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
AWWWW Gail. That was a much needed post. Thany you so much for explaining the house across the street. The pictures just doesn't do it justice. The picture you posted was so much better then all the previous ones.
I have been saying many times how the houses are really nice.
And that you Kellie, for the update on the Dee's home.
Thanks so much, Gail! I love reading your updates. You were very helpful and I agree with you about the homes. Real estate in California is expensive. I think it’s SO much more important to have nice neighbors – regardless of what their status or income level is!
I do have a question that maybe you can answer about the mail in entries: are we allowed to use return address labels? I emailed HG about it last week, but haven’t heard back yet and would like to get some entries mailed in. I would think that we would, but I was reading the blog and saw that there was a discrepancy on whether or not we could use mailing labels, and that got me thinking about return address labels… could you please clarify?
Thanks so much for your help!
Dreaming Big in PA,
Janet
I Love the HGTV Dream Home. The neighborhood looks beautiful It has character and diversity. It shows that family’s that live there are more concerned about quality of life than living beyond their means. People trying to live beyond their is what got this country in all this trouble in the first place. I would love to live in this house when I win, if I can afford the taxes. I sure enjoy all the dreaming now back to reality.
I think the houses surrounding the dream home are fabulous and anyone thinking otherwise…well..they really need to check their heart.
Living in Armstrong Estates would be a once in a lifetime experience! Can’t wait to move in!
Gail ~ Thank you for your awesome support for us bloggers. You are very informative and offer wonderful advice. I am also a Super Fan and hope to be the one randomly selected. I can’t wait to be living in a nice neighborhood with the home of my dreams – I absolutely love everything about the structure and decor of the home, not to mention the area and the people that live in it. If I am randomly chosen, the home will have very few changes, but for the most part will have the same lovely characteristics of the originaly designers and “creators”. I’m gifted in design & art because I appreciate beauty and God’s Creation. If I am not chosen, I hope the lucky person will share my passion and have the same appreciation. Gail, thanks again for your support and information — maybe we’ll meet some day!
You will be forced to sell if you win this dream house! Read what has happened to last year’s winner from the Key West Citizen newspaper 2.2.2009. Their Florida Keys dream house is their new nightmare:
‘Dream Home’ idles on the market
By Robert Silk Citizen Staff
Even a “Dream Home” is tough to sell these days.
Stephanie and Thomas Dee, winners of the Home and Garden Television Dream Home on Plantation Key in May, listed their famous bayfront home for $2.5 million in July. So far there have been no takers.
“We’ve had some phone calls, but you know, in this market I think people all over have been waiting for things to come down,” said Kathy Rogers, the Dee family’s real estate agent.
The winning couple, from Salon, Iowa, beat out 40 million entries for the fully appointed 3,500-square-foot home adjacent to Founders Park.
Their prize package, valued at $2.2 million, included a 2008 Yukon Hybrid and a luxury dog house sporting a blue and gold exterior that matches the home.
Stephanie Dee, in a recent interview, said the family, including her two small daughters, Sydney and Taylor, had a great time when they visited the home in June for a couple weeks.
“The whole house is amazing,” she said. “There was nothing we changed. The views were amazing.”
Their decision to put the property on the market is in keeping with what most of the first 12 Dream Home winners have done. The high cost of upkeep and property taxes on the fancy homes typically prove unaffordable for middle-income families.
The Islamorada Dream Home, for example, brought the Dees a property tax bill in excess of $13,000 this year. Plus, there are taxes from the winnings. The $2.2 million bonanza would have been treated as income by the IRS.
Stephanie Dees is a physician’s assistant when she’s not out winning houses. Thomas Dees is a contractor.
Despite the big tax hit, winning the Dream Home has been a great experience, she said.
“At times it’s still hard to believe it happened,” she said.
If the couple is able to fetch anywhere near the $2.37 million the home is listed at, they’ll end up faring quite nicely in the pocketbook as well.
“At this point we just want to get the Dream Home sold so somebody can enjoy it,” Rogers said. “The tax bill and the insurance bills are just too much for use to handle”
rsilk@keysnews.com
OMG! I love the style of the homes in Sonoma. I have never been to Sonoma CA. I grew up in a 1914 bungalow in CA. and loved it. My mom sold it in 1999 after my dad died, before the housing boom hit, so we made very little on it. I had to move away because it was just too expensive to buy a home for my husband and I. We go back and visit my mom every summer and our son always says, when I grow up I,m going to move back to CA. I dream of the day when our family could move back to CA. My husband has been on a few business trips to Sonoma and loves it. He said if we were to ever win the lottery that is where he would go, and with all I have seen and heard about it from friends and family who have visited there I would agree. We have had the worst luck in the last few years. We just lost our home to foreclosure and had to move to Arizona for work, and dread the summer coming. We have nerver won anything in our lives. So I have been entering everyday and for now I,m just here in Arizona hoping and dreaming of my move back to CA. and maybe (if were lucky) to Sonoma and maybe in my “Dream Home”
I am just so excited about the beautiful home and neighborhood. I am quite sure my 12 year old son, who by the way, just finished first place for his school in the E.W. Scripps National Spelling Bee, would truly admire the neighborhood also. Some warm weather would be fantastic! It is -35 ambiant, -55 with the wind chill at Prudhoe Bay, where I work.
Gail,
Thank you so much for setting the record straight with the neighborhood. If the neighbors are on the blog, they would be royally upset. Unless you are from the neighborhood, don’t make negative comments based on pictures, which dosn’t show the whole picture. I can’t deal with the negative comments about winning something. You don’t have to enter!!! Again, thank you, Gail.
If you are entering for your spouse or adult child and they have the same address and phone number as you, are those valid entries?? I read something on the blog that said if you are entering for a family member they had to have a different phone number and address. Is this true? Jackie
keep the blogs coming gail!!
you go girl!
Hi Gail,
Thanks for your update. As for the homes surrounding the dream home, I don’t think they’re shabby. I’ve never seen an estate section nestled next to houses which would lower their property value. I imagine the whole area is nice.
Kellie,
I don’t see the “doom and gloom” associated with the dream home. Anyone blessed to win this home would be excited. I wouldn’t want the taxes, insurance or anything else to diminish that excitement. Just let them enjoy the moment. I’m sure she or he will make a wise decision regarding selling or keeping the dream home.
Join the rest of us and dream a little! Dreaming is FREE!!!
This years dream home is beautiful, of course I have loved every single home since the beginning. I can just picture living there. I’m entering to win for my mother. She is a fantastic woman, who has sacrificed everything for her children. At age 55 still no home to call her own, I would just love to see her be selfish for a moment and just enjoy a home she can call her own!
Not all comments about the neighborhood are meant to be negative. They are meant for enlightenment of a valuation process. Although it would truly be a dream to not only win the dream home, but also actually live in it, the reality is, for most it is just a “dream”. Again, this is not meant to be negative. Just honest. While the homes across the street are not by any sense of the word “cheap homes” (a quarter to half a million), they are a completely different styling than the dream home. This aspect fairs very well for these owners, but for the owner of the dream home – it does change the marketing aspect. And marketing for resell should be a considering view point. I would love to win the dream home, sell it, and purchase one of the houses across the street. Now that would be a “dream home” in my opinion. As previously posted by rsilk, last years winner is having some difficulty in trying to sell the dream home 08. I just would hate to see the same situation for dream home 09.
WOW! While reading my last post I realized that rather than sounding logical, I actually sound cynical. My apologies! I am going to throw caution to the wind and say “Heck yeah I’m gonna live there!”
Jackie: Only name and e-mail address need to be different. So husbands and wives can enter from same household with no trouble.
Gail, could you arrange a couple of extra keys for me? Just put them over the visor of my Acadia. Thanks!
(Hey, I like this thinking process. I like it A LOT!) :O)
I think this was a much needed blog topic. People logging in here to complain and criticize really amaze me. This home is beautiful and I’ll be glad to have some neighbors around when I move in and get to know Sonoma. =)
I’m all ready to rent out my condo and move up there!
All of these posts are well said- you really have to have been through these coveted California neighborhoods to understand that different types of homes are in close proximity to each other, and that just because it’s a 1600 sq foot ranch doesn’t mean it not nicely upgraded and well cared for. Homes like that are worth so much, that they are rarely run down. How do I know this- all my fav HGTV shows of course! And some time living in So Cal.
As for the discussion on the dream home scenarios, if one should be so blessed to win, can’t a person immediately give the home back to HGTV to sell if they don’t actually so much as spend the night there? Not my ideal, of course, but I don’t think you have to deal with taxes,etc. if you forgo ever living there?
But like Jim, its more fun to picture myself soaking in the gorgeous tub or picking grapes with my daughters or seeing my son’s face light up at the car theme room that he would love. Way better than being cynical!
does anyone know what kind of taxes come with winning the hgtv dram home? How much the property tax would be per year, and also the Tax on the winnings of a 2 million dollar prize? I am ready to sell my house and move in, but want to make sure I have enough to pay the bills!
OK, Brenda.
If you win, make sure you invite me over for the "Sippin in Sonoma" party!!
I believe we all understand what a blessing this home would be, either by selling it or by planting roots and calling Sonoma home. But one topic I haven’t seen blogged about (or have missed) is about the job market. I think we all know the economy hasn’t been the greatest lately, and not being either a retiree or self-employed, I think finding a suitable job to support the Somona life-style might be more difficult than one imagines. Although SF is a hop, skip, jump, & mad dash away there are still no guarantee’s in finding a job in your said profession. THAT could make the real difference in paying the bills or not.
I’m still dreaming of living there with my re-planted family, but I’ve expanded my Dreaming & continue to check Monster.com for available jobs in the vicinity.
HECK, I’ll work part time at Ledson pouring wines if they let me!
This home is magnificent. I would be honored to call it my home. It is funny how all of us can see ourselves there. Before becoming hooked on reading the blogs I thought I was the only one obsessed. Every day I browse through the website DREAMING of the day it is mine.
Does anyone know how big the lot is? Looks like a good size from a California stand point.
Sonoma would be perfect.
Thanks, Gail, for reminding people that dreaming should be positive! It really bothers me when people are critical of the neighborhood or the designers or the fact that they think HGTV should give even more! I love the DH09, and it feels that those who are critical really are looking a gift horse (or house!) in the mouth.
I agree with you, Lessie, that Kellie’s interpretation of the story about the DH08 winner is more negative than the actual facts of the story. The winners said they loved staying in the home, and I am sure they will be excited when they sell. They even seem to be asking for more than the orignal appraisal, so they’ll do fine. I don’t see this as a “nightmare” — just a dream come true!
True Jean, I was thinking the same thing, there still happy for winning it and like you said they want more than the retail value so they don't seem that desperate to sell. If they really was having a hard time they would be forced to sell below market value.
Don't get me wrong, its great there selling for a little more, I would too, dream homes are worth it. Just pointing out there not as desperate as Kellie made it sound.
I was just wondering what the lot size is & is the yard fenced? I haven’t heard much about the garage either. Is it a two car size? Is there a basement? I would be thrilled to live there. My grandson would be sooo excited to have a room with the car details in it! Since I work from home, the employment situation in Sonoma would not be a concern to me.
Bobbi
Gail, thanks for your updates. It was never my concern about the neighbor’s homes, I think they are all quite charming and fit just perfectly. I am sure they were all there before the DH was even built so who is anyone to question. The people living there now may be concerned about the family that may win and hoping that whoever does is friendly. They are welcome to all come over for bbq’s anytime! We love to entertain and be around friends and family when we can.
We absolutely LOVE the home and with my husband telecommuting, it would make perfect sense for us to try and win it. We live under 2 hours driving distance so it would not be a dramatic life change. I have been a No. California girl all my life and Sonoma is awesome! Love the wine, food (great restaurants in Sonoma)and the whole overall feel and vibe of the region. Taxes? what taxes? I didn’t know you had to pay taxes! Just kidding, of course anyone who signs up for this has to know what they are getting into, right? We just keep DREAMING until the day they hand over the keys! Yippee!
I must admit this is my first blog and it took Dream House to get my going.
My question is, I am on the West Coast(Seattle,WA) and just want to confirm that when I enter daily is it okay that I sometimes remember just before I go to bed to enter for the day. Is there a cut off time that I need to enter daily? Regarding the Neighborhood homes. I currently live in a neighborhood with homes from $300,000 to $2,000,000-$3,000,000. Some of our neighbors are quite elderly and then there are young couples with children. I LOVE my our mix of homes and people.
I like your idea Jenny, of the neighbors coming over for BBQ, but I like the idea of going over to THEIR house for BBQ even more!
By the way Gail, you have given hope back to so many by explaining what happens when someone enters more than once on a single day. I have not entered on some days because I was not sure if I had already entered earlier in the day. Then other days I would think “whoops, did I just enter again?”. I wish I could say it was due to old age, but I am not considered old (I don’t think). THANKS!
I think dream home 2009 is absolutely beautiful, after I pick myself up from the floor iam sure I will not stop thanking God for this blessings. I will look forward to meeting the neighbors and even breaking bread with them I hope that they are nice people. As for the taxes, oh my gosh say it ain’t so. LOL.
How many square feet does this house have also, how many doors that lead outside can’t tell from the picture or the tour?
Thank you for your words of wisdom, Gail. Sometimes it takes a thousand words to explain one misconstrued photo. I bet your comments will silence the alarms going off in the minds of some Dream Home hopefuls, at least until the next batch of posts arrive.
I have to say that on my bad days (which are almost as rare as a perfectly cut diamond!), rather than get overly excited about a post that I might perceive as negative, I just hit the “Ignore” buzzer on my desk. Works every time.
And it’s Dream Home entry time once again. How time flies when you’re having too much fun.
I THINK WHOEVER WINS THIS AMAZING HOME, CAR & ADORABLE DOG HOUSE AND BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD JUST COUNT THEY’RE BLESSINGS AND ENJOY EVERY MINUTE.
Happy Monday bloggers and other California dreamers: More good advice from Gail today, I’m glad that she cleared up the information about the “random versus selection process”. Although, I thought I read something in the rules about a discretionary background check and the Main Sponsor reserving the right to disqualify any person based on “such background check” if the Main Sponsor determines that awarding the prize to such potential Grand Prize Winner might reflect negatively on them or any of the Participating Product Sponsors. Gee, I hope I’ve lived a good life! DBCoop, you better pray they don’t find out about that Boeing Jet you hijacked in 1971, BoBo better stop barking at cats, Marie Miller should close that illegal restaurant she’s running and Lovelykitty and Victoria should stop their spying (I know the cameras you guys carry are just fronts).
On a serious note, I’m sure the Sonoma neighbors around the 09DH are very nice people, but character has nothing to do with the cost of one’s home (many poor people in poor homes are wonderful people and the reverse can be true of some people in very expensive homes). Incidentally, even with the recent depreciation, the average home cost in Northern CA is about $500,000, so $500,000 may or may not buy you much of a home here. I would like to say that I’ve met wonderful people on this blog and I really enjoy reading your blogs and blogging with you. I especially enjoy the wide range of diverse opinions. I believe that’s healthy.
Finally, so that you guys don’t become too “high strung” during the last week of entry, I will bombard you with questions related to the property taxes, gift taxes, the first floor Powder Room, the missing first floor closet, why there isn’t a cat house, the maker of the Washer and Dryer (as well as if there even IS a washer and dryer). I will also depress you with stories of how all other winners couldn’t keep their properties and how you won’t be able to keep your home, if you should win. (This is all in keeping with my big plan to get you guys to re-think entering this contest and leave it all to me). LOL
Let’s see, my presidential candidate won, my super bowl team won and I’m going for 3 out of 3….so HGTV can make that dream come true by awarding me the 09DH! Other dreamers PLEASE stop applying (but happy dreaming and good luck, just in case I’ve failed to discourage you).
Well Jim, if we win, we will definately invite you over for a bbq!!
Jenny D
EDH, CA
I’ve just gotten into reading the blog these last few days (have entered EVERY day). It’s helped to answer several of my questions. Thanks, Gail. As many have already stated, it was nice to get a clarification on the neighborhood. I was amazed at some of the negative comments on the blog as well. Why blog if you’re not into it? Perhaps those few can benefit from some counseling, or a nice glass of wine to chill out…Anyway, we visited Sonoma in 2006 (at harvest time) and had a great experience. Sonoma was so charming and I remarked at the time that I would love to live there, if I could afford it. So maybe here’s my chance. We looked through the neighborhoods surrounding the square, and all were pretty nice – so I wasn’t concerned. I would like to refer all you wine lovers to my favorite winery; Buena Vista. It’s very close to town center, and their wines are EXCEPTIONAL. It was the only club we joined, and we’ve been enjoying our shipments. It’s quite historic, has a nice little pairing opportunity, etc. They don’t sell to restaurants or stores, so you can only buy directly from the winery…if you get to Sonoma, you must check them out. Excellent Pinots from Carneros grapes…Mmmm, perhaps I’ll go crack a bottle now.
One specific question for Gail; is there an attic or crawl space for additional storage? The cupboard under the stairs (yes, another Harry Potter reference) was pretty obvious, and the garage is large, but I can’t imagine it doesn’t have more. Would love to know.
Good luck to you all – Keep dreaming and dream BIG. I do, and my friends and family all think I’m the luckiest person they know (having been fortunate to win some pretty awesome stuff). Karma, law of attraction, whatever; it can’t hurt.
Angie
Here…Here…Gail!!! Your comments about the neighborhood are well needed. One of Sonoma’s many charms is that one can have a 2 story Colonial(like mine!)next door to a one story Craftsman or a small cottage. We have re-modeled “McMansions” next door to original vineyard worker homes. Oh,by the way,those homes originally built for vineyard workers near Sebastiani Winery are untouchable unless you have $1 million +!!
Welcome to Sonoma’s many varied homes and the people who live in them. Keep dreaming.
Ingrid from Sonoma
This home is romantic. I have given each room a name,(guess which room is Cool Melon):)
I can’t wait to walk up the sidewalk, pause, and smile…
Guess that all of us bloggers have been disqualified in advance because Brenda has squealed on us! She is now the only remaining eligible entrant. Help, Gail—can you tell us if we will REALLY be given the boot due to alleged past or present indiscretions, even if they might not be anything more than the result of a vivid imagination. Oh Brenda, what havoc have you brought down upon us poor innocents, guilty of nothing more than dreaming big and believing that, like you, we too could be potential Dream Home winners?!
We used to live in California and had to move, for work, to Washington D.C.. We only lived in California for eight years (used to live in England and Holland), but we were hooked from the first day we arrived till the day we left. There is not a day that goes by without me thinking of California. Just looking at the pictures of the home and Sonoma I feel relaxed and the day dreaming begins…if only….
I thought the street and other homes were adorable. What a great place to live with kids.
My bags are packed……now come and ambush me
Hello again, Gail. I too want to thank you for all your hard work and wonderful information. Personally, I have no problem whatsoever the location of this Dream Home. I can’t wait to move in and meet the wonderful neighbors – ALL of them!!!
A little insight for your day.
“See yourself as God sees you-as a winner, an overcomer”
Remember if one dream dies, dream another.
Yes, it’s a beautiful house. I’m looking for the well. Is there one? I live in California and know about the water shortage here. With water rationing in most areas why are there huge areas of lawns and grape plants, and foliage? The penalties for using more water than rationed can be very expensive. Today’s news said residents of Sonoma County must cut back to 50% of last year’s usage. The new owner will have a brown lawn by Christmas. Has the address been made pulic yet? I would like to drive by.
Hi Mary,
Glad you brought up that issue. I thought people was already getting out of bounds to talk ill about “he house across the street” I think thats was judging the book by its cover. what business is it to people to even compare it with the dream home. I saw the house across the street and actually thought how sweet, they are Dream home neighbous. I love the other houses shown in the neighbourhood, they are quite elegant in their own way from what I saw. The neighbourhood seems great. I love that it is so spacious around also. imagine no one wins the house as yet and there is so much negativity. this whole thing should be fun, may be the HGTV team should have to put on a dreamhouse Radio talk show with multiple lines so I can call in and put my piece in. we as people need to let be, of course we have opinions but sometimes we need to let the river run smoothely. I do hope they are great neighbours, who would be around to share in the making of DH memories in Sonoma and the years beyond that. Neighbours make up a village. To the neighbours next door, PLEASE EXCUSE the negatives, they are just curious observers from the outside.
Love
Esla Snclair
Thanks so much Gail for “setting the record straight” about the homes across the street and the neighborhood. I would be proud and happy to live in such a diverse and friendly place. My husband and I rode all through the “shabby” neighborhood and oohed and aahed over the houses – bungalows, ranch style, craftsmen, Victorian, colonial – all. I would be happy to live in any of them. Of course, John and I will give a big neighborhood and blog party when we win.
Dream on dreamers!
Brenda: Now that you’ve “outted” me as a spy I’m going to have to change my background and cover story. Hope it passes the HGTV background check.
Oh – while I was spying (on the DH tour) I took some photos which I posted in another blog. Not the greatest works of art but if like me you can’t get enough pictures of this amazing home, you can take a look at some more at
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=jeweledlionsdreamhome
Also try differet variations on “HGTV Dream Home”, “Dream Home”, “Sonoma Dream Home”, etc to see other peoples photos too.
Ok. Back to Dreamin’ Big!
I would just like to say Good Luck to you All! And thanks Gail for blogging again! I always love reading what you have to say! Let’s all Keep On California Dreaming…Across the U.S.A!!!Xoxo
Thanks so much for that link Victoria!! Wow,You got to go on the tour? Lucky you!! Btw, Those pics were just great!They Got me even more excited ,seeing things so close up!! Great Photography to all who posted pics on Flikr !!Thank you Very Much!! Xoxox
One last thing tottaly off the subject..lol!But WTG Pittsburgh Steelers!!! Being from Pennsylvania and real close to pittsburgh I just had to post that!(winks) xoxox
Oh yeah and today was groundhog day…and Punxatawny phil saw his shadow!! Yikes 6 mores weeks off winter!!Brrrrrr!!!