House Hunters International

Mark Seen

Planting New Costa Rican Roots Feb 21, 2006 After attending college in the United States, 27-year-old Tyson Ennis returned home to Costa Rica and moved back in with his parents, who own a place in the city of Escazu (southwest of Costa Rica's capital, San Jose). Tyson is close to his family, but after living on his own, he now feels a little closed in. So, although it's customary for children in Costa Rica to live with their families until they marry, he is breaking tradition and searching for a space to call his own. He's hoping to find a place with two bedrooms and a view that is close to his parents' home, but he knows that with a budget equivalent to $150,000, he'll probably be limited to buying a condominium. With his family's blessing--and their input--the search is on. Real estate Agent Edward Fridovich signs on to help.

Mark Seen

Belize Bound Apr 18, 2006 Real estate agent Michelle Owens adores her life in Charleston, S.C., but after vacationing in Belize six years ago, she fell in love with the exquisite natural beauty of the Central American country--so much so, that she's decided to make it her new home. She wants a large house with plenty of guest bedrooms for visiting friends and a drop-dead view of the Caribbean Sea. She doesn't want the hassle of construction, so to increase her options, she widens her search to include not only the beach area, but also the scenic jungle regions, where wild monkeys are neighbors and breathtaking views are still the norm. Helping with her search is real estate agent Howard Oldham.

Mark Seen

Honduras Home Hunt Sep 5, 2006 Gary Howorka and his girlfriend, Rebecca Anderson, love the laidback lakefront home they live in on Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka. But with cold temperatures half the year and crowded tourist-filled waterways the other half, they are ready to escape to a true water-lovers paradise--a secluded tropical island. After hearing about Roatan, Honduras, from a friend, the couple went for a visit and were hooked by the friendly locals and beautiful water spots. They are ready to pack up and move there permanently. Local real estate agent Jeff J. Thekan is ready to show these Minnesotans how to invest their money wisely in a piece of island paradise.

Mark Seen

Sao Paulo Search Jun 3, 2006 After living with his sister for five years, Sao Paulo resident Vinnie Porto de Oliveira is ready to buy a place of his own. Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, with a population of 17 million, so it's no wonder that the real estate market is highly competitive. The demand for condominiums alone is so high that units are routinely sold long before construction is complete. Vinnie is looking for a place in the fashionable Jardins district. Can Paola Alambert help him achieve this goal?

Mark Seen

Picking A Place In Prauge Jun 24, 2006 Martin Michajluk and his fiancee, Eva Dakovova, live about 45 minutes from each other in the outlying districts of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. When they want to spend quality time together, Martin joins Eva at her parents' apartment. While visiting with Eva's folks is nice, the couple is ready to set up house and start their own lives together. They know that they can't afford to live in the culturally rich city center, so they will have to look at homes in the outlying districts--Prague's version of the suburbs. Helping them with their search is real estate agent Marketa Holla.

Mark Seen

More Room Needed In Malmo Jun 27, 2006 Charlotte Stromwall and Karin Tingstedt are longtime residents of Malmo, Sweden, a small cosmopolitan area on the southernmost tip of the country. Six years ago the couple and their dog, Yellow, moved into a tiny, but beautiful, two-bedroom, two-bath apartment near the beach. Working and socializing in the small space has become increasingly difficult, so they have decided to look for a lot more breathing room. One thing's for sure, though--they definitely want to stay in Malmo. They call on real estate agent and friend Daniel Jonsson to help them with their search.

Mark Seen

Dream Home In The Bahamas May 2, 2006 Donna and Patrick Rollins' four-bedroom Nassau, Bahamas, home just is not big enough for the couple and their three growing kids. Though they have tried to renovate the house to make it a better fit, the couple has decided to find a new place with great views and high ceilings that will accommodate Patrick's tall frame. With the help of real estate agent Sara Parker, the Rollins family is ready to find their dream home.

Mark Seen

Amsterdam Apartment Aspirations Mar 8, 2006 Stacey Jones is a transplant from England who moved to Amsterdam for a change of pace. She has been living with roommates in a rented apartment close to the city center, but the apartment is being sold and she can't afford to purchase it. She has decided to leave renting behind and strike out on her own by purchasing something she can afford. Real estate agent Johann Overeem signs on to help with her search.

Mark Seen

Going Larger In The City Of Lights Oct 17, 2006 Newlyweds Bérénice and Loïg Raoul have been living in a '70s-era one-room flat in the historic first district of Paris, where Loïg hopes to run for city council. They would like a larger place with two bedrooms in a historic Parisian building. They realize that a flat in the center of Paris with their $480,000 (US) budget will be difficult, so they've asked agent Jérôme Cacarié to shine the way in the city of lights.

Mark Seen

Wanted: Permanent Parisian Pad Jul 18, 2006 Romayne Wright, originally from England, is a single career woman who now rents a place in Paris' artistic neighborhood district. She works in marketing for an auto company and is on the road five days a week. When she is at home, though, she loves the neighborhood and has recently decided to make it her permanent home. She likes her one-bedroom rental and would buy it if she could, but it's not for sale. She's on the hunt for a unit with high ceilings and would love a bathtub so she can really unwind when at home. Room for a home office and more living space are also on the top of her wish list. Relocation expert Tanya Halton tackles the challenge.

Mark Seen

Belizean Beach House Oct 31, 2006 Romayne Wright, originally from England, is a single career woman who now rents a place in Paris' artistic neighborhood district. She works in marketing for an auto company and is on the road five days a week. When she is at home, though, she loves the neighborhood and has recently decided to make it her permanent home. She likes her one-bedroom rental and would buy it if she could, but it's not for sale. She's on the hunt for a unit with high ceilings and would love a bathtub so she can really unwind when at home. Room for a home office and more living space are also on the top of her wish list. Relocation expert Tanya Halton tackles the challenge.

Mark Seen

Costa Rican Getaway Goal Oct 14, 2006 Kate and Matt Shaw are always on the move. He's busy with a booming real estate business, and her days are filled with toting around their two small sons, Luke and Justin. Although they live near the beach in Jupiter, Fla., their day-to-day lives leave little time for surfer Matt to catch a wave, or for the family to have quality time together. They are ready to buy a vacation home in the Central American country of Costa Rica. Real estate agents Lourdes Brechu and Patrick Heaney hope to help the Shaws find a place where they can go to slam the brakes on their normally crazy pace.

Mark Seen

Leaving For La Paz Sep 12, 2006 Dennis Seisun moved to San Diego, Calif., after becoming fed up with the constant rain in his home country of Belgium. He and wife Verena raised two children in San Diego and took advantage of all the sunshine and freedom the area has to offer. But now home prices in San Diego are skyrocketing, and he has convinced the family that it's time to make a bold move south of the border. Real estate agent John Anderson signs on to help them find a casa nueva in La Paz, Mexico.

Mark Seen

Getting Trendy In Paris Aug 1, 2006 Samuel Bate is a charming 30-something Parisian who has been wanted to start his life over for the last three years. After a breakup left him alone and in need of a place to live, he rented a tiny studio apartment far from the heart of Paris. Now he wants to buy a new apartment in a trendy neighborhood in Paris that is more suited for a bachelor who wants more space and in an area where there is more to do. He would like to find a home that has at least one bedroom, parking and a nice kitchen. Real estate agent Marie Sarro signs on to help with the search.