Tom and Mike met junior year in college, but they didn’t start dating until 13 years later. They reconnected and got engaged immediately. The couple was originally from Boulder, CO. Mike and Tom were even born 7 months apart in the same hospital. These lovebirds are getting married soon, so they need the help of House Hunters to find their new home before the wedding.
Mike is a casting director and Tom works as an accounting. Tom’s job is more flexible, so he’s moving to Los Angeles to be with Mike. They need to find a place that falls between $600,000 and $650,000.
They want to focus their search within the San Fernando Valley area, which is close to where Mike works and more inexpensive than the heart of Los Angeles.
Wish Lists
They want a home with at least three bedrooms for guests. It should have an open concept design with an updated kitchen. The kitchen needs new stainless steel appliances and an island. They want a double vanity in the master bathroom.
Mike’s List: Mike wants a pool in his home. He also prefers the craftsman style look; he said the more it looks like a 90s sitcom home, the better. He also wants a large backyard so they can buy a dog.
Tom’s List: Tom prefers the Victorian or Tudor style homes. He also wants it turnkey because he doesn’t believe that they have time for renovations.
House #1, $615,000
This townhouse is located in Sherman Oaks (which is extremely close to Mike’s work). It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The place comes with the additional $300 a month HOA. The moment they enter this place it feels grand and eloquent. It has a chandelier light fixture and bamboo flooring. The kitchen is new with stainless steel appliances, but it doesn’t have much counter space, or enough room to add an island.
The home doesn’t have a yard. But their realtor jokes that they could put some fake grass in their back area and pretend it’s a yard. All the guest rooms are a decent size with high ceilings. The master bedroom is a little smaller than Tom and Mike hoped, but the master bathroom is very large with two showers. The place also comes with a large closet in the master suite.
House #2, $619,000
This is a single family home that’s within walking distance of a park. This unit has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It’s a very small and compact home. It looks a little crowded but not in an overpowering or junky way. The home just packs a lot into it’s small package.
The kitchen is newly updated. And the turnkey home has a very light and bright look to it. It’s mainly an open concept. The home features an additional sunroom area and a backyard.
House #3, $579,000
The avocado green home, as Tom and Mike call it, is located in Reseda. It has three bedrooms and a two bathrooms. The outside area is very fresh and inviting with lots of grass and trees. On the inside, it has an open concept and tile floors. The house has a lot of character, but also needs a lot of renovations.
The kitchen has enough counter space for Mike, and Tom loves some of the features like the stain glass windows and french doors in the master bedroom. Tom and Mike both don’t like all the colors running throughout the home. Mike finally gets his pool wish in this place with a pool with a waterfall and a hot-tub.
Decision Time: House #3 required a lot of work, but it was under budget and had character. House #2 just seemed too small, but it was sleekly designed. House #1 was a nice blend of modern with some vintage touches. The lack of yard decreased some of this home’s appeal.
Tom and Mike picked…House $3.
There was a bit of a bidding war, so they ended up paying $585,000. Mike and Tom have decided to delay renovations for the moment, but definitely plan to tackle some major projects after their wedding.
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