House Hunters

Soon-to-be parents from Florida make a move north in search of their first home in St. Paul, Minn.; he wants to be close to the hockey scene downtown and is hoping for a ranch, but she wants an older Victorian house with character in the suburbs.

A young executive searches for her first home in Bergen County, N.J., and brings along her childhood friend to help out; she wants to have a low-maintenance high-rise for her single lifestyle but her friend thinks she should buy a single-family home.

A Tampa couple searches for a house with at least 3,000 square feet to have room for future kids, but while she wants a Spanish style home with a white kitchen and pool, he prefers a French provincial that has a frameless shower.

A chef and his wife look for a bigger place in Chicago, but can't agree on what to buy; he wants a modern-style loft in the city, while she wants a vintage home in the suburbs.

A couple goes on the hunt for a smaller home in Appleton, Wis.; she wants a house with historic charm and classic details, but he thinks an updated Colonial will be easier to maintain.

A couple looking for a vacation home in Destin, Fla., can't agree on whether they should buy a cozy cottage close to the beach or a grand Mediterranean farther from the water.

Staten Islanders priced out of New York look for their first home in northern New Jersey; she wants a fixer-upper with a grassless concrete backyard, while he has his eye on a move-in-ready home with a finished basement.

A Boston couple looks for a home with plenty of land for their six alpacas; she wants a turnkey farmhouse or Nantucket-style home, while he'd like an older Victorian or Craftsman with lots of character that he can restore.

A couple goes on the hunt for their trade-up home in Peoria, Ill.; he wants a country setting with plenty of land, but she insists on a traditional neighborhood.