Original subtitles

Oh, cooking with gas.

George: That's the stuff I think I could marry.

Narrator: Michael's hoping to buy a house in east atlanta village,

and location's not the only item on his wish list.

Ben: It will hold at least three people.

And my bow ties, I think.

Bar. Hidden bar.

Yeah, definitely a bar.

Michael: I'm gonna put a pool, do my garden.

I could even put a cabana for the pool boy.

Narrator: His friends george and ben are along to keep him grounded.

I really don't like the kitchen.

You could make changes later

to get it to be exactly what you want,

but I think in the short-term, it's fine.

I've been compromising my whole life,

and I've not had gas.

I want gas.

I think it's time not to make any more compromises

and now to have what I want.

[ doorbell rings ]

♪♪

♪♪

hello. Y'all home?

I work in a wonderful industry with whiskey,

one of the oldest known products to sell in the world.

I have been traveling for work

for the past 7 to 10 years, actually, now.

I definitely feel like it's time

for me to put down some roots,

so I'm looking for a house.

Hey, guys. Michael?

I saw your plane was late,

so I threw some stuff in the oven.

Cool. I'll be right down.

Narrator: He recently moved to atlanta from florida

and is temporarily living

with his friend and real estate agent george

and george's partner ben,

who's also helping with the search.

He's very analytical, kind of keeps me grounded

when I'm fluttering around like I do.

Well, I like looking at houses, but I'm also opinionated.

I always say that I don't talk a lot,

but when I do, it's really important.

Since you've been gone for a while,

there have been some new things that popped on the market.

I've been watching the mls, so --

not that I don't mind you living here.

You can live here for the next six months.

That's fine. I don't want to live here.

I do want to inconvenience y'all anymore.

You've done so well for me.

You've been so helpful.

Well, you're certainly welcome,

and I want you to have a nice kitchen like this.

We just have to manage your expectations

as to, you know, be realistic

'cause, you know, east atlanta

is, like, the hottest place in the world right now,

so as long as we can find something

that hits most of your wish list stuff.

Just keep an open mind.

I'm hoping we get out this weekend

to look at some stuff.

I'm gonna have to have a nice kitchen. I know.

I want a gorgeous kitchen in my house, that's for sure,

so -- because I love to cook.

Nothing makes me happier than cooking for a dinner party

and entertaining in my home.

This looks delicious. Ben: It does.

You gonna stand there and look pretty

while we do all the work, that's fine.

That's usually my job.

Narrator: He's hoping for a separate space he can rent out

to help with the mortgage,

as long as the house has good bones.

I like old homes.

I want something that's sturdier.

Bricks and mortar is better than particle board and fluff.

I want old with updated tech.

Like, I want an old house

with all the modern bells and whistles.

Ben: That's the house that I think might end up being

a little over your budget right off the bat.

Maybe some of that stuff, the tech things,

the more modern things,

you might have to add a little bit later.

Michael: Well, I'm trying to stay between $300,000 and $350,000.

George: Yes, which is gonna require a little bit of a miracle.

I definitely think I need something that's move-in ready.

You didn't exactly get the gay design gene.

I did not get the gay design gene. That is true.

And obviously, you're not gonna have this level of luxury

right off the bat that we do. [ chuckles ]

you have to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

if we're seeing properties tomorrow.

Oh, yes.

I'm ready to spread my wings,

put my artwork on the walls, and get my bar built.

I'm sure it's gonna take us a little bit,

but I'm thankful that you've been so patient.

He's had at least three or four clients in 18 years

that have been worse than you that I've seen, so...

All right, I feel better now.

Yeah, you should. A little bit.

That wasn't nice.

I'm not here to be nice.

♪♪

so, this is what I call a wild card.

Ben: Okay. Now, why do we call it that?

Because this is a townhome,

but I think this might be

a really interesting option for you,

particularly because you travel so much.

The hoa maintains the exterior, all the landscaping

and the maintenance of the home and that sort of thing.

It's in your target neighborhood.

The approach is a little unusual

because you come through a parking lot

of a shopping center, grocery store.

Which is good, though, for walkability.

[ laughs ] true.

So, this is the place here. All right.

Ben: So, it's in the middle. We'll have some shared walls.

[ laughs ] it's in the middle, correct.

It is in the middle, just like me.

Just like you.

I really do love the walkability of this house.

We're in an up-and-coming neighborhood,

but I don't think this place is my style, per se.

It's a little bit newer.

It seems very cookie-cutter.

I'm very much a bow tie, mustache kind of guy

with a little character,

so I want my house to match my character.

Something that's newer like this is gonna offer him,

I think, a more carefree lifestyle than an older home.

All right. So, check this out.

Michael: All right.

Feels nice and open when you walk in.

Yeah, and look at the ceiling height.

I like the loft ceiling. You know that.

And as you'll see, this is what we call open concept, right?

Yes. Still feels kind of small.

It is 1,284 square feet, so it's not huge.

Michael: Love the fireplace.

The floors are beautiful.

These are golden oak, which is really nice.

You have a gas fireplace. I do like that.

I love the kitchen...

George: Why don't we go and check it out? ...But I haven't even seen it yet.

Well, let's go check it out. Let's go check it out.

Ben: Oh, cooking with gas.

That's the stuff I think I could marry.

I've been waiting to cook with gas for over 20 years.

I love it.

That is definitely a positive. Ben: It is a beautiful range.

Love all the appliances. The counters are really nice.

And it has a happy sink... George: Has a happy sink.

And a happy sink!

...Which means that you can look outside

while you're doing dishes and not be depressed.

I can definitely see a lot of entertaining happening.

Ben: You could be slinging drinks all over the place

standing right here, but not on the floor.

[ laughs ] that's alcohol abuse.

Right. [ laughs ]

all right.

This is the pantry closet over here.

Oh, good. Lots of space.

With you, liquor bottles, liquor bottle,

lots of liquor bottles. Yeah, where would I put the bar?

That's a good point. Probably...

Probably on a wall space.

...This wall over here? Maybe this wall.

That'd be a good place for it.

So, you have access to the little patio.

I don't know. It's so small.

I like my yard.

Let's just say it's compact.

"it's compact." that's a good way to put it.

I don't have a yard to work with.

I want a yard. I love to play in the garden.

It's very peaceful to me. It kind of helps me relax.

So, you're gonna get the real-deal

"wow" factor master bedroom here.

It's not something you're gonna see

in, like, a house built in the '50s or anything.

How about this? Oh, I do love it.

George: I think this is bigger than the living room

in some places we've looked at.

I can fit a king-size bed in here -- and a couch.

Right. Nice windows. It has good light.

Yeah, I do like the light.

It's also, if you want to check this out,

that's a little storage.

Looks like... Under -- yeah.

It's kind of, like, tucked under the eaves of the attic there.

Oh. Storage is good.

All right. There's one more big feature here.

You ready? Yes.

This is bigger than some city apartments in new york,

just so you know. [ laughing ] yes.

Ben: And it will hold at least three people.

Yes. It will?

And my bow ties, I think.

It's a bit of an odd layout

with the vanity here when you first walk in, but...

Michael: But I love that the toilet has its own room.

That's called a water closet. A water closet.

Oh, I didn't see two vanities.

Being single, I don't, you know...

You don't need it, but maybe someday.

Yeah, maybe someday. Maybe someday.

I do like the bathroom 'cause a tub and a shower

and a water closet --

luxury. What's not to like?

-Luxury. -Okay.

We have two more bedrooms and a bath to check out up here.

This would make a good office.

Light fixture included.

[ laughs ] I like there's three.

I could use one for an office

and still maybe have one for a roommate.

Ben: So, is this the jack and jill?

This is what they call a jack and jill.

The two secondary bedrooms are attached

by the bathroom in the middle.

Loud colors.

I don't mind the color, but... It's kermit green.

...Super loud.

For a second bathroom, it's perfect,

especially to have between the two bedrooms.

This actually would probably make a better office.

Right. It's smaller.

Guess what? You can use either one.

It's your house. You can do whatever you want, you know?

Just the whole rental thing.

For me, I don't want to compromise

with being able to have a rental space

and separate the living spaces. But that's what I want to point out, though.

Your bedroom and bath's over there, private bath.

This person's on the other side of the hall.

There's no shared walls.

They have a private bath. Okay?

It would have to be somebody that you like, still,

because it'd still be close quarters.

I mean, you would be walking around the same space,

not completely separate.

So keep that in mind. Options.

Narrator: The next place they're seeing

does have a separate rental space,

but michael will still have to deal

with the dreaded word "compromise."

910 square feet.

That's only, like, a couple hundred feet bigger

than my apartment in florida.

♪♪

george sent us a new house today to go look at.

Okay.

1954, so it's older, which I think is good

'cause I think older stuff is better.

910 square feet.

It's only, like, a couple hundred feet bigger

than my apartment in florida.

Does that 900-something square feet include a basement?

It does say it has a basement.

Is it rentable? I don't know yet.

That, I couldn't see on the website.

But you like the neighborhood?

Michael: This house is in the ideal location.

It really is in that east atlanta neighborhood

that I've been looking for.

Fits my bow tie and mustache.

It needs a lot of work.

Needs some work, but I think it's cute. I think it's doable.

Looks like they just basically painted it over to sell it.

[ knock on door ]

morning, guys. Hey, george.

Come on in.

George: This one is brand-new on the market.

It is a three-one upstairs,

and then an additional --

this is what I think you'll really like --

there's an additional one-one downstairs

that'd work great as an apartment.

Oh, we wondered if there was a basement.

What'd you think of the outside?

Uh, it's not my favorite.

This is the thing -- at $299,900,

this is a great deal for this part of the neighborhood,

which is really stellar.

The house isn't exactly the style that michael wants.

It's a little bit more of a fixer-upper,

but I think it has a ton of potential.

Location, location, location is extremely important,

and you just don't get any better than this.

George: So, we have a big old heater here.

I don't have central heating and air, or...?

No, you -- yes, there is central heating and air.

Okay. I'm like, 'cause that's a big deal-breaker.

Supplemental.

It's supplemental heat. Exactly. All right.

Ohh.

I really don't like the kitchen. Ben: Really?

It just looks like 1980s, early '90s,

and the cabinets are atrocious.

You know, me being such a big kitchen person,

it's definitely not what I want.

It's not exactly top of the line, no.

I want gas.

You know, like, I've been compromising my whole life,

and I've not had gas, and, again, it doesn't have gas.

It's not your dream kitchen. I get it.

Ben: I know you don't want to do a lot of renovations,

but this is something that you can live in.

You could make changes later to get exactly what you want,

but I think in the short-term, it's fine.

I think I just need something that I can move into now.

If I'm thinking too many things I have to do to the house,

I don't think I'm gonna want it.

That represents maybe in michael a bit of impetuousness.

Everything works fine.

It's not perfect,

but it's not, in any sense, ugly or unusable as it is.

I see a bar here. You want a bar.

Michael: Yeah, I definitely need to have a place for my bar.

Right. This would be great. I have a 750-bottle collection,

so it needs to have someplace...

You could take it up very high.

You could have bottles to the ceiling if you wanted.

Oh, that'd be great.

So, I want to go this way. This is the third bedroom.

This is not a bedroom.

It looks like they've had it as an office.

It is a tiny, tiny room.

So, we have our vintage bath here.

The yellow and the black is really neat.

It's great. It's very georgia-themed.

I think it's very you.

It's kind of vintage, which I like,

that mid-century, 1950s.

It's not huge, but I think it would be serviceable,

and I think it would work,

which is kind of the same thing you would say about the bedroom.

This is the secondary bedroom.

Michael: This is tiny!

Well...

This would be a guest room, probably.

This would be a guest room,

and this is the size the bedrooms were

of the era of this house.

So, how's the closet space?

Once again, pretty standard for a house built in 1954.

Did not have a ton of clothes.

Are you trying to set me -- oh, my. It's tiny.

All right, let's see the master.

I hope it's bigger than this one.

Oh, it's as big as the last one.

Oh, again... The closet's the same.

...Same size tiny closet.

I don't know about this. It's almost too small.

Stairs are weird.

They're a little narrow.

Now, like the sign says, "watch your head."

how small do I have to be to come in here? All right.

George: What's interesting about this is it's split in two,

so it's something you have to keep in mind.

You have, like, a sleeping and living area on this side,

bathroom and laundry on this side.

So, that's your current access to the backyard.

I don't have any access besides that to get outside?

No, so that's something you have to think about

in terms of rental.

I don't think I like that.

I really want to be able to have access to outside.

I'd have to build a deck or an exit from my top property

so that I don't have to go through the rental unit.

That's a big deal.

George: This is one of the really nice features of this home.

It has a super deep lot.

It's almost 250 deep,

but see, with the different tiered levels, like,

you could put a nice garden area here, I think, michael.

Michael: Oh, yeah. I love the trees.

I'm thinking gazebos, hot tubs, all sorts of things.

Oh, yeah, I think so.

My very favorite thing about this house is the neighborhood.

It's small, it's quaint, it's walkable, it's quirky.

I have a yard with nature in the middle of the city,

which is super rare.

So I kind of really like that about this house.

I really think he needs to seriously consider this place

because so few options

have the rental thing that he really wants.

I think everything's super small.

Like, the rooms are so small. I'm just not used to that.

-It's a grandma house. -Yep. Right.

[ sighs ] well, the kitchen definitely has got to go.

I don't think it has to go, not short-term.

Narrator: Since michael didn't like that kitchen,

they're heading to a place with a more updated one,

but it's in a less than ideal location.

Okay, so, we're going to a little bit

of a different neighborhood today.

It's a little bit further south

than you wanted to be, michael,

but this -- the further out you go,

as it is in many cases, the more house you can buy.

[ doorbell rings ]

♪♪

okay, so we're going to a little bit

of a different neighborhood today.

It's kind of on the border

of east atlanta and gresham park.

It's a little bit further south

than you wanted to be, michael,

but this -- the further out you go,

as it is in many cases, the more house you can buy.

This is, like, some neighborhood in any suburban area --

does not feel like atlanta.

They're calling this neighborhood y'allywood, right?

So this is where all the crew and the film crews come

from all the stuff happening in atlanta?

Yeah, the -- the -- a lot of the studios are down south,

so there are a good many film people that live here.

So, this house is built in '57.

Michael: I really like the older houses.

Again, we talked about age

being that they were built better back then,

so they make for better bones.

Wow. It's nice.

George: I think the house has got a lot of curb appeal.

Yeah, I like the clean lines, and definitely bright.

You have a little half carport here, as well.

Michael: I like the aesthetic.

It's definitely been fixed,

like that cliché fixer-upper refurbished wood look.

It was originally a mid-century modern ranch,

a red brick, and they've changed --

there was, like, wrought-iron details.

They've changed out to the wood. They've painted it.

They've really given it more of a modern look.

But I think you'll really like the inside.

They've opened up the floor plan,

done a lot of interesting detail work, so...

I like all the lipstick they've added.

Yeah.

Wow. Very nice.

Michael: It smells like a new car.

George: Basically all brand-new.

This was probably originally several different rooms.

There was probably a wall here, and that was the kitchen,

probably another wall here.

It's been pretty extensively renovated.

Barn doors. Love the barn doors, of course.

George: Convenient pantry area there.

Oh, that's a pantry? I think so.

Go check it out. [ scoffs ]

that's a weird place to put a pantry.

Oh, wow! Okay.

It's a big storage area.

It's kind of an unusual place to put the closet, but...

Ben: Bar. Hidden bar.

Yeah, definitely a bar.

Wow. Look at that stove.

That's lovely.

It's not as lovely --

you're not gonna marry this one. No.

I like the contrast

between the dark floors and the light,

and it looks like they've done --

what did you call it, herringbone?

That's herringbone pattern there.

I think compared to some of the kitchens we've seen that --

a lot of, like, 10 years ago,

it was all the dark cabinets, the darker granite.

This is much more cheerful with the white.

Yeah, I'm seeing the bells and the whistles.

But if this were close to the village,

it would be substantially more. It would be probably $50,000 more.

As it's so nice, I'm waiting for the --

what doesn't fit my list?

It does not have any kind of rental unit. Oh.

The short-term rental is kind of necessary for me.

I think there are still some compromises being made here.

Oh, I love it.

It's big. Lots of space.

And the deck is really large and nice.

Built-in deck.

I'm gonna put a pool, do my garden.

I could even put a cabana for the pool boy.

George: [ laughs ]

all right, so, the bedrooms?

Yeah, the secondary bedroom's on your left here.

I love how the floors go throughout the house.

Ben: This is probably guest/roommate bedroom.

Michael: I could fit a queen-size bed in here.

George: It's a decent size. Have a nice-size closet there.

Oh, man, again with the closets.

If you put better storage stuff in here, it'd be fine.

Oh, look at the bathroom.

Glamour. Ugh.

I like the tilework.

It's kind of cheerful. Oh, there's not a barn door...

There is a new -- there is a barn door.

They're taking barn doors to a whole new level.

We have a barn door on the cabinet.

A whole new very low level.

I like it.

Okay. Still, not too small.

I think maybe a little smaller than the other one,

but this would be an office, I would say. Yeah.

Again, with the rental situation,

having somebody across the hall...

Even a roommate situation might be a little bit difficult.

You know, with these kind of houses,

all three bedrooms are shoved at the end of the hallway,

so it may just be too closed quarters

for that kind of situation that he wants.

George: So, this is the master.

All right. Of course, I go to the closet, first thing.

It's probably exactly the same.

This one actually has been updated a little bit.

Yeah, you probably want to add some more shelving to it.

But still, man, closets in older homes.

George: You could have a bigger bed here.

Definitely, I could fit a king-size bed

in here for a king. You can.

Fit for a king.

This is a larger-than-normal master for a home of this era.

Oh, gosh. The shower is pretty.

Ben: It is. It is.

I like that rain head coming from the top.

Double vanity.

Michael: They've definitely updated it

to make it a more modern feel, and I really like that.

The bone structure of these houses is much older.

Seems like they'll be here in 100 years.

The new builds, some of these houses

just feel like the wind will blow them over.

This house feels solid.

But, again, with usable space, I need to have something

with a roommate ready or have a rental unit.

But there's so many good things about this house

that I still am on the fence.

It's really not the area that he wanted to be in,

but this is the classic trade-off

that michael would make, as many buyers face,

of location versus home.

♪♪

we're gonna compare,

and when you do comparative tastings,

it's the easiest way to learn about the whiskey.

Okay.

So, we have three different whiskeys here,

but all are bourbons.

Ben: This one's darker.

Small sips to acclimate your mouth

to the straight spirit.

[ smacks lips ] hmm.

Narrator: Michael's been living with his friends

ben and george, who's also his agent,

while he looks for a home.

I think it's probably time to start talking about houses.

I know that I've been overstaying my welcome, so...

You noticed the luggage on the front porch, huh?

Yeah, I put it there. I'm ready to go.

[ laughter ]

what about the townhouse?

It had the big open concept. It had a really nice kitchen.

It had the stove that I was quite fond of. Best price.

Close to the east atlanta neighborhood, too.

It would be less upkeep. Low maintenance.

Very low maintenance.

Teeny little yard, but a yard.

And it was still ready.

I could move in, like, right away.

It was definitely move-in ready.

And it did have some rental or roommate possibilities,

but a bit more of a stretch than some of the other other places.

So, there's the one that I call the grandma house.

And that home had probably one of the better rental situations.

It had a finished basement.

Also the closest to east atlanta village.

Another thing to keep in mind is that had the biggest lot.

The kitchen was weird, right?

The house itself has... I would not say that.

It has potential. We talked about cooking with gas.

That's the one that might need the most work

to get it to where you want it to be.

And then we have, actually, the flip.

Further away from the village, but it had a nice yard.

As a rental/roommate option,

it was probably the least optimal.

But it had all the bells and whistles.

That one is... That was move-in ready.

...Move-in ready. Right.

And the highest price, too. And the highest price.

♪♪

and alcohol helps to lower my inhibitions...

Maybe we should pour them all into a glass

and make a cocktail.

[ laughing ] yeah. That would help, too.

And then make your final decision.

Then make my final decision?

[ doorbell rings ]

oh, my gosh. Oh, it's not so bad.

They left it for us, but, god, it's beautiful.

I picked the grandma house.

I closed about a month ago, got the keys,

and was excited to start moving in.

The vintage bones of this place just called my name.

The yard is amazing.

Almost. Almost?

Yeah, lift your end a bit.

All right.

There we go.

Not quite.

The house was listed at $299,900,

and ended up paying $299,000 even,

so $900 discount.

They helped me on the closing costs.

It was super nice.

Thought this was easy.

Well, is it not good?

[ laughs ] it's a little wonky, I think.

All right! Ta-da.

There were a few "c" words, meaning compromises.

The kitchen needs a lot of work.

I want to cook with a gas stove.

I don't have a gas stove.

I want to be able to finish the rental unit

to make it a complete apartment,

so I've decided to take on a roommate for the next year.

We're gonna have to share some space

until I get downstairs built out with a kitchen.

Face. Face!

[ laughs ] all right.

That's your first performance, your debut performance...

Yes!

...In your new home. I love it.

When they gave me the keys, I drove over immediately,

took it all in before I even opened the door.

I opened the door, and you know what?

Of course, I did a happy dance and ran around a little bit.

May have been clothing optional. I don't know.