Extreme Makeover Homes for Sale!

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I always thought these houses were too big and wondered how the people could keep up the expenses of taxes, maintenance and etc. Some of them didn't even fit into the neighborhood - so what did that do to the surrounding houses resale value? Build smaller well thought out houses, energy efficient and affordable!

Rose of WY 1:14PM June 04, 2010

Why would buying one of these homes be like "tossing the family to the wolves"? That is left to the banks where the loan is held (if any) and the counties/cities where the RE taxes are due. As a second owner of a EMHE home, it was more of a case of community recovery. A ton of local people helped build the house and then watched it fall into a state of disrepair. Although we have a lot of work left to do inside and out, we have strangers stop by almost every day to say something nice about our work and share stories of the build and what part they worked on. Unfortunately, they usually share something unkind about family and how bad the home used to look. For us it's been a great opportunity to meet and thank the people who gave of themselves and were truly changed by the experience. As we work and discover things about the home and the incredible property, you can follow along at http://theextremelife.wordpress.com/ I haven't added a lot yet but now that summer is near there should be more updates coming.

K of WA 3:44PM May 11, 2010

The HGTV Greenhome near Plymouth, MA has just been put on the sweepstakes block at HGTV. It is a smaller "cottage" home - only two bedrooms - and is quite diminutive and compact when compared to some homes built in the last several years. A new GMC Terrain and $100,000.00 complete the prize package. My sister was excited about the house and planned to live there if she won. I asked her if she read the "rules" section of the sweepstakes - to which she said, "what rules? You win a house, a car and $100,000.00. That 's good enough for me!" But is it?
The rules clearly state that the 'winner' is responsible for all taxes, insurance and any other monetary fees associated with the transfer of the house and car upon receipt of the prize. That $100,000.00 will cover those expenses - for the first year. Unless you already live in town and are gainfully employed there - you will have to move and obtain employment. Have you looked at the employment rate in town and the surrounding area? Does your employment skill match up to anything that is advertised for employment need?
The truth is, most people trying to win the home will: a.) have a family size larger than can comfortably fit in the home; b.) not be able to afford the upkeep of the home after using the prize money to cover the taxes and fees/costs of accepting the home; and c.) will almost immediately have to sell the home because (given the current economy) they will have no employment in the area to support the home past the one year mark. In example: My brother-in-law is a well driller by trade and makes a good living in CT. He works for his uncle. Can he gain employment in MA? Maybe - although his business is dwindling in CT as new home buiding and sales have dropped dramatically. Is it realistic to think that my sister and brother-in-law can move their family to a new home and immediately gain employment, in this economy, that will support the "prize" of this home? Not likely.
The best my sister can do is to win the home and hope the entire family wants to join together to keep the home as a vacation home which each family can rent out for a week or two at a time. We have a good, close family - hopefully it would remain so if everyone decided to pitch in for a 'family' vaca. home-assuming everyone wants to vaca. in MA. But even then, she would still have to be able to have a caretaker for the lawn and yard maintenance, someone to check on the house periodically during the downtime of not being rented, and the ability to pay all the expenses on the home - insurance, taxes, heat, etc. With all this to consider - Can she really "afford" to win the prize?

KAL of CT 10:29AM April 29, 2010

It is sad to see how some people have to live. I may have to live like that too because of an injury at work. I thing ABC has the right idea trying to help these people, we don't have this kind of help up here in Canada.
BUT If I can't afford to take care of what I currently have , how can I afford to take care of something like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" may build for me.
I think ABS's looking more at ratings than actually helping people.
Build something more realistic and affordable.
Cut out the vacations , get the family to help build to show them how much effort and love ABC and the community has put into their home.
Build two or three smaller energy efficient homes rather than one large show home
Build me a 1400sqft home with all the modern energy efficient items and techniques then builders can come to my home to see the advantages of modern technology
Bet you can't build me a 1200sqft with an warm unfinished basement (no block) with a heated 2 car garage that would only cost me $50 a month or less for heat and light (gas/oil & electricity) in Toronto/Markham Ontario.

Greg 7:25PM March 24, 2010

This particular show just absolutely broke my heart to see these boys when they saw their new home....you could see the deep appreciation....I would hope that people will come together to make sure that they do not lose this home!

Patti of PA 11:01AM February 28, 2010

I've noticed that on some of the shows they do pay off all the morgage. I think 'me in washinton' had a good idea. If they built smaller homes without granite in every corner and payed off the morgages it would work better. Also why don't they do more 'Green stuff'? Thermal heating is a one time shot paymet. You just install it and thats it, you don't have a monthly payment. Things like that would probably help there budget and would ruin the familys all over again. Can you image what it must be like for them? Some were living in shacks and there handed this amazing mansion which they can only afford less than a year and they have to try and sell it so there not in the shelter again, but the market has crashed! I hope ABC is more responsible in thier charity then they seem to be.

Alexis of 3:15PM December 16, 2009

This is just another way middle class working people are slapped in the face. These people don't deserve to be given anything. The people who truly "deserve" a gift like this are the families that go to work, live below their means, save money, don't have more kids than they can afford, don't let their homes and cars fall apart above their heads and under their feet, and pay bills on time. But of course, a family like this would never have to ask for a hand out.
I'm no longer capable of taking care of the maintenance or paying the note on my Mazda because my father is an alcoholic and my mother worked during my childhood. ABC, will you please give me a new Bentley? Please?

Edward of NC 5:49PM December 01, 2009

Seems irresponsible to help a family start a new home and then to only have to sell it. How sad. Maybe Extreme Makeover should find someone to help the families budget their income, find ways to keep their homes and maybe, maybe even pay off their mortgages. How very sad to see families that have been given hope have it stripped away sending them back to lives of silent desperation. Could Extreme makeover build smaller homes that are just as nice so the taxes and utilities aren't so high??

georgie of WI 7:20PM November 13, 2009

if extreme makeover decided to build three homes on the same budget, I would be happier. I mean, who needs four plasma screens in one house. I think those families deserve what they receive. But, ABC could do three times the good with the same budget. I'm sure the people who get these houses would be just as happy and greatfull with their houses completely remodeled and the mortgage paid.
that's all

me of WA 3:17AM October 15, 2009

I think it's a great thing that Extreme Home Makeover does every week for those families, but something I don't think America realizes is that those families have to pay property tax on the new house, extremely high utilities bills on the new house (because they are so big the bill can range from $400-$700/month) and sometimes the old mortgage on the house that was destroyed (because the mortgage wasn't destroyed along with it). I've read where a few families have foreclosed on their beautiful new homes because they couldn't afford to live there. So I can understand where one family would sell the new house. Medical bills, mortgages, existing bills don't go away just because they're on TV and because Ty Pennington decided they deserved a brand new house (which they do deserve and honestly alot more). Again, I think it's a wonderful thing, what the show is doing, but I can also understand if a family needs to sell the house in order to continue to take of their family.

D Chelle of TX 10:35AM October 10, 2009