Frugal Newlyweds Hunt for the Best Deal in Orlando - House Hunters Full Episode Recap | HGTV

Summary

Puja and Prag are a newlywed couple living in Orlando, seeking a larger home to accommodate their growing family. After a lavish wedding, they face the challenge of finding a spacious property within their budget, balancing their needs for square footage, a nice kitchen, and a yard. Despite differing opinions—Prag wants a gated community and smaller yard, while Puja prioritizes space for family— they explore various homes. Their final decision is a home requiring renovations but offering great potential, which they excitedly begin transforming with the help of a professional. The house, though not perfect, represents their dream home with room for their future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Puja and Prague are a married couple living in Orlando, Florida, both with busy careers (Puja as a pharmacist and Prague as an analyst).
• 😀 They had a lavish 3-day Indian wedding 5 months ago, with humorous comments about their frugality during the event.
• 😀 Family is very important to them, but their current apartment lacks space for hosting large gatherings. They plan to start a family soon.
• 😀 They are searching for a new home with at least 3-4 bedrooms, 2-3 baths, and a spacious kitchen, ideally in suburban Orlando, with a budget under $300,000.
• 😀 One key point of disagreement is the yard size – Prague prefers a small yard, while Puja enjoys a bigger one for family activities.
• 😀 They are both seeking a move-in ready home, with Prague admitting to not having much experience with DIY or home repairs.
• 😀 They toured several properties, including a gated community home listed at $315,000 but with a small kitchen and a larger yard than Prague wanted.
• 😀 A second home, a foreclosure priced at $255,000, needs significant work but offers a spacious layout, large living areas, and a golf course view.
• 😀 The couple also explored a third home with a pool and a spacious yard, listed at $339,000, but they were concerned about the pool's maintenance.
• 😀 After considering all their options, they decided on the foreclosure home, offering a lower price despite needing renovations, with plans to renovate and make the house their own.

Q & A

What was the main reason Puja and Porag decided to look for a new home?

Puja and Porag decided to look for a new home because they had a small apartment and a growing family, and they lacked space to entertain their large extended family.

What are the two main features Porag and Puja want in their new home?

They want a larger home with more square footage, ideally around 2400 square feet, and they are looking for a two-story house with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

How did Puja and Porag handle their wedding expenses?

Puja and Porag were jokingly considered to be the 'cheapest people' by others during their wedding. They had a lavish 3-day Indian wedding, but also used a coupon on their first date, highlighting their interest in finding good deals.

What is Porag’s stance on yard maintenance?

Porag doesn't want a large yard and is particularly not fond of mowing the lawn. He prefers a smaller yard to avoid maintenance tasks.

What concerns does Puja have regarding the kitchen in the homes they are viewing?

Puja is concerned that the kitchens in the homes they are viewing may not have enough counter space, especially for cooking traditional Indian meals.

What was their opinion on the house with the larger yard and higher price of $315,000?

While they liked the large yard and the beautiful neighborhood, they were concerned about the price being above their budget. Additionally, the house did not meet all their preferences, such as the kitchen lacking granite countertops.

How did Porag feel about the bank-owned home listed for $255,000?

Porag was intrigued by the low price of the bank-owned home, but was concerned about the amount of work it would require. He also disliked the poor landscaping and other maintenance issues.

What did Puja and Porag like about the home with the pool and large yard priced at $339,000?

Puja and Porag liked the updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, the beautiful master bathroom, and the short commute to work. However, they were concerned about the maintenance of the pool and the large yard.

Which home did they decide to move forward with, and why?

They decided to move forward with the bank-owned foreclosure home listed at $255,000, despite needing renovations. They liked the space, and the price was within their budget, even though they had to pay a little more in bidding.

What does the phrase 'house shopping is like a sport' mean in the context of this story?

Porag compared the excitement of finding a good deal on a home to the thrill of a sport. He felt adrenaline rushes when they found a property that seemed like a great deal, showing how much enjoyment they found in the house-hunting process.