Real estate porn is too kinky for me
Cats: Uncategorized|See my Herald column over here.
Watching Homes and Gardens TV used to be a guilty pleasure.
Now watching these house hunting shows makes me feel like a vulture circling over the real estate boom just before it is slayed by the subprime dragon.
A few days ago I watched one of these couples searching for a second condo in the Baja peninsula of Mexico. Earlier that day, I’d just heard a report about the subprime ghost towns around there.
These shows were all shot before the boom went bust. Now seeing these people waltzing around these luxury condos talking about “updating” kitchens and decks that are too small is just plain painful.
You can’t help but wonder what happened to these condo shoppers.
And you can’t help but wonder how much longer this network can survive with no one building, renovating or buying second condos.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Good gravy, you’ve been reading my mind. Unfortunately HGTV was my detox channel from the 2008 Elections and I was conflicted, epecially when I watched the house-flipping shows.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I enjoy HGTV. Not the buying shows so much, but the home renos on a budget. Speaks to me more. But even that does get depressing.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I usually watch that channel (muted) while exercising because there are lots of pretty colours, so I don’t pay a lot of mind to the content.
However, did these people never stop to consider that you shouldn;t buy something you can’t afford? It seems pretty straight forward to me.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Cormac, you? Conflicted? I can’t accept that
Allison, you’ll never end up like those people, too practical, me thinks
Barbara, me too. Yoga. Until the situation became too painful. Then I switched it off and continued with the downward dog.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I loved the party analogy especially the part about the cops being called. I can’t stand the Holmes guy. I guess you’ll have to switch over to Food TV and watch the new season of Top Chef with me!
November 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Dale,
yeah, sitting down for an hour with Mr. Holmes feelings like going to a party thrown by Christian fundamentalist. I’ll join you for top chef.