Love It or List It: Design vs Selling Homes 2026
Love It or List It is one of the most popular home renovation and real estate shows on television, and in 2026 it is bigger than ever. The HGTV series puts homeowners in the middle of a tough decision — renovate and stay, or sell and move on.
With Season 21 now filming and a fresh new dynamic between designer Page Turner and real estate agent David Visentin, the show continues to mirror a very real dilemma millions of homeowners face.
What Is Love It or List It?
Love It or List It is a long-running HGTV reality series that first aired on September 8, 2008.
The show centers on a simple but emotionally charged premise: homeowners who are unhappy with their current house must decide whether to renovate and stay, or sell it and buy something new.
Each episode runs one hour and features two competing experts — a designer and a real estate agent — each trying to win the homeowners over to their side.
How the Show Works: The Format Explained
The format of Love It or List It is what makes it so compelling and replayable.
A couple or family who has grown frustrated with their home is selected. They have a list of things they want — more space, a better kitchen, an extra bedroom — but they are unsure if their current home can deliver.
The designer takes a renovation budget and works to transform the existing home to meet as many of those needs as possible.
At the same time, the real estate agent scours the local market and presents three homes that could be a better fit.
After the renovation is complete and the homes have been toured, the homeowners face the final decision: Love It (stay in the renovated home) or List It (sell and buy something new).
It sounds simple. It rarely is.
The Hosts: Then and Now
Hilary Farr (Seasons 1–18, 2008–2023)
Hilary Farr was the original designer on Love It or List It and became one of HGTV’s most recognized faces.
Her design style was described as classy, timeless, and client-focused. Fans praised her for always designing with the homeowners’ preferences in mind rather than her own aesthetic.
Hilary retired from the show in 2023 after 238 episodes, leaving enormous shoes to fill.
Page Turner (Season 20–Present, 2025–2026)
Page Turner joined Love It or List It in Season 20 (2025) as the new designer co-host, replacing Hilary Farr.
She is well known to HGTV audiences from her work on Flip or Flop Nashville, Fix My Flip, and two seasons of Rock the Block.
Page brings real estate experience, competitive energy, and a strong renovation track record to the role. In February 2026, she confirmed she had flown to Toronto to begin filming Season 21.
David Visentin (Seasons 1–21, 2008–Present)
David Visentin is the constant thread through all 21 seasons of Love It or List It.
A licensed real estate agent in Southern Ontario since 1987, David has appeared in all 246+ episodes of the show.
His playful rivalry with co-hosts, quick wit, and genuine knowledge of the real estate market have made him the most enduring presence on the show.
Love It or List It Season 21: What We Know in 2026
Season 21 is currently in production as of early 2026.
HGTV officially renewed the series in August 2025 alongside several other network favorites including The Flip Off and Renovation Aloha.
Page Turner confirmed in February 2026 that she had traveled to Toronto to begin filming alongside David Visentin. The season is expected to follow the same eight-episode format as Season 20.
Season 21 will air on HGTV and stream on Max and Discovery+.
Love It or List It: Season History at a Glance
The show has run for over 17 years, making it one of HGTV’s longest-running original series.
| Season Range | Years | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| Seasons 1–5 | 2008–2013 | Original Canadian format, Hilary & David |
| Seasons 6–10 | 2014–2017 | Expanded to US episodes, higher budgets |
| Seasons 11–15 | 2018–2021 | Strong US audience growth, Hilary spinoff |
| Seasons 16–18 | 2022–2023 | Hilary’s final seasons |
| Season 19 | 2023–2024 | Hiatus / transition period |
| Season 20 | 2025 | Page Turner debuts as new designer |
| Season 21 | 2026 | Page and David return, filming underway |
The Spinoffs: Love It or List It Around the World
The original show proved so popular it spawned multiple international versions.
- Love It or List It, Too — a Canadian spinoff hosted by designer Jillian Harris and real estate agent Todd Talbot, focused on Vancouver-area homeowners.
- Love It or List It UK — hosted by British home experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, one of the UK’s most beloved property shows.
- Love It or List It Australia — launched in September 2017 and hosted by Andrew Winter and Neale Whittaker.
- Vendre ou Rénover au Québec — a French-language version that debuted in January 2017, hosted by Maika Desnoyers and Daniel Corbin.
Each version carries the same core format but adapts to local real estate markets and design cultures.
The Real-World Dilemma: Should You Renovate or Sell?
Love It or List It resonates with millions of viewers because it mirrors a decision that real homeowners face every day.
The choice between renovating your current home and selling to buy something new is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions a family can make.
Here is a practical breakdown to help you think through it the same way the show does.
When Renovating (Love It) Makes More Sense
Renovating your current home is often the right move in these situations:
You love your neighborhood and do not want to leave your community, schools, or commute behind.
Your home has a strong structural foundation and only needs cosmetic or functional updates rather than a full rebuild.
The local real estate market is competitive and inventory is low — meaning new homes are hard to find or overpriced.
You have already built significant home equity that would be lost in transaction costs if you sold.
Your renovation wish list is realistic and achievable within a budget that is less than the cost of buying and moving.
When Listing (List It) Makes More Sense
Selling and buying a new home becomes the better choice when:
The problems with your current home are structural, location-based, or simply cannot be fixed by renovation (wrong neighborhood, tiny lot, poor layout that cannot be changed).
The cost to renovate and achieve what you want would equal or exceed the cost of buying a new home that already has those features.
Your family’s lifestyle needs have fundamentally changed — you need to be closer to aging parents, a new job, or better schools.
The real estate market has appreciated significantly and selling now would give you maximum equity to invest in a better property.
You have simply emotionally outgrown the space and no renovation will change how you feel about it.
The Renovation Budget Reality: What the Show Gets Right
One of the most realistic aspects of Love It or List It is the budget tension that runs through every episode.
Designers routinely face budgets that are too small to complete everything on the homeowners’ wish list. Unexpected problems — hidden structural issues, outdated plumbing, code violations — eat into renovation funds fast.
This is exactly what happens in real life. Here is a general renovation cost reference for 2026:
| Renovation Type | Estimated Cost Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Kitchen full remodel | $25,000 – $75,000+ |
| Bathroom remodel | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Basement finishing | $20,000 – $50,000 |
| Open floor plan conversion | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Master bedroom addition | $50,000 – $100,000+ |
| Full home renovation | $100,000 – $300,000+ |
The show constantly reminds viewers that renovation budgets must include a contingency — typically 15–20% — for surprises that emerge during construction.
What Hilary Farr’s Design Legacy Taught Viewers
Hilary Farr spent 15 years on Love It or List It and left behind a significant design philosophy that still influences the show.
She consistently prioritized functionality alongside aesthetics. A beautiful kitchen that does not work for the way a family cooks is a failed design.
She designed for the client, not for the camera. Her choices reflected the homeowners’ lifestyles, not what would look best in a magazine.
She never skimped on quality, even on tight budgets. Choosing durable materials in fewer rooms was always better than spreading a thin budget across everything.
Her approach set the standard for what good home renovation television should look like.
What Page Turner Brings to the Role in 2026
Page Turner has brought a noticeably different energy to Love It or List It since joining in Season 20.
She is more overtly competitive than Hilary, leaning into the rivalry with David Visentin as a central part of the show’s entertainment value.
Her background spans real estate, flipping, and renovation across multiple HGTV series, giving her a unique dual perspective that Hilary did not have.
Fans have noted that she approaches renovation with a speed and decisiveness that moves episodes along at a faster pace.
Season 21 will be a critical test of whether her second season deepens the connection with the show’s longtime fanbase.
Why Love It or List It Still Works After 21 Seasons
The longevity of Love It or List It comes down to a few core reasons that other shows have tried and failed to replicate.
The premise is genuinely unresolved until the final minutes. Unlike most renovation shows where the outcome is never in doubt, Love It or List It creates real suspense because the homeowners could legitimately go either way.
The conflict between two experts with competing goals creates natural drama without manufactured situations.
The show reflects real decisions that real people face. Every viewer has had, or will have, the same renovation-or-sell conversation at some point in their lives.
The host chemistry — whether it was Hilary and David or now Page and David — gives the show a personality that carries viewers through the more technical renovation sequences.
How to Apply the Love It or List It Framework to Your Own Home
You do not need to be on HGTV to use the show’s decision-making framework.
Step 1: Write your wish list. List every problem with your current home and every feature you wish it had. Be specific and honest.
Step 2: Get a renovation quote. Find out what it would realistically cost to address the items on your wish list through renovation. Include a 20% contingency for surprises.
Step 3: Research the market. Look at what homes are available in your price range in areas you would consider moving to. Are they available? Do they already solve your problems?
Step 4: Calculate total costs. Factor in the full cost of selling — agent commissions, closing costs, moving expenses, and the premium you will pay on a new home — versus the renovation cost.
Step 5: Make the emotional assessment. Ask yourself honestly whether you love your neighborhood, your neighbors, your commute, and your community. Sometimes the right answer is not financial at all.
Step 6: Decide. Love It or List It.
Where to Watch Love It or List It in 2026
Love It or List It airs on HGTV and is available to stream on two platforms.
| Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| HGTV (cable/satellite) | Live and on-demand |
| Max (HBO Max) | Next-day streaming |
| Discovery+ | Full back catalog + new episodes |
All 21 seasons are available on Discovery+, making it one of the most complete home renovation libraries on any streaming platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Love It or List It about?
It is an HGTV show where a designer renovates a frustrated homeowner’s current home while a real estate agent shows them new homes. At the end, the homeowners decide to stay (Love It) or sell and move (List It).
Who are the current hosts of Love It or List It in 2026?
The current hosts are designer Page Turner and real estate agent David Visentin. Page joined in Season 20 (2025) replacing Hilary Farr who retired in 2023.
What season is Love It or List It on in 2026?
Season 21 is currently in production as of early 2026, with Page Turner confirming in February 2026 that filming had begun in Toronto.
Where can I stream Love It or List It?
You can stream all episodes on Max (HBO Max) and Discovery+. New episodes also air on HGTV cable and are available on-demand the following day.
Why did Hilary Farr leave Love It or List It?
Hilary Farr retired from the show in 2023 after 238 episodes and 15 seasons. She went on to host her own HGTV series, Tough Love With Hilary Farr.
Is Love It or List It scripted or real?
The homeowners and their dilemmas are real, but the show is produced for television, meaning scenes are staged and edited for maximum drama. The final decision by the homeowners is genuine.
How many seasons of Love It or List It are there?
As of 2026, there are 21 seasons. The show premiered in 2008 and has become one of HGTV’s longest-running original series.
What happened to Love It or List It between 2023 and 2025?
The show went on a hiatus following Hilary Farr’s departure in 2023. It returned for Season 20 in April 2025 with Page Turner as the new designer co-host.
Is Love It or List It available outside the US?
Yes. There are spinoffs in Canada (Love It or List It, Too), the UK, Australia, and a French-language version in Quebec. The original series also streams globally through Max.
What is the difference between Love It and List It?
Choosing Love It means the homeowners decide to stay in their renovated current home. Choosing List It means they decide to sell their home and buy one of the new properties the real estate agent found.
Conclusion
Love It or List It has spent nearly two decades asking one of the most relatable questions in homeownership — stay and fix what you have, or sell and start fresh somewhere new. The show works because that question never goes out of style.
With Season 21 filming in 2026 and Page Turner bringing fresh energy alongside the dependable David Visentin, the series is entering a new chapter with its legacy fully intact. Whether you watch for the renovation reveals, the real estate browsing, or the satisfying tension of the final decision, Love It or List It delivers the same core experience it always has.
And perhaps more importantly, it gives every viewer at home a framework to apply to their own front door. Should you stay and invest in what you already have? Or is the right move to close that chapter and list it? The answer depends entirely on your home, your neighborhood, your budget, and your life. That is exactly what makes the question so enduring — and the show so worth watching.
