House Hunters International - moving long-term without jobs?

It's called entertainment and is mostly staged.

In most cases, the "people" looking for homes already have one. It's the one they choose in the end. The other two homes are added for drama purposes.

In some cases, the local real estate expert or relocation expert is either an actor or even a friend of the couple.

Do a Google search of something like "Is House Hunters International Real?" and you will get some interesting articles.

So, enjoy seeing what homes look like in different areas of the world but don't believe the story lines.

Not only are you required to show income (or net worth), but most countries require you to know the language in order to stay for any real length of time (over a year if you're planning or purchase real estate). The easiest way to get residency is marry an EU citizen. But even then there's a bunch of stuff you need to do, and taxes are a whole 'nother world.

I've been looking around for the past three years and it's just not going to work for me. There's a couple places I really like up for sale right now, but oh well...

When I purchased my first flat in Budapest about 15 years ago I was approached by House Hunters. They wanted to use it for a show. But, wait, I already bought it and the show is about the process. No, not to worry, they said, they would stage the whole thing like we were just starting the process. They would even pay me about $1000. I passed.

My guilty pleasure, watching House Hunters International! We had some friends who were on the show. They had already secured their apartment and, as others have mentioned, it's a staged show. The producers found two other apartments to "fit the narrative" for our friends, then they crafted the show and story line around it. I think filming only took 2 days. The producers of the show will reach out to various groups of Expats (about twice a year in France) asking for applicants.
As for jobs, there are various ways to work depending on your citizenship, visa type, country. Some careers can translate more easily from one country to another (consulting comes to mind.) I just assume that these people have done their homework when it comes to working in whatever country.

I don't know the show, but some European countries are fairly liberal with visas, particularly if you own a business, or work independently as a consultant etc

Not to mention quite a lot of people have European citizenships through parents or grandparents. Not sure about the US, but I'm Australian, and it's estimated that about 25% of Australians hold dual (mainly European) nationality.

Maybe the potential subjects are easily identified, or maybe not. You gotta hand it to the producers of the program for finding houses and their (would-be or actual) owners. They’re hunters, too.

That $1,000 offer must be too tempting for some. I wonder if that price has gone up considerably, or if they’re still offering a small amount for delving into someone’s private life? A “reality” show where at least nobody gets voted off the island??

The producers work through real estate agents. Im sure they are getting paid too.

Dont get me wrong, knowing the truth I still watched. And you do learn a bit about lifestyle sometimes. For instance the average US home is nearly 3000 sf, in most of Europe the average is under 750 sf. Not bad, they just live differently.

Mr. E, I know you are from Texas where everything is bigger…..

Current stats show average home size 1792 sq feet. Still big, but not Texas sized.

Spoiler alert - almost all of the programming that passes for reality/real estate shows on HGTV is scripted, staged, and acted. Not that some of it does not make good eye-candy and vegging material, but not real.

Carol, always to the rescue to keep things accurate. That is one of benefits of tge forum.

New Single-Family Homes: The U.S. Census Bureau places the average
size of recently completed single-family homes at roughly 2,367 sq.
ft.Existing Homes: The median square footage of homes listed on
Realtor.com hovers around 1,830 sq.

But even that is meaningless in detail because the mean size would e more informative. Then there is cost per sf. No comparison with Texas, CA, maybe yes.

But my point, that you missed (my bad explination probably), was that you do get some opportunity when watching to observe differences in lifestyles. I never intended to buy a flat here. I got a real estate agent and pretended interest so I could get inside homes and see how people lived. Raw curiosity.

I will add to the chorus saying house hunters international is staged. In my case it was the brother of a very good friend. He was a doctor fulfilling his obligation to the military after finishing med school.

I didn't realize the script was also planned in advance. That makes sense since when in London everyone always insists on "English charm." I guess I'd never make the cut because I'd want to be a diva and insist that I want to be myself, as English charm is not for me. I'd be embarassed with some of the commentary and how totally unprepared for a new country the buyers appear to be on the show.

Having said that, I love the show and watch often. I especially enjoy the London episodes because I get a lot of ideas for future neighbourhoods to stay in.

Interesting to hear these shows are totally faked! I’ve never watched House Hunters but sometimes I’ve caught an episode of A Place in the Sun (similar idea). I once saw an episode where a British couple bought an incredibly charming farmhouse in Madeira. They checked back with them a year later and they had completely ruined it with their very unsympathetic renovations and it made me so sad I couldn’t watch the show ever again!

Well not totally fake. In the two conversations I had with them it was clear there was no script, but I suspect there would be some directorial pressure during the filming. In my case I did buy an apartment. They were going to showcase what I bought. We were going to revisit the ones I didn’t buy. And my budget that would be in the show was real. So, you would get to see what people live in based on purchasing power. My profession was also going to be brought up. I think it’s a very interesting look into other worlds.

I've heard this about House Hunters International before and often wondered if partcipants ever experienced buyers' remorse after being shown something better than what they had already purchased.

I looked at 5 places. Not to buy, just get inside and see how people lived. The thought of a Texas goat farmer buying a home in Budapest in 2009 was silly. I went home to the states ... but I kept asking the agent in emails, "has the last one I looked at sold yet?" 3 months later I was back in Budapest with a wad of cash. I regret nothing.

Mr E, you were a Texas goat farmer? We really do have an amazing group of folks here!

I spent a good part of my childhood on the family ranch in Texas. Cattle and goats, fruits and nuts. I wasnt suited for it so I got edgetated. But while some calculate in Euro, other folks in dollars, I still use goats.

... most countries require you to know the language in order to stay for any real length of time

This isn't actually true. Most European countries have long-stay visas without language requirements.

jphbucks, I think people confuse Permanent Residency, Residency and Long Term Visa. I don’t know of a country that wants you to learn a language for a 1 year long-term visa … but I am certain there is one. I do know of at least one country that requires language proficiency for Permanent Residency, but I have no idea if “most” or even if “many” do.

Also the show glosses over the fact that not every country will let a foreign national own property under every circumstance.

Housing sizes in US are often about the availability and price of land. In the suburbs of Birmingham, 3000 -4000 sf is definitely the norm-I've only been inside one house that was smaller. A friend who grew up on a farm in Indiana says we are all overhoused. His wife had difficulty downsizing from 5000 sf to 3500 and their new house had a closet like those you see in celebrity homes.

Cala, here at least its about income. In my last neighborhood in Texas houses were less than 20 years old and 3000 sf and up. Now I live in a house that is right at the norm in Budapest and in Europe in general. It was quite an adjustment.

I, too, like to watch the show to see the different cities and apartments/houses. But I do have to laugh when the people looking for lodging appear to be totally ignorant of prices and sizes of what they can afford. Do the producers school them to look stupid?

Oh man! HH is my "relax and turn my brain off" before bed show. I always figured the people were coached by producers because they always say things like, "natural light" and "open concept" over and over. But I didn't know it was totally fake. We can't have ANY nice things?? lol

So, how about a combo show, House Hunting Pro Wrestlers? Two teams, and the first one to pin the other gets the place? Maybe some sneaky moves by colorful characters, face slams into a “stone” wall, furniture cracked over heads, jumping from a high staircase onto a victim, flattening them into submission ..:

Authentic participants, completely unforeseen results, and satisfying results! Now to the next commercial…

I always knew HH was staged and fake, but I still enjoyed watching it. I don't watch much TV these days, but sometimes we'll put one HH or HHI on. It's also a nice option to watch on Delta flights when I don't want to listen but just have a visual.

One location they used once was a BnB or small inn property--not at all an actual home. They simply staged it, left off a few bedrooms, and showed it as a potential property.

They also can't possibly all be professional hamster trainers and encyclopedia salesmen with 700,000 Euro budgets.

And in many places, the housing market is so tight, you have maybe a few hours to make a decision.

So yes, staged.

HowlinMad. Correct me, but in Germany as a whole dont less than 20% of all folks live in a home owned by one of the occupants of the home (maybe higher in the east?) That raises 2 thoughts, 1, homes must be expensive and 2, home ownership isn't a high cultural ambition? So the show is already sort of twisted.

As far as moving to Europe without a job.... just occurred to me, I did. Im retired.

Oh man! HH is my "relax and turn my brain off" before bed show.

Me too, especially HHI. I frankly couldn't care less about whether the people are validly looking at the apartments I'm seeing. I'm just fascinated to see what $X,000 a month will get you in Bucharest, Toulon or Helsinki.

The average home in Italy is 118 sq. meters (1,270 sq. ft.), and many are condominium apartments, especially in cities. However the real estate market concentrates on the 75 to 100sq.mt, which is the type of house you see most frequently on websites.

Nowhere near the size of a Texas (or Anystate, USA) home (and no backyard or front yard with a lawn, but maybe a balcony or two).

The price is not that cheap either. The median price of an apartment in Milan is €5,700 per square meter (almost $650/sq.ft.) but in the city center prices are twice as high. My Florence boasts median prices of €4,700/sq.mt ($530/sq.ft.), but considerably more in the historical center.

So a 1,000 sq.ft. apartment in Milan will set you back $650k, but you can double that in the city center. Obviously not as high as NYC or SF, but definitely higher than Texas.

Regarding finding a job after the house, many elective residency visas are awarded under the requirement that you cannot work, so it's really for retired people. If you want to work in Europe, you need to have a company that sponsors you first, or find yourself a local spouse.

And, not to start another topic, but many of these folks have dogs. My stepson was in the Air Force stationed about 45 minutes outside of Venice, and it was crazy hard getting two large dogs into- and out of- Italy.

If you want to work in Europe, you need to have a company that sponsors you first, or find yourself a local spouse.

This is very much country-specific. I'm in France on a visa designed for entrepreneurs, starting a business.

Yup. I started my own business to stay in Hungary

So much on the forum is conventional wisdom and not fact. No one argued when one post said all of the EU uses the Euro.

or find yourself a local spouse

Roberto has come up with another potential hit TV program … “Hunting for a House & Spouse!”

I wonder which would be the hardest to get!

Cyn, I like that theme for a show!

Many of those "Moving to Euopre" are either ignorant of the process or just platantly lying!

Buying a property and getting permanent residence are two different things. With some exceptions it's easy enough to buy a property in Europe... But getting to live there on a permanent basis is a very different thing. After BREXIT many Brits found themselves in this situaiton, the owned holiday homes within the EU where they intend to retire to, but this was no longer possible.

If you are not a citizen of the EEA, you are not entitled to establish a business and that includes all the nomand stuff. If you have sufficient passive income - meaning investments and royalties (not a remote business) you many qualify for a residents permit. If you are retired and have sufficient income you may get a residents permit.

For the average Joe American, you are not legally entitled to seek employment while within the EEA, you will need to find a sponsor who must proof according to the EU Stats office that there is no one available throughout the EU who could potentially take up the job. And that your employmet meets the national criteria as well - this usually means that the percentage of none EU/EEA staff can't go above a certain level.

Many EU member states offer various short term visas, which people take up and after that it's expected that US optimism will win the day - it won't.

With all the new checks and balances being introducted by the EU/EEA/Schengen Area, the gray areas where these people operated in are going to get very small.

Jim is correct in that it not simple, but I don’t agree with some of the generalizations and details. I am also no immigration lawyer, I just live in one country and know and understand what I need to know and understand to remain legally in this one country. Not all of my situation and observations of the situations of others here jibes well with Jim’s generalization.

There is a rise in nationalism in Europe and borders are getting tighter and there are calls to send all the outsiders home. I suspect before the end of the year a few countries will begin actively exporting foreigners. So Jim's attitude isnt unusual. And, its fair. This isnt my country so i never complain. I follow the rules and will stay as long as I am welcome and not a moment longer.

Not sure how many are lying. Doubt any significant number. It would be like calling Jim’s inconsistencies in his post lies. No, the forum is full of statements that are incorrect. That doesn’t make them lies.

I am not a citizen of the EEA and I have a legally registered business in an EEA country. I am not lying.

Several European countries have Nomad Visa programs. The few I know about have length of stay limitations (1 or 2 years).

Retired and people with passive income do make up most of the American expats where I live.

There are countries in Europe that will give you residency if you purchase real estate. There was once several in the EU that would but I think most of the EU member states have ceased the practice … but I can’t say that for certain. Some outside of the EU I know still do it.

If an American wants to work in my country, then he must apply for a local work permit. I have an expat friend that owns a few local businesses and imports all her workers and it’s not a terrible process. Those that are currently here can renew almost indefinitely. I know workers that have been here legally for more than ten years. Every country will be different.

Not sure the definition of a short-term visa in the context of Jim’s post. Many countries do offer 1-year visas. Is that short term? Until recently my country issued 3-year visas that were renewable; and most often were renewed. That is how I began.

Yes, working within the system to stay here legally can at times be a pain in the …. If you can hang in, legally, for 5 years then the EU does have a permanent residency process. I don’t know the details. I will look at it next year when I have my 5 years done. US optimisim is a beautiful thing that can produce nearly 2 Liberty Ships each day, with a loaded displacement was roughly 14,200 tons and a footprint the size of a European football pitch when it has to.

The post jumps around between EU EEA Schengen and Europe, so I have two other suggestions. Georgia and Albania both allow US citizens to stay for 365 days. With Georgia you can leave at the end and re-enter the next day. In Albania I think you have to leave or 90 days to reset the clock. But again, I am not immigration attorney so don’t trust a word I have said.

If you are not a citizen of the EEA, you are not entitled to establish a business

Why do people continue to post stuff that isn't true?

In France, it's quite possible to start a business and secure a visa accordingly, if you provide a good business plan and document sufficient assets and income such that, if your business doesn't take off immediately, you can support yourself.

I have a friend who used to be a producer on the US version of House hunters yes some of its staged, I once asked her however why they didn’t edit out some of these people‘s diva fits and she said you can’t stage everything she said some of these people she dealt with were just impossible. She told a story of a woman with a very low budget who apparently felt that because they were doing house hunters would get a deal on the house. And she said when they were in the houses, this woman just kept trashing everything and was so incredibly rude that there was no way they could edit everything out and they would ask her try again and she get ruder. that one just never made off the cutting room floor. She said that would never even got made because they were just so difficult to deal with.

A lot of this was driven by them making a relationship with a real estate agent who does good TV and then that agent will help them find houses and buyers. That’s very evident in Paris for example. But I still find it amazingly interesting just to see the inside of the houses and various things. I also found it amazingly interesting to watch people who have absolutely no idea of realistic expectations be brought back to earth by the financial reality they’re in.