This week, Real Simple senior editor Katie Holdefehr joins us to deep dive on one of the most pervasive home design trends ever, modern farmhouse. It's currently a contentious topic—some people love it, some people hate it—and we're here to break it all down and ask the ultimate question:  Is modern farmhouse past its prime? In our conversation we discuss why modern farmhouse became so popular, the most egregious modern farmhouse furnishings (we're looking at you, mason jars...), and how it's...

On the heels of the new HBO drama series "The Staircase", we dive into the status of the Peterson house in Durham, NC, where Kathleen Peterson died. Who owns it? Does it still look the way it did in 2001 when the crime occurred? Plus, we discuss Erin Napier's terrifying ordeal with a stranger who came to Laurel, MS, in search of her family. And, we crown this week's celebrity real estate winner. Be sure to subscribe to “House Party” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your...

From "The Tinder Swindler" to the Elizabeth Holmes saga, our fascination with scammers knows no bounds. So, you can imagine how intrigued we were to learn about the brother-sister team who conned homebuyers out of $6 million in down payments. On a new episode of "House Party," we discuss this case and try to figure out how on earth the accused parties pulled it off. We also wrap up our thoughts on "Selling Sunset" season five, give our brutally honest thoughts on the newest HGTV show "Lil Jon...

"Selling Sunset"—the Netflix reality TV show that focuses on luxury homes in Los Angeles and the relationships between the agents who sell them—is about 10% real estate and 90% drama. Some people wish the beautiful properties were highlighted more, but frankly, it's just not that kind of show. You might come to "Selling Sunset" for an up-close look at eight-figure mansions, but you stay for the not-so-controlled chaos that plays out among the agents on the show After tearing through Season 5,...

Hi friends! This week we wrap up our "Rock the Block" talk with a discussion about the statuses of the houses designed on the show. Then, we get into Christina Hall's latest real estate coup and her new show, "Christina in the Country." We also talk about "Retro Plant Shop with Mikey and Jo," John Wayne Gacy's house (which is back in the news thanks to the new Netflix series, "Conversations With a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes"), and this week's celebrity real estate winner and loser. Be...

Frequent "House Party" listeners know that we love to nerd out on HGTV shows. So you can only imagine how excited we were to talk to Patrick Byrnes, the showrunner and executive producer of "Rock the Block." Byrnes has been helming the show for the past two seasons, so he has plenty of first-hand knowledge about casting the show and all the hard work that actually goes in to creating a design competition. If you're craving more "Rock the Block" after you listen to our interview with Byrnes,...

We're thrilled to welcome HGTV stars Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson to the pod! After following their progress on this season of "Rock the Block," we couldn't wait to chat about their most memorable renovations and how they delivered gorgeous designs week after week. Fun fact: Their infamous "trifecta power move" of expanding the entryway and connecting it to the garage was planned well before they arrived on the block. Enjoy our talk with Sherrod and Jackson and, if you want more "Rock the...

A pink house, an edible garden, and an oyster oven: These are all outdoor features we saw on this week's episode of "Rock the Block." The four teams of HGTV stars focused their efforts on the house exteriors, which they renovated to enhance the curb appeal and outdoor amenities. Host Ty Pennington also challenged the teams to build a dog-friendly feature, and while some of the designers had a ruff time pulling it off, one team proved it was best in show. Click the player above to hear our...

This week on "Rock the Block," the teams renovate the finished room over the garage (a.k.a. the F.R.O.G.) and the loft space. While most teams went the route of building an in-law unit or accessory dwelling unit, one team went in an entirely different direction and made a design choice that likely helped them secure the win. On this episode of "House Party," we discuss the impact of guest judges (and high-end designers) Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, whether or not good design adds value to...

For weeks, we've been watching Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas compete on the HGTV renovation show "Rock the Block." But they're no strangers to transforming houses—the couple started their home-flipping business in Colorado, and several years ago, they decided to head to Detroit to focus on renovating run-down properties. The Motor City is now their home and the location of their own HGTV show, "Bargain Block," which chronicles their efforts to revitalize neighborhoods one house at a time. We...

Our recap of 'Rock the Block' continues as the HGTV stars design and construct the main bedroom and bathroom of their respective homes. They're also hit with their first design challenge of the season! Host Ty Pennington reveals five design materials that are synonymous with South Carolina: driftwood, sweet grass baskets, boat sails, reclaimed wood, and sea glass. Each team must choose one design material and incorporate it into their main suite. Which duo turns out a totally tranquil space...

This week we sit down with real estate agent and HGTV star Page Turner to discuss her new show "Fix My Flip" (airing Thursdays at 9 PM on HGTV and Discovery+).  Then, we get into this week's celebrity real estate winners and losers. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, so you have access to new episodes right when they publish. And please: Throw us a five-star rating if you like what you hear. The more good ratings and reviews we have, the easier...

Hi friends! Our recap of "Rock the Block" continues, and this week the HGTV stars renovate the entry and living room in their respective houses. While all of the teams went big on this challenge, one team took it to another level and added square footage to their house. Talk about over-achievers! We were also excited to see Jasmine Roth of "Help, I Wrecked My House," as the guest judge this week. So, which team added the most value to their home and who missed the mark? We get into it on a...

Last week we jumped head-first into the new season of "Rock the Block," and, to be quite honest, we're hooked! The home renovation competition gives four teams of HGTV stars mere weeks and a limited budget to design one of four identical homes in their signature style while also adding value to their property. The team who adds the most value wins. At this point in the show, it's anyone's game and we have zero idea which team is going to take the crown. Perhaps it'll be Leslie Davis and...

We love a good home renovation show—especially when that show pits HGTV stars against one another. So you can imagine how excited we are that the new season of "Rock the Block" has begun. For the next six weeks we'll watch some of our favorite design experts go head to head to maximize the value of four identical houses. Each team has $225,000 to customize their house in pursuit of the ultimate prize: bragging rights and a street named in their honor. Oh, and did we mention that Ty Pennington...

Hi friends! Disney recently announced the launch of Storyliving by Disney, a series of residential master-planned communities where "the Disney touch is at the heart of it all." While the details are still vague, community members will apparently have access to curated experiences and entertainment such as "live performances, cooking classes, seminars, and more." For Disney superfans, Storyliving is heaven on earth, but what about for the rest of us? This week we get into it all, including...

Hi friends! After a few months off we're back with a brand new episode of "House Party". This week, we dive head first into a whale of a topic: first-time home buying and the things that buyers these days are willing to sacrifice just to win a house in a competitive market. We also get into what we'd be willing to give up. Location and square footage? Maybe. A second bathroom? Absolutely not. On this episode we also discuss: The 12 hottest design trends you'll see in 2022The scoop on tattoo...

We've all probably entered a room at one time or another and felt a little off. Sometimes the hair on the back of your neck stands up. Sometimes your heart pounds a little faster. Either way, there's an energy there that we, mere mortals, can't seem to explain. That's why we were delighted to chat with Amy Bruni and Adam Berry, the paranormal investigators behind the shows "Kindred Spirits" and "Ghost Hunters." In this episode, the duo talk about filming in haunted houses, their creepiest...

It's October, so of course all things Halloween are taking over—and HGTV is no exception. The network recently debuted a new show called "House Haunters"—yes, you read that right—haunters, not hunters. Starring Anthony Anderson of "Black-ish" and his famous Mama Doris, "House Haunters" preys on unsuspecting homebuyers and real estate agents in this hidden camera prank show. Always silly, mostly stupid, but definitely entertaining, this show has very little to do with real estate—but we're...

After a brief hiatus, we're back on the airwaves with a supersized episode chock-full of the latest juicy news about our favorite celebrities, reality TV shows, and more. Plus, we're welcoming two new arrivals to our little podcast family: Natalie Way's baby boy (congratulations, Nat!) and Jillian Pretzel, who's filling in as guest co-host (welcome, Jillian!). Tune in to this week's episode to hear all our updates, including the following: We dive into the latest episode of "Flipping 101 with...

Do you currently own your forever home? Would having that forever home renovated by HGTV stars Drew and Jonathan Scott make the experience that much cooler? When "Property Brothers: Forever Home" premiered in 2019, it filled a void in the Scott brothers' TV empire that many fans had been asking for: a "Property Brothers" spinoff for people who wanted to remodel the homes they already lived in. Like most other Scott brothers' joints, the franchise was a hit and continued on for four...

When news that the Gorman House from "Fixer Upper" hit the market this week for $1.2 million we knew we had to recap the episode. The renovation was featured in season one, episode two, and the episode is a pretty iconic walk down memory lane because we are introduced to shiplap, Joanna's taste for frilly farmhouse decor (which, thankfully, has evolved), and Chip's antics.

Christina Haack (formerly Christina Anstead, formerly Christina el Moussa) is famous for her HGTV show "Christina on the Coast." But she's arguably even more famous for her ever-changing relationship statuses. Now, she's lit the internet aflame once again with something of a scandal—involving a photo of her, her brand new beau, and what looks suspiciously like a diamond sparkler on her left hand. The photo was quickly deleted and replaced, which left everyone wondering what the design guru...

We're thrilled to welcome executive producers Michael Matsumoto and Rob Zimmerman to the podcast this week! They've masterminded some of our favorite TV shows including "Fixer Upper" and "Battle on the Beach," so we couldn't wait to pick their brains about creating home renovation shows, working with some of our favorite HGTV stars (Ty Pennington, Alison Victoria,  Chip and Joanna Gaines), and what really happens behind the scenes. They also broke some pretty exciting news about "Battle on...

If you're a regular listener of this podcast, you'll know we've been following HGTV's "Battle on the Beach," since it first premiered last month. You'll also know that we've had a lot of questions about how things really went down on the show. That's why we were beyond thrilled this week to have one of the three couple-contestants, Sunjay and Darryl Williams (Team Alison Victoria), join us on the podcast and divulge all the behind-the-scenes dirt. The Atlanta-based renovating duo were an...