Why did he use present progress "would be buying" instead of just "would buy"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Excellent question. This form is known as a type 2 conditional sentence (If + simple past + present continuous conditional). It is used to express unfinished or continuing action which is the probable result of an unreal situation. So Joey is talking about what the result would be if he met her in a bar. Ex: If I spoke French I would be working in Paris. (But I don't speak French so I'm not working in Paris) Ex: She wouldn't be smiling if she knew the truth. (But she's smiling so she doesn't know the truth).