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TOM: How am I gonna get my car in the garage?
NARRATOR: Shaun's parents want him and his stuff
out of their weekend house in Wilmington, North Carolina.
A lot of stuff.
A lot of stuff.
But since Shaun's very picky,
he won't move until he finds a home
that's up to his exacting standards.
I really like this archway.
I don't know. I'm kind of confused by it.
KELLIE: The backsplash really goes with these cabinets.
Yeah, they're kind of girly cabinets.
Can his sister get him to compromise?
You don't want to concede.
That's part of the problem.
[ Doorbell rings ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Shaun, a bank manager and triathlete,
lives in Wilmington, North Carolina,
with his cat, Sammy.
I'm originally from Charlotte,
and I came here on a swimming scholarship
when I was in college.
I'm very active, I enjoy doing triathlons,
and I'm always training --
either outside running, swimming, or biking --
and this is definitely the place I want to be.
Currently, I am living with my parents
at their second home here in Wilmington.
I recently sold my old home
that I lived in for nine years.
It was a starter home, and in Wilmington,
you find a lot of houses that are just --
they knock down the trees, and they throw up a house.
You don't have much property,
you don't have too much character.
The reason that I decided to sell that one
is to find something that had trees, character,
and a little bit of property.
My parents aren't here full-time,
but they do come down every weekend
or at least every other weekend.
All my stuff is stored within their garage, their closets,
and it's not scattered too much throughout the house,
but I know that they're probably ready for me to get it out.
I'm ready to get my bedroom back
and my bed and my bathtub and my closet.
A lot of stuff.
TOM: A lot of stuff.
NARRATOR: Shaun's looking for a three-bedroom home
not far from his parents' place.
Traditional house is definitely what I'm going for,
and even more so is the craftsman-style houses
just because they do have a lot of those moldings added on.
They have the nice window casings.
That's that little extra bit of character
that I'm looking for.
I do like hardwood floors.
The kitchen -- definitely updated with the granite,
and I do enjoy the stainless-steel appliances.
And the main thing is a fireplace.
I don't care if it's wood-burning
or if it's a gas fireplace.
I do want that fireplace.
This can seat up to nine people.
I need a big house for this table.
SIMONE: You'll have to buy a big house for that table.
NARRATOR: He'd also like an open floor plan
with plenty of space to entertain.
I'm definitely looking for a home that's gonna have
a large enough space for me to have a nice dining room table.
I want that to be something that I have
that people coming in my house will say,
"Wow! That's a nice table!"
NARRATOR: Trees and enough space for his favorite lawn game
are a must.
So, my dad makes these boards called "cornhole boards."
It's basically a beanbag toss game.
Simple, easy game.
It's definitely a lot of fun.
My budget on a home is in
the $220,000 to $230,000 range right now.
One...two, three!
[ Both laughing ]
Whatever, cheater!
SHAUN: So, in my home search,
I'm including my sister, Kellie.
Kellie has lived with me for a few years
back in her college days,
so she knows what I'm looking for in a house
and knows my little quirks
and conditions of living, I guess I would say.
I hope to help Shaun
stay grounded, stay realistic.
Shaun's biggest challenge is going to be
staying within his budget.
I know he has big aspirations.
You don't want to concede.
That's part of the problem.
You want everything.
That's a big word.
[ Both laugh ]
"High maintenance" might be a bit strong to describe Shaun.
I would say he's a man that knows what he wants.
He might have to give a little,
or he might get lucky and find exactly what he wants,
but he definitely has high expectations
for the price point that he's looking at.
Yeah.
Very nice.
KELLIE: Hey, Jo El.
Hey, how are y'all doing this morning?
Good. How are you doing?
Doing good.
Yeah.
NARRATOR: Today, Jo El is showing them a home
in historic downtown Wilmington.
JO EL: This is a 1931 colonial.
But it's been redone,
and it's a great price at $220,000.
So, the location's good,
you're close to downtown and all the nightlife of downtown.
Oh, this is great!
Look at the fireplace.
That's a cute fireplace.
Do you think that works?
As far as I know, it does.
I would definitely recommend getting a chimney inspection
because of the age of the house before you lit a fire.
Okay.
Well, these floors are great, too.
Yeah, I like them.
What kind of floors do you think those are?
They look like pine.
Lots of charm in here.
[ Gasps ] Look at the ceiling in here!
That's awesome!
This is a great room.
Yeah, I do. It's huge!
You could put a huge table in this room.
You could fit table and furniture in here.
And it's just nice -- open to the living room
with these cool French doors in here.
Wow, did you see this?
Look at the handle.
KELLIE: Oh, you know I love a glass ***.
Yeah, she would love these.
This is great, original character.
And they have opened it up to the kitchen.
I'm sure this was just a solid wall at one point.
Wow!
Yeah, the backsplash really goes with these cabinets.
Yeah, they're kind of girly cabinets.
But it really adds a little bit of,
you know, character -- a little flair.
I think I'd prefer something darker.
This room used to be a porch.
There's a water heater in the middle of the porch.
That's a lovely focal point there.
JO EL: I think it's really used mainly for storage.
You don't have a garage in this house.
I am concerned that it will collect a lot of clutter,
and you won't be able to walk through the house
to the backyard.
KELLIE: He likes to keep things a little bit neat and tidy,
so having that lack of space is definitely a problem.
SHAUN: That's a decent size.
It's got a great tree right here.
I bet that offers a lot of good shade
in the spring and the summer.
What's with the Santa chimney?
Well, that would be your fire pit.
Oh.
You could put some chairs around it,
have a nice fire going.
But you know what?
I don't think it's a good area for cornhole.
You might be able to kind of carve out a space,
but as-is, I don't think it's really conducive.
JO EL: I love the staircase.
SHAUN: Yeah. Oh, so it's wood all the way up the stairs, too.
There's hardwoods throughout the house.
Oh, that's great.
Here's the first guest bedroom.
Wow, this is
a good size for a guest bedroom.
All right, well, you've got a full bath up here.
It, too, has a lot of character.
I really like this archway with the tile.
I don't know. I'm kind of confused by it.
Usually don't have anything on the ceiling,
Yeah, that's...strange.
Okay.
KELLIE: Oh, wow! This one's great!
Whoa! That's another surprise there.
This is a guest bedroom?
It keeps going!
This is huge! [ Laughs ]
All right, and then the last room up here
is the master, and it has a private bath.
SHAUN: I don't think it's as big as the other rooms, though.
KELLIE: Yeah, actually, it feels about the same
if not a little bit smaller than the other guest rooms.
It's still good. It has nice light, a lot of windows.
This isn't actually bad for an older house.
I wouldn't even expect it to be this large.
Yeah, it's not bad for me.
Not bad at all.
SHAUN: Wow!
This is big.
Yeah, I do like these cabinets.
I like how they're much darker than the ones downstairs.
Yeah, this is more of the kind of cabinetry
I think you're looking for.
This is more masculine -- more manly.
The dark wood, dark countertop. Perfect.
Yeah, this is nice, Jo El.
JO EL: Good. I'm glad you like it.
The house has great character in it.
Yeah, I think so, too.
It's nice, it's old,
it's in the nice part of town.
I am concerned, though, that there's no garage.
I don't have anywhere to store my stuff
except in the house here.
It is kind of far from where mom and dad are as well.
Yeah. It'd be a little bit of a haul to go visit them.
That's something you'd have to think about.
NARRATOR: So, now they're going to see a place
that's just a block from Mom and Dad.
This might be a little too close.
It is pretty close, but we'll see.
NARRATOR: Triathlete Shaun wants to trade his starter home
for a place with more space and character
in Wilmington, North Carolina.
But finding a house that meets his high standards
for under $230,000
is going to be tough,
so he's bringing along his little sister, Kellie,
to help figure out what's most important.
The first place they saw has
the character Shaun's looking for,
but it's a bit far from his parents' house.
This might be a little too close.
It is pretty close, but we'll see.
At least they can walk here.
Today, they're seeing
a new-construction, cottage-style home
a block from their parents' place.
I know this is a little close to your parents.
Maybe too close for comfort.
Yeah, I did say I want to be close,
but I don't know if I want to be this close.
But it's a great house.
A little over 1,800 square feet
with a lot of the amenities that you're looking for.
Yeah, it is nice.
I like the stone.
The other drawback might be the purchase price.
Okay.
This one's on the market for $250,000.
Yeah, that's a little bit over my budget.
But it's been on the market a while,
and it might be something that we could get
for a price that you could afford.
This is really bright.
JO EL: You got beautiful floors.
I really love this color.
And then I really thought you would like this kitchen.
I like this granite.
This is really your style.
This is, like, your color.
Your style, definitely.
Yeah, this is, like, man granite.
And the cabinets --
I love the dark-color cabinets.
I think they're very masculine.
Yeah. This kitchen is definitely what I'm looking for.
It's open to your dining room and your living room,
so when you're cooking and you're entertaining,
which I know you like to do,
everybody's in the same space.
Now, with new construction,
do you not get a refrigerator?
No. So, the refrigerator is on you.
Now, this is where I could put
that table I've always wanted.
Oh, definitely.
And then I really think
you are gonna like this area --
wide-open space,
the fireplace is beautiful,
you've got great molding.
I love the archways in this house,
which is a nice feature.
Yeah, this is nice.
That's the little bit of character I was looking for.
I do like that.
I can tell you one thing I don't like.
I feel like we're coming down into a dungeon
when we're going down those stairs.
It's a great yard,
and here's your cornhole area right here --
That is perfect for cornhole.
That is. It's like a cornhole peninsula.
I think we could definitely have
a good tossing distance here.
The master's separated from the other two bedrooms.
SHAUN: Wow!
That's nice.
Look at the windows.
They're really just wide
and from, you know, floor to ceiling.
It really gives you a panoramic view of those trees.
Wow, this is -- Wow!
And you notice something a lot better.
Oh, it just keeps going!
That's huge!
Sold.
[ Laughter ]
Well, I think you're gonna like this bathroom as well.
A double-vanity sink.
Oh, two sinks.
And then you've got a garden tub and a shower.
I can see myself soaking in that after a triathlon.
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
I don't like that window.
Yeah, it would be nice to have
a full window rather than just a mini,
but, you know, maybe that's
something you could change later on.
JO EL: Let's take a look at the laundry room.
It's right off of the master, which is nice.
KELLIE: Okay, this is a good size.
Yeah, it's pretty convenient.
I like to just throw my clothes in the laundry machine.
Yeah. No washer and dryer, though.
No, you would have to supply your own washer and dryer.
Great, one more thing I'd have to buy.
That's gonna be an extra cost for him,
which is gonna be an issue
since this is already at the top of his budget.
Well, there's plenty of space in here.
Yeah, I could definitely see my car being right here
and putting my bikes up on a trainer.
That way I could actually train in the winter.
This is just perfect.
Both of the guest bedrooms are at the front of the house.
Wow, this is a bedroom?
That's great.
This ceiling is awesome.
That is nice.
You've got this room as well.
Oh, this is a good-sized room, too.
Yeah, it's nice. It's cute.
There are definitely some things I like about this house.
I know I like the fireplace.
KELLIE: Mm-hmm, but do you really want to be
that close to Mom and Dad?
I'm not sure I'm up for that yet.
They're literally just a couple houses away.
Yeah, that does scare me a little bit
that they'll be popping in whenever they like.
Yeah.
JO EL: And the fact that we're looking at a house
that's really a little bit over-budget to begin with.
Yeah, this is pretty over-budget.
They're gonna have to come down a lot.
NARRATOR: So now they're going to see a home
that's below Shaun's budget.
I don't know about the haunted forest
across the street, though.
[ Doorbell rings ]
I don't know if this is a little too light for me.
I want something a little darker,
but it is nice for your house.
SIMONE: Yeah, that's perfect for my house.
NARRATOR: After a few months in
his parents' weekend house in Wilmington,
Shaun can't wait to find a home of his own.
But his refusal to compromise
and a strict $230,000 budget
have made the search a challenge,
even with his sister, Kellie, along
to try and keep him focused on the big picture.
The first place they saw has a lot of historic charm,
but it's a bit far from Shaun's parents' house.
The second place may be too close to his parents' house,
and it's $20,000 over his strict budget.
So, today, they're seeing a home
that's a bit farther from their parents' place
and priced well under Shaun's budget
at $200,000.
Hey, guys!
Hey, Shaun.
Yeah, it is cute.
I like all the trees.
Yeah, I thought you would like it. It's a Cape Cod.
I don't know about the haunted forest
across the street, though.
There is a cemetery across the street,
but it's a small one.
And you have the road, which I know is not ideal.
But I think you'll like it.
Hopefully it's not as loud inside as it is out here.
Let's go in and take a look.
Oh, great. This is a huge room.
Yeah, look at the fireplace.
The wall's brick, but you could always
paint that if you -- You know, I've seen
some really cool painted brick walls.
Yeah, that's a lot of brick right there.
It is a lot of brick.
Hardwood floors.
These are great.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm, and really warm.
KELLIE: Oh, this is a great kitchen.
SHAUN: This is nice. Look at these cabinets.
I like this.
These cabinets are awesome.
JO EL: They really did a good job
of renovating this kitchen.
Yeah. It's a little small.
I don't know if I could fit a big table in there.
You're a little bit tucked away in here.
You can see into the rooms, but it's not quite open.
But, you know, I didn't realize that when we walked in.
I was.
Wow, this is a really nice, big, bright room.
Yeah, it's huge and light.
It's sort of like a porthole.
Yeah. I don't know if I would've put that in a house.
See, that's what gives it character.
It's kind of quirky, but it's fun.
And a nice, really big backyard.
That is big.
Yeah, you got a little yard work you're gonna have to do,
but it has a lot of potential.
Oh, yeah. Where could we play cornhole?
Just got to rake a few leaves
We'll find a place.
You've got this great screened-in porch
off of this room
and this deck on the back.
Oh, wow! Party pad!
Yeah!
Yeah.
SHAUN: What's with the runway to nowhere?
JO EL: [ Laughing ] I'm not sure.
KELLIE: It's a catwalk.
You walk the plank.
And then you come in here to the master.
KELLIE: It's a decent-size room.
SHAUN: It is.
You've got a nice, big window
Yeah, it is nice.
It's big, but the only thing I don't like
is it's kind of facing out to that main road,
and it's a little safety and noise issue, I think.
How about the closet?
Yeah.
It's not terrible for an old house.
JO EL: You got the master bath.
SHAUN: Wow, it's kind of small.
KELLIE: And no tub.
And this is really narrow right here.
That's kind of a downer for a master.
Well, let's go look at the room over the garage.
Okay.
And this is the bonus room.
Oh, great!
This could really be your office.
Yeah, this would be a perfect office.
I'm not sure what you would call that.
[ Laughter ]
I like this stairway.
KELLIE: It's just sort of a hiding spot, I guess.
It's just a place for somebody to hide and scare me.
You've got two nice-sized bedrooms up here.
SHAUN: Wow, this is pretty nice.
KELLIE: This is a good size.
Yeah, I like that there's a bathtub up here.
Holy moley!
Wow! This is huge!
JO EL: All right, now, remember the room over the garage?
SHAUN: Yes.
That's right behind this wall.
But if you wanted to make this a true master,
I would go through this wall
and incorporate that whole area to make, like,
a large master bath and closet.
It's feasible -- Especially at this price point.
Huh.
And I think it would be a good fit for you.
It has a lot of the things on your wish list.
It's got, you know, a great porch,
which wasn't on it, but that's a huge bonus.
The porch.
The trees and the lot are amazing.
Yeah, the lot's awesome.
It's something to think about.
KELLIE: I think I know which one it is.
I bet you don't.
How is the house hunting going?
It went well.
I think I'm getting close to a decision.
NARRATOR: Shaun can't wait to get out
of his parents' Wilmington weekend house
and into a place of his own.
He and his sister, Kellie, have seen some great options
priced around $230,000.
Now all he has to do is decide.
The colonial that's downtown --
Downtown?
1931, I think.
Yeah, totally renovated.
Yes.
Oh, and get this, mom --
they had the old doors
SIMONE: [ Gasps ]
Glass door knobs.
They had the glass doorknobs!
All throughout the whole entire house.
And backyard?
Uh, it had a decent backyard.
For downtown.
The downside is there's no garage.
There was that cottage one down the street.
That one was good. It had a nice yard.
I like the look of it from the outside.
It had that open floor plan that he was looking for.
I like that one. I think I'm leaning towards it.
Well, I know why you like it.
I'll just get my binoculars out once I get to the house
and see what's going on down there.
So, yeah. That's definitely a plus.
[ Laughter ]
Yeah.
Then there was that Cape Cod that's
a little bit further down the road as you're coming here.
But that one was great --
a lot of square footage for the price.
You should've seen all the trees on that property.
Tons. Lot of leaves, actually.
Yeah. [ Laughs ]
It almost could be too much.
This is the one that was on the main road?
Yeah. The one that has that cemetery in front of it.
But inside, it really wasn't bad.
Yeah, you can't really hear it.
SIMONE: And the price is lower than the one down the block?
Oh, the price was great.
There was a ton of room to be able to
do anything you'd like to do,
but it was fine for now.
Oh, yeah. It's move-in ready.
I think I know which one it is.
I bet you don't.
Whichever one gets your stuff out of my garage.
[ Laughter ]
Well, luckily, my stuff isn't gonna be
going too far from your garage
'cause I want to pick the one right down the road here.
Yes!
The coastal cottage.
All right, well, cheers to that!
Yeah!
Cheers to you mowing my grass!
Oh, great!
Let's start moving the stuff out.
Great, thanks. I love you, too.
[ Doorbell rings ]
SHAUN: Well, I've been in this house a month now.
We were able to get them down to $235,000.
It was still $5,000 over budget,
but it's definitely a good investment on my part.
I'm pleased with it.
There are a few compromises that I made.
I don't have a craftsman-style home,
but in this home with having
the stone on the front of the house,
little bit of molding, the archways --
I think it makes up for the fact that
it's not a craftsman-style.
SHAUN: Yeah, I really like this.
What is that?
It's really just an old toolbox,
I love this.
I've decorated most of it,
and, luckily, he likes the way I decorate.
I've really enjoyed it.
I am still looking for a table
to put in the nice dining area that I have.
There's definitely room for it, I just haven't found
the one that's gonna fit in with the rest of the house yet.
TOM: Come on, Mama.
Ah!
I'm really excited about the cornhole peninsula.
It's just perfect for cornhole,
so I think we'll definitely have
plenty of family and friend outings there.
While I wanted to be close to my parents,
they are awfully close, and I have this fear of
my mom peeking at me through her windows every night
to see what I'm doing.
KELLIE: No, that doesn't count!
SHAUN: My parents actually have
the house at the end of the road, so..
[ Laughs ] So, that's another thing.
I'm really close.
Having this house and a little bit more space is nice.
I feel like I'm not cramped,
and I don't have to worry about not having people over
'cause I don't have enough space.
You feel the manliness coming out.
You got to sit there and pat it.
WOMAN: You don't rub the counter?
You pat it.
It's man granite.
I am loving having my own home again
and not being cooped up in my parents' house.
It's a little bit of freedom again, I guess you would say.
I know it was only a month.
But doing whatever I want,
putting my furniture wherever I want and my clothes,
that just makes me happy.