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Drew and Jonathan are helping two couples find their first homes on Chasing the West. Jacqui and Vincent have been living on park ranger housing for years, and Kayla and Gabriel are hoping to buy their very first property together, so both couples are hoping for a place they can finally call their own. Jacqui and Vince love being in nature and have enjoyed working in national parks together. And Kayla and Gabriel are true Westerners as well, both with careers working with animals and horses. They’re definitely used to the lifestyle that country living provides, but they need help finding their perfect-fit property.
The Bros know a thing or two about real estate, as we know—so both couples are eager to have their guidance while searching for their new home. This week, they’re traveling to Calaveras County, California, and Pilot Point, Texas, and both towns offer plenty of gorgeous country views and lifestyles, but with slightly different vibes. Calaveras County has more natural forest and waterfront land, whereas Pilot Point has more wide-open space and a booming horse culture. Together, they’re hoping to make their dreams a reality with the help of Drew and Jonathan.
Jacqui and Vincent
California natives Vincent and Jacqui have been married for 34 years, and have worked side by side the whole time. They were in the restaurant service industry, real estate, and even became park rangers together. They’re currently in state park housing, but because Jacqui has already retired and Vince is set to end his ranger contract soon, they’ll no longer be able to live in the facilities, and need to search for a new place to call home. They’re hoping to live somewhere in Calaveras County. Jacqui loves the town of Murphys, which she says is the perfect mix of small town charm with easy access to nature. However, she says the market has been very volatile, and it’s been difficult to find the right property for their budget of $600K. Hopefully, with the Bros’ real estate expertise and knowledge of the area, Jacqui and Vince can find exactly what they’re looking for.
Up in the Clouds
23 acres | $1.15M | 4 bed/3 bath
This first property is one that Jacqui actually requested! It’s about 15 minutes outside of Murphys, and it’s what they’re considering their “inspiration ranch”—that is, it has everything they’re looking for… Minus the price tag. She says that if the Bros can help them find a place like this, give or take a few things, they’d have what they’re hoping for.
Ranger’s Peak
19 acres | $599K | 2 bed/2 bath
This property still has beautiful views, even more gorgeous than the inspiration property. It needs some updates on the inside, but it does have the open concept that Jacqui wanted. However, with just 2 bedrooms, she’s concerned about having enough space for her wellness business she wants to start, as well as for her family when they visit.
Enchanted Hollow
5.5 acres | $555K | 2 bed/2 bath
While this one doesn’t have waterfront views, it does have gorgeous, sprawling forest landscape that the couple loves. Plus, it’s only a 10-minute drive to Murphys. It’s a prefab home from the 90s, which isn’t ideal for Vincent, who was looking to retire in a more custom build. However, the charm inside the home and on the property is abundant, and there’s a separate guest house that’s perfect for family or Jacqui’s wellness business.
After discussing everything, Jacqui and Vince decided on Enchanted Hollow. “I think it’s perfect,” Vince says. They’ve already started a very successful vegetable garden and chicken coop, and they feel at home here. “The tranquility, the nature—it’s just incredible,” Jacqui says.
Kayla and Gabriel
Kayla and Gabriel have been living in Pilot Point, Texas for a while, which is prime horse country. Right now, they’re in a 400-square-foot house on a ranch, and they’re more than ready for more space. With two dogs and a horse, it’s safe to say they feel cramped. They’re looking to buy their very first home together. Gabriel is a farrier (aka a horseshoer), and Kayla is a chiropractor for both people and animals, so they’re hoping to have enough space to do both of their jobs on the property. They’re looking for a place with about 3 – 7 acres, with horse facilities and outbuildings, for around $400K.
Saddle Up
3.3 acres | $294K | 3 bed/2 bath
Well under their max budget, this ranch has a great footprint inside the main house, but there aren’t any outbuildings on the property, so they’d have to make some additions to get that started. Luckily, with the amount they’re saving, they have that leftover cash to work with. The big question is: Do they want to put in the time and construction costs to build their business barn, or do they want to be able to have that right away?
Ridin’ High
3.7 acres | $325K | 3 bed/2 bath
The main house on this property is a mobile home, but it’s still much bigger than the space they have now, especially since it’s a double-wide. However, it is definitely dated, and since mobile homes usually require more upkeep than a standard home, the costs do add up. On the flip side, with the rancher buildings and shop garage already built on the property, they could move in and start running their businesses immediately.
In the end, Kayla and Gabriel decided on Ridin’ High. It offered them the on-site facilities they needed for their business, with the wiggle room to make updates to the buildings and the home over time. “We’re totally living the lifestyle we were hoping to live,” Kayla says. “The horse is loving it, and so are we.”
