Tiny House Nation: Unpacked

Will has been living in the Philippines part-time for 10 years while starting a trapeze school and a PR firm. With both businesses doing well, he's decided to make the move permanent and is leaving behind his old life in New Jersey. Will's best friend Nick is on hand to help him find his new home, but the banter and hijinks that mark their friendship leaves their helpful real estate agent with a bigger job than he expected.

For Russ and Stacy, juggling their stressful jobs and raising a blended family of five has been hectic. After an invigorating vacation to Costa Rica they decided to buy a home there. Russ and Stacy share the same goal to live more relaxing lives in Costa Ballena, but they can't seem to agree on location. Russ wants a rugged home way up the mountains where just driving there is an adventure. Practical Stacy wants a more modern home with a less treacherous drive and she's willing to stretch the budget a little to find the right place.

Having spent childhood summers in Italy, Christy is excited about sharing her Italian heritage with her family. But agreeing with her husband Jon about what parts of that heritage is going to be tough. Christie wants their Italian experience to be restful and serene in the beautiful countryside. Jon feels like the only way for them to truly learn about Italy is to live in the city of Lucca. Who will decide?

Jeff and Elizabeth have two kids with a third on the way. They love their home in Colorado, but an opportunity to work his way through one of Europe's premiere engineering PhD programs is an offer they can't refuse. Jeff has always wanted to live in a city, and Delft's rustic canals and European charm have him googly-eyed. He can't wait to lay roots in Delft's charming downtown, but with two kids and a baby on the way, Elizabeth worries that the canals and windmills may be causing her normally pragmatic husband to be swayed unscientifically.

Janice, Chad, and their two boys are moving from the rural mountains of Alberta, Canada, to the sunny metropolitan city of Brisbane, Australia, where Janice will be working as a professor. She's looking to embrace a true Aussie lifestyle, and that includes the style of their home. But while she wants a traditional 'Queenslander' house with a swimming pool, Chad is looking for something more modern with a lot less maintenance. Chad's already given up his job as an executive in Canada to make the move Down Under for Janice's career. Is he willing to give up what he wants in a home so Janice can have her dream job and dream house?

Mike and Kathy have lived in Brno, Czech Republic, for five years and are ready to purchase a house for their growing family. With their third baby on the way, Kathy is hoping to find a turnkey home in the city center while Mike is looking for a fixer-upper with a yard. Most homes in Brno are inherited, which means choices are limited and prices are high, but Mike and Kathy have their life savings in hand and are determined to find their dream home.

James is an American artist living in Berlin and is looking to buy his first home in the warmer climates of Europe. After coming across an advertisement for a home in Gangi, Italy, costing only one euro, he heads down only to find houses in need of thousands of dollars' worth of work to be livable. The quaint, medieval town is populated by friendly people and other artists, but will he be willing to attempt the incredible renovations?

Traveling the world has always been a major component of Oliver and Jaclyn's relationship, so when an opportunity to advance his engineering career came up in Groningen, they jumped at the chance to explore the Netherlands. They want their 2-year-old daughter Roma to have an adventure that feels different from suburban Ohio, but they have opposing views on what that looks like. Jaclyn feels the best way to immerse in Dutch culture is to take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live on a houseboat. Oliver feels the family doesn't need to take as deep of a plunge to get an authentic experience in Groningen, but Jaclyn's dreams may be too big to refuse.

Joe and Kaitlyn love to travel, so when Joe got the opportunity at work to transfer to San Jose, Costa Rica, he was quick to accept. His wife, Kaitlyn, was more apprehensive, since it meant she'd have to give up her career in law and shift from a working wife to a stay-at-home mom for their daughter, Lucianna. Now that they're down to only one salary, Kaitlyn has got her eye on the budget and is concerned with finding a home that's safe and suitable for the whole family. Joe on the other hand has a tendency to be slightly impulsive, with a history of knee-jerk decisions like buying a house off the internet. Kaitlyn will have to keep tabs on Joe to make sure he doesn't spend more on their new home than they can afford.

Randy is looking to live his dream by moving to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, with his high school sweetheart, Debbie. Randy wants to live on the beach, no matter the cost, but Debbie's priority is finding a house large enough for their kids while maintaining stability for their financial future. Their real estate agent is caught between the clients and their wishes...will he be able to talk Robert into a more affordable home further from the beach?

Cindy and Alex head to Montezuma, Costa Rica, any time they need a break from daily life in Massachusetts. They want their daughter, Domino, to be exposed to other cultures, so they're looking to move to their relaxation spot permanently. The couple agrees this is an amazing opportunity for their daughter to have a worldlier view but they're on completely different pages as to where to find a home. Cindy wants a laid-back beach lifestyle, but with Alex pining to live in a remote jungle environment, Domino may be the only one to help settle their standoff.

Paula and Jason have relocated to the city of Delft in the Netherlands where she will study for her master's degree in design and he will continue working remotely for an American company. Jason loves the history of Delft with its centuries-old buildings and canals, but living in the historic city center would mean a much longer commute for Paula. Will the couple be able to find a place near the school in the suburbs and stay close to Delft's beautiful canals and cathedrals?

Iowa couple Amanda and Scott are moving the family to New Zealand after Amanda lands a job in Invercargill. The move will likely result in a smaller living space and a lower salary for the home's breadwinner but will also mean more quality time with the family. Amanda is adamant about staying on budget, but will that require material sacrifices for the family?