I love the accent wall.
[narrator] PhD student and first time buyer Ellen
is considering purchasing a well-priced fixer in Statesboro, Georgia.
I think it's very... It's retro, but, like, in a good way.
[narrator] Friend and fellow student Veronica
is advocating for a newer, low maintenance place
that would be a better fit for Ellen's crazy schedule.
I wonder how hard that would be to replace.
That's a good way to get electrocuted and die.
[narrator] Can she appeal to Ellen's practical side?
They've got a bidet, oh, my gosh, I love bidets.
They save so much toilet paper.
- [doorbell rings] - [opening theme music playing]
What are you up to?
I'm just tidying up, because Veronica's coming over.
I'm 24 years old and I am a clinical psychology student
at Georgia Southern University.
I have had struggles with my own anxiety.
I received a lot of care in mental health settings
and I am just hoping to be that for someone else and give back to them.
I've been renting for years, going from house to house,
sometimes moving three to four times per year
and I'm going to be here for the next five years.
I really wanted to put down roots and invest in being here.
Right now I live in a little duplex with my roommate, Faith.
Faith has been a huge inspiration to me.
She bought the house that we live in when she was 23.
She did that completely financially independently.
So I'm really excited to be looking for my own now.
I think it was just nerve-racking, because I did it by myself.
Like, I didn't have, um, my dad to come with me
and tell me what I needed to look for and stuff.
But I definitely don't regret it. Oh, Veronica's here.
- Hello. - Hey.
[Ellen] My friend Veronica will be helping me on this house hunt.
Well, I'm about to head back to work, I'll let you guys talk.
[Ellen] She is in the same program as me
and she was one of the first people I met when I came to Statesboro.
- Ellen is a rule follower, whereas... - Okay.
I like to bend the rules a little bit to have fun.
[Ellen] I think Veronica helps loosen me up a little bit.
That isn't necessarily natural to me.
I am a little nervous after that last house
that I fell in love with and then I missed out on.
So I had been looking for houses for a few months
and I found one that I really loved.
I just didn't move quickly enough,
I just wasn't sure that it was what I wanted to spend on a house.
I'm hoping to stay under $180,000.
I think anything above that feels really unmanageable.
If you push that up to $200,000 will give you more options.
We'll see.
- Let's not be inflexible. - I don't know. [chuckles]
I know that you are very set on staying in Statesboro,
but there's just, like, a lot more to do in Savannah, you know?
But there's just, like, a lot more to do in Savannah, you know?
I'm definitely open to looking beyond, like, the immediate area.
But trying to keep my carbon footprint a little bit smaller
and caring about sustainability and the impact that I'll have.
I really would like to be within biking or walking distance from campus.
A three bedroom and a three bath house.
I'm hoping to have some roommates
to help pay for the monthly payments and the utilities.
I think it'll be helpful for each of the bedrooms to have its own bath
and it'll make it a little more marketable.
And a one-story house if I can manage.
I'd love to have a ranch.
I think that they're more sustainable
and you get lower heating bills, you get lower cooling bills
and all of that adds up over time.
Yeah, the environment is important and all that, but also comfort.
I'd love to have a big open space,
so that we can have game nights and wine nights, party nights,
- still have some fun. - Yeah.
Also a fireplace.
In Statesboro? I feel like you would never use a fireplace.
But around Christmastime, we could hang stockings and it would be cute.
- Okay, but that's, like, one day out of the year. - It's fine.
We're gonna be seeing a ranch today.
It looks like it's pretty close to school. $147,500, which is great.
I'm a bit nervous with that price.
It might be more of a fixer-upper.
- I'm not opposed to fixing some things up. - Right, right, right.
- Putting some work into it. - I know you keep saying that, but time, Ellen.
[whispers] Time.
- [Ellen] Hey, Jenny. - Hey, did y'all find it okay?
- [Ellen] Yeah. - [Jenny] What do y'all think?
[Ellen] I like it, I think it has great curb appeal. It's very cute.
How old is the house?
So it was built in 1952, it's a little bit of a fixer-upper.
I tend to agree with Veronica, with Ellen's really busy schedule,
I think that leaning towards a newer home might be a better option,
however, homes like this typically do not come on the market at this price.
However, homes like this typically do not come on the market at this price.
So when this one hit the market,
I called Ellen and said we've got to get in quickly.
- [Ellen] All right. - Okay, so this is not hardwood floors.
Yeah, it is a little bit boxy, it's not open concept.
There could be hardwood under here, if we come around here,
you'll see that we do have hardwood.
And I don't mind carpet so much.
But, oh, yeah, there's some hardwood in here, that's cool.
This feels like it gives more space for, like, those game nights.
Like, if you had a bit table in here.
I love these built-ins over here.
It's very, like, eclectic, like, retro vibe, I like it.
[Jenny] So you'll that there's windows right here
that lead out to this room, because this was not originally part of the house.
Probably used to be, like, a porch.
[Ellen] I don't know what the functionality of it would be.
Do you know what they were using it as before?
I think it was just kind of a bonus room,
but this would make a great office.
- [Veronica] Can we take a look outside? - [Jenny] Yeah, absolutely.
It's a great backyard.
[Ellen exclaims]
[Veronica] It looks like there's space for, like, cornhole and bonfires.
[Ellen] Garden and maybe a chicken coop.
But it feels like it might be a lot.
There are a lot of hedges to trim.
- Grass to cut. - Grass, yeah.
In a doctoral program, we have multiple classes,
we teach classes, we're also seeing clients
and I just don't know if Ellen's gonna have time for that.
And I just don't know if Ellen's gonna have time for that.
[Jenny] I did mention that it is a little bit of a fixer-upper.
Yeah, so it's a little dated. [chuckles]
[Veronica] These look like they definitely need to be updated.
Again, I really think you just need to be aware
of how much time you're gonna have.
- Yeah. - Because, again,
you're going into second year and it's so busy.
I'm a little nervous about the time that it'll take
to bring this house up to exactly where I'd like it to be,
but I think that over time, I'll be able to make it work and I'm looking forward
to possibly getting into some renovations
and customizing the space for myself.
[Jenny] So both of the bathrooms are original.
[Veronica] This reminds me of a janitor closet in high school.
Okay.
It might be a little bit dated, but I like the feel of it.
Is that the only plug that's in this bathroom?
[Jenny] Uh, yes, it is.
[Veronica] If you have roommates and they wanna
do their hair, that's gonna be a big problem.
So there is another bathroom right next to this one.
[Ellen] Oh, nice, I like the pink, I think it's very...
It's retro, but, like, in a good way.
[Jenny] You do have outlets here.
[Ellen] Okay, and I like these built-in elements, I think they're really unique too.
Okay.
[Veronica] Don't love this.
Romantic lighting.
It's a little bit hospital.
I wonder how hard that would be to replace.
[Jenny] It's not that hard.
Are you an electrician, though?
Because I feel like that's a good way to get electrocuted and die.
Okay, I would have an electrician replace that if I bought this house.
[Veronica] I don't like that lighting.
[Jenny] All right, bedroom numero dos.
- [Ellen] So this one's a little bigger... - Yes.
[Ellen] ...than the other one, is it?
- [Jenny] Yes. - [Ellen] It looks like it is.
[Jenny] This is what they're calling the third bedroom
and it was originally built as a living room.
- [Ellen] A fireplace? - [Veronica] It's got a fireplace.
This is the best part of the house.
Okay, we can agree to disagree.
It's a little weird too, to me, to have a fireplace in a bedroom.
[Veronica] That was a big thing back in the day.
Instead of a TV, they just looked at the fire.
Okay, this could be my entertainment. [chuckles]
I like it a lot, it's got good bones, um, it's in a great location.
But it just feels old, it feels like there's gonna be a lot of work.
I was hoping for something more open concept.
- Ellen, you know we already missed out on one. - Mmm-hmm.
[Jenny] And I just got a message that there's
tons of activity, because this house just launched.
Just don't get into analysis paralysis.
- You've gotta make a decision. - Okay.
[narrator] While Ellen thinks if over,
Jenny's got a more move-in ready option for them to see.
It's a little bit smaller than I was imagining.
It doesn't seem to be too far from the school.
I think she said about three miles,
which could be a decent biking distance.
[narrator] As a PhD student, Ellen's prioritizing buying near campus.
Fellow student Veronica is also a fan of the next place,
since it's newer and should have fewer projects.
Move-in ready, there's not a lot of upkeep with it.
I'm not sure how I feel about townhouse living and just two bedrooms.
[Veronica] Okay.
- Hi. - Hi.
[Ellen] It's a little bit smaller than I was imagining.
I think that it would be a smarter choice
to get something that doesn't require so much time for projects.
While this home is small, this price in this current market,
this is a hidden gem.
- [Ellen] All right. - [Veronica] Okay.
I really like the color of the walls.
[Ellen] I just think it's a little drab.
- [Veronica] What? - Boring.
- I disagree. - Lacks character.
So everything in here is brand new, it's just a year old.
So they should still have warranties on the appliances.
So you're not gonna have to worry about them breaking down.
That's good, that is helpful, because that can be really costly later on.
I like that you have this, so that you can put,
like platters and drinks and stuff out there.
It is really nice and open, I love this line of sight into the rest of the home.
[Jenny] You've got the first bedroom right off of the entryway.
And I love these doors, it's very farmhouse-y.
I like the size of the room, it feels like maybe you could
have the bed here, maybe a little desk.
[Veronica] I don't like the carpet.
[Ellen] I actually kind of like the carpet.
It feel like it's nice on your feet when you get out of bed.
So, would this be my room?
[Jenny] This would be the guest room, so perfect for the roommate.
[Ellen] Ooh, the bathroom's attached to the bedroom, I love that.
I do see the potential with a newer home
to maybe rethink how I was thinking about rent
and finances for the home.
I think that with a newer build,
I could probably charge more in rent
and it might actually work better in the long run.
The laundry room is right here.
[Ellen] Okay.
[Veronica] Do they come with the house?
Yeah, they actually are gonna stay.
[Ellen] Oh, that's good, I won't have to buy separate ones.
- So this is the main living area? - [Jenny] Yes.
[Veronica] I really like the flooring.
[Jenny] So it's a luxury vinyl plank floor.
It's scratch-resistant, water-resistant.
So if you're gonna be entertaining and throwing parties,
this is the best floor that you can have.
[Veronica] You could have so many, like, gatherings here.
People could dance.
[Ellen chuckles]
I do like that it's open and you can see from one space to another,
but it just feels really small to me still.
I disagree, I think that you could have at least 20 people in here,
it would be really great.
[Jenny] Look at this bedroom though, because it's huge.
- [Ellen] Okay. - [Veronica] Oh, wow.
I really like this.
[Ellen] I love the ceilings.
[Veronica] Oh, my gosh, this is a lot more space.
This is a big countertop, very different from the other one.
- Yeah, so much room for activities. - Mmm-hmm.
- [Veronica] What is this? - [Ellen] They've got a bidet.
Oh, my gosh, I love bidets, they save so much toilet paper,
which is just great for the environment.
And then a walk-in closet.
I'm not sure I like having the closet right by the bathroom.
It feels a little bit weird.
[Veronica] It's cute.
- It's small. - [Veronica] Yeah it is small.
But it's private.
Yeah, and just for gatherings, you wouldn't be able to put people out on the stone.
Mmm-hmm, it really would be confined to this patio area,
which doesn't have that much space.
It's a little small, I feel like there's just kind of this area
and then two bedrooms.
I was really hoping to find a three bedroom.
I disagree, I think that there's a lot of space,
still small enough where it's energy efficient, you could host a lot.
[Ellen] It is low maintenance.
Maybe, I don't know, I'm not sold yet.
I love that we're looking at a house closer to Savannah.
It's not super convenient for having to commute to Statesboro.
It's newer, looks like it's a three bedroom, three bath,
which I'm very excited about, that's exactly what I wanted.
Two stories.
Oh, my gosh, I love this porch swing.
I like the swing too and the porch...
Like, the matching chairs up there. Love the fan.
- [Jenny] Hey. - Hello.
[Jenny] This one is really special for the Savannah market.
I know it's a little further away than Statesboro.
It is, yes.
With the price at almost $190,000, it's, you know, not ideal.
[Veronica] But it looks really good just from the outside
and I'm really excited to see it.
Statesboro has a very limited inventory,
where Savannah has more options.
Ellen could have two roommates here
that are gonna pay more than they would in Statesboro, at least $650 a month.
That are gonna pay more than they would in Statesboro, at least $650 a month.
That'll definitely offset the cost of the mortgage.
- [Veronica] Oh, my gosh, I love this. - [Ellen] Wow.
Fireplace.
[Ellen] I'm not so hot about that, but I love the accent wall.
This is plenty of space for gatherings.
So you could have, like, intimate game nights around the fire.
[Jenny] And the dining room's, like, right off of the living room
and everything's open just like you were hoping to have.
[Ellen] I do like this honeybee pattern.
- [Jenny] So you would keep it? - I would keep it, yeah.
[Veronica] Oh, my gosh, I am obsessed with this kitchen.
So this is my dream kitchen, all the black, black on black.
It's got an island, which I like more space to prepare things
and greet your guests and interact with them.
And this, it doesn't have a shower.
[Jenny] It's just a half.
- [Ellen] Oh, it's just a half bathroom. - Mmm-Hmm.
But, you know, like, guests, so they don't have to go through someone's bedroom.
I just really wanted one bathroom for every bedroom,
just because I think that's more marketable to renters.
Just because I think that's more marketable to renters.
The backyard, this is how you would get to the backyard here.
[Ellen] There's not really a path here.
[Veronica] But you can put in stone.
This feels like a manageable space.
Plenty of space for, like, cornhole games, bonfire.
[Jenny] Feels like there's enough space for a garden.
So all the bedrooms are upstairs.
[Ellen] Love that.
Carpet, so this will kind of keep the noise down with people going up and down.
It also prevents you from slipping, tripping and dying, which is good.
That's generally a good thing, we like that.
So, the two, um, extra bedrooms are gonna be on this side,
where your bedroom would be on this side.
[Ellen] I like this space, it's a little small,
but I really like the accent wall again.
[Jenny] I know, it's cute.
Are all the bedrooms this size?
Not all the bedrooms are this size, this is the smallest room.
- Oh, okay. - Okay.
- So a roommate that you don't like. - [all laughing]
[Jenny] This is the the bathroom that both of these bedrooms would share.
[Veronica] Okay.
There's some counter space.
And the shower looks really nice too.
It's got a tub, which is good.
[Jenny] This one has its own bathroom.
[Veronica] This is so nice.
[Ellen] I like this a lot. It's very serene.
And you have your own porch.
Okay.
[Veronica] Yeah you can wake up and then just feel like, "Good morning, world."
[Ellen] Good morning, world.
When it's a little cooler, it would be a great spot to study as well.
[Veronica] Oh, and there's a window in the bath too, I love it.
- Two sinks, in case you have a little someone-someone over. - [all laughing]
[Ellen] I don't like that the closet is attached to the bathroom.
And I understand, the humidity from the shower going in can be an issue.
You could always close this off and do a door right there,
coming right in from the bedroom...
- [Ellen] Oh, that's true. - If you didn't want it to be like that.
I think that would minimize the space, but you do you.
Okay.
It's just a little higher than I wanted to spend.
You literally don't have to do anything to this house.
Like, it is perfect.
[Jenny] You'll probably end up paying close to asking here
and that's only gonna be about $100 more a month.
So with the rent being higher, I think it makes sense.
You are convincing me, I love it, but it's such a big commute.
Don't think about it too long, please call me,
because you know the houses are going under contract really quickly right now.
That's true.
[narrator] In this seller's market,
first-time buyer Ellen is going to have to push
past indecisiveness and make some compromises.
[Ellen] I really liked the brick ranch.
At the price of $147,500, that felt really manageable.
Plus it's so close to campus, which means that I could bike and/or walk.
And I really wouldn't have to be driving
and having those emissions every single day.
Yeah, I mean, there was a lot to love about the house,
fireplace, big backyard, but the work.
Are you gonna have the time to maintain that yard
or do that fix-up stuff that you wanted to do?
[Ellen] It did feel a little daunting.
[Veronica] What do you think about the one-story townhome?
[Ellen] I liked it, the space was really open.
And it would be feasible to ride your bike to campus.
[Ellen] But the yard was really lacking for me.
- Right. - It was small.
I think the townhome is something that
would be big enough for entertaining, to have game night and whatnot.
And I know you don't love the yard, but there's zero maintenance with it.
And you don't have to live in this house forever.
[Ellen] I just feel like, with the ways that I've
planned out financially for this house,
I think that two roommates are gonna be best.
[Veronica] I really liked the Southern colonial house.
There was so much to love about that house,
the two stories, the porches, that kitchen, it's move-in ready.
I wasn't sure that I would like a two-story, but it was very functional.
And I just really liked the design elements in there.
The price though, at $189,889, is just a little more than I wanted to spend
and it's so far away from campus.
Hey, but like Jenny said, you would be able to get more in rent
from roommates, the space is great for gatherings.
[doorbell rings]
Brought you a chair.
Well, my chair that you're borrowing.
[Ellen] Well done.
I ended up buying the brick ranch.
It just seemed like the perfect fit
as far as being close to campus,
offering those three bedrooms, having a great big backyard
and the price was just right for me.
It was listed at $147,500 and there were quite a few offers,
so I was able to negotiate to $160,000.
So I was able to negotiate to $160,000.
I just moved in a few days ago,
there is a little bit of work to be done.
Because I did have to spend a little bit more on the house,
than the list price,
I do think I'll probably have to table that for the moment.
I don't quite have enough furniture for us,
but we might sit on the floor/couch combo.
Although the spaces aren't open concept,
it is nice that I can have different activities in different spaces.
[woman] Did that roommate ever get back to you?
The one that you emailed yesterday?
No, well, yeah, she got back to me,
but she's looking for a place with her partner.
So I'm still looking for roommates,
but now that I have some furniture in it,
- I'll be able to advertise it, hopefully. - Yeah.
I think that I'm going to try to ask for $550 per bedroom in rent.
That might be a little bit much for the area,
but it's such a great location that I think that I can probably get that.
[woman] I mean, you can't be good at everything.
[all exclaiming]
[Ellen] It's interesting, I am 24 years old,
I go to grad school full time and also work
and have a lot of different things going on.
And I did it. I'm in my new house and I'm really proud of myself.