palaces I tell ya. In my neck of the woods, it can't even get ya fixer upper at that price! 

All the houses on HGTV are in expensive markets.  If they did a House Hunters around here people would be absolutely floored.  For the prices people usually pay for rundown fixer uppers on the shows you can get a mansion here.

What I don't understand are the young first time home buyers paying $200K+ for a house.  Where do they get that kind of money?  Around here a nice first home for young people would cost about $75K.  If you want to do some work you can get a nice house in a good neighborhood for $50K.

[adam_r_todd]

I'm always thinking the same thing.  There will be a newly married couple that is like 22 and their budget is $400k.  Like, what do these kids do for a living???  Sure makes you wonder. 

[BALDANDRE]

THAT'S one huge reason we are in this mess...

a lot of folks getting in over their heads and not really living within one's means!!!!

[Razor X]

I'm a late night HGTV junkie, House Hunters in particular is a favorite of mine. It's amazing what $250,000 can buy in some parts of this country. Friggin' palaces I tell ya. In my neck of the woods, it can't even get ya fixer upper at that price! 

All the houses on HGTV are in expensive markets.  If they did a House Hunters around here people would be absolutely floored.  For the prices people usually pay for rundown fixer uppers on the shows you can get a mansion here.

What I don't understand are the young first time home buyers paying $200K+ for a house.  Where do they get that kind of money?  Around here a nice first home for young people would cost about $75K.  If you want to do some work you can get a nice house in a good neighborhood for $50K.

You could not buy a dump in the northeast for $75K.  You'd be hard pressed to find anything decent for under $200K, even in today's depressed real estate market.  The cost of living is higher up here and salaries tend to reflect that.

What amazes me is the international version of House Hunters where they'll show someone trying to buy a flat in someplace in Paris or Rome and they'll pay anywhere from $500K to $1 million for a very tiny apartment.  I really do wonder where young people get that kind of money; I can't imagine that the typical salaries there are that high.

[Antimidas]

I was shocked when I bought my first home in the twin cities three years ago.  The only thing I could find for less than $200k was an 800 square foot dump that looked like it would collapse at any moment.  I finally licked into this one which was valued at $250k, but going for just a hair under $200. 

The median household income here now stands at $44,478 and the median family income now stands at $59,816.  My original mortgage was $1536 per month!  I refinanced and got it down to $1200 per month.  Before moving to the twin cities, i was patying $400 per month for rent.  It jumped to $1000 just by moving three hours away.

I just don't see how it is possible for the average single person or even married couple to purchase the house they want in the location they want.  I could still go back to Indianapolis and pay $40k for a house in my parents neighborhood.  There is such a disparity, I am surprised people make it for long.

[BuzzKC]

I've been watching that show too.  That guy obviously has a full head of hair that he shaves, hard not to notice.  I'd bet money he is an ex military guy with that stache and attitude!!!  Seeing as they are in the DC are that would make sense too.

[Nonick]

Keep in mind that they are looking for ratings, and people watching the show want to see cool places, not a $75K fixer upper.    
There is also the hype of owning your own place, which is becoming less and less attractive; even though it is "the American dream" as has been hyped for many decades.
I like watching that show to see what's out in other places, to include the international version.    And if there happens to be a sly person or two, it makes watching the show even better!