HGTV's 'House Hunters' Reality Show Fake?

A widely popular reality-TV show that helps families look for a home might not be "reality" at all, according to one family's account, who say they had to buy the house before the show began shooting.
HGTV's "House Hunters" takes prospective buyers through three different houses, offering viewers a quick guessing game as to which home they will choose. Thirty minutes later, the family makes their pick.
Bobi Jensen says that's not the case after she and her husband were featured on the show in 2006. "They kind of wait to make sure you close on your house and that you're actually going to be ready to film for them, " Jensen said.
Jensen recently blogged about her behind-the-scenes experience, not realizing the uproar it would create. She wrote on a popular housing blog that the producers asked her to find some houses just to look at.
"It felt like we just had a few days to scrounge up some houses to look at and it was our responsibility to find the houses ...," Jensen said. "And, finally, the producer just said find any houses you can. Just find something."
Jensen asked friends to let them use their homes, which they weren't even selling.
HGTV programming executive Brian Balthazar said that using not-for-sale homes was a unique decision the show did not make.
"In this episode, her husband was the real estate agent," Balthazar said. "In fact, and she references this in her article, they made the decision to show their friends homes, because they couldn't find one."
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[@cbclaudia01]

i don't care how fake it is...I like looking at the inside of people's houses, even vacant houses. It gives me ideas of what to do with my house! and plus...like they said, I like guessing which house they are buying because at the end of the day...they ARE buying a house...that part is not fake.

[@mattydigs]

+Claudia B Uhm except the part about people having already bought a house or being in late-term negotiations for a house. So yea, that part is totally fake.

[@penelopesnopes6852]

I always assumed they were merely re-enacting their decision making process. It only stands to reason that the house they picked would need to be a done deal before taping. Nothing else makes sense.

[@MrDavesf]

Jeez, of COURSE they need to buy the house before they shoot. Who only looks at three potential houses? Doesn't mean it's not real in the sense of shopping for and eventually buying something. Give us a break.

[@det.nancydrew7133]

Since every house hunter critiques the houses they see, I wonder how the friends of that blogger and her husband felt about watching the two of them complain about their houses.

[@tuningin4fun]

I've always figured it was "staged" on some level before this woman came forward (I mean, who really chooses a house after only looking at three options?). But I still watch it, because I'm more fascinated by how much people pay to live in a home in the Northeast or West coast when I can get the same thing for less than half the price in the South. It's just entertainment.

[@Josh01815]

***** lol prices are probably even fake for that Shock Value, so you gotta watch the show... to be shocked and tell people exactly what you told us. lol "But I still watch it, because I'm more fascinated by how much people pay to live in a home in the Northeast or West coast when I can get the same thing for less than half the price in the South. " yeeaaa

[@Kashvidaurri1]

+JoshVanCity1815 not really, im from the south (texas) but now i live west (california).. to have a pretty house here you need to pay crazy money for the price of a normal not so pretty 1960's california home in the south i can get beautifuls 2000's houses for half the price...

[@justwanttowatchvideos9647]

Exactly I knew this show had to be staged to some extent who in their right mind would buy a house after having only seen 3. I like looking at how much homes cost in other places and I love guessing who will buy what. It's for entertainment purposes.

[@det.nancydrew7133]

in this video and in others, they mention that the houses aren't even for sale, so the prices are fake too.

[@JamesFrancoSwiss]

2:13 he had to control himself from yelling....

[@Tina196712]

I love house hunters international. Houses are real the places they go to are real and i really enjoy watching all the different places they visit. now whether the actual purchase is real at the time of the show well i really don't care.

[@jazzydj6051]

I look at this show just to see the houses and areas, etc. I'm not too concerned with how long the process takes for finding and buying a home. As a matter of fact, I'm glad that part is over and I can speculate in 30 minutes, with commercials included. Sometimes when they buy a house that need some renovations, I'm upset if they don't show the renovations at the end, and I don't get to see it after they change and fix it up. But, this show is really informative if you're going to buy a home now, or in the future. About prices, areas, amenities, etc. Or it can give you ideas about your dream homes...

[@dianalara3126]

Well it makes more sense that way , I always wondered what would happen if the deal didn't go through or if closing took awhile, etc. So I understand why they would need to purchase the home in advance before being featured. That would not be smart if the show filmed the whole experience and their was risk involved especially with the deal falling through . Still love it, it gives me insight on different real estate and ideas .

[@thomaslf1988]

i dont care if its fake i just wanna see the houses and the prices >.

[@Blindsmax]

I think everyone has unique tastes LM! Some like understated.. some like it bold. We never judge our customers on what designer they mimic. What makes a home comfortable for the home owner is what is truly the best option.

[@steverobertson1729]

Im a butterfly therapist, and my wife is a stay at home lawnmower mechanic. Our budget is $16.6 million🤠

[@TopTJFan]

Unplug your telly. Problem solved.

[@briancardinal1674]

TopTJFan telly i love it im Canadian but love the english haha always did like the word telly

[@DeathCatEyes]

So wait, the lady says she's sorry for causing people to stop watching the show and that it wasn't her intention then what was it? Why go through the trouble to complain about a show and your experiences if you didn't want others to know and didn't want people to stop watching the show because it's not entirely real? Clearly this lady got some hush money and that's why she's withdrawing her statement. Either way, this won't stop me from enjoying the show. ^_~

[@CosmicCourtOfLaw]

She did it intentionally, for sure - a big phony.

[@laureengibson]

Totally agree. I watch this and go "eh. figured it was staged. I just want to see the houses".

[@GT1004]

Never thought they were only picking from 3 houses, and assumed a deal was in place. How else could all be tied up with a bow in 30 min? But to have houses that were not for sale at all is real forgery.

[@DWileyOne]

Who care if the program is staged or not? I watch it for the architecture, interior design, and the locations. Most of the people they have on the show are naive and silly. Making sure these buyers actually go through with the purchase before the show starts shooting just make sense. There ARE people out there who would try to get on to the show just to fulfill their own pathetic egos. (say it ain't so!)

[@randy65211]

I miss the good old days when there were only 3 channels and no such thing as cable. Back then (with only 3 channels), there were more good shows to choose from. No internet, video games, kids went outside to play and had imaginations. That's probably why Hollyweird and TV, in general, is so bad. I only watch TCM today.

[@Skott62]

I'm a fan of the show and I figured it took them months of shooting before getting the home people wanted but what I didnt know is that the owners were doing the realtor's job or that they used their friend's houses as the other two choices. Homes not even for sale. Shame on you HGTV!

[@kitkat0304]

i already knew it was staged, but i still love watching it.

[@shibez]

yeah ive always had a inclining the show was fake...but i definitely knew it was fake when i bought my first house last summer...and it took me like 4-5 months to get to closing.(including searching)

[@ShayLikeButter]

Of course the director of filming is gonna say they should keep watching.

[@kathrenwashington7038]

But ya gotta admit, it was pretty obvious that it was staged. The people were very awkward and uncomfortable. The lines they said were stiff and just bad over all. It's pretty disappointing though, but I still watch it from time to time because I like looking at different beautiful and unique homes.

[@CosmicCourtOfLaw]

How disappointing. I watch it because I believed it was an authentic experience. I liked coming along for the ride with them ... This is now ruined for me.

[@Ivestor1]

Everything is fake these days. Fake tv shows, hair, boobs, chicken nuggets, etc.

[@ExclusiveLM]

how could you possibly advertise your home design videos when the master of all home designs Candice Bergen exists on youtube. All designers (with the exception of Candice) seem to only be interested in turning rooms into a cartoon. Why do designers have the same taste of a 6 year old pre school. Nothing matches and the colors are overly bright and childish. UFFF. YUK

[@eanhudson2056]

no longer watching the show I mean I always thought it kind of fishy how they could so easily decide on such a large purchase, but I really did think it was real. I mean house hunting takes a lot because we all work and stuff, but if these people house hunt everyday a show can be recorded and they can pick the one they like best, and if the deal doesn't go, they can go back and find their perfect one and still keep the 3 choices. I don't get why they have to lie like this.

[@shocktalents]

still love the show....wont stop me or my friends from watching

[@SacredSocietyAP]

Who cares. I just like seeing the houses and prices. And they usually never pick the one that I would pick anyway.

[@rigojr3935]

Do people actually stand outside of those windows everyday?

[@museluvr]

How lost is this society to buy into anything with the 'Reality..' tagword in it.

[@WylieKiote]

I believe the concept is real, it has to be managed & staged to a certain degree for filming, obviously people have looked at heaps more homes but the show is narrowed down to three to fit in a 30min timeslot. What pisses me about the show is how many men are pussy whipped in them! Seriously they work, come home, cook, clean, wtf do the housewives do all day? If these men want a pool, after doing everything in & out of the house, they deserve a freakin' pool. So many manipulative women on there. A few control freak men & a lot of people who expect brand new for next to nothing price tag! or want vintage but with all the mod cons! It's the people drive me nuts, the realtors have so much patience! I enjoy seeing how over the top their expectations are & how reality brings them down to earth. There aren't very many genuinely nice people but the few that are, are open minded, sensible & willing to compromise, with what they want, as well as each other! I love seeing them get want they want! Where the deal breakers of others make me sick, so many homeless in the world but a double vanity, granite counter tops or theatre rooms are a must have disgustingly spoilt attitude, god forbid they should pick up a paint brush or do anything to improve the house themselves! But I still watch it deslite these insipid people, because I love to look at houses, the character & features & also get ideas for reno's 😍

[@nigelhorne2536]

So? Of course it’s fake, it’s obvious just looking at it. I still love the program.

[@JoanneLG1960]

No surprise...hello!!!

[@xtraflo]

Fake? Naaaaaaww-Really...

[@Mel__21]

Well by that being said, at least they show you the very end how the house ended up looking. you know the house that they already had brought 😂

[@taroman7100]

real house hunts take months? not from my experience trust me!

[@alizA7753]

Wow I thought it was real

[@Jaime6622]

Lol did anyone else notice the random people in the backround?. x) 2:25 - 2:40

[@MasterX117]

You Don't Say? :P

[@supertjss1328]

What reality show is actually real? Most of them sound scripted, ridiculously edited, come on.

[@Lordofthenipplerings]

This is pretty cool...

[@MewMewWinx]

“ What would you say to people that are saying they’ll never watch it again?” “ You should keep watching because you’re watching people find the home of their dreams.” What? Have you not heard any of this news story? Your show is being accused of being fake because they had already found their home and they had to ask friends to use their homes to get on your show. Nothing about that screams that they’re “finding the home of their dreams.” They already HAVE the home of their dreams. You’re avoiding the question because you don’t know how to respond and you’re making yourself look like an idiot.

[@Blindsmax]

Excellent video Tanya Marchiol on HGTV's Bang for your Buck ... as always. If you get some time come visit me at blindsmax and check out our great home design videos.

[@FakeDJDuo]

[@adamben-shimon7513]

I stopped watching this show because it’s fake!

[@rbasi25]

I will no longer watch this show. It's sooo fake

[@babikaechild06]

Eh who cares

[@yykkk222]

WTF o.O