My interview with Tarek El Moussa, host of hit HGTV show Flip or Flop, feels a bit like flipping a house: a slightly harried race against the clock.
His answers are smooth and succinct, and it is easy to see how he made a name for himself first as a real-estate agent in Orange County, California, where he sold multi-million-dollar mansions, and then as the star of HGTV favourite Flip or Flop, where alongside his now ex-wife Christina Anstead, he successfully finds, buys, renovates and flips distressed homes for profit.
Now in its ninth season, the show will return to screens on Saturday, February 27, with 15 new episodes.
The series has also charted El Moussa’s personal struggles, including a divorce from his co-star wife and a double cancer diagnosis that came in 2013 after a nurse emailed in to express concern over a lump she had noticed on El Moussa’s neck while watching the show.
He was declared cancer free in 2019 and is now in a much-publicised relationship with Heather Rae Young, star of Netflix series Selling Sunset.
He attributes much of Flip or Flop's success to the human element, and to the way that audiences connected with this young family on a journey that didn't always run smoothly.
“I think it's such a success because people believed in us,” El Moussa says. “When we got on TV, we had no idea what we were doing. We didn't know how to flip houses. We were a young family and people fell in love with that aspect and the fact we were chasing our dreams and they got to watch us build this business on TV. I think that's what really set us apart.”
Even so, that constant intertwining of his private and public lives must be challenging? “At this point I've been on TV for 10 years. I don't know the difference,” he says. “My life is kind of business-personal. It’s all out there for the world to know.
“There are great things about being on television and there are not too great things, like going through a public divorce and having my name and face bashed on the cover of every magazine. That's not fun, but building businesses, inspiring people, teaching people, that's fun. So, there are pros and cons to anything.”
In addition to Flip or Flop, El Moussa currently stars in a spin-off series called Flipping 101 With Tarek El Moussa, which launched on HGTV on January 9. So, what is his number one tip for people looking to flip a property in 2021?
“The riskiest thing I think, right now, is time. The longer you hold an asset, the more risk you have because we're in an uncertain economy. It's much safer to buy and flip a house that's going to take you 90 days, versus buying land and building a house that's going to take you two years.
"In 90 days, real estate prices ... shouldn't drop 20 per cent, you know? But over a two-year period that could happen. So, the risk is much higher the longer the project.”
And his biggest no-no? “Don’t pay too much for a house. The biggest no-no in real estate is just because the house looks like junk, it doesn't make it a good deal. You have to buy it for the right price.”
El Moussa and Young are currently renovating a new home of their own – a property in Newport, California, with expansive sea views.
“We are doing a really neat rooftop deck on the top of the house to take advantage of the view,” he reveals. “We’re going to have a hot tub, two fire pits, a patio area, lounge chairs and then, on the rooftop, we have an enclosed room which we're making a media room. And, of course, on the inside, we're doing a big remodel and it's just going to come out gorgeous.”
Luckily, despite both being real-estate professionals, their tastes align, he says.
“We agree on everything. We love the same designs, so it's been a great experience, because you never know what your partner is going to be into when it comes to design and remodelling. Heather and I, we have the same taste, which makes it really, really nice.”
His own tastes veer towards “Hollywood bling”, with a penchant for black and gold, and patterned wallpaper. But home, ultimately, he says, is about family. “It’s where you build memories and strengthen relationships.”
Part of his dedication to family may stem from his Middle Eastern roots, even though he himself has not been to the region.
“My dad is Lebanese but grew up in Egypt. I have not been to the Middle East, although I would love to one day. But I still have family that lives in Lebanon and family that lives in Egypt.
"To this day ... the entire family comes over once a week for family dinner nights. We're real close."
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
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Match info
UAE v Bolivia, Friday, 6.25pm, Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium, Dubai
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Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
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8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
RESULTS
2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)
2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam
3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri
4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
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Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
