The Golden Bachelorette couple Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple have hit a roadblock in their plans for big-city living. Joan and Chock struck an immediate connection on The Golden Bachelorette season 1, during which they each embarked on a journey of healing and hope. Joan, a school administrator from Maryland, navigated mixed emotions as she sought love again after the death of her husband, John Vassos, to cancer. Chock, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas, was also seeking a new start after losing his fiancé to cancer.
Joan and Chock fell madly in love, but fans worried about the logistical hurdle posed by their geographic locations. Joan and Chock have children and careers, and neither are willing to uproot the lives they’ve worked so hard to establish. Fortunately, they found an alternative solution that would satisfy all their needs. Joan and Chock planned to keep their own home and purchase a third home together in New York City. Although the idea sounded perfect at the time, the reality of the house search seems to have proven much more difficult than they imagined.
Joan & Chock Lost a House They Wanted
They Found Their Dream Home In December 2024
Joan and Chock established their NYC plans in The Golden Bachelorette finale when Chock presented Joan with a key to symbolize the home they would buy together in the city. The key represented the merging of their two lives and their hope for the future. Joan and Chock were willing to have an unconventional living arrangement and split their time between three homes to prioritize their families, but they also wanted a new space where they could get a fresh start together.
Unfortunately, Joan and Chock faced challenges as they navigated the notoriously tough housing market in NYC. Joan spoke exclusively to E! News about a disappointing setback the couple experienced in December 2024. She and Chock made an offer on a “perfect” apartment, only for it to be taken off the market. The frustrating loss will likely make their search even more difficult, as they’ll now compare any future options to the apartment that slipped away.
Joan & Chock Took A Trip To Cancun
Their Frequent Travels Take Them Away From NYC
In the wake of their disappointment, Joan and Chock distracted themselves with a luxurious vacation to Cancun, Mexico. Joan posted a carousel of photos from their vacation that included breathtaking views, romantic sunsets, and what appears to be a private pool. The trip was a welcome diversion from their hectic lives at home, but it’s also a sign that their New York City plans may be on the back burner.
Joan and Chock seem to be constantly on the go, whether they’re running between their Maryland and Kansas homes or making media appearances throughout the United States. Just before their Mexico trip, they enjoyed a trip to Pebble Beach, California, to appear on the Almost Famous podcast. All of Joan and Chock’s traveling leaves them little time for house hunting. It seems their focus may be elsewhere as they reel from the loss of their dream home.
Joan & Chock Have Likely Put The Search On Pause
They’re Not Willing To Settle
Joan and Chock’s lack of progress in their house hunt suggests they’ve let go of the urgency surrounding their move. When they first revealed their city living plans in November 2024, they hoped to secure their new home by the end of the year. This would have allowed them to spend time in New York around the holidays, which Joan mentioned was a longstanding tradition. With the holidays having come and gone, it seems like the couple is taking a step back.
Joan and Chock found one apartment that checked all their boxes and won’t to settle for anything less. Joan admitted to E! that she’s “picky,” and with inventory currently low, she’s willing to wait until the spring market to resume her search. While Joan and Chock are excited about starting the next chapter of their lives, they aren’t in any rush, considering they already own several homes.
Joan and Chock invested a lot of time in making sure they found the perfect partner on The Golden Bachelorette, and they’re treating their home search with the same amount of care. They would rather take their time and find a perfect fit than deal with the added pressure of a rushed decision. After waiting their entire lives to find each other, they don’t mind waiting a little longer to settle into the home of their dreams.
