House Hunters International - Specials (2009)

Mark and Carolle Cotter love living in Northridge, California and find it to be the perfect place to raise their six-year old son. However, life is all work and not a lot of play, so after visiting Costa Rica's Lake Arenal, the Cotters decided to look for a restful vacation home there with beautiful and relaxing views of the lake.

Throughout their fifteen years of marriage, Steve and Susan Miller have traveled the world, with trips to sites such as Sicily, Panama, Tahiti and Australia. At present, the Millers reside along the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, but are looking for another waterfront property as a second home - in the Dominican Republic.

Lesley and Clive have been together for more than thirty years. Both lovers of music, dogs and travel, they've decided it's time to look for a second home in an exotic location. Tired of London's rainy and wet weather, the Allingtons are anxious for open space and warm weather in beautiful Granada, Spain.

Peter and Beverly Moule live in Goff's Oak, just outside of London, in a guest house while their Georgian style three-story main house is under construction. Looking to get away from the work and stress of construction, they are searching for a vacation home in Liguria, Italy where their family can enjoy some sunshine and relaxation.

New Yorkers Jeff Ballinger and Mary Schiller recently began the first steps toward making their dream together a reality. After honeymooning in Paris, they knew they wanted their own vacation property in France. Now, they've moved out of their house and into a smaller condo in the Bronx, NY and have begun their search for a pied a terre in Paris.

We asked and you voted! Now see which of your favorite international destinations made our top five. Tonight, the number five location in all of the world is revealed!

Toby Tyler and Tracy Barry, owners of a boutique hotel in Harbour Island, Bahamas are looking to find a new home quickly for themselves and their four children. With a budget of up to one million dollars, they hope to find a home that's close to their hotel and has at least three bedrooms, although four would be ideal. They also desire two big, full bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen that opens into a family room and parking for their three golf carts. To assist them with their island search is agent Robert Arthur.

We asked and you voted! Now see which of your favorite international destinations made our top five. Tonight, the number four location in all of the world is revealed!

Adrian Hidaka, an options broker in Tokyo, discovered Bali when he went there for a colleague's wedding. Now in the market for a vacation retreat there, he wants the open feel, large windows, wooden deck, pool and other features that come with a modern villa. With a budget of up to $450,000, Adrian says that he's open to either a spectacular villa or a more basic one that's a great buy. Helping him negotiate his way through Bali's real estate market is agent Vila Widuch.

We asked and you voted! Now see which of your favorite international destinations made our top five. Tonight, the number three location in all of the world is revealed!

Pharmacy student Jacopo Reynaud has lived in Rome most of his life. Ready to buy his own place, with a budget of $600,000, he hopes to find an apartment close to downtown, near the metro line and with a great parking spot and terrace. Jacopo's realtor Elena helps guide the way through the meandering streets of Rome and its real estate market.

We asked and you voted! Now see which of your favorite international destinations made our top five. Tonight, the number two location in all of the world is revealed!

Young and energetic, Ronda and William Perks love Italy, and they dream of owning a special getaway on its famed Amalfi Coast. In search of a traditional villa. William's biggest desire is a spectacular ocean view, while Ronda is looking for a fixer with Italian character that she can restore to its original beauty. With a budget of one million Euro (approximately $1,400,000), real estate agent, Domenco Gagliano, is working hard to help them find the right place.

We asked and you voted! Now see which of your favorite international destinations made our top five. Tonight, the number one location in all of the world is revealed!

Harith Wickrema and his wife Grace currently reside in a stunning five-bedroom, French-style mansion outside of Philadelphia. Harith is keen on finding the a vacation property in St. John that will make a smart investment. This means they're looking for a home with more than 5000 square feet, the potential to expand and beach access. Prepared to spend up to four million dollars, Harith has hired island real estate expert John McCann to lead him and his wife on this new adventure in their lives.

Sweethearts Julie and Mark Taylor got married 5 years ago and currently live in a long narrow house that used to be the local sweet shop. They fell in love with Thailand while on vacation there and want to buy a second home there. They want a place that is modern in style and with at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. They'd love to have a large patio with sea views too. Their budget is $440,000 US and with three amazing choices they have a tough decision to make.

Moneca Pinkett has lived on St. Thomas for five years and she's ready to make the Virgin Islands her permanent home. Since she runs her own internet business, she is looking for a home where she can relax and work. Outdoor space and an ocean view are high on her wish-list, as well as space for a home office. Living in the tropics can be expensive, so Moneca is also hoping to find a place with a separate unit that she can rent out that works within her budget of $450,000.

Nichole and Jeremy both work in the fitness industry - she's a personal trainer and he runs a fitness website. They live in Chandler Ariz., which is great for about six months of the year, but the rest of the time it's brutally hot. Since they can work from anywhere, they've decided to buy a vacation home in Fiji so they can live at least part of the year there. They want a home with 3 or 4 bedrooms that's in the $350,000 to $400,000 price range. They also desire a large kitchen, an open floor plan, and an ocean view. With three spectacular vacation homes to choose from, Nichole and Jeremy have a tough decision to make.

Patrick and Diane love life in their large, comfortable home in the suburbs of New Jersey. But when the winter days get longer, darker, and colder, they find themselves dreaming of beach chairs and sunshine. They started vacationing in the Dominican Republic several years ago, mostly because their good friend Ina lives there, and they've fallen in love with the place. They're ready to buy a vacation home of their own, and welcome the help of their friend Ina, a real estate consultant. With a limited budget of $200,000, their wish list calls for two bedrooms, two baths and low-maintenance. Will they be able to find their own bit of paradise?

Canadians Antonio and Alison Marquez have been living in Victoria, British Columbia for more than 10 years now, traveling to warmer climates during the vicious winters. They decided to buy a vacation home in Belize where they can spend the winter holidays basking in the sun. The biggest challenge is finding the right property for that's within their $150,000 budget and is a short walk to the beach. Their needs are pretty simple - a one-room cabin would be fine, as long as it has a view of the water, good-sized kitchen and enough room to have a living area and bedroom space.