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Are you sure they won't bite?
No, no.
(Narrator) Chi has an appetite for all things African...
It was very much of an obsession.
Have you ever gotten bitten?
Quite a few times.
Have you?
So she ditched a dream job in the U.S.
to pursue her passion.
I found the perfect opportunity in Johannesburg, South Africa,
and decided to go for it.
Hello, class.
Hi.
But with the help of a friend,
she's learning the real estate market is a jungle.
Can we talk about the elephant in the room?
(elephant trumpets)
You could see your neighbor using the bathroom.
Can her budget...
Does it come with all of this?
Furnish her desires?
It's going for $1,500 U.S. dollars.
Ooh.
Find out when "House Hunters International"
I think I'm ready to pet one.
sinks its teeth into Johannesburg, South Africa.
Oh Lord, have mercy.
(doorbell rings)
Closed Captions Provided by Scripps Networks, LLC
(car honking)
How's it going?
Chi led a charmed life in Massachusetts...
In Cambridge I worked as an account strategist
for a major technology company and search engine.
It was a job that most people would dream of,
especially coming right out of college.
But she sensed something wasn't right.
I realized that it wasn't necessarily something that I was passionate about.
I was born in Nigeria and I've wanted to work in Africa for awhile.
So, Chi chased her passion 8,000 miles to Johannesburg, South Africa,
taking a job in education.
Oh, it's so good to see you guys, how's it going?
My new role is more aligned with what I want to do.
I'll be working to identify young entrepreneurs in Africa.
Are you guys applying for college and stuff like that?
Yeah.
I was very fortunate to be given the option to live on campus
shortly after arriving.
However, I'm looking forward to finding my own place.
I'm not really sure what to expect.
That'd be great-- I definitely want to be near young people.
Ginika will be joining Chi's home hunt,
schooling her friend on the realities of renting in Jo-burg.
If Chi isn't able to find a place, she may need
to stay a little longer at her dormitory.
And she won't have her privacy,
and won't really be able to experience Johannesburg.
How's it going?
Good, good.
Doing well, life is good.
What I'll miss the most about my life in the states
is certainly my friends and family.
It'll be very difficult to live so far away from them.
Johannesburg is one of the most prosperous cities
in South Africa.
Its gold and mining industries attract business and people
from all over Africa and around the world.
With the largest population in the country,
residents of Jo-burg are always on the move,
whether it's for work, or to hit the newest restaurant or night spot.
And the city's real estate market is equally fast-paced.
The rental market is very good in this area,
in and around this area-- in fact, we don't have enough
rental homes to rent out.
Oh, there's the place.
Hi.
Hello.
So what are your must-haves?
Ideally, I'm looking for a 2-bedroom apartment...
Hmm-mm.
fully furnished,
Lots of natural light.
I love waking up to the sun, so I'd like a place that's a bit elevated,
hopefully with a view, with a balcony would be great.
It'd be great if it was close to work.
Okay, so what sort of budget are you working with?
It's a bit ambitious, but it's $1,200 for a 2-bedroom.
Is that realistic?
It's kind of hard to work with,
but it's not impossible-- we'll see what we can do.
You don't generally find 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartments
in the price range of $1,200 U.S. dollars,
especially if it's fully furnished.
Giving Chi her first lesson on Jo-burg renting,
Natasha starts small, bringing the ladies to a 2-bed, 1-bath home
that's below budget and only 9 miles from her work.
Okay, this one is going for $790 U.S. dollars a month.
That's great.
Yeah, it is.
But I have to let you know it's not furnished,
but it's worth having a look at.
If you've got money left over, maybe you could furnish it yourself...
Would that work for you?
That could work.
This is it!
Wow!
Oh, wow.
Stairs right off the bat.
The first thing I saw when I opened up the door was a steep staircase.
It doesn't really make for a great first impression.
Wow!
This is a great space.
I love the fact that there are hardwood floors.
Yeah.
And this will be your calm down space area.
The kitchen is not bad.
And then you've got space for two appliances...
a washing machine and a dishwasher.
(Ginika) I think Chi loves this kitchen.
In my opinion, it's the ideal entertaining kitchen.
Wow!
There is a lot of natural light.
There's space here for a nice comfortable table.
What is that noise?
That's the gate.
Um, that gate can be oiled, it's a very minor problem.
Will I always hear cars coming in and out?
Once your balcony door is closed, you won't hear them at all.
Not ideal.
Now this is the larger of the two bedrooms.
Wow, okay.
Would I be able to fit a queen size bed?
Yes, you'll be able to fit one.
Okay.
Where?
You'd position it from this side.
Oh, I see.
Because you also need your plug points.
And you need to be able to open your cupboards.
Yeah, I do like the fact that there is a lot of natural light
coming from this window.
Yes, there is.
This is the full bathroom, shared by both bedrooms.
Ah, I see.
It's a bit tight but it's great that there's a bathtub and a shower.
But the cupboard space is very small.
It is.
I think Ginika and Chi are still in two minds...
They're not quite sure what they want right now.
Now this is the second bedroom.
Wow, it is a bit smaller than the other one.
Um, yeah, it's smaller-- but you can have your desk
and you can have your sleeper couch and keep it simple and fresh.
Yeah.
But the view-- I can see right into the next door neighbor's backyard.
I couldn't really tell the difference between
the master bedroom and the guest bedroom.
They both seemed about the same size and that's small.
I think it has a lot of potential.
Although it's unfurnished, I love the fact that it's well under my budget.
And so I can repurpose that money
and really style it according to my taste.
Yeah, yeah.
And it has a lot of elements that you like, like the natural light.
Absolutely.
And the balcony as well.
That's true-- but the rooms are a bit small
and there is a bit of a noise issue as well.
Yeah, back gates.
So that is something that I'll really have to think about.
This apartment has a lot of potential--
it's way under my budget, but it is unfurnished,
and the fact that it overlooks the security gate left a lot to be desired.
Natasha finds a place that's tastefully furnished,
but tight.
It's 2-bedrooms, 1-bathroom,
and it's 750 square foot.
That's a bit small.
(Chi gasps) Oh, Ginika, this is great.
So this is the craft market, wow!
This is the craft market.
(Narrator) Whether it's ceramics, woodcarvings, artwork,
or jewelry, Johannesburg markets are the perfect place
to find something uniquely South African.
These are called Ndebele dolls.
Ndebele is one of the tribes of South Africa and they are handmade.
It's very cool to be in such a city that is so culturally diverse.
Ginika, what do you think about this?
That is so beautiful.
How much is this?
Uh, this one is 1,200.
Maybe we can try negotiating... 750.
Think about it.
Okay, let's do 750.
Great, you have yourself a deal.
Perfect.
Yes, thank you.
Longing to live and work in Africa,
Chi gave up a lucrative job in the U.S.
for a teaching position in Johannesburg.
Hello, class.
(All) Hi.
And before she can dump dorm life,
she must learn the realities of the rental market.
What is that noise?
That's the gate.
It's a bit tight-- I can see right into the next door neighbor's backyard.
With the help of her friend and Jo-burg vet Ginika,
Chi's cramming to find a 2-bedroom home that's close to work
and preferably furnished.
When you said unfurnished, you weren't kidding.
(Natasha) They're not quite sure what they want right now.
For House 2, Natasha finds a furnished home with bigger bedrooms.
The trade-off?
$100 over budget and a longer commute.
How many bedrooms and how large is it?
2-bedrooms, 1-bathroom, and it's 750 square foot.
It's this one over here-- let's have a look.
You've got your open-plan kitchen...
This is nice.
Your living room right here.
I love this couch.
Will it come with this?
Yes.
Everything you see right here, this is what it comes with.
I love the fact that it's move-in ready.
And the furnishing was well done,
it's certainly my style.
I love the open floor plan and I can just go straight into the kitchen.
Yes, great for entertaining.
This kitchen comes with a fridge, a washer and dryer,
and you even have a nice hood.
That's great.
That's nice.
And there's a decent amount of counter space for cooking.
Yes, it's great.
And you can put barstools.
There isn't space for a dining table, but I could make this work.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Now this is your master bedroom.
Wow, it's a great amount of space.
I love the fact there's a lot of natural light
and room for a queen-sized bed.
So the master bedroom was a good size.
I like the fact that it's not too far from the living room,
but yet, it still has its own separate space.
Now here we have the full bathroom.
It's not a bad size-- it's kind of lacking in character,
and I don't see much storage space--
I don't think I can fit all my makeup in this.
It is missing an additional bathroom,
which would have been nice to have.
Now here we have our second bedroom.
Not bad, it's a bit small.
It has a cozy feel to it.
Whew, but...
Could we talk about the elephant in the room?
I think this might be a problem.
Will this be here or is it just being stored away here?
You can place it on the balcony.
There was that hideous dryer in the guest bedroom,
I'm not really sure what I would do with that.
Now right here, you have your balcony.
Ah, I love this!
Oh, and is that what I think it is?
Yes.
This unit actually comes with a built in barbecue.
Ah, this is great-- I can see myself entertaining in this space.
That's nice.
I can also use this as a bar.
Yes, you can.
Granite outside, that's a great add-on.
I don't think you want to be looking at your neighbors...
I don't-- I think it's a bit close,
and there isn't much of a view-- there's essentially a view of the parking lot.
You could see your neighbor using the bathroom.
Not a good thought.
That actually isn't a bathroom, it's a kitchen.
I think the apartment has good bones.
Fully furnished-- it was over budget.
And, I'm not a fan of the dryer in the guest bedroom.
And also, the balcony overlooks the neighbors.
It's great that the apartment is fully furnished,
but it's still slightly above my budget.
Also, it's the furthest away from my work--
especially considering the fact that I don't drive,
I'm not sure how my commute will be in the morning.
Natasha cuts the commute...
But at what cost?
Now, this particular apartment is fully furnished,
it's got 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
it's 900 square feet-- it's going for $1,500 U.S. dollars.
Ooh.
Hello.
Hi, hello.
Chi and Ginika take a break from the rental market
and get to know Soweto, a group of townships
in southwest Johannesburg.
Infused with the history and struggle of apartheid,
Soweto was once home to social rights activists
Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.
What was it like during the era of apartheid?
Since landing a teaching job, Chi is keen to learn more about the country,
and find an affordable 2-bedroom apartment
that will help her feel at home in her new life.
I'm looking forward to having an apartment
similar to what I had in the States.
But with a flood of professionals arriving in Johannesburg every day,
a good property is tough to score.
What is that noise?
That's the gate!
Not bad, it's a bit small.
You can see right into the next door neighbor's backyard.
And if Chi can't find a place soon,
she'll be destined to dorm life forever.
But the cupboard space is very small.
It is.
Although House 2's size and layout made the grade...
I love the open floor plan and that I can just go
straight into the kitchen.
Oh wow, it's a great amount of space.
It failed to get top marks.
It's the furthest away from my work,
I'm not sure how my commute will be in the morning.
I don't think you want to be looking at your neighbors...
I don't.
There's essentially a view of the parking lot.
Could we talk about the elephant in the room?
This might be a problem.
Natasha pulls out all the stops with House 3.
A large, nicely decorated 2-bed, 2-bath home
that's close to Chi's workplace.
And how much is it?
It's going for $1,500 U.S. dollars.
Ooh. It's a bit above my budget.
It's your very high-end one.
I thought I had to show you so that you could get an idea
of what we offer in that price range.
Here we go, this is it.
(Chi laughing) Wow-- I really like this place.
Great, I like the sound of that.
Open plan.
Open plan, indeed.
Wow, I can't believe this is a rental.
I thought of it because, you know,
it really suits your profile.
Definitely.
And it's so spacious.
Very spacious.
Like, does it come with all of this?
Yes it does.
This is awesome.
I thought the apartment was beautiful, beautifully furnished,
a great amount of space.
I have to say I'm a little underwhelmed...
I love the fact that there is a washer and dryer...
Yes?
Just don't know if I like the fact that it's in the kitchen.
Well, because of the size, everything has to be in this area.
Okay.
I think the kitchen was all right.
There could have been more counter space.
Fantastic, huge balcony, a lot of space here.
What do you think?
I like.
And it's nice and serene-- I love that I can hear the birds chirping.
I can totally see myself drinking coffee in the morning.
Let's have a look at the rest of the apartment.
Great.
Now here we have the main bedroom.
Wow.
Oh, I love the fact that it has a lot of natural light.
Yes it does.
Oh and there's an amazing amount of closet space.
Exactly.
Natasha, is this another closet?
No, not at all-- in fact, it's a bathroom.
(gasps) This is very small.
I think it could be a bit larger.
However, I love the fact that I can just hop out of bed,
and into the shower.
That's a plus.
(Natasha) This is the second bedroom.
(Ginika) Oh, la, la-- I like it.
I love this desk.
This would make the perfect study.
And it'd also make a great guestroom.
Whoever decorated this place did a brilliant job.
Now this is the other bathroom.
Oh, not bad... it's bigger than the other one.
Yes it is.
I love the fact that there's a basin sink.
And, it's got storage-- that's good.
That's very important.
Great.
Great, I'm glad it works for you.
I love the decor-- a lot of vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces...
En suite bathroom, great balcony.
I think the location is great.
It's close to work, but it's still $300 slightly above my budget.
All in all, I think she could manage if she pushes.
She just has to be really wise with her money.
I think it has potential.
I loved the decor.
Although we have the unfurnished apartment
that's so far below budget that I could style it
any way I wanted.
Oh wow, so this is the lion park.
With aspirations of working in Africa,
Chi left a predictable life in the U.S.
to take a chance on Johannesburg.
Oh, aren't they cute?
Stay away from me.
Look at that.
Huge teeth.
The adults' canines get to about the size of my pinky finger.
They get really big.
Have you ever gotten bitten?
Ay, quite a few times.
Have you?
Come scratch her belly here.
Okay, right here?
Yeah, nice and hard.
Oh!
Just like that.
With the help of her friend, Ginika,
Chi's discovering it's eat or be eaten,
finding a 2-bedroom apartment near work
for $1,200 a month.
I'm a little underwhelmed.
You can see right into the next door neighbor's backyard.
At just over $400 under budget,
House 1's sticker price makes it a steal.
This one is going for $790 U.S. dollars a month.
That's great. This is a great space.
It's great that there's a bathtub and a shower.
But it has no frills.
It's not furnished.
Will I always hear cars coming in and out?
It's a bit tight.
House 2's spacious rooms and furnishings enchant Chi.
It's a great amount of space.
I love the open floor plan and that I can just go straight into the kitchen.
But the commute is a haul and there are a few flaws.
(Natasha) The price is a bit over her budget.
There's essentially a view of the parking lot.
Will this be here?
I don't see much storage space-- I don't think I can fit all my makeup in this.
House 3's fine furniture and overall sophistication...
Wow!
Offers an elegance the competition lacks.
I love that I can hear the birds chirping.
This would make the perfect study,
and it'd also make a great guestroom.
But the perks come with a heavy price.
And how much is it?
It's going for $1,500 U.S. dollars.
Ooh.
♪
We have to rule out one.
What apartment are you thinking of ruling out?
Right off the bat, I'm thinking we have to cross off
the most expensive apartment from the list.
While it was beautiful, it's so over budget.
And you also need to try and save
since you're still new to Johannesburg.
I don't think I could afford it.
So, Chi, is it the unfurnished property,
that is way under budget,
or furnished and a bit over your budget?
What a tough decision.
House number 1?
The balcony was overlooking the security gate.
Yeah-- But it had the natural light
you were looking for.
Absolutely.
And it's so far below budget that I could virtually do
anything I wanted with this space.
How about property number 2?
It was so far to work and I'm really not a big fan of the dryer
in the guest bedroom.
That was odd.
And it was over budget.
So which one are you going to go for?
We really need to make a decision now.
Hmm.
Which one are you leaning towards?
Well, the decor was gorgeous.
Gotta go with the furnished.
That's great!
Favoring move-in ready, Chi goes the extra mile
and chooses House 2.
(Chi) I absolutely love life in Johannesburg.
I feel like there's a bit of a more relaxed culture here.
Beautiful weather, I love my job,
and I feel like whenever I come home,
it's a little getaway.
I love having tea out on the balcony.
I really enjoy cooking and so it's nice to finally have
a kitchen of my own,
where I'm able to prepare the food that I enjoy,
and also have friends over and chat with them while I cook.
Hey, guys... snacks are served.
I've met a great group of people here.
I gotta tell you guys, I love Nigerian hip-hop.
Aw, yeah.
I'm the first person in my family to move halfway across the world,
and so I have a ton of family and friends that are
really excited about visiting me in Jo-burg.
And it's nice to know that I have a spare bedroom
for all of them to stay in.
Welcome to Jo-burg, to the new beginning.
Whoo-hoo, life in Jo-burg.
Honestly, I don't think I could have picked a better apartment for me.