The Dream Home Neighborhood
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WHOOPS! I did not mean to sound the alarm with my “selection process” wording. The winner is definitely picked at random. I am just curious to see how it all comes together. (With all of those entries coming in online and through the mail, it has to take some coordination, right?)
I meant to also answer CG’s question about the coat closet off the patio door. There isn’t one, but there is room for a cool coat rack by the door.
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I would like to take a moment to address the location and neighborhood concerns. The houses across the street may look modest to you, but probably cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million. I have met the neighbors; they are extremely nice and would be really disappointed to read some of the comments that have been posted. The quaint cottages and bungalows of Sonoma serve as a nice counterpoint to the grand homes of Armstrong Estates. (One cottage in particular was in the middle of a big landscaping/driveway redesign when the pictures were taken).
And don’t worry – you won’t be disqualified if you enter multiple times in one day. Duplicate entries are automatically removed from the system – only one online entry per person per day is registered. Entering for a friend or family member? The legal team says that the entry from your computer will be accepted, as long as the name and e-mail address for the entrant differs from your own.
Your Super Fan,
Gail
Anywhere I go in this world the neighbourhood has needed to change to the best in town. I make sure of that to happen. There is not bad persons just misunderstandings. Each problem has a solution. I have always being recognize for being a problem solver. Even my worts enemies change after knowing who really I am. You demonstrate who you are with your actions. Whoever move to that house will need to have an open mind and realize that is the person coming who need to make the effort to adjust to them and not the opposite. “While in Rome do as romans do.”
GREETING EVERYONE. HERE WE ARE, ONE LAST DAY TO ENTER FOR A LIFE ALTERING OPPORTUNITY. IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF SUCH WONDERFUL AND TALENTED GROUP OF PEOPLE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TIMES LIKE THIS AND THROUGH OTHER STRUGGLES THAT THE TRUE HEARTS OF PEOPLE SHINE THROUGH. I BEGAN MY BLOG JOURNEY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO CATCH UP ON ALL THE COMMENTS OF OTHERS WHAT I’VE LEARNED,AND WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVE IS THAT THOUGH JESUS CHRIST, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. THERE ARE A LOT OF HEART WRENCHING STORIES OUT THERE AND I HAVE FELT SO MUCH PAIN AND JOY AND I CAN IDENTIFY ON BOTH SIDES FROM SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES, SURGERIES, AND RECOVERY NONE OF US ARE AMMUNED FROM THE ILLS OF THIS WORLD,SO IN SAYING THAT I WANT EVERYONE TO KEEP ON DREAMING AND NEVER GIVE UP. I TOO AM WILLING TO HELP WITH A DONATION AND IAM HOPEING TO WIN THIS NEW BEGINNING BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. TO THE PERSON THAT SAY THE NEW OWNER SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO FILL OBLIGATED IN HOSTING A SISP YOUR HEART TRULY IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PRESSURES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED WITH BEING IN A NEW PLACE OVERJOYED AND WITH SO MANY DECESIONS? OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!THANKS TO HGTV FOR THIS WONDERFUL AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO BE A PART OF. THANKS ALSO FOR THE MANY LINES OF INFORMATION THAT WAS POSTED ABOUT TAXES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES,AND THE LINK TO THE LOVELY PICTURE WHICH I HAVE THROUGHLY ENJOYED, I CAN SEE THE INSIDE OF MY DREAM HOUSE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. IAM SORRY TO SEE THIS COME TO A CLOSE BUT IF IT DIDN’T, THEN I CAN’T BE AMBUSHED (LOL). I LEAVE THIS THOUGHT WITH ALL OF YOU, “THE ONLY WAY TO DISCOVER THE LIMITS OF THE POSSIBLE IS TO GO BEYOND THEM INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE”. IAM THERE WITH MY DREAMS ESPECIALLY ABOUT MY DREAM HOME. BE WELL EVERYONE, AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US JUST KEEP ON DREAMING MRS J. FROM MISSISSIPPI.
Everything is absolutely stunning. A real showpiece in a beautiful city and neighborhood.
Congratulations to HGTV on another winner.
Thank you once again for this wonderful home, that has given so many a dream. Loving this house has given me much inspiration and my own dream of being the winner. I notice the sunrise every morning on my way to work, everyday being different in colors . I can only imagine what the sunrises and sunsets off your coast in California must look like. Your colors of the interior are so much a beauty of nature and the design of the farmhouse with vitorian style has reminded me of my great grandparents working farm of my past. I have a 12 year old yorkshire that would love the fancy dog house too. His name is Sir Sabastian, but we call him Sam. Also would like to comment on the change of attidude of some of the negative responses made in some of the blogs. Just another example of the gifts of the heart and souls of all people that we can change the world. Good job HGTV!! Your doing a wonderfull job! Loving every minute of it, BIG DREAMER
This is my 2nd year entering the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway for both me and my mom and I am praying daily (as everyone is) that we win. In Sept 2007 we lost our apartment and most of our possessions in a fire including 2 rescue cats to smoke inhilation they were going to be adopted out that next week. After being blessed by the Red Cross with a hotel to live in for a couple of weeks and a friends floor, we found a rental home that we have been in since Oct 07. We struggle a bit financially but continue to be blessed and give back to our community by working with animal rescue organizations. It would be a HUGE blessing to win the 2009 HGTV Dream Home (I’m sitting at my cubicle now day dreaming of the beautiful neighborhood and I’m sure fantastic neighbors) IF we do not win I pray that it will be someone that has a real need for this blessing and whatever their faith, give thanks to the higher power that made this possible. Good luck to you all.
From an arial view one can easily see the lot line designations in the area. The dream home has been placed on a very narrow strip of land (not a standard sized lot for the area) the property that backs up to it actually crosses over what would be the property line with their outdoor pool area. Maybe a variance was granted in this case, but from an investment standpoint in devalues the dreamhome property. Why was this odd lot chosen?
So sad to say goodbye to fellow dreamers…
It’s all over now! I will miss the excitement of getting up every morning and entering to win this beautiful Sonoma dream. As for me the waiting to hear who wins this wonderful dream home is more exciting than dreaming about me being the winner…I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE WINNER!
We all know someone will win and I hope this beautiful home will be a blessing to them. It’s expensive to maintain a home like this, but my husband and I are up for the challenge.
I’ve read all the blogs and I noticed there is a common thread running through many of them. So many people say they would give anything to live in sunny warm California and get out of the cold snowy climate. Speaking as a lifelong Californian I wouldn’t let not winning this beautiful HGTV home stop me from moving to California. Our lives are so short and we don’t know what our tomorrow will bring. I would pack up and make my dream come true and move to California whether I won or not.
There is plenty of room for you in California and the beautiful weather year around is fabulous. HGTV has shown you just a taste of California, so come and enjoy it for yourself.
Everyone sounds like they would be wonderful neighbors to have!
I forgot to mention why we want to win this dream home. First, my husband has been through two horrifying battles with cancer trying to take his life. After 5 surgeries, chemotherapy & radiation he is winning the war thanks to medical science and God. Second, he has worked 31 years in the healthcare field and he would love to retire on his upcoming birthday March 27th, 09 to start a new beginning.
So retiring in beautiful Sonoma and putting cancer behind us we know living in Sonoma would start a new chapter in our lives.
Good Luck to everyone and maybe you will see me all emotional on TV when they come to my home and tell me I am the winner!
GG- A Happy Californian!
I was trying to post to the best blog for this and thought neighborhood would be good. I was at the gym reading a “C” California Magazine issue from Jan/Feb and ran across an article on a place in Sonoma. The Napa Valley Reserve. It’s a private club, but the library on wine history and wine making was interesting. I was thinking, how cool it would be as “the winner” to be invited once to see the library of books and journals. Or perhaps a one time desert party at the “dream home” with a special reserve would be a once in a lifetime experience (along with winning the home of course). I think this neighborhood and surrounding area has so much to offer!
Ah, oh, I said desert party when I meant dessert party
Who would want a party in the desert when you have a beautiful place in Sonoma…
So, I read that the “winner” (not disclosed, but they talked) of the Somona house was offered 1.2 million cash. By the builder? By HGTV? The houses across the street while they might have been in the 500-1mil range a while back, does not mean a thing since this one is 1.8mil-completely out of line to the neighborhood- then and certainly now.
I understand that the winners know a week or two in advance even before the official announcement, only of course they have to keep mum about it until it’s announced? Well, best of luck to the winners, cause I know it ain’t gonna be me. I hope someone who could benefit financially from the home will win it, and not someone who already has tons of loot.
I was called today by someone saying I won 1000 dollors on the web if I just answered a few questions, when I said I was not interested I hope it was not for the home. This is my dream home, my husband and I would love to love in Sonoma.
That’s very amusing – about the couple who won the last “Dream Home” in Florida – very amusing that they can’t afford the taxes, and can’t sell it. I predicted as much when they gave a little background bio on these people – what were they thinking when they entered this “giveaway”?
From what I’ve read, most of the prizewinners have been forced to sell. Perhaps they should start prequalifying contestants prior to allowing them to enter?
Last year I asked HGTV about an estimate on the taxes and other liabilities on their prize, and they pretty much told me to buzz off. I didn’t enter the contest (even though I’m definitely better off financially than this young couple). It isn’t a can of worms I care to open. From the sound of it, people just refuse to learn from the mistakes of others.
This is my second year to enter the dream home giveaway and i couldnt wish or pray more that i win it for my family . We really need this home it would be a blessing. The home we live in now is literally falling apart. I have three kids, 16, 14, and 12 years old this would open a new way of life for them. I have struggled and had a rough life growing up and had my children young and i am not as fortunate as some, but i want the best for my family. I would be able to pay the taxes i have asked a friend if i won if they would help out with the money due and theres no problem there. I would love to see some young family that really needs it win, especially if they need a safe, enviromentally friendly home. Always praying that i win this home…….
I will never enter again for an unachievable dream home. I do not want the hassle of trying to sell it, taxes etc. Unless you are very wealthy, you will not be able to keep it, so what is the point of it all. It's just a big advertising publicity stunt to get everyone hyped up mentally to think they could actually keep this home. For the price of this home, they could build 20 homes that the average person might actually be able to live in and keep. Plus this is the least favorite home to me that they have ever built. In such a hot climate, you would think they would have built a roof over their outdoor room! The best thing about this home is the views!