Extreme Makeover Homes on Market
By: Diane Tuman, Content Manager | May 23, 2008
Update, June 2, 2008: A reader informed us that another Extreme Makeover home is for sale. This one is listed for $949,000 and it is owned by the Sears Family in Martinez, CA. Interested? The listing is by Diablo Realty.
Original post:
I couldn’t help but notice recent headlines announcing that several Extreme Makeover Homes are for sale. Some are for sale because the owners can’t afford the upkeep and taxes (kinda hard going from an 800 sq ft home to a 3,500 sq ft home) and others because of changes to the family. Here’s what I found:
- Atlanta, GA (Harper Family) - For Sale: $950,000. Listed by RE/MAX
- Sandpoint, ID (Hebert Family) - For Sale: $529,000. Listed by Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty
- Pennsauken, NJ (Marrero Family) - For Sale: $499,900. Listed by ZipRealty. Reports are unclear, but this home might be off the market since it’s owned by Urban Promise Ministries, which donated the land for the house.
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- Categories: Home Improvement, Real Estate, Zillow
Comments
26 Comments so far
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| Redfin Boston Sweet Digs on May 24, 2008 2:12 am
[…] More Extreme Makeover: Home Edition homes on the market. Maybe these people need some financial guidance. [Zillow Blog] […]
Realestator on May 25, 2008 4:46 pm
OK, if I may play devil’s advocate. How can anyone be sure this wasn’t their plan all along? I guess it would depend on how long after the makeover the house went on the market, but I would be curious…..
Sell My House on May 27, 2008 11:28 am
It is very interesting to see that these houses that were custom built for the family are for sale. I’m sure they will never be able to get another home that is similar or as nice.
I also wonder what the TV show thinks of this.
Lisa on June 18, 2008 8:50 pm
There is yet another house from EHM that may go under foreclosure. It is the house from Altamonte Springs Florida. Sadie Mae Holmes is being forced to pay for fees from Seminole county, due to having a truck at her home to help the needy. She has complied with all that the county has asked. She owes about $15,000 in fines. For more info on this check out http://www.wftv.com
Karsten on July 28, 2008 1:35 pm
The show reminds me of foreign aid a few decades ago. A lot of good intentions and tons of money - but thanks to ignorance of the willing donors the help offered does not help at all or results in more problems than the recipients had before.
I occasionally stumble across this show and EVERY TIME have wondered how any family in their right mind will keep the houses that are created for them. Asides from being build in a rush (and maybe, just maybe, not so well), they are huge, considerably more costly to maintain and operate than anything they had before, and packed full with gadgets and styling elements that you are probably sick off after two weeks. Or when the kids reach puberty and cannot stand looking at frogs /pink /whatever-you-liked-when-you-where-11.
In my opinion this show, the designers, and the host behave like children in a candy store without displaying much far-sightedness. And selling the house they received and buying something reasonable is exactly what I recommended to those families from my living room every single time. Imagine you keeping your life and income the same but all the sudden having a house that is 5 times bigger. You would go crazy. There is a thing a too much house.
These huge houses are so yesterday, so over the top, and so embarrassing if you look at the state of the world and environment. This is what happens if you let shallow people interested in TV ratings and who cannot possibly understand (or consider) your situation and LONG-TERM NEEDS decide for you. Just like your kids when they pick a present for you - You get what they want.
Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com
kristen on July 28, 2008 2:22 pm
This story is just disgusting. It just goes to show you giving people something for nothing NEVER solves the problem. They continue to make the same bad choices. The Harpers had nothing invested in that house and they couldn’t care less if it goes away. People need to learn to help themselves….now there is a novel idea. Get off the gravy train. Kristen
Leisel on July 28, 2008 4:31 pm
I’m sad but not surprised. The families receiving these houses usually have severe financial issues, poor habits, unemployment drama and are unable to provide for themselves—even when it is handed to them!!! I understand the intent and the desire to help unfortunate people—-you just can’t give anybody anything and expect them to be able to rise above it all. If an adult is unable to make things “work” within their current circumstances—you can’t really expect them to cover costs for a house that is triple the size of what they would normally have. Extreme Makeovers should be for sincere families that just need fine tuning—-not welfare families that are unable to care for themselves much less an expensive house.
Of course, you realize the day of Extreme Makeovers is now gonna get the shaft. Thanks alot Harper Family for being ignorant and clearly lazy—-Get a job and pay your bills.
Extreme Makeover Foreclosures | Zillow® Blog on July 30, 2008 10:14 am
[…] those Extreme Makeover homes that had been listed for sale? Well, now comes word that not one, but two of the Extreme Makeover homes are now in foreclosure. […]
mom of special needs child on July 30, 2008 1:21 pm
How can anyone who has not walked in the shoes of some of these families cast stones? If the ” powers that be” behind EM truly were concerned with helping these families they would use some real brains and common sense and build homes that these families could afford to live in and maintain. But as someone else already stated it may have been the intention of the family to sell all along. That makes perfectly good sense. What would not make sense would be stay in a home knowing you did not have the financial means needed until you were faced with foreclosure. As badly as I would love to have someone knock down my 60 yr old out of date unairconitioned house and build a new one with everything new and funtioning, I have looked at the contract EM has these people sign and old my husband there is no way I’d sign something like that.Our famiy of 5 may live on one modest income and be faced with constant unplanned medical needs for our child but we get by with the Lord’s help. I drive by homes like EM makeove homes every day and they look like social status symols to me just screaming out ” Look at me! Look at me! Aren’t I important?!” Awhile back I read where a family who had won a ” sweepstakes home” was trying to sell it for the newly built appraised price of $1,000,000 after living in it for a year before waking up to the reality that it was impossible to maintain and it had sat on the market for months with no bites. A financial advisor stated that what they should have done which is what a small percent do was immediately put it on the market brand new and old it.That is very sensible. What I do not agree with is the family that accepted the new EM home on the grounds that they had taken in 5 orphaned children from their church and needed more room then after the completion of the home kicked the 5 orphaned children out because they said it was not their home resulting in the children suing the foster family.Nothing is truly free but some folks never learn.
Karsten on August 6, 2008 9:01 am
Some people are sooooooo short-sighted!
It is NEVER appropriate or intelligent to give anything to anybody they are not equipped to handle. Be it ability or willingness, for some it is just not important to have a huge house. They care about other things. Or they have to care about other things first. Others cannot handle the responsibility to maintain a house. Giving people who fall into this category a huge, expensive, new home will not help them. That is not rocket science and it had nothing to do with “gravy train”, ignorance, or lazyness.
If you want to help people you enable them to help themselves. What wbout a house that is small (about the same size than before, maybe a bit bigger), energy efficient (and therefor cheap to run), built well (and therefor cheap to maintain), and designed to last aesthetically as well?
But no! This does not represent the American Dream in which anyone can get anything and keep it too if you just want to and are willing to work hard to get it. Bigger is better.
Folks, get off your high horses! I own a house and I am looking forward to the day to have a much smaller one to begin enjoying what I think is important (rather than constantly fixing the stuff that breaks and worrying about energy costs). Help people by allowing them to follow their interest and giving them a house that is a good strong and long-lasting foundation to build upon whatever they (!) want. Not the designers.
Give someone a fish and they have food for a day - Teach them to fish and they have food for life. This show gives families fish. More than they need and it goes bad. Can’t say I am surprised. Just disappointed with people who should know better and pretend to know better.
Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com
J Humphrey on August 11, 2008 6:25 pm
Let me ask you guys a question… how many homes have you built for your neighbors in the past 6 years? It’s amazing how people have a negative attack to a show that has built literally 100+ homes! HELLO… 100+ homes and 3 of them go up for sale/foreclosure. Keep in mind the one foreclosure is due to the family putting a 450k loan against their house. I’ve watched this show ritually for the last five years and have seen nothing but the deepest of gratitude from these families. And yah… if I’m 11 and had truck bunk beds… of course i’m going to probably change my room, repaint my walls when I turn 15… I mean come on - Home Depot, Lowes… all at discount prices. It’s the principal. (FYI: These rooms ARE built from what the family members want… watch the show)
As we see, all of this has started coming to fruition due to the economy this last year. I imagine ABC and everyone involved with the construction of these homes are all on the same page as the world - green homes. Just a thought….
Wrapping it up, its what makes the world turn for everyone to have opinions, but do you you honestly think that these families are just thrown into a home? Doubt it, but hey that’s just my opinion.
Happy blogging yall!
Karsten on August 14, 2008 1:43 pm
What do you mean, it is JUST your opinion? Your opinion, and anyone else’s makes our democracy work, so please express it. It is a million times (just an estimate) better than JUST watching TV. At least internet is two-way communication and idea exchange if you can leave comments.
From what I can tell from watching the show, every time I watched the people needing a home did not have the means to maintain the home they owned. They recieved a home that was even harder to maintain. Of course they are happy. You think they pick families who do not show those feelings easily? You honestly think they take a risk and build a home for someone who has strong opinions and is not afraid to show them. Also, this is TV. They edit out what they do not like to show.
The “green” home we need to have - you will never see them on this show. To make sense they have to be much smaller than anything they have so far created. They need to use passive solar energy and need to be built they way it makes sense for the area they will be in. Not just a few solar panels, an wind generator and a green roof (in a desert!).But of course they will (and have already in one show) jump on the bandwagon of pretending to be green while not changing any habits. More greenwashing coming your way.
But what do I expect? Deep concerns, rational thinking, and meaningful actions on private US television? Nah. It is limited to entertainment. I keep forgetting.
Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com
Judy on August 18, 2008 11:08 am
I have always told my husband that there is no way that the people they are trying to help can afford the upkeep or taxes involved in thier new improved property. It is a nice concept but they only go for the family’s that get the most “ahhhhh” factor. I have never seen them help an older coulple who just wants a nice little home or just a regular family that fell on hard times for awhile because of a layoff or lost job. They don’t need to build 3,500 square feet homes for everyone. There are lots of families out there that would love about 2,000 sq ft. Imagine being given your dream home only to realize you will never be able to keep it. That’s kinda cruel in a way. They just need to be sure that what they are giving these people they can afford to keep, not just live in till the tax man comes by!
bill perkins on August 18, 2008 3:02 pm
i have found in my 72 years of living that if you get something for nothing it is not as valuable to you if you had worked your ass off for it i have no sympathy for these people
Nancy on August 18, 2008 8:14 pm
I love the last comment about working your ass off. So true. The first time I watched the show I went away thinking how shallow the whole concept of having the largest, best looking house was supposed to make somebody’s life better. I also thought it’s overkill - why not help more homeless people who have but a cardboard box. If you ask me all primetime television is total crap. Also, there are some people in this world, no matter how much money or things they are given, that will do everything in their power to lose it. Why? Because they are losers.
Debra on August 19, 2008 2:03 pm
Teach a man to fish and he won’t go hungry. I want to know why the producers don’t sit down with the families and find out what they can afford as far as taxes and what than is best, maybe it’s better to improve and modernize than completely rebuilding a home way out of their financial reach. Giving them a financial/budget/credit course may also help the families who recieve these make-overs. It’s time maybe the prodicers/sponsors take some responsibility but than again where’s the rating for that?
Rich on August 22, 2008 4:56 pm
I dont’t really see a conspiracy with ABC/EM’s producers/the host, but yes, I do see much shortsightedness in their over-the-top home renovations. Evrybody seems to be caught up in the moment…just watch the show’s dramatic staff, the contractors/suppliers that are only too happy to provide everything with cost being no object, and the giddy families themselves. This show really needs to do analyses of the families’ abilities to afford such homes, as well as the tax ramifications that come along with such large-scale improvements. Habitat for Humanity always checks to make sure that eliigble families can afford their new homes; why can’t EMHE do the same? HfH’s humble abodes don’t get the “wow” factor that EM’s homes do, so ratings might possibly play a part. Regardless, ABC should pull the plug on this irresponsible program. Conspiracy, no…incompetence, yes.
Nancy on September 8, 2008 7:57 am
It’s very simple and some of you have already hit on it - THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE HOMES TO BE SO ELABORATE. A simple, sturdy home is quite enough if these people are really sincere about getting a new home. If these people are really sincere they should be greatful for nothing more than a roof over their heads and warmth in the winter. Some of these homes that they tear down could be remodeled at an enormously cheaper price and would serve the same purpose. If EM is going to put all that money into these homes JUST to be sold for profit, why doesn’t EM take on projects such as helping people get educations and health benifits etc that will really help the family. I’m not saying to stop building homes but they really should keep them to a “reality mode”.
Sally on September 16, 2008 1:25 am
Well … there is a great show on CMT called “Mobile Home Disaster”. They try to introduce comedy into remodeling, but truly, they come in and do a great job remodeling and renovating out-dated mobile homes for people who just can’t afford it. They re-do the entire home and it’s obvious how grateful the people are & yes they can certainly afford to stay. It’s much more realistic and practical. On many of the shows, they give a BBQ for the entire mobile home park or refurbish the playground areas, etc. MUCH more practical - good show!
George on October 7, 2008 10:49 am
3 out of a hundred with loans taken out on them. Taxes are only 2to 5oo a month. Minimum wage and a paper route could support this household….the homes they build are not elaborate to me… get off your high horses and use common sense. this is the thinking that got the economy and government where it is today. If I could only be King for a day….
Sally on October 7, 2008 1:47 pm
Well, by George, you’re right about one thing - “this is the thinking that got the economy and government where it is today”! People building, buying, and living in homes that they can’t afford. Thank you! Good observation! I think the one on the “high horse” is you if you think these are “common sense” homes that aren’t elaborate, totally outpriced in these neighborhoods. Ever heard of “re-sale value”? Of course, to straighten out this problem, we’re about to get a “king” - King O’Bama, who will fix all problems by taxing the hell out of these people! So, sorry, George, the title of “king” is about to be taken! There you go!
Paula on October 8, 2008 1:30 pm
Well, great change of direction, Sally! Will this become
a political blog now? We have one of these homes near me.
I’ve never even seen it and I am a decorator, so the show lost me a long time ago. In fact, TV lost me some time
back - don’t watch or have it now. Why don’t we all get a life and get back to helping each other instead of waiting for a slick TV crew to jump in?
Tina Hansen on October 14, 2008 6:20 pm
We live in New Hartford, Iowa. The flood and tornado truly devastated our town. Jon and I are trying to give Hope to this great town by opening up a restaurant, sorry to say money is very scarce, so the project is over whelming, the appliances were damaged in the flood. We watch these your extreme makeovers for these loving, awesome people, and we are needing some help. If you know of some used equipment for our pizza/restaurant, we could use some help. Our email is listed and our phone number is 1-319-983-4150. God Bless You for taking th time to read this.I pray I am at the correct website. Thank-you. Jon, Tina& Princess Lauren
Charlotte, NC Extreme Makeover House Revealed | Zillow® Blog on October 20, 2008 11:32 am
[…] as being too large for the neighborhood, or they become difficult to maintain or pay taxes on, with some going on the market and some even ending up in foreclosure. The King Family home was a modest, one-story ranch home in […]
kathy on October 24, 2008 9:38 am
I think that this show is valuable and serves a purpose. However, tooo many people are taking advantage and going to ruin this for everyone else. Extreme Make Over needs to make sure the people will not lose the house and make sure they cannot sell it or use it as collateral to the point of losing the home for 20 years. People losing these houses are rediculous. Most people can’t even afford this type of house and then to turn a tragedy story for profit and trying to get money out of a situation is blasphamy. ABC and Extreme Makeover needs to make sure this cannot happen in future homes. the houses they build are elegant and gorgeous and most beyond the common american family’s wealth so whoever gets chosen to receive a home needs to be sure they are in the house for 20 years and cannot lost it due to lack of financial resources.
Robi Roberts on October 26, 2008 12:04 pm
I liked the show at the very beginning but it went way to far.They pick some crying family that has problems and move them from a shack most of the time to a darn mini mall sized home.The one show had a family with kids that were to say it rude: not the sharpest knives in the drawer. The parents looked like brother and sister from another inbreeding event.Neither parent worked since they had “problems” but yet knew how to breed and have a family of mentally crippled kids. Mom should have been fixed and dad as well in case one wasn’t 100%. They gave them plasma tv’s throughout the house, I believe Kohler thousand dollar bathroom fixtures to college funds.WHY? Why move them from a shack to a castle? Build them a NICE home under 2000 square feet with good moderate furnishings. I guess ABC would get lower ratings then. Maybe consider giving the cost of one of these castles to 5 local builders in an area and make several families happy….