Happy Homes by Dawn Selix, Realtor®: Three Homebuying Lessons From Two Decades of House Hunters

Tuesday, December 31

Three Homebuying Lessons From Two Decades of House Hunters

HGTV’s House Hunters was one of TV’s first real estate-focused reality shows—and, 20 years later, it’s still going strong.

Over the past two decades, House Hunters (which showcases real buyers as they tour different properties in search of their dream home) has lifted back the curtain of the homebuying process, giving viewers invaluable lessons into how to successfully find and buy the right home.

A recent article on Realtor.com outlined some of House Hunter’s top lessons for buyers, including:

Choose three criteria for your wish list. In a perfect world, your home would have everything on your wish list. But the chances of finding everything on your wish list is slim to none—so narrowing down your list to three key criteria (like four bedrooms, updated kitchen, and at or under-budget) will help you focus on what’s really important.
Be realistic about your budget. If you don’t understand the market—and what your budget will get you in said market—you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Research the area where you want to buy (and what your money will get you) so you can be realistic about your budget.
Don’t get caught up in the staging. So many homebuyers get turned off by aesthetic details (like paint colors or odd furniture layouts) that can be easily changed. Make sure you’re looking past the staging and aesthetic issues and are seeing the full potential of the home.

Bottom line? Reality shows might not have a reputation as being educational—but if you’re buying a home, there are definitely lessons to be learned from the past 20 years of House Hunters episodes.