What’s in Those Drawers?
Good afternoon, bloggers!
Someone recently posted a fabulous suggestion. He or she wanted a “sneak peek” inside the drawers and closets of HGTV Dream Home. (I am so sorry — I don’t remember who posted the question. I couldn’t find the original query, as there are so many blog posts and questions now.) I was back at the HGTV Dream Home on Friday and took these pictures of what you will find in some of the kitchen drawers as well as one of the pantries.
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Every time I go inside the home, I notice something different and special. I hadn’t spent much time in the guest bathroom, but was so impressed by its spa-like feel during this most recent visit.
Tamara, thank you for your question about how the mailed entries are counted for the drawing. I will definitely find out the answer when I go to Knoxville to witness the sweepstakes drawing. I will report back then!
Your Super Fan,
Gail
P.S.: Should the suggested party for bloggers be hosted by the HGTV Dream Home 2009 winner, I will absolutely be there with dessert in hand. Sorry, Coop, it won’t be lemony — chocolate desserts are my specialty. I will also bring my corn and heirloom-tomato salad.
I hope all you bloggers had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
)
The house is at 620 5th Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476-7224. The house is in the public school areas of Prestwood Elementary School and Adele Harrison Middle School. The local paper wrote last week that after Kindergarten registration, over 50% of the enrollment was from our Hispanic families. The main street into town is Broadway. It ends at the Plaza. To avoid that traffic people often use 5th Street East or 5th Street West, so it can be a busy street at certain times of the day. Just a heads up for that beautiful big lawn area in the front.
One of the local wineries shows movies outdoors.
The town doesn’t allow a big chain type of store. They are close.
I can’t believe how this wonderful group just keeps on growing. I really like the way the tide has turned from not wanting the Debbie Downers to try and come up with some real solutions to the financial problems instead. Let’s keep brain storming! You’re all great!
Gail or anyone – I know this was asked many times while the DH09 was being built but I missed the answer. Why no pool? Sonoma can get really hot in the summer, well into the 100′s and the evenings don’t always cool off. The high school lost their pool years ago and it will be a long, long time before it’s replaced. To help with both the A/C and the heat, are the windows treated or special?
While I’m asking, why didn’t they fence in the back yard? It’s something that would have to be done. A dog just can’t be left out there. Ouch, the scratches on those beautiful hardwood floors! Does Armstrong Estates allow it? Ingrid…Bobo?
My best friend wanted to move into the DH with us or visit a lot but I lost her in December. We were best friends since elementary school, about forty years. I’m sorry for your loss lovelykitty. I know your pain.
Marie Miller – at the risk of sounding like my mom, you are a real character. I would of course love to have you around anytime. Gracious and wise lady. Is Bottle Shock out for sale? My husbands in it and my boys and I watched a lot of the filming. A must see for the scenery alone. We have two young boys that are every parents dream. I already won with them! They are really great.
Tamara, congratulations and best wishes!
DBCoop – You were missed, but everyone has really stepped up. Explosion is right. What happened to Asia?
What about web cams on computers and laptops so everyone can enjoy the SIS party? I think Ingrid mentioned that you can’t bring dogs to the Plaza. Are they all right at the Armstrong Estates park? It’s practically across the street from the DH.
Keep all the great quotes and poems coming. They are truly appreciated and bring a smile to my heart.
Sheryl – There are probably more than you think. I was one. A faithful reader but not a writer. I’m in for the expression of love. (wink, wink) Keep on dreaming.
lovelykitty – I’m also having trouble with the message board site.
The Ides are almost upon us.
By reading all the blogs, I’ve have notice there are several good writers in here. I enjoyed reading your blogs everyone. I can just imagine doing some freewriting, journals, essays or reading a good book in the downstairs office room, or the second floor laundry room. One of the most used words to describe the HGTV Dream Home 09 is simpy beautiful. I have enjoyed this ride. I want to say thank you HGTV for giving us the chance and opportunity to enter to win by email or regular mail. As a randon act of kindness, I will be happy to help out the winner with $5, $10 bill to one who gets picked, so the winner can pay the property tax to the IRS. I hope the 30 mph winds in Monterey Co. can come down. I can’t wait to get some more pictures or video from Gail. I know you will put something that we haven’t seen yet.
Good luck everyone. Enjoy this ride
Your comment is awaiting moderation
Does the above statement mean my blog is too long? I did get carried away..
I hope all you bloggers had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
The house is at 620 5th Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476-7224. The house is in the public school areas of Prestwood Elementary School and Adele Harrison Middle School. The local paper wrote last week that after Kindergarten registration, over 50% of the enrollment was from our Hispanic families. The main street into town is Broadway. It ends at the Plaza. To avoid that traffic people often use 5th Street East or 5th Street West, so it can be a busy street at certain times of the day. Just a heads up for that beautiful big lawn area in the front.
One of the local wineries shows movies outdoors.
The town doesn’t allow a big chain type of store. They are close.
I can’t believe how this wonderful group just keeps on growing. I really like the way the tide has turned from not wanting the Debbie Downers to try and come up with some real solutions to the financial problems instead. Let’s keep brain storming! You’re all great!
Gail or anyone – I know this was asked many times while the DH09 was being built but I missed the answer. Why no pool? Sonoma can get really hot in the summer, well into the 100’s and the evenings don’t always cool off. The high school lost their pool years ago and it will be a long, long time before it’s replaced. To help with both the A/C and the heat, are the windows treated or special?
While I’m asking, why didn’t they fence in the back yard? It’s something that would have to be done. A dog just can’t be left out there. Ouch, the scratches on those beautiful hardwood floors! Does Armstrong Estates allow it? Ingrid…Bobo?
My best friend wanted to move into the DH with us or visit a lot but I lost her in December. We were best friends since elementary school, about forty years. I’m sorry for your loss lovelykitty. I know your pain.
)
Marie Miller – at the risk of sounding like my mom, you are a real character. I would of course love to have you around anytime. Gracious and wise lady. Is Bottle Shock out for sale? My husbands in it and my boys and I watched a lot of the filming. A must see for the scenery alone. We have two young boys that are every parents dream. I already won with them! They are really great.
Tamara, congratulations and best wishes!
DBCoop – You were missed, but everyone has really stepped up. Explosion is right. What happened to Asia?
What about web cams on computers and laptops so everyone can enjoy the SIS party? I think Ingrid mentioned that you can’t bring dogs to the Plaza. Are they all right at the Armstrong Estates park? It’s practically across the street from the DH.
Keep all the great quotes and poems coming. They are truly appreciated and bring a smile to my heart.
Sheryl – There are probably more than you think. I was one. A faithful reader but not a writer. I’m in for the expression of love. (wink, wink) Keep on dreaming.
lovelykitty – I’m also having trouble with the message board site.
The Ides are almost upon us.
Cat- Of course any gift should be without stings. Especially since there is no guarantee they will receive anywhere near enough money to actually make a dent in all the taxes. It would be ashame to make them feel like they had to try to keep it when it isn’t fiscally wise. I will be sending a dollar or two even though I know they probably won’t keep the home, and even though I won’t be able to go to the SIS party because I live in Texas.
It is just one more way to make sure their dreams come true… even in a terrible market!
I love it how there is so much storage space in this dream home. Can’t wait to see it up close and what is in all those other drawers.
Wow — over 500 comments! It takes a dedicated blogger to read through all of them, but it’s easier because everyone is so positive. I am so glad that DBCoop is back to the blogs — Marie Miller held down the fort while you were gone, but I started getting twitchy when she signed off for a couple days. Whew — crisis averted!
Keep dreaming, everyone! I’m so excited for the next SuperFan video, but we may have to wait until Tuesday because of tomorrow’s holiday. Have a restful weekend of Dream Home dreaming!
Thank you everyone for congratulating me on my Valentine Engagement! I am still so excited! I woke last night with visions of a white horse drawn carriage with purple velvet seats and a giant purple and silver “Just Married” sign parked in the driveway of the Dream Home. It was gorgeous! I almost couldn’t go back to sleep! Well I have to do my entry for today. Happy Dreaming everyone!
Good afternoon all
loveykitty, I would LOVE to meet up next weekend, will ask my hubby if he can take Little Bit..I’ll call – Monday is a holiday -Soon as possible – That makes it so much more real! Thank you for the invite I’m on it!… 21st 2:30ish This is fun:)
Bonnie B, Thank you again, maybe I’ll get to go and ask/look for myself about the speakers on the patio, and hubby can always wash off with the hose, there must be one of those next to the little garden.
Twyla Love the idea of recipe cards and notes of encouragement,
words of wisdom, for the cookbook and then your “Livin”
I’ve been emailing a couple of different companies about the party, I haven’t read anything from party planners about more ideas, so I have been online checking stuff out while Bits is resting. There is a local Bay Area show and I really think we could get media coverage, Is that something you all would even want at the party – if one of us doesn’t win..? I also found out that the company I have raving about -Hog Island Oysters- has a shop in Napa… (and the Ferry Building in SF as well as in person at Tomalas Bay.) They do catering and they do mail orders right to your door if your land locked. Please, everyone who wants seafood at the party or at home (Shameless..:) go to their website and tell them about this party and how great you think they taste if you’ve had’em and how much you want to try them if you haven’t. hogislandoysters.com. And if youv’e never had a BBQed oyster and are thinking it’s a raw slimy thing – You can cook them as raw -med-to well done as you like – Plain, with butter, Hot Sauce, BBQ sauce, lemon… They have raw shooters too. I’m working on a port-a-potty, I have a friend who works for Big 4 Rents but its way south in Core Madera – I’ll try though, If that is the park we decide on…..
Party planners, where are you! +
And I want to thank SO many people who wished my daughter well,
Victoria (like my V in Jand V’) 2Cherubs,Ingrid -everyone… She really is still so down, She was exposed to Scarlet Fever – Which I always thought was strep throut- Its strep but different -lumps, bumps and cookie tossing and before we could get into the doc’s she got an ear infection…Augh! She is usually the most high energized pink bunny going and there have been times I joked that I wish she had an off button (she even looked behind her neck once when she was 2, I stopped saying it then:) Now I wish she would sit up and talk to me….
in Napa, Oxbow Public Market provides a similar market venue, and a chance to expand this popular concept into a unique Napa Valley wine country setting.
The Hog Island Oyster Lover’s Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing and Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes
contact Hog Island Mail Order at 415.663.9218 ex 204 or email mailorder@hogislandoysters.com
Whoops, hadn’t even read rough draft and accidentally hit send… It’s Corte Madera in Marin and there are too many mistakes in that draft to even address, I usually cut and paste peoples comments I want to respond to and then delete them after I’ve written my thoughts or thanks … at least I was almost done and had deleted everyone’s comments I pasted or this might have been the longest most repetitive blog ever
Hi Gail and everyone,
This is my first time blogging here but I’ve been reading the comments by a lot of folks who love this piece of heaven as much as I do.
There is a certain picture of the dream home that I just love. It’s the one with the sun just coming up with the Arcadia sitting in the driveway. It gives me such a sense of wellbeing. It seems as if the dream house has always been there just waiting for it’s new owner to come in and fall even more in love with it. I think it would be a great comfort to win this home!
Can’t you just picture watching a favorite movie while you prepare a scrump-dilly-ishis
(spelling, anyone?!) meal and then later toddling off to the dream master bedroom?!
Well, thanks for listening all you dream-biggers!
Rosebud
Hello fellow bloggers. I’m pulling for my husband to win the dream home. He came into my life six years ago. I was a single mom with a child with downsyndrome. I couldn’t ask for a better dad. My son adores him. My grandmother use to always say good things will come my way. We will be extremely happy who ever wins. Good Luck!
Ladies sorry for your losses. Boy would I have loved to have gone to Hawaii and maybe swam with the turles, or dolphins. Aahhh pineapple and the beach. Hey what about a summer bar-b-que at the house? Outside in the back, a little music going one, and to soften the burden a potluck. It sounds like there are a lot of fine cooks out there, and I love to eat. We could bring along our donated cookbook recipe. We could put the cookbook together there at the DH2009, well at least the pages/recipes/ideas. We can then market it on HGTV donating all the proceeds to current, and future Dream Home winners for tax expenses. We have to go easy on the DH2009 winner since they will have loads of expenses, including a port a potty for the Bloggers. Aahhh a warm sunny summer day with lots of food and kind friends. I like the idea of HTV holding the mail for the winner and then giving it to them when they own the home. How much fun for the winner to go through the mail, I’d be bawling my eyes out. Well food for thought. If anyone from HGTV is reading I think it would be great with any future homes to put in solar panels to help eliminate/reduce the cost of the electrical bill.Those large home can be expensive to heat for whomever ends up with it. Well what do you all think abou the Bar-B-Que/Potluck? I realize not everyone is local, but we could mail off our recipes, we do know the address.
I’m getting ahead of myself here, what with several more days until the entry deadline (19 Feb), and then a twelve day behind the scenes flurry of activity at HGTV while they work to mix up all those millions of hopeful entries, but just a note to all interested parties that my Asia trip starts 3 March (the day the actual Dream Home winner is selected at RANDOM.) HGTV will have to catch up with me in Thailand, or stake out my house on my return if I’m to be the target of their on-camera “ambush” for the 15 March. I return 13 March, at which point my body clock will be totally out of sync, so chances are, when they knock on my door, ring my bell, buzz my phone to get through the gates, or tap on my windowsill to get my attention, I’ll be in my silk dragon robe, flip-flops, bleary-eyed, and having a very bad hair day. Viewers across America will wonder why I seem to be staggering, and assume the worst! I WILL however, be VERY excited, even if I can’t yet think clearly enough to put a coherent sentence together.
By the way, GAIL, to mix up all those millions of entries, do they have a team of HGTV staffers climb into a gigantic hopper and jump around? Could be dangerous; that’s like TONS of little pieces of paper. It’ll be VERY interesting to see your behind the scenes story/video on that process—just don’t volunteer to be one of those mixers.
And now, for those bloggers who need yet another quote for their daily quota of inspiration, these are words I try to live by: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
After all, any regrets about riding through downtown Stockton in a red convertible, giving the Queen’s wave? I bet not, Marie Miller!
I’ve been reading the DH blogs for the last three weeks and it is very interesting how so many folks are lamenting the income tax involved with winning a two million dollar house. I’ll bet many of these same folks voted for Barack Obama because he wanted to raise taxes on the rich (so he could give it to the less fortunate).
When asked what he considered rich his response was something like, “Only 6% of the people in the country make more than $250,000, so I would call them rich.” Try living in New York City or San Francisco on $250K and see how rich you feel.
This house, with contents and car, are worth eight times that much but many folks are calling the taxes unfair. Now they know how the truly rich feel, year after year. If you win this house you are now rich and you have to pay your dues. President Obama will give that $700K to more deserving folks.
Dear Fellow Bloggers and Jack(I hope that my favorite house planner is reading this!)
I agree with ADAM bailey, An elevator should be included in any Dream Home of two stories or more! And how about putting up hand railings on the steps to the front and rear doors??? I walk with the aid of a cane and plan on winning next month! No one ever plans of becoming disabled but it happens everyday! Have a grrrr-8day,everyone!
Lucky Lady
aka Illinois Nancy
Coop I loved the quote!
Wow! What a great experinece just reading the blogs. So many personaltites from so many places. But, we all have the same dream right now. I was reading an article about the 2005 winner and he said it was a great experience. He did sell the house three years later but he said the experience of winning alone was worth it. Isn’t that what lifes all about? Good Luck to the winner (hope it is me of course) If not, I wish the winner an amazing experience no matter if the house can be kept or not!
catmagic: I love your statement about giving with no strings attached. I agree, right on!
Eddie Ramirez: well said!
COOP: Seriously, you have the coolest life! 007 indeed. Loved the Mark Twain quote. Reminds me of another I heard recently “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission”. Hmmm, not as inspiring, but true! As the old NIKE add instructs: JUST DO IT!
Marie Miller, hurry back, we’ll miss you!
No, can it be? Only 4 more days to enter!? I’m so curious as to what is happening with my mail-in entries and how they are added to the electronic entries. Gail?! I wait with bated breath for your next entry!
Wow, $700,000 in income taxes. I’m sure they will be put to good use – taking care of the less fortune.
Jand V Mom…..praying for that sick one. I was an er nurse for years and scarlet fever is a nasty one God Bless
Illinois Nancy….You are so right! Broke my back about 27 years ago and it has its residual effects..
We are hoping to get to Illinois this summer..My husband went to school in Mattoon. Is that anywhere near you? Father-in-law still lives there
Happy Sunday Bloggers and other California Dreamers! With only 4 more days of entry, I cannot believe it – a record 519 posts! So many bloggers; so many dreamers. I was hoping to wait until after Gail posted a new video before adding to this voluminous blog, however, the longer I waited, the more posts there were. Gail must be celebrating an extended “Valentine’s Holiday”.
Welcome back to “cold and rainy CA” DBCoop. Glad to know you’re back in one piece. I see shades of Clark Kent and Superman – DBCoop shows up and Marie Miller disappears. Hmmm…..inquiring minds want to…….
Happy Sunday (Katydid, Ingrid & Bobo, Lovelykitty, Bonnie, gracious Marie Miller, Deryck, Victoria, Elizabeth, 4dewdrops, Katherine, Melinda, Jennifer , IllinoisNancy, Tom and all you other wonderful bloggers out there, who keep this such a great place to read and blog.. I hope that everyone had a romantic Valentine’s Day. My day was filled with love and surprises. All I need now is the ultimate surprise of being selected as this year’s DH winner! Yay! I have been on my best behavior (most of the time) while DBCoop was gone, but now I can relax. So, is there ANYONE out there who can PLEASE tell me how often you can enter. I do hope that everyone is aware that if you haven’t entered yet, it is too late – so don’t send an entry in now. IT’S TOO LATE!
Hey, Lovelykitty, I checked out the HGTV message board and I see that you’ve been as busy as Marie and DBCoop have been here, giving out information and advice. Good job, girlfriend! I might be lucky enough to “hook up” with you guys on the 21st.
Rhonda Priest, thank you for the prayer—feel free to do that for me, anytime. BTW, I sport the title of “RN”, as well.
Carito, I doubt if small blogger donations of $1 – $5 would really help with the home taxes (there’s that dirty word, again, Coop), serve as a contribution to the SISBP and still have money left over for the Ledson Children’s Fund. You would need a minimum of about 20,000 people giving (can you imagine 20,000 excited people stomping all over my gorgeous outdoor living room? Gasp)! Hmmm….I think the SISBP is definitely headed in the direction of the Town Plaza.
I think that if there are people who seriously want to contribute to the Ledson Harmony Foundation for Children, they should directly donate to the fund ($20 which includes a tour of the 09DH). The phone number is: 707-537-3812. So, on that note, here’s a quotation by Winston Churchill: “ We make a living by what.we get, but we make a life by what we give”. Happy dreaming and give generously to some worthwhile cause this month. Good luck to us all.
DB Coop your visual of people in the hopper stirring the entries sounds very interesting but in this computer age, I’ll bet it is selected by the computers like in a lottery. Have fun in Thailand – I’m sure there is some interesting scenery there.
PS: go for the vanilla white cake and if you can stand it try Sheryl’s idea of having it with a chocolate cake. All sounds good to me.
Sheryl thanks for the chocolate idea; I’m dreamingof a deep dark chocolate layer cake with the lemon cheese icing. Think I’ll try it next — only problem is I’ll have to use supermarket lemons as the last of mine are now gone from the tree.
Lynn -”Dream Big” whose to say there aren’t more than 500 bloggers!.
Janet R.— the only problem to the recycle of green backs is that we have to recyle with Uncle Sam!
Yes, Jason there is a downstairs bathroom to the left of the familyroom, past the stairs on the way to the office.
Shar – my husband’s an expert in Georgia Barbarcue — tangy with a little sweet.
Terri – no fences allowedin Armstrong Estates only natural ones (bushes etc.)\
Adriana – no basement but think attic space is accessible.
Rhonda Priest – I’m in for the cookbook and maybe we could donate to SPCA.
Melinda – the CRU sounds good to me – Just in case we are not Ambushed. Kat how about you for Houston SIS. Any other Texas bloggers interested. We can be Sippin and Wishin!!! and celebrate the winners.
Well, Mardi Gras celebrations have begun in Galveston so I guess it’s time to wish all of you “LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL”! That is what we will be doing when we are ambushed!!! So keep on Dreaming Big and Let the Good Times Roll!
I agree with Adam, Illlinois Nancy, rhonda priest, and so many others about an elevator and railings. That was also bounced around early when it was obvious it wasn’t a single level and I didn’t hear the end of it.
I too noticed the suspicious switch out with DBCoop and MM. Very clean guys.
Good luck to all.
Thanks Lindalou. I couldn’t recall ever seeing a house with a real fence over there. Why would they do that?
No fences allowed in the development? Okay, I have never heard of that before. I wonder why.
Are some bloggers thinking DBCoop and Marie Miller are hgtv spies or something? It would be funny to find out that they were but I am thinking not. They are just a couple of passionate bloggers like ourselves.
Thailand is beautiful!!! Have a wonderful trip DBCoop. I went backpacking through Thailand when I was younger and I have treasured those memories since. Wonderful, friendly people. The food is not bad either…are you kidding me? I LOVE Thai!
Until tomorrow, good night. I will be dreaming of the beautiful, white house with the big oak tree in front.
Jenny D
Hello to all. Marie Miller the quote you wrote about All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today. That was Beauiful.Also DB Coop great quote.. I enjoy each and every one. Keep All The POSITIVE Energy Dream Big..Dream Dream..Good Luck To All
I suppose you could do an invisible fence for pets, or just putting a white picket gate on the exposed areas to keep your pets in… although it is bizarre to have a doggy house and so much luxury without a fully enclosed backyard. The better for drop over friends in such a nice neighborhood, I guess.
So, out of curiosity, about how many times have each of us bloggers entered? I entered once a day from Jan. 9th (when I discovered the contest). That equates to about 40 entries due to the fact that I only entered online.
What about yall?
I was surprised to read that “wood, or solid fences” aren’t allowed in the area, because there is an almost new(?) six ft. wooden fence at the house across the street. A quick look of the neighborhood shows a similar fence at other houses, such as at 480 (?) France St. (Google map addresses at not always correct.) I don’t know the boundries of the subdivision, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with so many swimming pools in the neighborhood without secure fences. Also, if I won the house, and sold it, I would not feel comfortable about keeping lots of $1-$5 donations to help pay the taxes. So, if you send these checks on the backside of the envelope put a “R” if you want your money returned (if the house is sold) or a “K” if you want the money kept, regardless. If you put a return address on your envelope the post office will return it. Just don’t open the envelopes with the R on the backside. Having said that, I wonder if I have enough money, upfront, to pay the immediate homeowners insurance, utility bills, travel costs back and forth, etc. until it is sold. It sure costs money to be “rich”.
The entire backyard is fenced with wire fencing (covered by plants) with the exception of missing gates. By adding gates, the fencing should contain your pets and children and protect them from the pool next door. I saw other yards in Armstrong Estates that had added gates, so they must be allowed.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!
The day is almost here for this gorgeous home giveaway. There are so many dreamers and so few dreams anymore. As for me, I’ve never won anything and this home would sure make up for the times I have lost. Whoever does win I wish them nothing but the best! If I win, I will remember all the people that dreamed about owning this magnificent home. I will be watching in March along with all of you.
GG
I would ass a nice litle fench + gate around the house if I won. Like this House, which is another Ledson house.
http://images36.fotki.com/v1184/photos/1/1239747/6277716/P5250174-vi.jpg
People would be curious even after the winner moved into the house, so this would provide more privacy.
Oh my goodness!!!! I meant to say “add” !!!!!! Talk about a typo!!
lol, lovelykitty, that has to be the best typo yet!!
Hi again everyone – I’ve enjoyed reading all of your posts and want to say THANK YOU for taking the time to look up information about schools, taxes, the neighborhood, etc. and posting them here. What a wonderful bunch of folks!
Terri – I really appreciate all of your info. I was wondering, though, if we could not refer to the negative bloggers as “Debbie Downers”? LOL How about “Donnie Downers” instead? ROFL
And, again, I want to say Congratulations to the winner, whoever you are. May winning this sweepstakes be a blessing to you.
lovelykitty Thanks for my morning Chuckle
I have been trying to keep up reading all the posts. First Good Luck to everyone. I sent an e-mail to the President and our state Senator asking them to do something about the IRS and winners tax. Can’t hurt to let them you know how you feel. I know that without help, my family would have to sell the house.
Leslie,
Congrats on your husband’s job offer in San Francisco. In the unlikely event that you DON’T win the Dream Home, before he accepts, you should come out for a visit and take a look at housing prices. A lot of folks from the midwest cannot believe how expensive housing is here. A modest 3br 2 ba house that costs $200K in Texas can cost $800K here. And that takes the housing crisis into consideration. (While the overall housing values are down in the San Francisco Bay Area, the numbers are deceiving. The distant suburbs – a 45-90 minute drive from the city – are down 40%. The desirable, close in neighborhoods have not gone down much at all.) So if you want to live near the city, the pay increase needs to be substantial for you to enjoy the same quality of life.
As for the value of the dream home, Sonoma is an area that has been hit hard. But that’s becasue a lot of new development was going up in that area with starter homes in the $500-700K range. Those houses are now selling for $300-500K. The exclusive part of Sonoma where the Dream Home is built has not been affected as much but I still think what was considered a $1.8M house when the contest began can be argued to be worth about $1.5M now. So I just saved the winner $100K in taxes.
I have been following the blogs here for quite a while, but this is the first opportunity I have had in months to take a little time to participate in anything beyond my own reality. I just wanted to tell ya’ll that your faith in the power of hope and belief in dreams is inspiring. I also wanted to be on the list to attend the blogger’s house warming party. I would not be able to attend due to family and work obligations, but out of courtesy, would send a house warming gift.
It is heartwarming to know that there are so many people out there trying to help others realize their dreams.
Thank you HGTV DH bloggers and HGTV!
The rules say they have the option to randomly select a group of people to have travel to the location and then randomly select the winner from that group on TV. Have they used this option in the past? That would great since everyone from that group would get a free trip!
Margie,
I don’t want to be a gloomy gus but… I don’t think relieving the tax burden of people who are getting something for free will or should be the presidents priority. Wouldn’t it make more sense to relieve the tax burden on our hard earned money?!
Hi fellow dreamers. Today is my birthday! Number 51. Would love a beautiful DH for my BD. Was hoping we would have a new entry from Gail. Maybe later today? Off to a birthday lunch for now. “Talk to all my friends later.” The Lee’s, Bruce, Debbie, & Twister
I don’t think $700.000.00 will cover costs of ownership. Besides income tax you also have to consider all closeing costs, state property tax, city tax. Then of course you have maintance, upkeep, utilities, etc. I doubt you could do it for a year or 2 on less than $1,000,000.00 with out substanisal help from HGTV. Blogers donating a buck or two should consider it food money not tax money. HMMM I wonder how much CA electricty it take to keep a house that big cool in 100+ temps? Yea I know….its a dry heat
Hello Guys I hope all you had a Fabulous Valentine’s weekend
!!! Thank you so much Terri for verifying the address of the house and letting us know that the big chain stores although not in town are close!! Brenda has a point with the fact that it would be just a tad much to have 20,000 people in the living room however if it gets to that point maybe if we can get the HGTV people involved for the fund raising for the taxes-Ledson Harmony Foundation for Children, and we can have it on the Plaza! Since, what we were thinking about this Primarily to help the DH09 winner with the taxes and THEN the difference will go to the foundation!! we’ll that was ONE of the Ideas we’ve had anyway until now Brenda. Other Ideas definitely welcomed!!!!
By the way Tamara Congratulations on your Engagement Is wonderful! We are all very happy for you.
Well my friends again Good Luck to all of us!!
PS: there is really no room for Donnie Downers here!!! WE need Lots of Good-Positive Energy in this blog… So maybe we can accept the GIFT of this WONDERFUL HOUSE as it is, and after one of us actually Wins it then that person can make all the changes they want to it!
Bye guys, and good luck to all of us!!!
Good morning to everyone on a cold rainy So Cal Presidents’ Day! Gosh, I wish I had the time and was disciplined enough to keep up everyday with all the blogs! There have been SO many since I last posted a couple of days ago … lovelykitty, I think it was you who gave me a website address in answer to my question about the 2 windows on the northeast side of the house – thank you. It is the funniest thing, just after I posted my humongous blog, I accidentally discovered there are ‘others’ posting on other message boards. Just imagine.
In one of the posts, someone gave her website (the one you gave me) and I checked it out – it’s now on my Favorites because it has all those fab pictures of the neighborhood and the house under construction, which I was not a part of because I didn’t have a computer at the time. So, my question about the windows being double- paned with the venetian blinds in the middle was answered just by looking at the photos. They aren’t, and that’s too bad … I agree with Cat, I think it was (?), who said that a year of complimentary maid service would be a wonderful part of the DH package! Now that’s a grand idea. Also, thank you for verifying the address for me. I had just sort of pieced that bit of information together from reading and skimming over past blogs. (I think DB Coop was the one who gave me the clue about it, so thank you also, DB.)
You know, I’ve realized that the inner-core group of faithful, longtime, die-hard bloggers is truly a wonderful bunch because you all must have covered all this territory before – long ago – and you never seem to get annoyed or impatient with the same questions asked over and over by new bloggers. It’s interesting too, that we all have the same thoughts questions in mind about the house and Sonoma and taxes, etc.
I would be ever so willing to send $1 or $2 to the winner as a congratulations gift. Yes, in the movie, “It Could Happen To You,” it all seemed so easy and simple for Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda … they never seemed to worry about the IRS and whether the kind gesture by so many was taxable or not. But I think Bonnie (?) [Sorry, but my memory is not so sharp anymore] has put that tax question to rest, hasn’t she, by quoting from the IRS website … seems like it would be OK – for up to $12,000 at least, for the Winner. That is not, of course, enough to pay income or even property taxes, but it might be enough to pay taxes, license and registration fees, and car insurance premiums for a year, anyway. For those out of state, liability car insurance is required in CA and the insurance payments will be pretty high on a new vehicle, I’m assuming. By the way, on the night that I went to the message boards, I got into a thread about the “cross over” Acadia (I don’t know what “cross over“means, applied in this context). The only person who ever kept and lived in a Dream Home, I understand, posted about this. He said he was Don Cruz (I think), who had won the 2005 Tyler, TX home. He said that you are taxed on the value assigned to the car, which in his case was $49,000. The actual sticker price is a lot less, so you have to choose all those extra options in order to “use” up the remaining value amount, whether you need or want them or not.
Congratulations to Tamara, that’s wonderful news about your engagement! My best friend from high school is also Tamara, who has lived in the bay area since she got married, almost 40 yrs ago. The first time I ever saw SF and wine vineyards in Napa Valley was when I went to visit her in 1976. I went with my other best friend from high school, Annette, who died of breast cancer in 2000. So my heart goes out to you, Terri, on the loss of your friend whom you wanted to come and visit you in the DH. I daydream about my friend Tamara coming to visit and stay weekends with me when I finally come to live in the DH. She lives in the Berkeley area so it won’t be too far of a drive. Lovelykitty, I did not read your blog nor do I know the particulars, but from what I’ve pieced together, I think you have also recently had a personal loss. My condolences to you. Also, JandV’s mom, it sounds like your daughter is really sick … I hope she gets well ASAP. I’m amazed that you have enough focus to do research re: the SIS party.
About the party: I can’t remember who said what, but whoever suggested that the winner should not be made to feel ‘obligated’ to have the party at their new home – that was most astute and sensitive of you; that applies also to whomever said the congratulatory gift to the winner should have no strings attached. That is a true “gift.” I, for one, would be nervous about so many people coming into my new fabulous home … I don’t give parties, the thought scares me; besides, just winning would be so overwhelming to me that I don’t think I could handle any more overwhelm. The idea of holding it in a nearby park appeals to me. The cooking could be done on the outdoor grill and transported across the street to Armstrong Estates Park … also, I see from the map that Pinelli Park is just around the corner on 4th Street East and France St. (Did Ingrid say dogs are not allowed at that park, or that they have to be on a leash? I forget.) I think it might have been Lovelykitty (or maybe Brenda or Bonnie, I’m not sure) but whoever considered the feelings of the winner and their having to clean up their house after the party – that was very sensitive, thoughtful, and unselfish — to simply want the winner to enjoy their new home experience, not burdened, pressured or worried about anything! Just worrying about how they might keep the house will be burden enough for them right off the bat.
I apologize for being unbearably verbose – it’s a character trait I’ve always had both in writing and in speech. It’s just that I can’t post everyday and I have so many thoughts and questions, that I try to encompass them all when I have the chance, like today, a holiday from work. Although … I will be having more of them, since the Terminator has insisted I take 2 extra days off a month (w/out pay, of course), starting this month, and ending in June of 2010. So get ready, ha! [Ugh, I can’t believe there’s a prominent street named after him in the Sonoma area ? ] However, it could be worse, I guess… at least “The Terminator” hasn’t been able to terminate me – yet. After I move up to Sonoma (thinking positive, here ?), I hope I will be able to commute to Fairfield or Rohnert Park until I retire. State Comp has offices there. Home Office is in SF, but that’s too far of a commute. I’ve already googled it and found it’s about half the distance to Fairfield and Rohnert Park, just in opposite directions. Ohh, I just can’t wait!! Daydreams of my son and my 2 little granddaughters in CO coming to visit me and maybe stay the summers with me when they get older are driving me crazy! Good luck to all and many blessings, too! DB Coop, glad your wit and charm is back on the board.
Dolores
I’ve been reading all the blogs for weeks now and I do hope one of the bloggers win. Since it has been a dream of mine for many years to live in the wine country I thought I better write something too. Sonoma has always been one of my favorite places to visit and it would be so wonderful to live there. Good luck to everyone.
Good luck to everyone!! I’m very glad to see that no matter who wins the house they will enjoy it. It sounds like I’m not the only one who enters daily and really dreams big. I keep on telling my husband not to worry if I find a job because we are moving to CA soon any how. It is nice that this sweepstakes allows everyone to dream big.