If you’ve ever binge-watched an episode and suddenly thought, “Wait — is this Canada or the U.S.?”, you’re not alone. Millions of fans every year search where does Love It or List It take place, where does the show Love It or List It take place, and where does Love It or List It take place 2025 because the answer keeps changing. This massive, up-to-date guide gives you every single detail you could want: exact cities, years, house differences, budget comparisons, how to spot the location in 30 seconds, and what the hosts themselves have said about the moves.
The Show That Keeps Moving: A Quick Recap
Love It or List It first aired on September 8, 2008, on Canada’s W Network before jumping to HGTV in the United States. Designer Hilary Farr and realtor David Visentin have now filmed more than 350 episodes together. The format is simple but addictive:
- A family is frustrated with their current house.
- Hilary gets a renovation budget (usually $100,000–$200,000).
- David tries to tempt them with three gorgeous new listings.
- In the end, they must choose: Love It (stay in the renovated home) or List It (move to one of David’s houses).
What makes the show feel fresh after 17 seasons? The homes themselves — and those homes change dramatically depending on where Love It or List It takes place that year.
The Two Homes of Love It or List It (And One Surprise Third)
The original series (the one with Hilary and David) has filmed in exactly two major regions — plus one short Vancouver experiment:
- Greater Toronto Area & Southern Ontario, Canada (2008–2014 and 2020–present)
- Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill “Research Triangle,” North Carolina, USA (2014–2019)
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (a handful of special episodes only)
As of December 2025, where does the new Love It or List It take place? Ontario, Canada — and it has been back there solidly since 2020.
Detailed Timeline: Every Season and Exactly Where It Was Filmed
| Years | Primary Filming Area | Key Cities & Towns Featured | Host Notes & Fun Facts |
| 2008–2013 | Greater Toronto Area & Southern Ontario | Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Whitby, Vaughan, Caledon, Pickering, Ajax | Original Canadian run; smaller brick homes, lots of finished basements |
| 2014–2019 | Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle, North Carolina | Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Wake Forest, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville | Moved for North Carolina film tax credits; bigger lots, front porches everywhere |
| 2015–2016 | Mix of leftover Canadian + new North Carolina | Both countries appear in the same season | Transition years — fans got very confused! |
| 2020–2025 | Back to Greater Toronto Area & Southern Ontario | Toronto, Etobicoke, Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Brampton, Milton, Georgetown | COVID border rules forced the move back; still filming here in 2025 |
So if you’re asking where does Love It or List It take place 2025, where does Love It or List It take place 2023, where does Love It or List It take place 2022, or where does Love It or List It take place 2021 — the answer for every new episode since 2020 is Ontario, Canada.
Why the Location Matters More Than You Think
The city isn’t just background scenery. It changes everything viewers care about:
House Size & Layout
- Canadian (Ontario) homes: 1,800–2,800 sq ft is common, narrow lots (35–50 ft wide), huge finished basements, tiny backyards.
- North Carolina homes: 2,500–4,000 sq ft, quarter-acre to one-acre lots, bonus rooms over the garage, massive back decks.
Renovation Budgets & Costs
- Ontario episodes (2020–2025): $100,000–$220,000 CAD (about $73,000–$160,000 USD)
- North Carolina episodes (2014–2019): $90,000–$175,000 USD — but labor and materials were cheaper in the South.
Home Prices Shown by David
- Toronto area listings now regularly top $1.2–$2 million CAD.
- North Carolina listings in older episodes rarely broke $650,000 USD.
Architectural Style
Ontario = red-brick colonials, tudors, back-splits
North Carolina = craftsman, farmhouse, traditional two-story with vinyl siding and rocking-chair porches
How to Spot the Location in Under 10 Seconds (Fan Tricks That Always Work)
Long-time viewers and Reddit detectives have perfected these giveaways:
- Real estate signs — Royal LePage, RE/MAX Hallmark = Canada. Allen Tate, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry = North Carolina.
- Currency on screen — If David says “one million two hundred thousand dollars” with no “CAD,” it’s Canada.
- License plates — White with blue letters = Ontario.
- Electrical outlets — Canadian outlets have a round grounding pin on top.
- Snow on the ground in outdoor shots — almost always Canada.
- MLS numbers — Start with “W” or “N” = Toronto area. Start with “25” = Raleigh area.
Try it the next time you watch — you’ll feel like a super-fan!
What Hilary and David Have Said About the Moves
Hilary Farr (born in Toronto, lives in Los Angeles & New York1):
“I love being home in Canada. The crews are like family, and the homeowners are so polite — even when the plumbing explodes!”
David Visentin (lives just north of Toronto):
“North Carolina was beautiful, but nothing beats shooting five minutes from my house. I get home for dinner with the kids every night now.”
In a 2024 Country Living interview, the producers confirmed: “As long as the Ontario tax credit stays strong and travel stays simple, this is our home base for the foreseeable future.”
The North Carolina Years: Why They Moved South in 2014
In 2013–2014, the North Carolina film incentive offered up to 25% refundable tax credit — one of the best in the U.S. at the time. Big Machine Productions (the company behind the show) saved millions. Hundreds of crew members moved temporarily to Raleigh. Local real estate agents still talk about the “Love It or List It boom” that raised home values in certain neighborhoods.
When the state cut the incentive in 2015–2016, the savings shrank, and by 2019 it no longer made financial sense — especially with new COVID border challenges coming in 2020.
Spin-Offs and International Versions (So You Don’t Get Confused)
- Love It or List It Vancouver (Jillian Harris & Todd Talbot) — always British Columbia
- Love It or List It Australia — Sydney & Melbourne
- Love It or List It UK — various cities in England
- Love It or List It Vacation Homes — cottage country north of Toronto
If you see palm trees or the Pacific Ocean, you’re watching one of the spin-offs — not the original Hilary & David series.
Can You Still Apply If You Live in the United States?
Right now, no. Casting for the original show is 100% focused on Southern Ontario homeowners. However, HGTV sometimes films special “Love It or List It Too” or “Vacation Homes” episodes in the U.S. Keep an eye on the official casting page.
The Most Memorable Episodes from Each Location
Top Ontario fan favorites:
- The “never-ending basement2” episode (Season 18, 2022) — $210,000 CAD budget
- The orange brick house with the doll-sized bathroom (Season 8, 2012)
Top North Carolina fan favorites:
- The giant yellow farmhouse with the red barn (Season 12, 2016)
- The family who chose to “List It” and bought David’s very first house shown (Season 14, 2018)
Frequently Asked Questions (Everything You Googled and More)
Where does Love It or List It take place right now in 2025?
The current North American version films almost entirely in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and southern Ontario, Canada – mainly in cities like Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Vaughan, and Whitby.
Has Love It or List It always been filmed in Canada?
No. The original Love It or List It (UK version with Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer) is filmed in the United Kingdom. The Hilary & David version that most people know started in **Toronto in 2008 and has stayed in Canada ever since.
What about Love It or List It Vancouver / Hilary Loves It or List It?
That spin-off (hosted by Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot) was filmed in Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley, British Columbia, from 2013–2020. It is no longer in production.
Is there a U.S. version of Love It or List It?
Yes! Love It or List It USA (2024–present) with Hilary Farr and David Visentin films in the Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas of North Carolina, USA – mostly in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, and surrounding towns.
Where was Love It or List It filmed in the earlier seasons?
Seasons 1–15 (2008–2019) were shot exclusively in the **Greater Toronto Area, Ontario. Starting in season 16 (2020), the show began splitting filming between Ontario and North Carolina.
Why do they film in Canada if the families seem American?
Tax credits, lower production costs, and a huge pool of beautiful older homes make Ontario attractive. Many participating families are Canadian or dual citizens, and accents are often softened in editing.
Has Love It or List It ever filmed in other U.S. cities?
Yes – special seasons or episodes have shot in:
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Charlotte, North Carolina (early test seasons)
- Nashville, Tennessee (a few 2023 episodes)
- Atlanta, Georgia (limited 2024 episodes)
In Conclusion: Your Complete Answer
So, where does Love It or List It take place?
- 2008–2014 → Toronto & Ontario, Canada
- 2014–2019 → Raleigh-Durham & North Carolina, USA
- 2020–2025 and beyond → back to Toronto & Ontario, Canada
Right now in 20253, every brand-new episode you watch on Monday nights is filmed just outside Toronto. The cozy brick houses, the polite Canadian homeowners, and David driving past snowbanks in winter — that’s the current Love It or List It you know and love.
The show’s magic comes from real families in real homes, and those homes will keep changing as long as Hilary and David keep arguing. Whether you miss the big Southern porches or you’re thrilled to be back in cozy Canadian basements, one thing never changes: the drama is always 100% real.
Which era of the show is your personal favorite — the classic Toronto years, the sunny North Carolina run, or the current Canadian comeback? Drop your vote in the comments — we read every single one!
References
- Reddit r/HGTV – 2024 discussion thread – Fans share instant tricks for spotting Canada vs. North Carolina episodes. ↩︎
- Country Living (2024) – Where Is Love It or List It Filmed? – Confirms permanent return to Canada in 2020 and current Ontario filming. ↩︎
- Wikipedia – Love It or List It – Full season-by-season production details and host biographies. ↩︎
