About the Hosts, A-M

Learn more about all your favorite HGTV hosts

By FrontDoor.com | Published: 12/14/2009

Sofie Allsopp- Sofie Allsopp, host of HGTV's The Unsellables, worked previously as a real estate and relocation agent in London. She currently has her own company, specializing in finding houses, managing moves and providing services to new homeowners.

She has a degree in medieval history from Edinburgh University. Besides property and history, Sofie is a passionate traveler. She has traveled the world from South America and southeast Asia to Africa and Mongolia.

Mike Aubrey- Realtor Mike Aubrey brings a distinct edge to the new HGTV series, Real Estate Intervention. His military and firefighter training helped shape his direct, straight-shooter approach for families who need his expert advice to sell their homes.

After earning his Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech, Mike became a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. and is the team leader of Mike Aubrey & Associates for Re/Max Metropolitan Realty. Mike also earned several professional credentials, including being a graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI), a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a member of the Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) and a member of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors (GCAR). Since 2004, Mike has made more than $65 million in real estate sales and, in addition to his role on Real Estate Intervention, he has appeared in several HGTV series, including House Hunters and Get It Sold.

Mike is married to his high school sweetheart and resides in Gaithersburg, Md., with their two cats. When he's not working, he enjoys playing golf and taking cruises.

David Bromstad- David Bromstad, the season one winner of HGTV's Design Star, is currently a one of the hosts on HGTV's Color Splash. He is known for his endless energy and out-of-the-box thinking. David began his career as a design student at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. Earnest, passionate, talented and innovative, Bromstad creates awe-inspiring works on many platforms, including custom art, furniture building and interior design.

David says he "blends styles that incorporate realism and fantasy." He combines this approach with a love of color and practical advice that shows how to transform tired rooms into unique, vibrant spaces.

He currently resides in Miami, Fla.

John Daly- Hartford, Conn., native John Daly began working as a newspaper and television journalist after he graduated from Providence College. In 1990 he became the main anchor, then newsroom managing editor for KTNV-13 in Las Vegas, where his work as a producer and host helped the station to win three Emmy awards. John hosted Real TV, a nationally syndicated show, for four seasons, and recently formed Daly Productions, Inc., to develop television and film projects. A self-confessed golf addict, John and his wife, Teri, live in Las Vegas, where he also participates in a variety of charity events, including golf tournaments and telethons.

Jamie Durie- Jamie Durie, an award-winning landscape designer, television host and founder of the internationally recognized Australian company PATIO Landscape Architecture and Design, is an advocate for preserving our natural surroundings and environmental future. Jamie trained with former Vice President Al Gore as a Climate Change Ambassador and regularly participates in environmental lectures around the world.

Born in northern Sydney, Jamie spent most of his childhood in the mining town of Tom Price in north Western Australia. Like most Australians, he loves the outdoors and his deep connection with nature guides him in creating the ultimate outdoor living spaces. His inspiration comes from the vast natural beauty of the Australian landscape, extensive international travel and a passion for Eastern culture and lifestyle through his Sri Lankan heritage. He successfully combines these elements to create his own unique style and approach to landscape design.

Matthew Finlason- Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, Matthew Finlason was introduced to the family construction business at a young age. Learning the ins and outs of property development from his father, Matthew soon discovered that he had a talent for home design. Like his decorator mother, he developed an eclectic knack for breathing life into any dull space. He continues to design and consult for family real estate projects in Toronto, Vancouver and the Caribbean.

A prolific designer for interiors, events and film and television productions, Matthew combined this experience with his background in property development to stage homes for real estate. He offers his design and staging talents on HGTV's weekly series, The Stagers.

Samantha Kleier Forbes- Samantha Kleier Forbes, former vice president for an entertainment PR firm who handled such accounts as Britney Spears, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson, has become one of Manhattan's most respected and successful brokers. Since changing her career to real estate, she has conducted multi-million dollar deals in some of Manhattan's most impressive buildings.

She is a proud member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and is frequently quoted in the New York Times, New York Magazine, The New York Post, The Real Deal and the New York Observer as a real estate expert.

Samantha is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, where she excelled in English and graduated cum laude. Samantha resides in the Upper East Side with her husband and son, Chase.

Donna Freeman- Veteran real estate agent Donna Freeman sums up a home seller's biggest mistake in two words: litter box. Such succinct and brutally truthful observations have earned Donna a loyal following of fans eager to hear what will roll off her tongue next. With nearly 30 years of experience, she knows the importance of show -- and signs of furry four-legged friends aren't what buyers want to see.

The Oklahoma transplant has trained her daughter and cohort, Shannon Freeman, to also tell it like she sees it. Though Donna knows that home ownership is still the great American dream, she's dumbfounded that real estate has become such a hot topic. "People are obsessed with real estate," she says. "Even when we go out socially, people ask us about it. We sometimes make up fake occupations just to get away from talking about it."

Shannon Freeman- Shannon Freeman jokes that she became a real estate agent when she was 3 years old. That stems from a childhood traipsing along with her mother and fellow Designed to Sell agent, Donna Freeman. Though real estate was in her blood, Shannon didn't decide to make a go of it until after she graduated from college.

With eight years officially under her belt, Shannon knows how to make a home appeal to the masses to generate a buzz about it. Fans of the show know better than to be fooled by Shannon's California-girl-next-door looks. She has mastered the art of giving a painful analysis with a loving smile, including in her mother's home. Her latest coup was coaxing Donna to update the dated almond-color switchplates and outlets in her home with bright white ones.

When not critiquing each other's homes or those on Designed to Sell, the sharp-tongued duo pen a newspaper column called "House Rules."

John Gidding- Born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1977, John Gidding attended American schools in Turkey and then Switzerland before moving to the United States for college, where he attended Yale University. An enthusiastic art and math student, he was immediately drawn to architecture and went straight through to Harvard Graduate School of Design for his master's in architecture in 2003.

John has worked in architecture and design firms around the world. His experience ranges from residential and institutional architecture to landscape architecture and urban design. He has worked on such projects as the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Union Square in New York, the campus plan for Carnegie Mellon University and a pavilion for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. His television career started as an offshoot of modeling, which he started to do to pay for graduate school. Having done runway for Armani and Gucci, he was cast to be one of the host/designers on ABC Family's Knock First, a design show for hip teens wanting to update their spaces.

Following the success of his first TV show, he moved to New York City to start his firm, John Gidding Design Inc, and has done numerous residential renovations there and around the country. In 2007, John started an office in Atlanta, where he was thrilled to join the Designed to Sell family on HGTV. While JGDI is engaged in high-end residential projects around the world, John continues to bring his breadth of experience to HGTV's new show Curb Appeal: The Block.

Jodi Gilmour- Jodi Gilmour, property expert and host of HGTV's For Rent, manages one of Canada's largest and most successful real estate franchises. Widely recognized for her professionalism, resources and winning charm, Jodi has abundant experience and warmth that have set her apart from the competition. Whether representing clients across the greater Toronto area, mentoring sales agents or connecting with viewers, Jodi is committed to improving their quality of life. In For Rent she guides clients through the sometimes rocky process of finding the perfect rental by offering ideas for clever space planning and design tips that maximize square footage.

John Gomes- John Gomes, vice president of CORE, has brokered more than $100 million in residential sales during his years in the luxury real estate industry. He has worked closely with buyers, sellers, investors and high-profile clients to buy and sell high-end apartments in New York City. He believes that his success is a direct reflection of the personal attention he gives to his clients.

Prior to his career in real estate, John worked as the maitre d' at Balthazar restaurant in SoHo and later served as the president at the renowned fashion house of Norman Norell. His background in the creative fields of fashion, art and hospitality continues to influence his work and outside interests.

Originally from Boston, John is now a resident of Lower Manhattan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both political science and communication studies and an MBA in management.

Terry Haas- A Pittsburgh native transplanted to Washington, D.C., Terry Haas is now telling it like she sees it on Designed to Sell. She began her career in real estate more than 10 years ago, when she went from counseling disadvantaged children in Pennsylvania to advising eager homebuyers in Atlanta.

She most recently served as regional project manager for one of the nation's premiere real estate companies, overseeing the sale of 3,000 homes in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and managing more than 120 employees.

Terry has the ability to be honest and critical without being cruel, and her in-depth knowledge of the market and keen eye ensures that her clients get the best price for their home. The combination of these qualities made her perfect addition to the Designed to Sell team.

She lives with her husband, Tim, in northern Virginia. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling as much as she can.

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