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Tampa Couple's 2006 Search Reflects A Different Era Of 'House Hunters'

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2007

A new episode of HGTV's "House Hunters" takes us back to the good old days of February 2006, when the Tampa real estate market was unreal.

The episode, "And Baby Makes Three," features a Tampa couple, Jim and Lisa Thomas, who are on the hunt for South Tampa home.

They are expecting a baby and have to act fast because homes are selling so fast.

The half-hour episode debuts at 10 p.m. Thursday and will repeat often in the coming months.

"It will be interesting to see how this one is edited because the market has changed a lot since it was taped," real estate agent Sue Paskert says.

"Back then, the buyers were renting a condo on Harbour Island and had already lost one or two houses that were sold faster than they could make an offer."

In early 2006, buyers would sometimes engage in bidding wars over homes.

Nearly two years ago, Paskert, a sales associate with Keller Williams Gulf Coast Realty, was tipped off by a friend that "House Hunters" was looking for a real estate agent in Tampa. She sent the producers a videotaped audition and was selected for the episode.

"It turned out to be a lot of work because I had to get releases from everyone involved, including the buyers and the sellers," she recalls.

She says the production crew spent three days in Tampa.

"We worked from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and they did one house each day," she says. "We ended up at the park at Ballast Point signing the contract on a picnic table."

The crew came back during the summer of 2006 after Lisa Thomas had given birth and the couple had settled into the new home.

The popular "House Hunters" program features buyers who have narrowed their choices to three homes. Paskert says the Thomases actually looked at more than a dozen.

The final choice came down to location and the traditional look of the house, Paskert says.

"I enjoyed the experience," says Paskert, who has lived in Tampa since 1945.

Paskert specializes in homes in South Tampa and on Little Gasparilla Island, one of the barrier islands between Sarasota and Fort. Myers.

The Plant High School graduate earned a degree in education from The University of Tampa and taught grades two through 10 at public and private schools.

She says she started selling real estate in 1987 and stopped in 1996, when she was diagnosed with leukemia.

"I fought it for 71/2 years, and I beat it," she says. "I went back to real estate because I like to help people. I work at my own pace."

She says she plans to do another "House Hunters" episode involving homes on Little Gasparilla Island.

"I just need to find the right buyers," she says. "And the market is a little slow right now."

LOCAL BAND CUT: Clearwater-based pop band Tres Bien! got the ax on the last episode of Fox's "The Next Great American Band."

The band managed to make it onto the show, which is something because thousands of bands auditioned and only 12 were selected. There are five bands left in the competition.

Cute and a little quirky, the band seems rooted in the 1960s. The Monkees come to mind when they take the stage.

Tres Bien! consists of Ryan Metcalf, Michael Bostinto, Cody Wilson and Michael Crowe. These former high school chums started playing music as a way to meet girls.

After being on this Friday night reality show, they might get more gigs and perhaps a recording contract.

CHANNEL FLIPPING: The annual showing of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is on at 8 tonight on CBS. It's been around since 1964, but this time it has been digitally enhanced for high-definition TV.

Also on CBS at 10 tonight is another annual holiday special, "Victoria Secret's Fashion Show." The undergarment and lingerie company says the fashion show helps guys decide what to get their loved ones for the holidays. It's a mix of music (the Spice Girls are performing) and skin. There will be 61 outfits on display — so guys, take notes.

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