Sun, Feb 8, 2009
First-time homebuyers Krishni and Jee have new jobs in Scottsdale, Arizona. As they start their search for homes in the area, they find that they disagree over what's considered a must-have. She's determined to find a three-bedroom home with wood floors, an updated kitchen and a master suite with a jetted tub, while he really only cares about the media center. They find one house that they both love, but learn that they're competing with another potential buyer and then discover the house has significant roofing problems.
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
Justin and Sarah are soon to be married, and as first-time homebuyers in Scottsdale, Arizona, they're discovering the difficulty of trying to buy a house with no money down. Since they're trying to conserve all their cash to pay for wedding expenses, they're hoping to find a seller who's willing to put down about $10,000 for them. The only problem is they've already bid on - and lost - three houses with this down payment strategy.
Sun, Apr 5, 2009
Young Army veteran Jarrod wants to live in the hippest part of Chicago, but he also wants more space than his budget can buy. There are two places that he really likes: one that's larger and one that's in a better location. But before he bids on either, news of a competing offer on the bigger of the two condos forces him to commit.
Wed, May 13, 2009
Ronak lives in the Chicago suburbs with his parents, and he's finally ready to buy a condo in the city. He's looking for a two-bedroom, two-bath place with parking for around $350,000. With a job that requires frequent travel, he barely has time to look, so his girlfriend Anjlee has offered to pre-screen places while he's traveling. His belief in this plan is tested when Anjlee finds a place that she thinks is fabulous and wants him to make an offer on it sight unseen and $25,000 over his budget.
Sat, Jun 6, 2009
Hope and Ryan are determined to buy their first place in Phoenix before they move from New Hampshire for Hope's new job. Seeing more than 50 houses in two whirlwind househunting trips, they finally find a listing that has everything they want, including an open floor plan, an updated kitchen and a great backyard with a pool. However, based on comparables in the neighborhood, they think the seller's price is unreasonable, so they start negotiating.
Tue, Jul 14, 2009
Chicago newcomers Rose and Travis want to buy their first place in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, two communities close to downtown nightlife. However, despite having saved enough for a 5% down payment on a $350,000 property, their favorite neighborhoods are too pricey for this budget. As they expand their search, they find a unit that they love that also includes an adjacent basement property that would allow them to duplex down for great resale potential. After tough negotiations, they land both units. However, as the closing date nears, they discover that their lender is now requiring more money down, and it's a last-minute, stressful scramble for Rose and Travis.
Sun, Jul 26, 2009
Clarence Hawkins goes by the name of Hawk, and he's a big guy with a big vision for his first place. Although he'll be living with his girlfriend Angie, he's determined to finance the house on his own. Looking in the $400,000 range, the happy couple knows their biggest challenge will be agreeing on a house, and they start searching even though Hawk hasn't been pre-approved for a loan. After losing out to a higher offer on one property, they decide that they can custom build for much less money. However, once construction is underway, Hawk learns that he can't get 100% financing which sets yet another new plan in motion.