Our own international house hunters: Panajachel, Guatemala

We're in the process of securing our next home in Panajachel and feeling like the characters on international house hunters.  Because Pana is highly touristy and also home to a large number of foreign NGO & school workers, there is a lot of turnover in the house/apt market and generally a lot of options ... except in August when it is the height of tourist season and also the month when the majority of foreign workers show up on the scene.  Lovely.

There is plenty of short-term housing available if we can't find the perfect fit before we arrive (in nine days!!), but ideally it would be nice to be able to stay put in one place after a summer of being on the move.

Here's a run-down of our current options:

1 -- at 15% over our max budget, a one-bedroom guest house (casita) in a gated community. Tastefully furnished, with a full kitchen, 1.5 bathrooms and pretty outdoor space. We would essentially make this casita into a studio with nursery; putting Luke in the bedroom and making the living room into our bedroom. It's available 1 or 2 days after we arrive.

2 -- right on our max budget, a one-bedroom apartment in a busy/noisy part of town.  Move-in ready with great kitchen, decent living area and huge bedroom.  The furnishings are just okay and there's no outdoor space except for a small patio.





























3 -- at 8% over our max budget (but includes electricity and a weekly housekeeper), a one-bedroom apartment on a very quiet lane and close to Jason's school.  Lovely outdoor space, but very spare interior.  Only a stove top and rather small fridge in the kitchen; a dining room with nice table, but no living/sitting room.