Visit the HGTV Dream Home in the Florida Keys
If you’re going to be in Islamorada in the next few months, you can visit the HGTV Dream Home for a tour! The home will be open for tours from Jan. 3 through March 2, 2008. Tours are being managed by the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the organization. You can find more information on the tours by visiting the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter website.
Also, starting New Year’s Day at 9am ET, you can enter the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway for a chance to win the gorgeous home in the Florida Keys, complete with all the designer furnishings, plus a new GMC Yukon Hybrid. It’s a grand prize package worth more than $2.2 million. And you can enter once a day from Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, 2008. You can find out more about the prizes, and read complete rules, right now on the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway page.
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ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING ME MAD! Why are people complaining??? If you don’t want the house don’t enter the give away…this will give people like ME the a better chance!!!
I LOVE HGTV!
The Federal Income tax is a real issue as posted by JB. The plain truth of the matter is a person of low or moderate income would be forced to sell the “Dream house”. On top of federal income tax of 25 percent of the fair market value of 2.2 million dollars, there is local property tax (assuming you actually own the property) and maintenance costs associated with owning a home designed for a family with a multimillion dollar income. The good news is if you sell the “Dream House” at fair market value, pay all the taxes, and overhead costs. You can buy a home you actually can afford!
They should really call it a “Fantasy House” because HGTV is catering to all our fantasies about becoming wealthy and having a rich and famous life style. Refer to the following web site for a reality check.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38491.asp
don’t foget to rinse the sand off your flip-flops in my out door shower before coming in!
I am totally unimpressed with this ‘dream’ home. It appears to be a smaller home, crazy layout with 3 floors and the entertainment room leaves little to be desired with a wall of windows. The location to me is questionable also. I’m on the west coast, but wouldn’t this area be susceptible to hurricanes?
We visit Islamorada every April. Though we live exactly at the other end of route 1, we love the islands of the keys, the animals and of course the beautiful blue waters. Coming from a world of below zero temps and white piles of snow, entering the keys is heaven to us, if only for a week. Whomever wins this home would be truly lucky. Good Luck to all!
HGTV – truly makes dreams come true. I want so bad for my family to enjoy this beautiful house. With all the hardships and stress that we have dealt with all our lives…..this place is so peaceful…it could probaly cure most forms of stress…HGTV..you did it again.
Whoever gets this bad boy…congratualations and happy fishing!
Love the 2008 dream house. What more could anyone ask for in a home. Thanks HGYV
I was wondering if someone from HGTV was going to respond to blogg entries? So far, it hasn’t been clear that they have…..why, you ask? I, too, am interested in a few clarifications. 1. Do you win the property? 2. What is the storm protection? I find it very odd that there is a “ground floor” (homes on Anna Marie Island up north a bit, for example, must now be on “stilts”, over the the projected storm serge. There does not appear to be any hurricane shutters (again, new properties on Anna Marie Island all have them). Can someone from HGTV comment on the code requirements in the Keys (I thought the ones on Anna Marie Island were STATE requirements, but I must be wrong???). Thank you!
What a Beautiful House! It’s truly a Dream Home! I am a Florida Native. I was a born in Sarasota, Florida March 1,1966. My husband and I lived on the West Coast of all of lives, until 2003, when we decided to spend our 12 th Anniversary in Weaverville,North Carolina. After, that trip I talked my Husband into us moving to NC in 2003. WE have since taken 2 vacations to West and East Coast of Florida. Each trip, I realized how much I miss living in Florida. It took me leaving Florida to realize how much I belong there. I don’t feel connected to North Carolina. I want to move back to Florida more then anything in the whole world. I know this deep in my heart. One day, I hope we can move back to Florida. I watch HGTV all the time. Then I saw the commercial for the 2008 Dream Home giveaway and I knew I had to enter the contest! To win the 2008 Dream Home would be my dream come true!
Best Wishes to All!
These comments are depressing me. You must pay at least $600,000 in income taxes, $15,000 a year in property taxes, money to the “condo” site for the pool and maintenance every year, AND you are not allowed to sell the home, nor do you actually own the property it is located on. Wonderful, no one seems to be winning anything special.
THAT HOME NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, IT’S ALSO SPECTACULAR WITH ALL THE AMINITIES AND WONDERS OF IT’S SURROUNDINGS, IT IS PARADISE!! THE COCONUT TREES, THE BEACH AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT REMINDS ME OF MY HOMELAND, THE PHILIPPINES!! LIZ RHINE
I love the 2008 DReam Home! I’m a Native of Florida. I was born in Sarasota, Florida
March 1, 1966. Both my Husband and I grew up in West Florida. I talked my Husband, Mark into moving to Western North Carolina in 2003, after spending our 12th Anniversary there. We have lived in Western North Carolina ever since. We have taken 2 vacations to East & West coasts of Florida since we have lived in North Carolina. Both times we visited Florida, I realized how much I miss and love Florida. I didn’t truly appreciate it until I moved away! Then I realized how much I belong in Florida! I want to move back to Florida more then anything in the whole world. My Husband & I have talked about it. We don’t know if we will be able to move back. But, I stay hopeful that one day we will be able to move back to Florida. I don’t feel connected to North Carolina. I know deep down in my heart that Florida is my home! Everyday I hope that a miracle will happen and we can move back to Florida! If we get to go back, I will be so happy! I will feel an inner peace that I haven’t felt since we moved to North Carolina. It’s beautiful in Western North Carolina, but I know I don’t belong here. Everyone has a special place that they feel connected to, and I know that Florida is mine! I would love it, if we could win the 2008 Dream Home in Florida! It would be a Dream come true! To be able to be near the ocean and sand when ever I wanted, instead of seeing it once every year or every 3 years! Our Family and most of our friends are there. I miss them terribly. I will stay hopeful!
Best Wishes to All!
Andrea C.
To win a home like this would be a dream come true. We have visted the keys only a few times and enjoyed ourselves so much; even though we were camping in tent all 6 of us. I'd appreciate a free week in the house. Audrey from PA
There is absolutely no doubt that this is my and my wife’s dream home. We have a dream of someday living in the tropics. Winning this home would be a god send. But in reality, who can actually afford to win this home. Certainly not me with all of my current financial obligations. The taxes on the vehicle alone would put me out, let alone the property taxes or the income taxes for winning the home. Only people that already have enough money to build their own dream home could really afford this.
I agree with JB and WJV comments also JB if they were to include any prixe money to cover the taxes w=you would be taxed on that too. I would like to know what wappen with the past Dream homes at pepole won and if they sold it or kept them. and how they are donig today.
I just logged on to check floor plans. I am amazed and diasappointed that an elevator was not included! All new construction I have stayed in along the southern coast has all included an elevator,not just for disabled people, but to get groceries and luggage upstairs!! with the master on the third floor, I would have thought an elevator would have been a primary consideration.
For the Keys this is the perfect house for this setting. I know I am going to love living in my new house by the beach. If you do not like the setup, please do not enter.
We haven’t been to see the DREAMHOME yet but can’t wait to go visit. We just moved to Florida 6 months ago and have been house hunting. We have visited the Florida Keys for numerous vacations. We love Islemorada. We stayed at Cheeca Lodge a few times and loved it. We stayed in Big Pine Key, Hawk’s Cay and Key West. We love Islemorada the best. It’s beautiful there. It’s our favorite “Key”. What a dream it would be to win the DREAMHOME. Especially because we don’t have a home and are currently looking for one. We will keep entering and keep our fingers crossed that our move to Florida has been a good one and a lucky one!!!!!!!!!!!! Ann & Jack Summerlot
has anyone seen my lost shaker of salt?
A beautiful Home! We love watching HGTV! My daughter graduates high school this year and as usual my husband and I are “fixing up” our 4th home–my daughter said, “I’ve never lived in a home that was not under construction!” Unfortunately, we’ve made no money fixing up, my husband likes to buy houses, watch HGTV, construct, live for a while and find another. He’s very handy-I think he needs to be a builder instead of a diesel mechanic! We can’t wait to win (I’m dreaming big-no more “fixing up”). My husband has always wanted to go to Key West-maybe this is the cure!
WOW, a dream would come true..what more could a man give his wife and family but this. Having served in the Marines for 20 years and then another 13 years with a local sheriff office helping troubled kids. What a wondeful location to spend with a loving wife and family. We visit the Keys as much as we can and we always love it and return as much as we can…What can a person say…WOW WOW WOW WOW. A DREAM COME TRUE
My family and I are MADLYYYYY in love with this house! Every Dream Home contest you name it we’ve entered in it but we have never won any! My family and I would Love to live in a house like this! and we could never afford a house this Great PLEASE PLEASE choose us we absolutly love the beach and have always dreamed of moving to Key West but we just figured we couldn’t afford a good house in such a popular area. WE WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS YEARS HGTV DREAM HOUSE !!!!!!!!
love,
The Stovers
I really love the “Dream House” for 2008. It looks beautiful and seems to be peaceful in it’s enviroment. I pray that I win it,and I also pray that I can afford the taxes that have been mentioned.Good Luck To All!
HGTV’s dream homes are always a wonderful fantasy including this one. That said…I also have to admit that I agree with every negative comment..not that I want to be a complainer it’s just beause the comments are valid and plain truthful. Even though we might not want to hear down sides to our dream..you can’t argue with the truth. I don’t want to dwell on what the house is lacking…no elevator, no storm shutters, no covered outdoor kitchen, the small cluttered rooms etc. I mean how many of you would drag all those wicker chairs outside to dance in the TV room. Winning this or any home would be a dream and we all know about not being able to pay the taxes and how most folks would have to sell the home. Hey..you still come out ahead. Last year’s location was cold and this one is hot but still the location is amazing and HGTV used the vendors who were supplying the merchanise and the developer’s plan for 3 story homes squeezed on the property. It’s a well built home and anyone would be blessed to have their name announced as the grand prize winner. Hats off to the folks at HGTV.
This house is beautiful!! It is a dream, I want to win it, I would love to live in it, but ideally, I would sell it to a person or family who would take pride and joy in owning this house, and to someone who would enjoy this house for many years!! I think HGTV did a fantasic job, and think on a positive note, they created something different than years past!….
Someone asked if any of the past Dream Home Winners were able to keep the houses. From what I have read, not one single winner is living in the home. All were sold due to not being able to afford to stay and pay the income tax, let alone the property taxes and upkeep. But, they did come out with some decent profit and were able to build their own homes. Also, you dont owe the income tax until NEXT April 15th (2009) because it is considered this years income. This year there seems to be no cash prize as in years past to help with costs. Not sure why that is.
By the way, you can all dream but this house is mine! I have “the secret” on my side
I feel in love with your home and the choice of the location. Last year Dec.5,2006 I fell where I was working in the parking lot of a Nursing home and broke my neck. Later doctors put a metal disc with 4 screws implanted in my neck. This year I started loosing feeling in my arms, nerve damage. I am disabled by the state and would just be thrilled to have a chance to start over and wake up to warm sunny days and those beautiful views at night overlooking the water. It has got to be just like living in heaven. I can not say enough about watching your program during dinner time it has taught me so much thankyou. Please, consider my request, Charlene
The rules never say that you can’t sell the house it just says that the sponsers will not let you trade it for cash. I love the house and hope to win even if I can only spend a few days there before selling it due to taxes and such. Good luck everyone!
I am loving my absolutely gorgeous new dream home in Islemorada. It is MINE!
PS
And NO I WILL NOT BE SELLING IT….. If the need arises I will gladly sell a kidney or any extra body part to cover the taxes.
The Keys is a very magical place; however, remember that these islands are very tough terrain….and the only way to get between the islands is the massive bridge system…even if you fly into Marathon..you still must drive. Anyway my point to those of you who speak of the lack of open airy floor plan and not being accessable to the disabled ….is sadly the Keys don’t often offer up to these challenges. I spent 6 months research where my family of 6+ extended family could stay…it was on Marathon….beautiful home…but most of the places you rent are not designed for large accomodations and it rented for over $5k for the week. This is a beautiful home that accomodates a lot of sleeping space…after all it is the keys and you would be a full not to take advantage of the awesome Fishing and Diving Experiences….This is beautiful and comfortable home…hats off to HGTV I believe they have delivered once again. By the way if you get the chance…you really must scuba dive at Louey Key…….it is spectacular! The best beach in the keys is Bahia Honda check that out too…not to far from Islamorada!
Confused? Can’t sell the home. How could your average person pay the luxury taxes on winnings like this?
I got so excited when the new “dream home” location came out. Like so many others, we’d love to be there and live in that beautiful home. But, after dreaming of my family living there and experiencing all there is to do and entering the contest every day, reality has sunk in and now I think our dream couldn’t be, even if we were blessed enough to win. As magical as it is and wonderful of HGTV to give away a home every year, this contest really isn’t open to us all. We could not afford the income tax and taxes that go along with this home. I want to dream of winning this house just like everyone else, but this could turn into a nightmare.
All I can say is WOW!!! If we were to be the fortunate winners of this lovely home which is placed in the ideal location, we would move in ASAP. We love the ocean and sand. My lifelong dream has been to live on the ocean. Ironically, we live in the desert (not our choice). The 2008 is not only a “Dream Home” (and I do mean “Home”) but also a “Dream Location”
I’ve literaly dreamed and pictured my family living in each of the HGTV Dream Homes since it first began, however, this year’s colorful 3-story beauty is absolutely the most perfect one for my family. Jack Thomasson not only designed a magnificent architectual structure, but the location this year in Islamorada, Florida is simply gorgeous! In additon, Linda Woodrum’s interior design theme is coordinated perfectly with the architecture and warm climate home. Congratulations HGTV on a job well done! Hopefully, it will my name selected this year as the winner of the HGTV Dream Home. My family would certainly enjoy a warm climate home away an entire life in Ohio.
I just love the home HGTV has built this year. I am hoping and praying that it will belong to me and my husband on March 16th. We both need something good in our lives. We are from NJ and have had medical problems since 1992. So a home in Florida would give us something to look forward too. And Brian, the open lots on either side of the “Dream House” Or should I say “MY Dream House”? are for seven other houses going to be built around and make a small community. Hope that helped you. Wish us luck as I wish luck to you all, Good Luck to all of us>
I LOVE THIS YEARS DREAM HOME….I SIT AT WORK AND DREAM OF RETIRING SOMEWHERE WARM NEAR WATER..I’M SORRY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY. I BELIEVE A DREAM HOME WHICH WAS BUILT WITH LOVE AND TRUE DETAIL CAN BE ANY SIZE. I’LL STILL DO MY DAY DREAMING AT MY DESK WITH THIS PICTURE NOW. THANKS
If I was lucky enough to be the winner of this years “Dream Home” I would be truly thankful for my blessings, however as a mother I was a bit shocked to see that the kids room is on the ground floor and the master suit is 2 flights up. Not to mention that the kids room has glass doors in it with access to the outside(not very safe). I tried to overlook it by saying I would just put my parents in that room instead and have the kids upstairs but my mom is handicap and there is no bathroom on the ground floor. There is no way in the middle of the night she could head upstairs to use the rest room. and it does have me baffled that they wouldn’t think to put a bathroom on every floor in a million dollar home.
Not to mention that there are only 2 other bedrooms besides the master suit. This doesn’t leave you with many options for small children and persons with special needs.
I think this years dream home is beautiful and being near the ocean would be a dream come true but it’s just hard not to think of the “real life” needs of your family once you get there.
Good luck to you all!
As I watched the HGTV Dream Home tour this morning all I could think was this is not my dream home but my family’s dream home. My husband is an avid fisherman and we have three boys. The “fishing room” has fly rods as well as spinning rods. HGTV thought of everything. Even a dog house for our golden retriever, Kelsey! We live in Chicago so what better place to have a dream home than in beautiful, sunny Islamorada for family and friends to visit.
I am curious, why does HGTV seem to only build 3 bedroom houses for the price (2.2mil). There is not enough room for my 4 kids in the layout. I would not put my young children on the 1st floor and have myself 2 floors up. The home seems designed for a family with grown children or none at all.
i’m hoping for the runner up prize. good luck to you all…..
I am so amazed at what i would call the dream team this house is a work of art . And florida of all places so beautiful. Dreaming away with my military man that we will get the house . Lots of love
aubree ann
O MY GOD! I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY! What else is there to say? What a dream that would be…. The closest I’ll ever get to a place like that is the Sherwin Williams store down the street so I have that going for me! great colors huh?! haha
I love this year’s dreamhome! And the view is like heaven! I would be grateful to win and would appreciate everything about this gorgeous home down to the smallest well thought out detail. My family and friends would enjoy it as much as I do and we would love spending our days experiencing this magnificent home, the extraordinary beach and ocean, the town and of course the beautiful sunsets. We would share many memories with family, friends and also our new neighbors who I’m sure would be as friendly and appreciative as us living in a little piece of paradise. This year’s dreamhome is incredibly perfect!
I watch HGTV everyday and love most all the designs that are used and I have used some of the helpful projects in my own home. I love the dream home in the Keys of Florida and what a beautiful spot for a winter retreat. We who live in the northern states can understand what I mean. Whoever wins this home, enjoy it, and good luck to everyone who has entered.
People shouldn’t enter to win if they cannot afford the approximately $600,000 to $700,000 in income tax that would be due. People forget about that minor detail – a prize winning is treated just like income. Property taxes are an additional annual expense along with whatever homeowner fees there are in the development – easily $3000 per month. Do not enter if you cannot afford it because it lowers everyone elses chances.
The site plan at http://www.theshoreislamorada.com/property.html is distressing, if not surprising. I expect the entire property will be developed from the back forward, with each house’s view being spectacular … until it’s sold, and the next one is built. The last two should have truly great views.
The furnishings are seriously trite and dull – I’d expect more style than this in a rental condo. But, it appears that most posters here simply adore it (or perhaps they think that flattering posts will help thir odds!) I assume that impact-resistant glass explains the absence of window shutters, I don’t think Monroe County would allow otherwise.
It is correct that this will come with a $600,000+ Federal income tax bill in 2009 (because prizes are income, and it alone will put the winner in a 36% tax bracket), and the property taxes and fees would be at least another $3,000 per month. There’s also the cost of insuring this ‘waterfront’ home – separate flood and wind coverage in addition to regular homeowner’s – figure another $1000+ per month.
With all that said, I do not expect anyone to refrain from entering as a result – Like (apparently all of) the previous winners, any winner can sell the prize and still come out ahead (the rule only says you can’t opt for cash instead of the house).
But it is curious as a result – do we hope the winner is someone who can afford the taxes and fees to keep the house (and thus who could likely afford to buy their own dream house) or do we hope it goes to someone who could not afford to buy a dream house, thus someone we know must sell it rather than enjoy it? It makes for an odd contest.
Beautiful home and location, Keep up the great work HGTV.
Sincerely
The Todd Family
I think the home is beautiful but I was a little disappointed that it seemed more like a vacation rental than an actual home. Did anyone else notice the small bed in the Master bedroom? With that much space upstairs for a master suite, you would think they would have planned more room for a King sized bed!
It’s a beautiful house though. Too bad its going to be crammed around by other houses soon.
Oh my!! I am dreaming and hoping my dream come true. I have never won anything boy, I sure wish I could win this one! I already have it planned out how I would enjoy such jewel with my friends and family and breath in the wonderful sea breeze. Can’t wait!! Hopeful like everyone else.
I went to see the house on Saturday. The house is beautiful. It is built as a vacation home. There will be 7 additional homes built on this lot and the lost is not a large one at all. I also found out that the taxes that you would have to pay in order to move into the house and get the vehicle are $600,000. Yes, you read correctly. $600,000. If you decide to keep the house you would also have to pay association fees. They plan to build a pool and a marina with 8 boat slips – one for each home so I am sure that the association fees will be hefty. I guess that’s why everyone has to end up selling the home when they win.
The home is Beautiful……I really hope that someone who is in need of a home win…That person would be me…….Keeping my fingers crossed and continue to pray for a miracle well deserved and needed…….Alisa