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

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.

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....

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.

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.

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!!!!

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.

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!