The new home-flip show, produced by Republic Real Estate, puts its own spin on the model made famous by predecessor shows like “Flipping Out,” “Property Brothers” and “Flip This House.”
The American Dream Houses will air online as short video clips published on YouTube and Instagram. Viewers can invest using Republic's crowdfunding platform and participate in the potential profits from the home's resale. Republic has more than 800,000 users, which has attracted a significant number of potential investors to the show.
According to show producer and Republic real estate head Janine Yorio, American Dream House is the first show to give viewers that level of hands-on access.
Yorio said the concept for the show was born from the intersection of the popularity of home improvement shows, interior design and viewers' interest in finding new ways to generate additional income.
“American Dream House is the perfect blend of these three obsessions,” says Yorio. “We wanted to create something that users could love and become obsessed with. There's a world of difference between passively watching a before-and-after show about a home renovation and being invested in the project and feeling like you're on the journey with them.”
The first American Dream House series is being filmed in Los Angeles, with upcoming episodes in Atlanta, Dallas and Nashville. The show will follow a different home flipper in each city.
In Los Angeles, the show will focus on homes in the up-and-coming Westchester neighborhood, led by experienced home flipper Megan Blue. Yorio said Blue has flipped 15 homes and knows Westchester well. Blue's track record, work ethic and aesthetic sensibility made her the obvious choice to be the show's first flipper.
Yorio hopes viewers will have fun, learn about the ins and outs of home flipping, and make a profit on their investment. Home flipping shows have become increasingly popular over the past few years, but before American Dream House, Yorio says there were limited opportunities to actually access such opportunities. Now, viewers can get involved in home flipping without spending a lot of money or shedding blood, sweat, and tears.
“Real estate is an old-fashioned business, but our vision is to reimagine it for the modern investor,” she said. “People want to be entertained, they want to be engaged, and of course they're craving content. American Dreamhouse is not just an investment, it's an experience. We want people to learn what really goes on behind the scenes of flipping a home. Most home flipping shows are unrealistic and flashy. American Dreamhouse gives viewers and investors a realistic look at what it really takes to renovate a home and how much work it takes to make a return on your investment.”