Property Virgins (2007)
Property Virgins is a reality television series produced by Cineflix. The show portrays the experiences of prospective first-time home buyers, or "property virgins." The host of the show coaches first time home buyers to adjust their dream home vision to a more realistic one that fits the market and their budget. The program originated on HGTV Canada in March 2006 and expanded to HGTV in the United States in its second season. The program was hosted by Sandra Rinomato, a Toronto-based real estate expert, from its inception until 2011, and is now hosted by Egypt Sherrod. Rinomato subsequently launched a new HGTV series, Buy Herself, in April 2012.
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Episode 1 - An Entertaining Home
Release Date: 2012-08-21Ready to leave their cramped basement apartment behind and move into a place of their own, small-town couple Tracy and Paul want to return to their rural roots and are hoping to find a dream home outside Toronto that will make them both happy. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them a budget-friendly home that fits the bill. But with their very different approaches, can she first get them to agree on what they want? After scaling back their expectations, Sandra shows them a range of impressive town homes within their price range. But when they end up liking different properties, can they find a way to compromise?
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Episode 2 - Wanting it All
Release Date:Tired of living in a cramped rental apartment with her mother and brother, soon-to-be-weds Billy and Yenna are hoping to buy a spacious suburban home the four of them can share. But with a limited budget and a long wish list, can they find a property that fits the bill? Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them a feng shui-friendly home that corresponds to their Chinese traditions, but warns they'll have to adjust their expectations to match their starter home budget. After visiting dozens of homes, the couple is still unimpressed. That is, until Sandra shows them a sprawling two-storey property at the top of their price range.
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Episode 3 - Small Town Big Dreams
Release Date:Ready to leave their cramped basement apartment behind and move into a place of their own, small-town couple Tracy and Paul want to return to their rural roots and are hoping to find a dream home outside Toronto that will make them both happy. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them a budget-friendly home that fits the bill. But with their very different approaches, can she first get them to agree on what they want? After scaling back their expectations, Sandra shows them a range of impressive town homes within their price range. But when they end up liking different properties, can they find a way to compromise?
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Episode 4 - Two Homes in One
Release Date:Property virgins Melanie and Phil are joining forces with her mom, Diane, and by pooling their resources the trio hopes to buy a suburban Toronto home they can all share. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to guide them to the perfect starter home, but admits that satisfying all their requirements on a tight budget will be a tall order. The house tours prove frustrating from the start, and finding a property with a professionally finished basement for Mom becomes a major challenge. Can Sandra come up with a compromise that suits them all?
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Episode 5 - Neighborhood Sweet Neighborhood Search
Release Date: 2010-10-14Ready to stop sharing a house with her mother and move into a home of their own, newlyweds Claudia and Raphael are hoping to find a budget-friendly property close to friends and family. But in Toronto's red-hot real estate market, they may be in for sticker shock. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them the perfect starter home, but explains their ideal neighborhood is simply out of reach. Compromising on location, the couple tours a range of potential properties. But when Sandra makes a rare find in an upscale neighborhood, can they hatch a strategy to outsmart the competition?
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Episode 6 - Home Sweet Townhome
Release Date:Tired of paying rent for cramped quarters, Vera and Milton are hoping to find a spacious Toronto family home. But with very different ideas about location, renovations and budget, they're not sure they can find a property they both will love. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them a budget-friendly dream home. But with their jobs at opposite ends of the city and a babysitter in the middle, can they first agree on a location that works for everyone? Sandra comes up with a range of properties that pave the way for a purchase. But just when they've made up their minds, they find out there's already another offer on the table.
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Episode 7 - Commuter Relief
Release Date:After three years on the road, veterinarian Erin is finally ready to trade in her car and grueling two-hour commute to find a Toronto-area condo that's closer to work and her social life. And she's hoping to stretch her limited budget to find a quiet location that suits her small-town sensibilities. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to lead Erin to a comfortable home in the perfect neighborhood, and explains that by using her retirement funds, through a government program, she'll be able to secure more of the items on her wish list. Overwhelmed by the process at first, Erin quickly learns that a higher price range means making fewer compromises. But will she know 'the one' when she sees it?
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Episode 8 - Color Block
Release Date:In order to save for a down payment, Susan and Jason have been living with his parents and now they're ready to find a Toronto-area home of their own. The only problem is he wants an urban Victorian home and she dreams of a ranch-style bungalow in the suburbs. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to guide them to a property that fits the bill. But first she has to get them to agree on what it is they're looking for. The couple's budget immediately narrows down the options. And after touring homes that correspond to each of their wish lists, they're faced with a compromise. Can they settle on a family dream home that suits them both?
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Episode 9 - Flying Home
Release Date:Flight attendant Melanie travels the world for work, but back at home, she's ready to buy her first ever Toronto condo to share with her beloved cat, Jinxi. Melanie's hoping for a lake view home complete with all the perks, and since she's already given notice on her rental apartment, she's got less than 60 days to make it happen. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find her the perfect property but starts by explaining that a water view is simply beyond her budget. Just when Melanie seems ready to buy in her ideal neighborhood, she changes her mind and decides to head further downtown. Is she truly ready to leave the community she knows? And is she prepared for a round of tough negotiations?
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Episode 10 - Single in the City
Release Date:A single city gal who's tired of sharing a rental apartment with her two male roommates, Kathleen is ready to find a place of her own, and is looking for a swank condo with all the comforts. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find Kathleen the perfect starter home for one. But warns her limited budget will mean compromising on either square footage or location. Enthusiastic from the start, Kathleen is torn between a two-story loft on the waterfront and a move-in ready pad with a great view. And when she finally makes her choice, things get even more complicated.
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Episode 11 - Cross Country Challenge
Release Date:After their four-day drive from Vancouver, Jeff and Chad are looking for a swank Toronto condo to share with their beloved cat, Chopper. But with a long wish list and high expectations, are they prepared for the city's competitive property market? Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to play tour guide and find them a place where they'll feel right at home, but warns that a prime location always comes with a matching price tag. The couple trusts Sandra to narrow down the search, but once they get started, can't seem to agree on their priorities. Will they find a property that suits them both?
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Episode 12 - Trendy Urban Home Search
Release Date:With a modest down payment and penchant for luxury, Maurie and Matthew are hoping to leave their seedy rental apartment behind and move in to an upscale Toronto home of their own. They've set their sights on the city's trendiest neighborhood. But with their first-class tastes and five-star expectations, can they find a move-in ready property that fits their budget? Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to find them a home that fits the bill, but warns they'll have to compromise on location, square footage, or price to get what they want. After a few visits, the couple proves hard to please. And when they finally fall for a deluxe condo by the water, they're faced with a situation no one saw coming!
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Episode 13 - A Single Mom's Mission
Release Date:Tired of living with her parents, single mom Tara is determined to buy her own home, move, and settle in before she returns to the corporate world. But with just two months left of her maternity leave, finding the perfect move-in ready property could be a tall order. Enter real estate expert Sandra Rinomato. She promises to lead Tara to an affordable and comfortable suburban Toronto home she'll love, and with her limited budget, Sandra recommends she consider a town home. At first, Tara loves the idea but in reality, the boxed-in space makes her feel claustrophobic. Sandra then comes up with a few other options. But with Tara's fast-approaching deadline, will she find the perfect one?