(1) Size: With the exception of the people who have a $3 million budget, the homes that most people live in around the world are much smaller than what we require here in America. What we so lovingly call "starter homes" would be a fabulous upgrade in comparison to what most people are living in overseas. In addition, few of the homes are free standing houses, they are usually located in apartment buildings.
(2) Furnishings: In many countries from France to India to Japan, the homes come furnished and the prospective homeowners are banking on this. I've never heard the prospective homeowners comment negatively (or otherwise) on the furniture. And then, when they show the new homeowners six months later, rarely have they changed or replaced the furniture. It's funny to imagine what many Americans would think about having to begin sleeping on a stranger's mattress. This is a country that obsessively bleach wipes our own children's toys to protect them from their own germs....
(3) "Unique" Features and Locales: I use the word unique to add a positive connotation to this section. Many features and locations that international homes offer would never be accepted in the states. Once I watched a woman look (and eventually buy) a home in Jerusalem that was three levels, each separated by three steep staircases. Another man looked at a beautiful vacation home in Costa Rica that was a 10 minute drive down a muddy two-track path. When my husband and I were selling our last house we (and our realtor) had many obsessive conversations about whether or not a shared driveway was going to hurt resale!
One episode featured a young woman looking for a place in Paris and the "master bedroom" featured a mattress placed on top of a large chiffarobe - a bed that had to be accessed by climbing up a ladder... and the girl loved it!
Another "unique" feature that some homes include is a gardener or servant of some kind. One home in India included this little shack behind the house and that was supposedly where the groundskeeper lived, he was "included with the price."
(4) Bathrooms: First of all, I think the most bathrooms I've ever seen in a home on House Hunters International is 2 and that's probably in the $3 million homes. Most of the homes are small and feature only one bathroom and almost never include a tub. The high end homes include tubs in order to "Westernize" the space for resale. One home came with a large, metal drum for the residents to store water in so that they didn't run out in the summertime. The bathrooms in most of the homes are completely tiled, floor to ceiling and have, in one corner, a small slab that separates the "shower area." There is no shower curtain or door and the shower head is one of those handheld sprayers.
(5) Outdoor Dining: One thing I'm insanely jealous of is the huge outdoor patios and balconies that most homes boast in warmer climates. Even in small apartments, there are often balconies large enough for a table and chairs. People who live in warm climates must eat many more meals outside than I am able to!
I offer these merely as observations and not judgements. In fact, the show inspires me to re-evaluate what I think I "need" in a home. It really makes me think about how much space one American family takes up and also reminds me of how lucky I am to live in such luxury. My house is currently on a 1/2 acre lot. That is precious acreage in over-populated places such as India or China or in the bustling cities of Tokyo or Paris. Having room to breathe and no neighbors immediately next door (or upstairs or downstairs) is wonderful. Though I'm not going to lie, I wouldn't mind my own groundskeeper who lives in my back yard! :)
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