‘Married to Real Estate’ Is HGTV’s True Future
When it comes to HGTV, they like a formula. First, it was flipping shows. Then it was married couples doing home renovation. Since the popularity of Chip and Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper, the network has done everything in its power to replicate the success of the show. They’ve worked hard to ensure that they continue to engage their viewers with sugary-sweet couples who make magic inside the home. When it comes to the Southern-fried country couples, there has been success in the likes of Jenny and Dave Marrs of Fixer to Fabulous and Erin and Ben Napier of Home Town. But there can only be so many of those couples before the stereotype gets worn out.
When it comes to diversity, HGTV has had some issues. They’ve introduced a plethora of couples to the network, but for a long time, they all seemed to fall into the same image. As time has passed, HGTV is finally welcoming designers and real estate experts who reflect the diversity of America. One newer HGTV couple not only has the potential to guide the network to the next frontier, they’re refreshing and different. It’s Married to Real Estate‘s power couple Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod.
Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod Took HGTV By Storm
When Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson first came to HGTV as a pair, they had Egypt’s past experience as a flipper to work off of. As the former host of Property Virgins and Flipping Virgins, her ability to know the world the pair was about to be thrust into became beneficial. When the time came to finally launch their own project as a pair, something clicked. Married to Real Estate showcased their strengths and chemistry in a more no-nonsense tone, a quality that set them apart from the other couples on the network. The show focused on assisting those future homeowners during the home-buying process. While the show began in 2022, it was a test run on another series that solidified their future prominence.
If you look at Rock the Block, the show is not only an exceptionally strong competition series, but it’s also become the training ground for discovering who may be HGTV’s next hit pair. Many of the show’s newest successful personalities have been presented to viewers through their time on Rock the Block. Mike and Egypt were one such couple. For Season 2, they showed up to the block as judges, but for Season 3, it was their turn to play. And well, they were victorious. By showcasing their exceptional skills and personality in a different light, it allowed Married to Real Estate to take off. They know they owe their success to their fans, who they consider part of their family. It’s why they call them “Fams.”
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‘Married to Real Estate’ Is Groundbreaking
Just like the other successful shows on the network, they share their family life. It’s part of their charm. The couple has been quite open about their relationship. Not that other HGTV keeps theirs a secret, they just approach it from a different vantage. Balancing family and work, the couple has maintained boundaries to ensure their working relationship doesn’t seep into their marriage. Back in 2024, when speaking with Collider, Mike said, “The only way any of this is going to work is if we work as a unit, meaning we can’t just be adults, we can’t just be parents, we can’t just be partners. We’ve got to continue to like each other and love each other… And the way we do that is [to] continue dating, continue communicating, you know? It’s not just about ‘work, work, work, work, work, the show, show, show, show, show.’ That’s actually secondary.” They are relatable, even if not all of it’s shown on screen. They recently revealed the power of personal space, admitting the importance of separate bedrooms. As Egypt told TV Insider, “He can go to sleep when he wants, snore as loud as he wants, play whatever he wants on TV. And I can have my candles and my Solfeggio frequencies [to promote body and mind health] playing all night. I can sleep with the fan on without complaint. We love [doing] that and then coming [back] together with a little rat-a-tat-tat.”
Taking on the mantel as the representation the network so desperately needed didn’t come lightly to the couple. As Egypt told Collider earlier this year, when acknowledging the importance of being one of the only Black families on the network, “Hopefully that opens the door for even more, but maybe folks really flock to us and support us because everyone wants to see themselves. And when they feel represented, it’s easy to watch.” Representation matters, and Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod, as a pair on HGTV, have certainly opened doors for more Black families to bathe in success. Not only are they telling the story of Black individuals in this industry, but they’re also sharing philanthropic moments through stories like the renovation at Clark Atlanta University. The ultimate result was groundbreaking, proving that HGTV doesn’t need to just showcase renovations of well-off individuals. Giving back in this forum is powerful, setting Mike and Egypt apart from their contemporaries. Mike and Egypt have opened the door for future couples from marginalized communities to celebrate their impact on the industry. They deseve to be the new faces of the network.
