TV Home Shows Learn to Love the Bust

Having soared with the housing bubble, TV home shows are now learning to love the bust

Stephanie Diani / Getty

'Date My House' host Bob Guiney with designer Nadia Geller

Americans have heard the bad news about the housing market from the press, their neighbors and their real estate agents. Now they're hearing it from former Bachelor Bob Guiney. "The real estate market has come screeching to a halt!" he cries, over the sound of squealing tires, at the beginning of TLC's Date My House. On the new show, anxious sellers stage overnight "dates," in which potential buyers spend the night at the house, the better to "seduce" them into making a "long-term commitment." (The sellers themselves are not thrown in as part of the date package. But let the market...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!