10 Best Real Estate Shows and Where To Watch Them
April 5, 2022
Real estate reality shows have become a staple of television programming over the last few decades. They offer a tantalizing glimpse into the high-stakes, drama-filled world of home buying and selling. There have even been whole networks created like HGTV based on the idea of real estate TV shows.
While some are more popular than others, all offer something unique and entertaining to the viewers. Of course, many real estate shows focus more on entertainment than providing a relatable or accurate representation of the industry. In this blog post, we provide the 10 best real estate shows that offer educational and engaging content while remaining relatable to the common American.
Our 10 Best Real Estate TV Shows List
10. My First Place
Buying your first home can be stressful and exciting at the same time. The sometimes turbulent journey to become a first-time homeowner is documented on the show My First Place. The HGTV series follows first-time buyers and their real estate agents as they go on a stress-filled journey to find the perfect home.
Along the way, the buyers will get the latest info on financing in a down market, plus proven know-how straight from real estate professionals. My First Place is available to stream on Discovery Plus.
9. First Time Flippers
Home renovation may look simple on TV but, as First Time Flippers demonstrates, the rehab process comes easier to some than to others. For those looking interested in house renovations without any experience, then First Time Flippers is a show to add to the watchlist.
First Time Flippers documents the trials and hardships of their very first housing renovation projects. Littered with text comments from professional flippers, these newbies do their best to come out on top and turn a profit. The series is available to stream on Discovery Plus.
8. Flip or Flop
Flip or Flop was one of the more popular shows aired on HGTV. The series follows real estate agents Tarek and Christina, who are also a couple, as they flip houses in Southern California by purchasing old homes in need of TLC and renovating them to perfection. Afterward, the couple re-sells the houses for a profit, breaks even, or loses money.
Flip or Flop was well-liked by audiences but gradually fell apart over time as the couple’s relationship dissolved. The HGTV show is available to stream on fuboTV and Discovery Plus.
7. Island Life
For those buyers who are looking for more tropical houses, Island life is the perfect show to watch. The series is about tropical dreamers who are shown island properties that fit into any budget, from ultra-affordable to totally outrageous. Island Life follows everyday families in search of their own slice of paradise and proves that fantasy can be reality.
The show explores properties that vary widely in price range to appeal to everyone who watches. Island Life is available to stream on Discovery Plus and fuboTV.
6. Good Bones
Good Bones is a classic real estate series about flipping houses with a fresh new twist on the genre: a mother and daughter duo. The series is about mother and daughter, Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak, who transform properties in and around their hometown of Indianapolis.
Karen’s legal background and Mina’s real estate knowledge help them secure diamonds in the rough, and then they hire out demo and construction duties — or get help from family — to get the houses done on time and on budget. The series is available to stream on Discovery Plus and fuboTV.
5. Tiny House Nation
Downsizing and minimalism are becoming increasingly popular in today’s society. Studies have shown that millennials, in particular, are embracing the idea of leading a more simple life. The rise of this shift in values is why Tiny House Nation has grown to be so popular.
The series is about renovation experts John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin who travel across America to help design and construct tiny dream homes in spaces under 500 square feet, proving size doesn’t matter, it’s creativity that counts! Tiny House Nation is available to watch on the following streaming services:
Pluto TV
The Roku Channel
A&E TV
Netflix
4. Income Property
With inflation on the rise and debt prevalent in our society, most people could benefit from having an additional source of income. That’s where Income Property comes in. The series follows Scott McGillivray as he shows homeowners with cash problems how to create rental suites in their homes, in order to generate additional revenue and defray mortgage costs.
Income Property has a lot of educational value and a likable leading man who’s always professional. The series is not currently available on streaming services, but many episodes can be found on YouTube.
3. Property Brothers
Evident by the title of the show, the entertainment value of Property Brothers comes from the chemistry between twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott. The brothers aim to help couples find fixer-uppers and transform them into dream homes. They use state-of-the-art CGI programs to unveil their plans for how the properties will look after the transformation. But the potential home buyers have to take a risk to make the twins’ vision come true. It’s up to Jonathan and Drew to convince the couples that purchasing an older home in need of work is the best option.
Property Brothers is a show that’s fun to watch and leaves viewers with some great home improvement tips. Property Brothers is available to stream on the following streaming services:
2. This Old House
Starting in 1979, many people believe that This Old House has set the standard for home improvement shows everywhere. The contractors are very knowledgeable and the host, Norm Abram, is always a delight.
The Emmy-winning home-improvement series takes the mystery and fright factors out of remodeling and carpentry chores. It follows one whole-house renovation over several episodes and features tradesmen Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, and Roger Cook, along with host Kevin O’Connor. This Old Home is available to stream on the following platforms:
Tubi
Pluto TV
The Roku Channel
Peacock
1. Renovation Realities
Real estate shows have gotten criticism for making the renovation process look too easy and sometimes being too scripted. However, Renovation Realities demonstrates all of the problems that arise in the home renovation process.
The synopsis for the series reads: Home renovation looks so easy on TV. We see a project move quickly and smoothly from start to finish – and the results are always beautiful. But somewhere between “before” and “after” there are always at least a few speed bumps – and one great story. Budgets skyrocket, tempers flare, relationships suffer. This is real life, and DIY Network’s Renovation Realities proves that even in home improvement, truth is often stranger than fiction. The show is available to stream on Discovery Plus.
Honorary Mention: The Negotiators
While many real estate TV shows highlight the real estate agents that show off incredible million-dollar listings or ambitious renovation projects to flip a house and make a profit, this TV series highlights the real estate agents that are a cut above the rest.
An elite group of A-list real estate experts that represent everyday Americans buying or selling property. These agents are called The Negotiators. The original series gives viewers a behind-closed-doors look at the daily challenges real estate agents have to overcome to get their clients the best deals possible.
Every episode contains a reenactment of a real estate agent handling a crisis, all of which are true events that come from Negotiators themselves. The Negotiators is available to stream for free on Reveel.