A Sale of Two Cities: House Hunting in New Orleans and Lake Tahoe
HGTV visits New Orleans and Lake Tahoe in a home search to see and compare what $450,000 will buy. Check out these snapshots offering a sampling of homes and spaces from the search.

By:
David L. Haynes

Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/DenisTangneyJr
NEW ORLEANS: The Big Easy
New Orleans was established as a French colony in 1718, predating the founding of the US by almost six decades. Today, besides its reputation for a relaxed lifestyle and legendary penchant for celebration and fun, New Orleans has retained its character as one of the country's most visually distinctive cities, possessing a rich tapestry of cultural influences and architectural styles.
New Orleans: Touro House
The New Orleans clients were looking for a home in one of the city's older historic neighborhoods and one within walking distance of the shops and restaurants along Magazine Street. This cottage style house on nearby Touro Street fit both criteria and was listed at $450,000.
New Orleans: Touro House
The Touro house was the smallest home that the clients were considering, and also the most expensive partly because of its location. However, it boasted a comfortable feel and a relatively sizable backyard by Uptown New Orleans standards.
New Orleans: Touro House
New Orleans: Touro House
New Orleans: The Touro House
New Orleans: Garden District
New Orleans famous Garden District is filled with beautifully preserved homes and mansions, many of which were built in the 1800s. This Victorian style three-bedroom home with ornate exterior detail, was priced at $445,000.
New Orleans: Garden District
The home had been a duplex but has been converted to a single residence. This impressively long hallway is one of its more distinctive features.
New Orleans: Garden District
The home features a large combined living space and kitchen.
New Orleans: Garden District
Beautiful detailing and woodwork, both inside and out, wood floors and updated kitchen are among the drawing cards for this historic home.
New Orleans: Milan House
The Milan house, listed at $435,000, features a visually impressive front exterior and large porch.
New Orleans: Milan House
The Milan house has an open layout, high ceilings and is well lit with an abundance of large windows.
LAKE TAHOE: The Big Blue
At an elevation of more than 6000 feet, Lake Tahoe is America's largest mountain lake. The surrounding communities in California and Nevada feature beautiful mountain and vacation homes with architecture leaning toward rustic and timber-frame styles.
Tahoe City
The Lake Tahoe clients were looking for a four-bedroom home in a quiet location. This home in Tahoe City was the most convenient to their work and was listed at $489,000.
Tahoe City
The Tahoe City home had a rustic character with plenty of wood, but was somewhat dated with carpeted floors throughout.
Tahoe City
Tahoe City
Lake Tahoe: King's Beach
The King's Beach community just outside Tahoe City has a downtown that's undergoing a revitalization. This newer home in that community was listed at $479,000.
Lake Tahoe: King's Beach
Appealing features of the King's Beach house included hardwood floors and high, vaulted ceilings.
Lake Tahoe: King's Beach
Lake Tahoe: King's Beach
Tahoe Vista
This ski-chalet style home in the Tahoe Vista community, about 8 miles outside Tahoe City, was listed just under $450,000 but would require some inside renovations.