After three days of looking,  in the Languedoc region of France, at 12 houses, despising most of them, being “OK” with two and fine with one (that we can’t afford), I’ve been rethinking the whole concept of HGTV’s “House Hunters.”

To wit:

–I now have a strong suspicion that the “hunters” already have made a decision to buy a specific property before any episode of the popular series goes forward.  Why do I think this? Because after seeing a dozen places, we do not have one that would work in the House Hunters series. And because someone serious about real estate is going to see far more than the three places House Hunters focuses on.

–No one really wants to see searches at the lower end of the market, as ours has been. Because they’re depressing. If House Hunters (“International,” or the original, North America version) ever looks at someplace small-ish, it’s in a high-priced area such as Paris. Otherwise, they generally are looking middle-sized/priced or higher. Because that’s more fun, both to look at and to experience vicariously. People spending serious money on a luxe property.

In short: We have seen a half-dozen places that ought to be torn down. Anyone who might have seen those on TV would have been fighting their gag reflexes or shouting, “come back when you have more money!”

–The Hunters may even sign those loan documents before the show even goes forward. Otherwise, what is to keep buyers who allege to have made a decision from changing their minds — and ruining an entire episode. I now believe — from experience, not from any actual knowledge from HGTV — that the decision comes first, the looking around later. Otherwise, too many episodes would have to be jettisoned because of a lack of follow-through and commitment.

The one place we looked at today was in the semi-beachy town of Vias, to the east of Beziers. Like a lot of property on/near the beach, it was perfectly wretched. A place with a few improvements that needs about 100 more. It has “location” going for it — as long as you don’t mind a semi-cheesy, lower-end beach/resort town that can very well be overrun in July and August and dead the rest of the year. No view, no kitchen, no parking, junk everywhere …

Ack.

So, this is not easy. Of course it isn’t.

And “House Hunters” can’t be, either. A preference for big spenders, a commitment up front to buy … I now believe these are part of the production process. Otherwise, searches that end up badly (as this one apparently has) … means they don’t have a show. What they would have would be a lot of recriminations between producers, directors and the network for all those failed hunts.