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Here's to Jen, for being the bravest of all of us.
Good for you.
NARRATOR: In life, Jen Tenace doesn't paint by the numbers.
JEN: My artwork is totally abstract.
I take from just places I go to.
NARRATOR: Now she's trading an uncertain economy
for a blank slate...
...in Santiago.
Oh, wow.
I'm hoping that I am gonna get back into my creativity.
NARRATOR: Jen wants to paint the town red in Chile.
Right behind me is the Museum of Bellas Artes.
Oh, wow. I like this neighborhood a lot.
But in a limited market,
finding a work of art comes with costs...
JEN: Oh, wow.
I wasn't really planning on spending that.
...and creative compromises.
Not really into the bathtub.
Watch as "House Hunters International"
zooms into Santiago, Chile.
Welcome to Santiago.
[ Laughs ]
[ Doorbell rings ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
WOMAN: I feel like it was just yesterday
you told me you were going to Santiago,
and now you're leaving me.
I know. I love it here.
NARRATOR: After hitting her artistic wall
in an uncertain California economy,
Jen set her sights on Santiago.
What's the art scene like in Santiago?
There's, like, all kinds of street art
and really cool-looking graffiti and murals,
and all over the buildings.
I went there for two weeks,
and I just felt like there, like, was a lot of life there,
so I'm moving abroad to Chile
to get back into my creativity somehow.
Hey.
Hey.
Jen, we got to be here for you.
Oh, thanks.
For your going-away to Chile.
JEN: I was offered a job to teach English,
so I am on a fixed budget,
and I think that's gonna be a challenge.
NARRATOR: Jen's risking her savings
to reconnect with her creative vision,
and it comes at a high price.
WOMAN: How do you feel about it?
Nervous.
MAN: How's your Spanish?
Not good.
Yeah. Nothing.
So, you're going to Chile not knowing Spanish.
She's gonna wing it. She's gonna wing it.
JEN: So, I'm really sad, actually,
because I am leaving a great place.
I'm leaving my art community and so many great friends,
but I'm hoping that I can create that same thing there.
Here's to a great adventure.
But I think it's kind of a -- It's an exciting thing, too.
So, what the hell? Why not do this now?
Yay!
NARRATOR: With sunny SoCal in her rear view,
Jen travels over 5,500 miles
to spark her inspiration in Chile's capital city.
GREG: Santiago is a wonderful,
modern, cosmopolitan city
with a melting pot of different cultures,
so it's a city that has lots of contrast.
And the real-estate scene is really booming.
There is a lot of new construction
and older properties that are being refurbished.
So, there is availability,
but it's almost impossible for me to find.
So, how do you like living in your neighborhood?
Yeah?
I like the neighborhood.
There's just always something happening.
NARRATOR: Anxious to find a community
that echoes the artistic vibe she left behind,
Jen's counting on friend and fellow ex-pat Gretchen
for sensible support.
I am so excited to be helping Jen find a place to live.
This is a really big moment for her in her life,
and I'm happy to be here for my friend.
GREG: What are you looking for specifically?
Okay.
I think one bedroom, one bath.
Okay. Furnished or unfurnished?
Okay.
I'm an artist, too,
so maybe an apartment in kind of the artsy area.
Mm-hmm.
And what's your budget?
What are you looking to spend?
Well, I'd like to keep it around maybe $300 to $500,
if that's possible.
Well, Santiago
is not that cheap anymore,
and I think to get what you're looking for,
you'd have to up your budget
Oh, wow.
I wasn't really planning on spending that,
but if that's what I have to do, then...
Her expectations of what she was gonna spend
may not match reality,
so we're gonna show her some properties
to give her a little wider idea
of what's available on the market,
and it's up to her to make this decision.
NARRATOR: Forced to meet the market's demands,
Jen's nervously raised her budget to $850 a month,
which leads Greg to House 1.
Located on the outskirts of Santiago's trendy art scene,
this fully furnished flat
is only $50 a month over her modest new budget.
GREG: Okay, Jen, so, here we're in a neighborhood
that's called Bellas Artes.
Here you can find a lot of small little restaurants,
Yeah.
We also have museums in this area.
Oh, wow.
Right? So, it's a beautiful place.
And the apartment I want to show you
is right up there on the second floor.
I think you're gonna like it.
I really like the outside.
And I like this neighborhood a lot.
It is nice. It's very quiet.
Okay.
All right. Right after you.
I really like the neighborhood.
I love that all the buildings are different colors.
The architecture is really interesting.
I love that the museum is across the street.
It's perfect for me.
[ Door creaks ]
Oh, wow. Wow. I like this.
This is really nice.
This is your living room and dining room.
Okay.
All of the furniture is included,
as are the plants,
because you can see that the owner has a green thumb.
I like how it's really spacious in here, and...
Yeah, I actually like the plants a lot, so...
Mm-hmm.
And outside it has a wonderful view
of the Statue of the ***
up there on the Cerro San Cristóbal.
Oh, yeah, yeah. I do see that.
Yeah, that's great.
I think it's really bright and cheerful,
Mm-hmm.
It feels really nice in here.
And the view is fantastic.
JEN: Okay.
You can see it's been recently decorated.
Um, I don't know.
It seems kind of old to me, I guess.
What do you think?
Really?
Yeah, I really do.
It's so enormous. I really like this bathroom.
Yes.
I really hate the bathroom.
I really don't like that bathtub.
It has a lot of stains, and it's just really old,
and actually kind of seems a little dirty.
Check out the bedroom.
GREG: So, Jen, as you can see,
it's not the biggest bedroom in the world,
but it does come with these cabinets and shelves,
and you have a lot of light coming in here
that should probably help your painting.
I know it's a small space,
but I really do like the shelf space.
Mm-hmm.
But I think it's a little too small
Mm.
Yeah, you're right. It does.
Overall, there are pros and cons,
but I think it's something she's gonna have to consider,
because the hardest thing for me to find
is gonna be an apartment
that matches what she's looking for close to her budget.
Overall, the bathroom --
You know, I'm not really happy about that.
I'm not really excited about that.
The tub. The tub.
Yeah, yeah. [ Laughing ] The bathroom.
The bedroom is small,
but overall I think it is worth the money.
Well, there's more to see,
Okay. Great.
All right.
NARRATOR: Greg is forced uptown.
So, this is Las Condes neighborhood,
and the unit we're gonna go see
is in this building right here,
up on the 16th floor.
Yeah.
NARRATOR: But it comes with high costs.
Oh, wow. Wow. I like it.
WOMAN: Good for you, Jen.
Here's to Jen, for being the bravest of all of us.
Good for you.
NARRATOR: After leaving her home in Long Beach,
painter Jen Tenace is on a mission
to find her muse in Santiago.
GRETCHEN: Where we are right now,
this is a pretty good place
Yeah.
And there's a really great view at the top.
Oh, really?
My art already is very influenced by nature,
so I want to see how my artwork
is gonna be influenced in Santiago.
Look. Check it out.
Oh, wow. Wow.
This is a gorgeous view.
I was offered a job to teach English,
so I'm not quite worried about finding work.
I'm just worried about finding a place,
because I know I have to do that on a fixed budget.
I want to take a picture. Can you stand right there?
Okay.
I think that Gretchen
will probably have a good influence
on my decision, as well,
because we've become pretty good friends,
so I trust her advice.
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
Welcome to Santiago.
Yeah.
NARRATOR: To better her odds in the city's limited market,
Jen anxiously increased her budget to $850 a month,
but to find a place that sparks her creativity,
she must make some artful adjustments.
JEN: The first thing I think is, "Wow."
Oh, wow.
I love it. I love this neighborhood.
Oh, wow. Wow. I like this.
As I'm walking in the door, I see all these windows.
I see all the plants hanging everywhere.
It looks like a really cool place,
but it's probably not the ideal space.
GRETCHEN: I think it's a little too small
Mm.
Not really into the bathtub.
Really?
Yeah, I really do. It's so enormous.
It has a lot of stains, and it's just really old.
I really hate the bathroom.
GREG: Hardest thing for me to find
is gonna be an apartment
that matches what she's looking for close to her budget.
NARRATOR: Even with Jen's bigger budget,
the market's confines force Greg uptown,
where availabilities aren't so scarce,
to House 2, a furnished and modern one-bedroom.
JEN: Okay.
It's a very family-oriented neighborhood.
A lot of residential.
And the unit we're gonna go see
is in this building right here,
up on the 16th floor.
Yeah.
Okay. And how much is that?
Oh, okay.
Okay.
Okay.
As Greg points out the building, the first thing that I think
is it really wasn't what I was expecting,
because English teachers don't really make a lot of money,
so it would be difficult for me to afford this place, I think.
After you.
Oh, wow.
Wow. I like it.
This is a great place.
I like the hardwood floors, and I do like this carpet, too.
Yeah.
Do you?
I don't like the carpet.
I think it has too many patterns.
Really?
I don't know. I like it.
I think it works with the white furniture.
Maybe. I really like that terrace, though.
So why don't we go out and take a look at it?
Okay. Let's check it out.
Wow.
I like this view. And that's a theater there?
Yes, it's an outside theater.
GRETCHEN: I think I like this place a lot more now.
Do you? Because of the terrace?
It's really cool that you can see the horses.
You know what? The height does make me nervous, though.
I love that there's a balcony,
but I really prefer more of a neighborhood,
because it's all high-rises here,
and it looks like there's not a lot of places to walk to.
Oh, wow.
So, this is the balcony that comes from the living room.
It's nice that you can lay in bed
and kind of look outside, too.
It's a little bit impersonal.
Kind of like a hotel room.
Yeah?
But your paintings will look really pretty on the wall.
Yeah, it'll be fun to decorate, too.
GREG: Absolutely.
GRETCHEN: When I look at the decor, I feel bored
because I don't feel that anything really stands out
as being particularly unique or artistic.
JEN: I definitely like the decor,
and I think it's a really modern place.
I think it's really nice-looking,
and I like the terrace.
What do you think?
Well, you know I'm not a fan of the decor.
It reminds me of a hotel room.
Yeah.
I guess my only thing is it is a little over the budget.
You know, another thing was that I kind of wanted to be
in more of a neighborhood.
I'm not too thrilled about it,
but it's adequate, I think, and I agree with Gretchen.
It does have the feeling of a hotel room,
so I'm not sure how that's gonna work out.
NARRATOR: Greg finds an affordable opening downtown.
Here we are in a neighborhood called El Golf.
The unit that I'm gonna show you
happens to be in this building right here on the 13th floor.
NARRATOR: But will it be a work of art for Jen?
Oh, wow.
JEN: Sí, sí.
Hola. ¿Cómo estás?
NARRATOR: After making the daring move to Santiago,
Jen Tenace is settling into her day job.
So, what are you looking for for classes?
I'm looking to improve my grammar skills.
I would like to learn more about the cultural aspects, too.
Okay, great.
JEN: My favorite part about teaching English
is being able to meet new people,
because I'm new in Santiago,
and it's great to learn about the culture
and learn about the people here.
I studied when I was a kid a little bit.
I spent a few months -- about a year in U.S.
And where did you live in the U.S.?
Well, I went to study in Washington, D.C.
Very close to where my family lives.
Yeah.
Oh, it's a really nice place.
I really love it.
I'm gonna be teaching English,
but it's really not something I want to do forever.
Ideally, my life in Santiago,
I'm hoping to become a full-time artist again.
So, let's start at 7:00 on Tuesday, then.
All right.
NARRATOR: But before Jen's inspired inklings
can be realized,
she must first find a flat in a homey hood
and an artsy atmosphere.
Here you can find a lot of small little restaurants,
cute little niches, coffee shops, et cetera.
Right behind me is the Museum of Bellas Artes.
Oh, wow.
NARRATOR: But in Santiago's tight market,
finding the right combination hasn't been easy.
JEN: Probably not the ideal space.
Not really into the bathtub.
I love it, actually.
Yeah, I really do.
Has a lot of stains and it's just really old.
This is a great place.
NARRATOR: She adored the step-up in style and high vistas
in House 2.
Wow.
This is a really nice view.
But she's worried its uptown location is too bland
to inspire her artistic vision.
I kind of wanted to be in more of a neighborhood.
GREG: There's no perfect apartment,
but I think she's gonna have to sit down,
based on her budget and what it is she really wants
and make a informed decision.
NARRATOR: Greg knows Jen wants to be part of the Santiago art scene,
so he reverses course back downtown,
to where he's sure he's found her a perfect match.
GREG: This apartment is in a great neighborhood.
It has a lot of amenities,
and it has a young crowd that lives here,
so those are things that she was actually looking for.
NARRATOR: Only a five-minute walk
from Santiago's trendy art scene,
House 3 is the perfect balance of location and price.
At $850 a month, it meets her modified budget.
GREG: So, Jen, here we are in a neighborhood called El Golf.
The unit that I'm gonna show you
happens to be in this building right here on the 13th floor.
Okay.
It is 450 square feet, one bedroom, one bath.
JEN: I see the building,
and I really like the neighborhood.
I think that it's beautiful.
There are a lot of trees outside.
Seems like a really peaceful street.
So, that is a positive thing.
Oh, it's so cute.
Yeah.
It is cool.
Well, here on the left, you have a little pocket kitchen.
Very modern, very new.
Has the appliances on one side.
The kitchen looks kind of small, though,
because I do like to have guests over and have dinners
and the space is a little small for the kitchen.
It's really cute, though, and the cabinets are really nice.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's true. That's true.
So, our living room is here,
and here we have the terrace
with a wonderful view of the Andes.
So let's go check it out.
It is.
This is really nice.
It has a great city view.
The Andes are up ahead right there.
Oh, wow. That's really nice.
And, so, if you're worried about your kitchen space,
out here you can actually do a lot of entertaining.
Yeah, that's true.
You have your table right here, et cetera.
The terrace is the selling point of this apartment.
It's large, she can have dinner parties out here,
and the view of the Andes is incredible.
GREG: After you.
That's really nice.
So, you can see it's a fairly large bedroom.
The queen-size bed does not overpower the room.
I think I really like the bedroom.
I think there's a lot of space.
I guess it's just the whole apartment
just feels a little tight to me.
I was just wondering about how I would paint in here.
There is a lot of storage for my clothes and things like that,
but as far as painting, it's probably not the ideal space.
Well, I love the apartment. I think it's beautiful.
I love the view outside. It's amazing.
The bedroom, I really like.
The only thing is the apartment feels more like a studio to me
than a one bedroom.
Gretchen, what do you think?
I love this apartment, Jen.
Yes.
It is really nice, isn't it?
Gretchen loves the apartment.
She thinks it's really cute. My only concern is the size.
As far as painting,
it's probably not the ideal space, but I love it.
NARRATOR: To find her artistic inspiration,
will Jen choose looks...
JEN: I really love that terrace, and the view there is amazing,
but it is, like, way out of my price range.
...over location?
Feels more like a studio than a one bedroom,
but it's affordable.
So, I have to pay attention to my budget.
Which one do you choose?
Man, it's been such a long day.
I know. Me too.
But I need to make a decision about the apartment.
I am leaving a great place.
I'm leaving my art community and so many great friends,
but I'm hoping that I can create that same thing in Santiago.
NARRATOR: But to realize her creative and community reveries
in Santiago's limited market,
Gretchen must help Jen choose between having it all
or paying to paint.
So, which one do you think you'll choose?
Well...
Priced at $900 a month,
House 1 is located on the outskirts
of the trendy Bellas Artes.
I kind of like that place.
I thought it was cute, and it's in an artsy neighborhood.
I really like that.
Right behind me is the Museum of Bellas Artes.
Oh, wow.
NARRATOR: It's only $50 a month over budget,
but its interior isn't as inspiring as she'd hoped.
JEN: I really hate the bathroom.
GRETCHEN: I love it, actually.
Yeah, I really do.
Has a lot of stains, and it's just really old.
Located in the chic Las Condes area uptown,
House 2's high-rise views are picture perfect.
Wow. I like it.
But paying its $1,000-a-month asking price
means Jen won't be able to paint the town red.
Well, I think it's a little out of my price range, too.
Meeting Jen's $850-a-month budget,
House 3 is a modern flat
that offers proximity to the art scene in a residential area.
I love it.
But I really love that terrace, and the view there is amazing.
It's really cute.
It's the least expensive,
but it's a little too cozy for Jen's creativity.
I love the apartment. I think it's beautiful.
It's just, overall, it feels more like a studio apartment to me than a one bedroom.
I'm not sure which apartment to choose.
Well, I think you need to eliminate one of the three.
Hmm.
I think it's the one in the high-rise.
It's a little out of my price range.
Yeah, I agree with you.
Good choice.
Okay, so, that leaves two apartments.
We have the less expensive one and the small apartment.
Well, I love it,
but I really love that terrace that winds around,
and the view there is amazing.
I really love that apartment.
It was so cute. [ Laughs ]
To me, it feels more like a studio than a one-bedroom apartment,
so I don't know if it's worth all of that money,
but it's affordable.
So, I have to pay attention to my budget,
'cause I'm not gonna be making a lot of money
as an English teacher.
And how about the place near the museum?
What did you think of that one?
I liked that one.
And I liked the little --
the decorations inside and the plants.
Very artsy.
I'm not happy with the bathroom.
Even though it has a really big bathtub?
[ Laughing ] Yeah.
No, but I could make it work.
I could make it work, I guess.
But I really love the neighborhood.
It's very artsy.
There's a lot of cafés around, and, plus, it's near you.
Which one do you choose?
I'm gonna choose the one by the museum.
It's the most affordable, and I'm gonna be near you.
Yay!
[ Both laugh ]
NARRATOR: Sticking close to her bottom line,
Jen's artistic adventures will begin
with moving into House 1.
It's really pretty up here.
FELIPE: Yeah.
This is one of the places that I talked to you about.
This is, like, the middle -- mid-high Andes.
I love it.
It's not like L.A., right?
Well, L.A. has mountains, but a little smaller than this.
I've been here for about nine months now,
and I'm really enjoying it.
The colors, how they change with the lighting.
Yeah. It's beautiful.
I actually met Felipe through one of my classes,
then after that, my one special student is now my boyfriend.
[ Laughs ]
Pretty happy you moved to Santiago, you know?
Yeah.
Yeah, I am, too, 'cause I would never have met you.
We get along really well.
He has a really great sense of humor.
We really connect as far as the outdoors things,
going hiking and being outside.
I'm happy with the apartment.
I've been able to paint in here,
and I think I've had more time
to develop some of the artwork that I'm doing now,
because I was so busy back in the States.
Oh, you did?
Yeah. I hope you like it.
Is it really strong?
A little bit.
It's, like, typical Chilean drink.
I've been able to use the space to have friends over, to cook,
so it's been a good experience in the apartment.
At this point in my life, I feel good.
I mean, I'm really happy that I did come to Chile,
that I had all these experiences,
and I was able to meet Felipe.
I'm really happy with what I did.