Todd is an attorney and a musician who wants to find his first place in one of Philadelphia's funky neighborhoods. He's depending on his mother for advice, but sometimes she gets a bit too involved in the house hunting process for his comfort. Complicating matters is Todd's tendency to put in lowball bids which has resulted in a string of rejections and a realtor is close to throwing in the towel.
Keith and Susan want to buy their first place for their four children in Naperville, Illinois. They're pre-approved for a loan of up to $400,000 when they fall in love with a luxurious house listed at $440,000. When that home goes under contract, they reevaluate what they really can afford and decide to try to find a home with all their must-haves closer to $360,000.
Jeff would like to find a first place at a bargain price apartment in Center City, Philadelphia. He would also like his girlfriend Jessica to move in with him. But Jessica isn't moving in until Jeff proposes and gives her a ring. As they search for a place they can both agree on, they also have to decide how committed they are to getting married.
Aesha and Ram, a newly engaged Philadelphia couple, have little experience managing a household budget, but they start looking at homes in the $500-$600,000 range. The search leads them to reevaluate what they really can -- or should -- afford at this point in their lives, and they fall for a townhome at a much lower price point. Then, a week before closing, Aesha starts to question whether their decision to go for a townhome over a single family home will cause buyer's remorse.
Sean recently graduated from college and is looking for his first teaching job. Additionally, he and his fiancee Kelly have a wedding date fast approaching, and if they don't find a first place soon, they will start married life in his parents' house. The stresses of unemployment and a wedding add to the stressful process of house-hunting for this young Chicago couple.
Pennsylvania schoolteachers Brad and Christine want to buy a four-bedroom home in the school district where they work. However, all of the houses in their price range are too cramped or need too much work. Brad thinks they'll get more for their money if they look in a different school district, but Christine is determined to stay put.
A Philadelphia couple on an extremely tight budget discovers the limits of their willingness to compromise when they clash with the seller over a $2,500 deal breaker. First-time homebuyers Eric and Lisa may have to push their budget to its breaking point or walk away from their first place.
Brian and Liz are looking for a suburban home with old-school charm, modern conveniences and, most importantly, big closets. They find this dream combo in a house for sale by owner. The owner tells them he already has a bid in, and if they want the house, they'll have to beat the first bid's price and closing date. Since an agent would show proof of the first bid -- and this seller won't -- Brian and Liz fear they are being scammed.
Jessica is a young professional in Chicago who is determined to assert her independence from her parents by buying her first place all on her own. However, she also wants her traditional Chinese parents' approval on the purchase. Since she wants to make a 20% down payment, she's limited her search to one-bedroom condos, but her parents will only give their blessing on a two-bedroom because of the better resale potential. Jessica must decide whether to stick to her guns or accept financial assistance from her parents if she's going to get into her first place.
A pair of doctors wants to buy their first place in Haddon Township, New Jersey before their new fellowships start. There's only one house they love, but negotiations stall when their bid is lower than the seller is willing to take. Joe and Maureen decide to continue their home search, but don't like anything else they see. As they begin to ponder the possibility of renting, they hear back from the seller of their favorite house.
Newlyweds Gary and Stephanie are settling into Philadelphia and looking for a suitable first place to start a family in. The picky buyers go through multiple negotiations on a three-bedroom home in Center City, only to walk away from the deal when the seller actually raises the list price by $10,000 and begin their search all over again.
Portland newlyweds Troy and Linea hope their first place will be a craftsman Bungalow. They find a new build in a craftsman style that Linea is ready to bid on, but cautious Troy wants to do a little more research. When they discover that another bidder wants the house, they are pressured to bid immediately, so they actually make an offer that's more than the asking price to be competitive. While that tactic lands them the contract, an inspector turns up trouble in the backyard.
Heather has a very tight budget for her first place in Portland, Oregon. She finds a vintage foreclosure that she falls in love with, but she is competing with dozens of professional flippers who would also like to snap up this low-priced home to make money off it. Heather decides to go for broke, bidding at the top of her range and well over the asking price. Then, once she gets the house, she finds out that it needs major repairs.
Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.
A sophisticated Southwestern home in Santa Fe, New Mexico
A modern mountain getaway in Morrison, Colorado
A Southern-inspired escape in Louisville, Kentucky