Monday, May 3, 2010

I think I was born in the wrong country

Watching House Hunters on HGTV makes me want to move to the US. A young couple not unlike Luc and myself were searching for their first home so I figured it would be a particularly relateable episode. I read the blurb in the TV guide before watching the show and it said "a new couple search for a home that reflects both their personalities." But the home buying experience is significantly different in the US, and especially different from Vancouver! It's funny the things that the couple was quibbling over: "A 2 car garage? I would have liked 3..... Hmm, no sinker tub in the master bathroom? ......" When we've gone to see condos it sounds more like this: "Is there a dishwasher? I don't think I could live without a dishwasher. Could we fit a queen-sized bed in the second bedroom?"

One of the houses was a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2800 sq foot house with a huge backyard with a pool, master bedroom with a fireplace, walk-in closet....the list goes on. And the price? $380,000. You can't even get a tiny 2-bedroom condo in Vancouver for less than about $425,000. In the end, they chose a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2600 sq foot house, completely updated and beautifully landscaped for $303,000. And then I threw the remote at the TV and poured myself a drink.

2 comments:

  1. Oh boy, can I relate. My financial adviser and I have a 2-3 year plan for me to save up for a new home, and I'm planning to do it with or without a boyfriend/fiance/husband. A couple weeks ago I popped into an open house around the South Main area just for a look. The condo was under 600 feet and the kitchen wasn't even big enough for a decent-sized oven or a full-sized fridge (there was a mini fridge under the counter). The asking price? $279,000. Ridiculous!

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  2. Ahhhhh Vancouver Sisters Unite!!! I know, isn't it painful?? All we want is a 2 bedroom that's at least 1000 sq feet (for 2 bedrooms, that's pretty modest!) and it feels like we're asking the WORLD!! We have a friend staying with a us for a week and he has to sleep on a blowup mattress in the living room!! I would give an arm for a second bedroom.....that didn't cost my first born child ;)

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