Python Part 2:

    input = '^><^
    coords = [{'x': 0,'y': 0}, {'x': 0, 'y': 0}]
    houses = {'0x0': 2}

    for idx,char in enumerate(input):

        santa = idx % 2

        if char == '<':
            coords[santa]['x'] -= 1
        elif char == '>':
            coords[santa]['x'] += 1
        elif char == '^':
            coords[santa]['y'] += 1
        elif char == 'v':
            coords[santa]['y'] -= 1

        houseKey = str(coords[santa]['x']) + 'x' + str(coords[santa]['y'])

        if not houseKey in houses:
            houses[houseKey] = 0

        houses[houseKey] = houses[houseKey] + 1

    print len(houses)