How Much of ‘House Hunters’ Is Staged? Find Out If the Show Is Real or Fake

House Hunters is an American television series broadcast on HGTV that provides viewers with a look into the home-buying process as individuals search for their ideal properties.

House Hunters chronicles the journeys of individuals, couples, or families as they embark on the quest for a new home, guided by a local real estate agent. Throughout each episode, the buyers are presented with three potential houses or apartments to buy or rent.

As the episode concludes, viewers witness the unfolding deliberations and decision-making process of the participants, leading to the ultimate selection of one property.

The show then concludes with a revisit to the chosen home a few weeks or months later. During this follow-up, participants share insights into the changes they have made and reflect on the transformative impact their new residence has had on their lives.

Numerous fans who tune in to HGTV’s House Hunters find themselves captivated by the captivating process, drama, and extensive effort and time invested in finding the perfect home.

The televised entertainment is so fascinating that some viewers ponder whether the portrayal is too good to be true, questioning the authenticity of the experiences showcased on the show. So, How much of House Hunters is staged?

Is the ‘House Hunters’ show is scripted?

While House Hunters is labeled as a reality show, it is somewhat scripted to enhance its entertainment value. Some couples admitted they were encouraged to exaggerate their interactions on the show, making it more of an ‘acting-based’ program than a straightforward reality TV show.

For instance, Elizabeth Newcamp and her husband, who were featured on both House Hunters International and House Hunters, openly shared the behind-the-scenes drama from their time on the show.

The couple shared that, while truly looking at homes in Florida with a real estate agent, they had to increase the drama for the cameras. They were asked to exaggerate their feelings and emotions. Likewise, the arguments on House Hunters are staged.

For instance, Newcamp revealed that she and her husband quickly grasped that producers wanted to showcase conflict, leading them to intentionally exaggerate issues with their spouses to fulfill those expectations.

But in reality, these couples had no actual arguments; they were just ‘living it up’ for the sake of the show. Similarly, some participants revealed that the houses showcased on the program weren’t available for sale when the episodes were broadcast.

They usually had already purchased their homes before filming began, and the other two houses they explore sometimes aren’t even on the market. Multiple former participants shared that the homes they toured were either already sold, occupied by residents, or even listed as Airbnb properties.

Arguably the most surprising revelation is the show, which is supposed to revolve around finding the perfect home, sometimes proceeds without a realtor present at all. They have allegedly hired individuals to portray realtors who have no experience in the field.

Newcamp spilled the details, stating, “When they couldn’t find a local real estate agent, the House Hunters International producers needed a Dutch person who was willing to be on camera for $500 as our relocation expert.”

She continued, “So, any time you watch House Hunters International, just be aware that those acting as realtors might not work in real estate. It’s all the magic of television — and the lure of $500, of course.”

Moreover, the show enforces a strict dress code that explains why viewers have never seen someone wearing a graphic tee on the program. Production mandates a policy against loud patterns, graphics, or slogans.

Realtor Leslie Remy shared her experience with Guidelive, stating, “They told us to wear solids—not prints—and to bring an extra outfit. I brought four extra outfits, and they were like, ‘Nope, nope, nope.’”

She further emphasized that even jewelry is prohibited, citing the interference it could cause with the microphone. Additionally, participants were required to stick to the same chosen outfit every day for four days.

Fans’ reactions to the realization that ‘House Hunters’ is not real

After several participants of House Hunters came forward to admit that the show is scripted, an individual took to Reddit to start a thread titled “The truth about ‘House Hunters’ on HGTV… it’s fake!” Following this post, numerous people shared their perspectives on the matter.

One commenter remarked, “You mean people don’t just look at three locations and make a life-altering decision in a few days?” while another person added, “I work in reality. I’m amazed that people don’t understand that 95% of it is all fake, staged, or spiced up by producers.”

Fan Responses to the Authenticity of ‘House Hunters.’ (Source: Reddit)

Nevertheless, some individuals were accepting of the staged nature of the show. One person remarked, “All the reality shows are fake to some degree,” suggesting a more lenient perspective on the authenticity of reality television.

Likewise, another individual stated, “I don’t know why someone would be outraged at this. It’s entertainment,” emphasizing that, for some viewers, the enjoyment derived from the show’s entertainment value outweighs concerns about its authenticity.

‘House Hunters’ cast member talked about the show’s authenticity

In response to inquiries regarding the show’s authenticity, the show’s publicist provided insight, stating, “We’re making a television show, so we manage certain production and time constraints while honoring the home-buying process.”

Expanding on this, he added, “To maximize production time, we seek out families who are pretty far along in the process. Often, everything moves much more quickly than we can anticipate, so we revisit some of the homes the family has already seen, capturing their authentic reactions.”

However, despite these clarifications, none of the cast members have directly addressed the authenticity problem that many people have come across.