Mar
15
Are You Watching?
Hi, it’s Mary here. Tell me what you’re thinking right now. I’m sitting in my living room watching the giveaway show. So exciting!
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why is it that no one that has a dog ever wins?
When the winners were taken over to the new vehicle they got, the lady said “I could never have afforded this car”…so my question is HOW CAN THEY AFFORD THE TAXES ON THAT NEW HOUSE????
Why do poor people always win?
congratulations!!!!
Enjoy!!
I just want to say that every year you guys say that it is live and it isn’t I am sick of the lies. HGTV should not be able to make the West Coast wait for a whole three hours hoping while some East Coast person is winning it. HGTV should not even allow West Coasters to enter it is wrong. You guys suck!!! And one more thing stop bull crapping the country with all your fake statements saying that we are ambushing the winner at 8(western time) and it is really happening at 5 on the west coast. It is rediculious and cruel. It should not be allowed.
Our cable went out right as she finished the tour of the master bath! GAG!
It went back on after they had won. In the background shot of the winners – I could not help but wonder why they not watching HGTV!
I’m waiting for the announcement on the internet! I’m in PST… so exciting!
It was incredible. The winners are soo excited! Glad the giveaway show “quick and to the point” as my daughter stated. It actually made it much more interesting. And thank you HGTV for “one last look”. I can’t wait until NEXT year’s Dream Home giveaway!!!
i hope she enjoys it!!!
Mixed feelings..happy for the winner and sad I didn’t win
..nevermind……. There’s always next time……. Keep dreaming untill the dream comes true…… 
I am upset that the show picked a person who already owns a nice home as a winner. There are so many people who dont even have a home and the show picks a woman that clearly has money already. That was not fair…
Exciting, but wish it was me:( They are retired and are fine now. Even if it wasn’t me, I sure wish it had been someone younger who really needed it.
Good luck to the winners! I hope they keep this year’s home!!!
She was genuinely surprised, but I do believe it was pre-recorded and not live this evening. Congratulations to both Cheryl and her husband. I hope that they enjoy the dream!
So…we are in Hawaii and can’t watch it live. I assume it wasn’t us! But…WHO WON?
noooo!i cant believe we didnt win! im soo mad now! >:(
Thrilled for them! Enjoy and may it bring you and yours the very best.
I think it should be telecast simultaneously on the west coast–this feels like a super let down. . .seriously. . .I didn’t win and I didn’t get to experience it LIVE!
HGTV please think about all 39 million entries–not just those on the east coast
I thought the show was live? How come it was dark at the house in Sonoma?–it’s was only 5:00pm out there. I wonder why a single person has never won.
The show was great. I was glad to see that the winners seemed excited. Congratulatons again to Cheryl Smith and her husband.
Wow, how exciting for Cheryl! I am so happy for then but at the same time I am super sad that I didn’t win. But I am fine living in Wisconsin still. But there is always next year!
I WAS SO HAPPY FOR HER I FELT LIKE ONE OF MY FAMILY WON!
Atleast they acted more happy & surprised than the lady that won the home in Florida last year! They won’t take the house either…she just said that she couldn’t even afford the SUV that they just gave her. If she can’t afford the SUV, how are they going to come up with $880,000 in taxes for the home she just won. Too bad…they need to build homes that people can actually afford. This economy is way to bad for anyone to win something like this.
I guess I should feel priviledged — I live in California and was able to see it live. Get Direct TV, people.
I think she will enjoy her dream home, her husband was more excited to me then she was. Congratulation to her and her family. May God Bless them both. It will always be a next year for us all. Good luck bloggers on next year
How wonderful to be the winner. Congrats to them. I know they will love the beautiful 2009 home with all it’s fabulous detail. How exciting for all of you to be a part of such a wonderful project and a fun, fun giveaway. Wonderful job. I loved watching the developement of this and all the HGTV Homes. I am a huge fan and divoted HGTV watcher. HGTV is my very favorite Network. I’m ready to see and hear about the 2010 project. Dyann Munoz
Congratulations to Cheryl Smith and her hubby! I am truly happy for them and their family. She seemed genuinely shocked and happy to have won.
This wasn’t “live” though. They were showing the dream house and it was dark! I’m laughing because the sun is still shining here in Northern California, so that clued me in that this WAS pre-recorded! And when I saw that it was dark in the AMBUSH town, I knew it was back East.
Doesn’t matter though. I’m really happy for the winner! God bless them.
It was obviously pre-recorded
If the winner is indeed a retired grandparent from Florida–I bet they won’t relocate–rats–I was ready! BUT, no sour grapes–just whetted my appetite for the good life in Sonoma County!
SOOOOO HAPPY FOR FOR THEM…THEY WERE EXCITED! SO UNLIKE THE COUPLE IN THE KEYES WHO NEVER WERE EVEN EXCITED. QUESTION FOR SOMEONE….HOW DO REGULAR PEOPLE AFFORD THE TAXES.? DO THEY HAVE TO PAY WHEN THEY MOVE IN. I HOPE THEY CAN STAY AND AFFORD IT…GOD BLESS HAPPY LIVING IN SONOMA!!!!
congratulations best wishes!!
Previously, many bloggers said that they wanted the giveaway to be a REAL surprise. Sure, a few people will be disappointed that this show wasn’t live, but since HGTV pulled off a real ambush this time, no one should complain! Congrats to Cheryl and her family. I hope you enjoy your wine-country retirement! Would love it if you could post a few photos on the blog of you and your family and pets enjoying that patio… Again, congrats!
I SURE AM WATCHING! GOOD LUCK TO THE WINNER!
If they could have never afforded the car they won (as the woman stated) then HOW can they afford the taxes on that house??
Lovelykitty, JandVsmom, Bonnie B, Jenny D, Bonnie, Ingrid, Katydid (are you in CA), — it’s time to start planning the SISBP! It would be sooooo cool if HGTV sponsors this.
With the exception of last years’ winners, most of the Dream Home winners are all middle aged. Would be nice for someone younger and/or just starting a family to win for a change, but then, only God knows why things work this way. Oh well, congratulations to the winner anyway; I hope she really enjoys and appreciates the beautiful home.
Just saw Cheryl Smith win. She and her husband did look surprised. Cheryl was barefoot and wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Because they live in a remote area of Florida, my guess is they’ll want Steve Ledson to buy back the house.
The DreamHome 2009 did give millions of people hope to win a beautiful house.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, enjoy it.
YES,YES,YES I’m watching!!! Welcome to Sonoma, Cheryl Smith and family!!!You and your husband were sooo excited and happy…good for you! The special was great.
Monica Pederson was beautiful and gracious;Gail(our Super-fan)had a really big part;John Lassetter was friendly and charming as usual(I know him and his family);and my happy face was even shown for one second…WOW…that was a shock!
BoBo and I will be ready to welcome them to our neighborhood with tail wagging and maybe a plate of cookies! I hope they can come and enjoy this wonderful Dream Come True(for them,at least). WELCOME! Ingrid from Sonoma
this is so sad im in lakeland and when i saw the lake i just new i was the winner ..lol Congratulations to Cheryl Smith
Congrats to Cheryl Smith!!! What a lovely home you now have and an awesome new GMC Acadia. I am SO there for the next HGTV Dream Home Giveaway!!!
I too live on the West Coast (and NO, I don’t have Direct TV, I cannot afford it) but it is still such an exciting thing! Hooray for the Smith family! Even though it’s already aired on the East Coast, I can’t wait to see it on TV when 8pm rolls around in WA.
out on the west coast with Fios TV on the HD channel we saw it at 5pm.. I’m sure at 8pm in Florida it WAS dark.. so maybe it was live? Can you believe it, I was still looking out my sundrenched window at 5:20 wondering if they might show up here!!! obsession..
I wanted so much to be the one who won, it’s a little selfish but I need the lift-up from rental life, something special since I’m not able to leave home with epilepsy. Congratulations to the winner, I know I will still be looking at the pictures of this home and waiting for DH 2010.
Keep dreaming for the Green Home bloggers! It definitely is pure LUCK! Someday, someday, someday……
Why are you posting my response???? How can those people afford the taxes if they couldn’t afford to buy that car??
I’m not sure this is true. How can some of these people afford to live in these new houses? Wouldn’t the gift taxes be about as expensive as the house? And living in California in that area is definitely expensive.
When they said a woman from Florida, I got a little excited and hopeful, but I have to say I did not recognize the intersection that they showed before the ambush. I am very happy for Cheryl and her husband. I will definitely do my part in sending a little something to help them keep this house. Enjoy…this is a true gift of perfection!!! HGTV did a wonderful job!
PS…Lovelykitty…how did you know the winner was from Florida??? Do you have ESP???
Hurry up and buy yourself a lottery ticket while you still have the gift of seeing into the future! Ingrid from Sonoma
I have to admit at being a bit dissapointed for not having won – it is such a beautiful house. Steve Ledson, I wish there were more developers who put the care that you have in your homes. Also dissapointed that it wasn’t someone in California, because then it would be a easier move.
With all that said –
I am happy for the winners, becuase even if I didn’t catch the win on TV, they must be happy, and this is a blessing for them.
I hope you will enjoy this time and your new home brings you many new adn happy memories!
good luck on your new home. My twin girls are very dissapointed that we did not win. We live in florida and it is dark here. We kept looking out the windows to see if someone was pulling in our drive way. Maybe we can win the green home, it is a lot closer to our house anyway.
I totally agree with Susan!!! I will put money on the fact that Cheryl Smith and husband will ask for Steve Ledson to buy the DH back!!! I sure wish there would be more winners who would be able to afford keeping the Dream Homes!!! Maybe someday!
WOW,Congrats to Cheryl and Hubby. May God Bless them and their new home. I wish it would have been me but I am very happy for them. It is my opinion that they have earned the right to relax and enjoy the rest of their lives so I am happy a retired couple won it. Enjoy Sonoma, it’s a great town.
Happy for them. But curious- if they can’t afford the taxes on their winnings-how does it work? I realize they will have to sell- but what if the house does not sell right away? Is their an amount due upfront?
Congratulations to the winner. I am so happy for them. I just wish that it was really a surprise instead of being pre-recorded. It was so obvious….You could really tell that they were told ahead of time. HGTV did try to make it look a little, I mean a little like it was not pre-recorded. Barfooted????????? Hehehehe!!!
i feel very happy for the winner and her family. i only have one complaint about the dream home, and that is that it is not handicapped accessable. is there another address or department i may contact to register a complaint about future homes being built for handicap usage?
Ingrid, congratulations on your new neighbors. Lovelykitty knew because one of the guys on the message board from Florida told her that he saw his neighbors get ambushed by HGTV.
i just got through watching the dream home giveaway show- i really thought i was gonna win, well any wayas you know me and millions of others didnt. but- i had to write in right away because i was soooo happy someone from lakeland fl. did! not that i’m from fl. i’m from ri, but almost 10 years ago i went on my 1st adult vacation(in my late 40’s)& by myself. i went to lakeland, fl. because of a mix up at the car rental i found myself far away from home,stuck at an airport at almost night w/NO car and NO where NEAR my vacation site and FAR FROM RHODE ISLAND. sitting and trying not to cry in a restaurant in the airport i guessed i looked pitiful- this woman & her tired little one offered me a ride to her home where she said her husband could give then me a ride to the property. (being originally from ny i’m naturally wary so)i declined, but we exchanged phone #’S. and she checked on me (a stranger)to see how i was faring, my vacation week in lakeland. then while getting my nails done me and another customer were talking and she invited me to her home for dinner! i say all this to make a point I AM SOOOOOOOOO GLAD IF I COULD’NT WIN I’M JUST THRILLED THAT SOMEONE FROM THE GREAT CITY OF LAKELAND FLORIDA DID! ITS A BEAUTIFUL THING! hopefully i’ll be able to make my final settlement there.
Well Its not quite 8 pst here in Marin County , CA ~ which is about 40 mins from the Dream Home~ I just wish they would have aired 5 pst so the folk here could have seen it live! I guess you can tell I’m a little sad we didn’t win LOL ~ As a single dad of twins this would had been such a blessing ~ It was not in Gods plan for us.~ I am however grateful for what we do have. And I’m certain the couple who won has their story… I sincerely offer blessings, warm thoughts and positive energy to all my fellow non -winners~ and the Winners~ I live with the belief~ Tomorrow will come what blessings will be there~ Just remember if you are highly blessed & favored to share:)
xo
~Shawnshine & the twins
Does anyone know if it will be shown on the web?
I really appreciated that the show was only 30 minutes and the reveal was quick. It seems that is years past the show was longer or at least it seemed like they dragged it out. Also it is only common sense that they would have to surprise the winners before the show date.
I have already put a blog but it clearly was not “appropriate” for the website. And I am very dissapointed that it is someone old and not a young family that needs it. Really they should not say that it is live when it is clearly not!!!!!! One more thing HGTV sucks.
The big Fed tax shouldn’t be due until they file their return next year for 2009 so they should time to sell it if need be.
Congratulations to Cheryl! Whatever you decide to do with the beautiful home (sell it or keep it) you are blessed!!! I am glad that you were so excited and surprised. My family is smiling ear to ear for your family. We will try for the HGTV 2009 Green Home. Wish us luck!!!
I was very excited that the couple at least seemed or at least genuinely appeared to be excited about winning. I am very happy for them. I just hope, being from California,that they will move here and accept the house graciously and live in it for at least 5 years. I believe that a term to live in the winning house should be made, especially when so many people sign up to win the house with really possibly no intention of living in it.
Congrats to Cheryl and her hubby! please post pixs if you will be keeping the house! maybe next year someone will win on the west coast!! i saw it on Dish Network!
The Dream and the show was great. the hints the blog the outstanding hgtv team that makes me keep tuning in. They were so excited about the house and the car. Congratulations best wishes!!
I forgot something!!!:) I don’t think there will be a dream home next year. Especially with the economy and also to the person that said everyone should get satelite. NOT EVERY ONE CAN EFFORD IT especially with the economy.
Congrats to the winners! It is almost 6pm here in Santa Rosa, Ca and overcast! So I knew that it was all pre-recorded–and Monica was wearing a short-sleeved dress and you can’t wear that here this time of year without freezing or at least having some serious goose-bumbs!! I would have liked to have seen it all live-both in Flordia and here in Ca-maybe next year- the winners did have a better reaction than last years but they probably did contact her before tonight to tell her that she won-and they told her to really act suprised! I am betting that they will sell the house–which will take a very long time here in this market unless the builder buys it back!! The money will absolutely go further for them in Flordia than it will here in Ca.-they raised state income taxes and doubled the vehicle licenses fee–so Good Luck to them and enjoy your retirement years in WARM FLORDIA!!!!
The lady that won stated she could never have afforded to buy that new car, soooo HOW can they afford the taxes on that new house?????
I made the mistake of telling my 7 year old daughter that she could get a puppy for the dream home dog house if we won. OOOPS! Needless to say she cried herself to sleep. Guess I’m going to the SPCA tomorrow.
PS: To make matters worse we live in Florida so she got excited.
IF you CAN’T afford the taxes then you should NOT even put your name in to win.
INGRID!! I’m truly happy that the Smith’s will be getting such a wonderful neighbor as yourself! Please extend congratulations to them from all of us here on the blog!
And, we have a Facebook group starting; please join us:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125991615382&ref=mf
Congratulations to the winnner. Personally, I did not bother registering in the sweepstakes, as I would not be able to move to CA for just a home, no matter how much of a dream home. A person that really needs the dream home would probably not be in the financial position to keep the home or even move a distance. I would actually prefer to see more random acts of kindness from developers/contractors and spread it out among those that really have a need and that the would recipients of the winnings would not incur any financial hardship to receive the gift!
I too noticed that the tour of the dream home was after dark, but it should have been daylight if the broadcast was indeed live. Cheryl did seem quite surprised. I would think that if they were alerted of being the winner or finalist that others would have been with them when the knock was on the door. However, I can’t disagree with the comment about the coca-cola T-shrit and it not having the logo blurred.
Congratulations Cheryl!!! My family is truly happy for you!!
Ingrid, having met you, I know how sweet you are — the Smiths will be blessed to have you as a neighbor. Please tell them congratulatons from “The List”.
Hoping to see you at the SISBP.
CONGRATULATION!!
I have been looking for my smelling salts and can’t find it, oh, oh, the Tub, can she just send the tub my way. the wine, oh, there so many of them, the sub zero’s, the laundry room oh this is too much, too much I say. Somebody Hold me up, I feel weak, Oh My. to watch it all go. to watch it all. I HOPE SHE HOST THE SISBP. LUCKY!!!!
SO WHO’S UP FOR THE GREEN HOME?
Gail, GREAT JOB!!
HGTV TEASERS!!!! I Haven’t gotton enough of you yet, I’ll be still tuning in.
This was soooO exciting, ready to do it again. HGTV should keep building home help me forget about this bad economy.
MARY, YOU did a gret Job!! Congrats!!
CHERYL SMITH YOU GO GIRL!!!!!
One Love
Esla
Does anyone know… was Cheryl Smith the ‘backup’ winner? Though blurred out, I recall the entry selected by Jim Samples from one of the virtual bins seemed a considerably longer name than ‘Cheryl Smith’.
Whatever the case, congratulations to the Smith’s!
KD young people have many more years of life ahead of them to achieve their dreams. Whatever older people have it wasn’t handed to them, they had to work for it. Suggesting that the winner doesn’t need and deserve it is incredibly small minded and selfish of you.
I WOULD TAKE ALL THE WINE AND SELL THE HOUSE. DID YOU SEE ALL TE WINE THAT CAME WITH THE HOUSE?
I made the mistake of telling my 7 year old daughter that she could get a puppy for the dream home dog house if we won. OOPS! Needless to say, she cried herself to sleep. I guess I will be going to the SPCA tomorrow.
PS: To make matters worse she got excited because we live in Florida
Man oh man…bummed that it wasn’t me, but happy for the winner just the same. I would REALLY love for the winner to give us the breakdown of how the notification works, when did they know, and when did the “live” ambush take place? Also, how many times did they enter? Just curious.
I am so excited and honestly wondered if anyone that was real ever won or if it was a gimmick. Well now I know it is really real and some real people do actually win , Cheri is my daughters ex mother-in-law who still lives in Michigan with my two grandaugters which are also Joes and Cheri’s. I have spent several nights with them in Michigan when our kids were still married , I have not seen them in a very long time but I am as tickled as if it was me all I can say is Wow and congrats Joe and Cheri .I just talked to our grandaughter in Michigan and she was so excited to see her Grandparents on TV .
Hi, I don’t know if anybody notice, but the show is not live, the winner was notified last Monday. Did anybody notice the show on TV of the winner? It was Dancing with the Stars.
I’m still waiting for it to be posted on the website.
I’m very happy for Cheryl and her husband. Whatever they decide to do with the Dream Home, it is their decision. Remember all, it is a random draw, not to the most deserving, so we should all just be happy for them because no matter what, this will change their lives in the best possible way.
And in a sense it is an ambush, only it was done a week ago, but that ambush that they taped was live for the winners, only not to us, but HGTV knows what they are doing, after all, they’ve been doing it for many years now.
Thanks for all the fun and excitement HGTV and hats off to a wonderfully built and decorated home.
I note that the Green Home winning is only worth $750,000, so maybe it will be more affordable for the winner to keep.
Let’s have some clues on the 2010 Dream Home HGTV!
Ciao all and keep the dream alive!
How nice that they have something to enjoy in their retirement years be it the dream home or the financial gains from the sale of the home! Shame on you KD!
Congrats to the couple from Florida, they are very lucky. I wish it could have been me, I have the two kids, I have the dog, and I have the money to pay the taxes!!!
ANOTHER DEBI IN CALIF= I’m Glad that you are keep Posting the Site— the word will getting around!!!! I’ll keep in touch, I first have to create an account, OK? This will be Fun— maybe, we bloggers can arrange our own little pity party– I mean, our own “SISBP”!!!!
Diana
Congrats to Cheryl and her husband for winning the HGTV Dream Home. I have to say, though, I cried because it wasn’t me! I really wanted that house!
Congrats to the winner, just a bit sad it was not my family. My kids and our little dog were really wanting to be the ones to move into that beautiful new home. What a great opportunity it would have been for them experience all that California has to offer! For our little mid-west family it would really have been a “dream” come true!
All our best to Cheryl Smith & family!
Congratulations to the winner. To all of you that are complaining about her not affording the taxes…how many of the past winners KEPT the house? How many of us on this blog could afford the taxes..get real people and be happy for the winner.
sure a retired white person won no kidding!!
Im so happy for the winner!!!..My daughter cried when she noticed that we didnt win and she was not in chicago. But she’ll get over it. I would love to go to the SISBP!!!!
Hey ya’ll I just joined the HGTV Dream Home Blog 2.0 on Facebook….see ya there! Thanks for posting the link, I’ve been offline for a few days.
Well, Congrats to Cheryl Smith and her husband— I don’t think that they were bloggers though. They seemed Very Nice, and I am happy for them. I hope that they can afford the taxes, maybe between themselves and their sons– they can. The winner, Cheryl, said, “her home Now is in the boondocks”— well not for long. I used to live in Tampa/ Brandon (just a stones throw away)— and the tide will be moving to Lakeland real soon— but the Tampa Community is really a Great Community with some really, really Nice, Great and Friendly People!!! A lot of people say this about Tampa: ” At first, you hate it; but then, the city just grows on you and you find yourself loving living there”.
I also Hope that there is a “SISBP”and I also hope that they give the “doggie dream home” to Ingrid— her dog looked like he already made himself home!!!!!
Diana
It would be cool if next year they did not tell the winner early and when the winner was watching the reveal on LIVE tv they actually saw the camera crew and host pulling up to there house… Congrats to the winners!
Sad it wasn’t me…
I loved the Sonoma home!!! Beautiful!!! I tried to look up “Gail Fenton” on your site but could not find her show…???…Please let me know where I can see more of her…I loved her spirit and she seemed for real!!! not like a “The Price is Right” girl! You all do such a great job with picking different locations and styles and top notch builders and decorators! Keep up the good work! You have a fan for life!!!!!!!!
Congradulations to the winners but I do wish one year HGTV would give away possibly a few houses at 300 hundred thousand dollars each instead of one very expensive home to people who do not own homes so they may have a chance in their life to possibly own a home some day. Wouldn’t that be wonderful and a real dream come true. Maybe just maybe they will do something like that and I would be so very happy if they did.
I do own a home so it is not for me it would be for others so they could have a chance at owning a home of their own.
Thanks HGTV and keep up the good work.
OK, last post for the night— have to clean the dishes. Driving to Tampa tomorrow for a doctor’s appointment— it’s nice to see the old neighborhood. I thought about going shopping at the “International Mall”, but I’m Bummed Out— I’m SURE you know why!!! So I’ll sign on to Facebook on Tuesday
Have a Good Night Everybody
Diana
I cannot believe that HGTV keeps deceiving all of us by telling us that the show is live when it is NOT! Thank you to the persons who discovered that it was taped last week.
By the way, how many winners does that make for Florida now? The 2009 winners don’t appear to be in need of another home, but who knows. I wonder what is in that BIG storage building of theirs???
i do not understand what people do to win i entered this contest daily and my heart is broke right now .i do not know what ele to do help i feel so lost i truly wanted to win
heart broken in new mexico
help linda haas
send a letter or something please
what is SISBP?
I do not understand why HGTV showed this with tape delay to west coast.
Oh MY GOD! I am so excited for Mr Joe and Mrs Cheryl! I’ve known them since I was 8 and they are truly two of the most deserving people I could ever think of. Their granddaughter has been my best friend since we were little girls and when she called me to tell me I thought she was full of crap, but this is truly amazing! I can’t wait to go see the family next week and congratulate them in person! Mr Joe and Mrs Cheryl I am SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU! Love Kayla
I can see the show, but I hope same day Iam the winner thas is my dream, because all time I see the channel. and remember the latino people we have dreams too. congratulatons to the winners.
Oh yeah, they did have a dog once upon a time, a great Dane named Dancer, but he passed away.
Wow some of the comments that people have posted are shameless!! It’s a bunch of grown people throwing fits because they didn’t win or it didn’t happen the way they would have wanted it to!! BOO-HOO!!! Give me a break! I am very happy for the people that won the home who live in Lakeland, Fl. Though they may be retired and comfortable they were the ones that GOD wanted to have this beautiful home probably because they are the type of people who don’t go around blaming everyone else for their shortcomings and pitfalls and thoroughly just enjoy living life. Those are the kind of people that should have won. God knows the intent of the heart and I’m not saying that everyone that didn’t win had bad intentions, but those that are complaining and acting completely off make me wonder. If you have a complaint about who won and why they won then take it to the FATHER. HGTV did their part fair and square and so did the people that entered!!
Give me a break, some people are very naive. Have you ever heard that the rain falls on everyone so don’t throw stones at those of us that are upset because the drawing was once again misrepresented. That’s all that I am saying!
What a FAKE winner! Did anyone noticed the perfectly polished, squeaky clean front glass door? Not a single thumb print, not a single smudge? Could it be that the glass was cleaned so it would not reflect ugly in the lights of the cameras? Hmmm… Oh yeah, lets not forget the shameless Coca Cola logo plug in! How much did Coke paid for this advertising? Shame on you HGTV, giving people false hope of participating in legit sweepstakes, when it’s all sadly predetermined and picked before the first entry is placed. Oh and the name: Cheryl SMITH? What a unique name, please, the woman couldn’t even act excited, but she certainly had her hair done. I wonder which producer’s family she’s from? So sad!
Amen Sister Nolan!
Get over it people and stop complaining about the show not being “live”. Think about it, HGTV can’t take the chance of filming and ambushing the day of the “reveal” in the event the winner is no where to be found. This would be lost air time for the network and not to mention sponsorship money; that’s the way television works. Imagine if it was live and we are all waiting for the winner to be revealed only so the front door isn’t answered. Just picture the host saying, “Uhm, nobody is home so I guess we’ll try to ambush later.” In the meantime the cameras are rolling and no action is going on. Come on, HGTV doesn’t have time to waste in situations like these, they need to be organized and stay on schedule. This is what television is all about, to create drama.
Congrats to the winner, although i haven’t watched it yet. I am very happy for her. I just really wish HGTV wouldn’t lead everyone on when obviously the winner knew last week. It’s kind of mean. But how else would they get people to watch?
Right on Kristine..thank you for the info for those who are upset. Makes complete and total sense!!! Hey less people will enter next year better chance for us..lol! Keep that dream alive..God has a plan for everybody! God bless you and have a good night:)
HGTV needs to stop telling the public that the drawing is LIVE!
Who cares about how much it costs them.
Gary, I totally agree with you. Some people are very naive. And Stephanie, most of us are very happy for the winner. We are just upset that HGTV “mosrepresented” again. I think everyone expected it to be different this year and that it would really be a surprise. NOT!!! NOT again this year. HGTV took advantage of us. They made their money on us thru their sponsers. Lots of money. We trusted them. What a disappointment. Maybe they will get it next time????
Yeah I’m sick of hearing the haters on here. Be happy for them! And if you read the fine print they did say the ambush would happen on or around March 15th. I’m happy for Cheryl Smith and her family. Let’s hope someone from the west coast wins next year!!! =D
I don’t think folks are complaining because it wasn’t live; they are complaining because HGTV tries to play it as if they were airing it live.
I think HGTV means that they Ambush is taped live – in other words, it isn’t rehearsed. They can’t tell us the actual date of the ambush because then they couldn’t ambush anyone. Ambush – surprise. I think if HGTV just reworded the promo a bit and made it clear that the ambush was taped live, but the reveal is NOT live, that would clear things up. It didn’t help that they filmed the Sonoma segment at night — I think that might have been an oopsie! LOL
ANYWAYS, HOW ABOUT EVERYONE APPRECIATING THE FACT THAT HGTV GIVES AWAY A MILLION DOLLAR HOME IN THE FIRST PLACE???
Again, congratulations to the Smiths! Woo hooo!
You said it Stephanie! I agree with you.
Thank you HGTV for fulfilling the Smith’s dream.
Some of you have a hard time grasping the concept of a DREAM HOME!!!! That’s what the beautiful house in Sonoma was for me and a lot of people. HGTV knows what a DREAM HOME is. A home that has EVERYTHING!!! and they are giving it away for free!!!!! You ONLY pay for the taxes (even paying $700,000 for a $2,000,000.00 house is a bargain!) and if you can’t afford it you have a $50,000 car you can sell, and $200,000 worth of furniture and a HOUSE! YOU ARE A WINNER NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!. HGTV is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They don’t have to do it and yet they do! And hopefully they will keep doing it despite all this ungrateful and disrespectful comments.
I don’t want a smaller home I WANT A DREAM HOME! and that’s what HGTV gave me the opportunity to aspire to have. Please may the 2010 Dream Home be even more dreamier!!!! I sure will be signing up every day and maybe I will be the lucky winner next year.
I already won if you ask me. Thanks to HGTV I had something new to look for, made new friends on the blog, remembered what it was like to want something soooo bad that’s all you can think of all day long, and made me get all dressed up again (wearing make-up and heels like I used to before I had my son…no more sweatpants and washed face…yeah!) which made me feel GREAT!
THANK YOU HGTV!
Of course I’m disappointed…I WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO WIN! but that won’t make me loose all that I already gained…
GREEN HOME 2009 HERE I COME!
Peace out DH!
Wow. Some of you people are unbelievable. Please, show me where HGTV listed this show as LIVE. I purposefully tried to find where it said the show was live, and that claim was not made. Maybe implied…but that is just good marketing. And for that matter, who cares!!! HGTV just gave away a 2 million dollar prize. We should be thankful and happy for the winners, because it could have been any of us. It was a drawing, so complaining about the winner is borderline ridiculous. Grow up.
Give us all a break all of you ingratiators. It is not going to increase your chances of winning next year so give it a rest.
Never said that I wasn’t happy for the winners. Don’t assume anything.
The Dream Home Giveaways are and have always been about what most of us would never have been able to do on our own. But I think that of the 39+ million people that entered would have been eternally grateful for something less had they won.
So here is my suggestion to HGTV. Build 8 moderately priced homes, say around $200K to $250K, all around the country. Let 8 people win. That way, 8 people would have a chance at a new home, a very nice home, and still be able to afford it.
I would like to know why no one wins from the West Coast?
Hello Fellow Bloggers:
Just reading your comments helps ease the loss of not winning this years Dream Home, but there’s still HOPE!!! The Green Home and possibly the 2010 Dream Home.
Remember Guys & Gals
Don’t despair
KEEP DREAMIN’
I think we all knew that it would be a long shot, especially when Gail showed us the bins and computer’s virtual bins.
This is an amazing contest, because it is based on a flat playing field, as when compared to other makeover shows.
Everyone has their own story and wishes. This show has allowed us to dream big time!
But, keep in mind nothing has really changed – it’s all a game. Becuase of this, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. The odds were stacked equally against all of us.
If you view the tapes of some of the past winners, one woman said she had entered for several years – so let’s remember this and try again.
Even though it can be disappointing, because of our individual situations…Let’s not criticize one another, it just wasn’t our turn yet.
This has been an incredibly supportive blog site with Marie, DBCoop, Brenda, the list goes on and on…(personally my first time blogging).
Everyone thus far has been terribly supportive of one another even when we may have misspoke.
I have already posted my good wishes to the winners, but I send you all Good Wishes.
Marsha, you have had one winner from Thousand Oaks, California. I think that she has been the only one.
Hi everyone,
Congratulations to the Smith family! I am so excited for them. I didn’t get to see the show but I am watching HGTV as we speak. HGTV can you show a rerun or post it as video on the web? Well, like many of you May God bless them. Like many of you, I am dismayed I didn’t win! But, I am truly happy for the winners. In a sweepstakes there is only room for one winner obviously so there is bound to be some disappointment. But, this was fun right? Let’s all maintain the happiness we shared prior to learning the winners and hope that they share their experiences with us and what it is truly like to own the dream home. Let’s just keep this wonderful thing going and continue dreaming I know I will. Yes, now that the DH 2009 is over, I am on a quest for the Green Home you should come and join me! Shelley, Cleveland, OH.
Good for them. I’ll toast to that
No negative comment here, just good luck and enjoy! Cheers!
Hey Hey now All! Let’s not call names and take anything personally. Everyone is sad that they didn’t win. I’m super sad, but it’s not like we lost anything, right? We never had this home to begin with, just the hope for it. I noticed that a lot of the “new bloggers” on this post are very harsh; please, just keep things somewhat positive. Audra M: Thank you for your thoughts, a DREAM HOME should really be a DREAM (something that we would normally not obtain in life).
All of the legalities (sp?) of the ambush time shouldn’t really matter much. They did things the way that they wanted to. Give ‘em a break for crying out loud! They’re giving away million dollar homes!!!
what I dont understand is why havent any black people ever won now. I hate hgtv the show suck and on top of all that it’s not for blacks so what hgtv need to do is post a big sign up saying no blacks if people look back at all who ever won they would see just what iam talking about. this need to be talked about iam going to let the world no about
I agree with you Audra. HGTV doesn’t need to do this yet they do. We all know it’s a sweepstakes and it’s a game of chance. Anyone has the same opportunity to win. Some people feel that HGTV has been misrepresenting and lying in terms of the “live ambush” and so forth, I personally don’t feel that way. I also entered with the hopes of winning just like everyone else. However, I was also realistic, I figured if I was not contacted by March 6th I was not the winner. So I left for a much needed vacation on the 6th and will be returning March 18th. I’ve only been waiting to find out who the winner is since I knew I didn’t win. Nevertheless, I am happy for the winner maybe they can try to keep the house with the help of their children. God Bless!!
Congratulations to Cheryl Smith and Family!
Millions of people could only dream of winning this beautiful home, including me, but it was you who did. I believe I know just how you felt when the balloons arrived, I had many day- dreams of it happening to me.
Although I may be sad that my family is not going to experience the joy of this home, I am absolutely grateful that I had the opportunity to join in the dreams. So…..Good Luck Smith Family! I look forward to seeing you tour your new home. For myself, I will be entering the HGTV Green Home..We all know someone is going to win…Why not me?
Though I am on the west coast and haven’t seen the show yet, just wanted to congratulate the winners! (I am assuming they were not from the west coast)
These posts are funny…some ask why poor people always win…and some ask why no one who really needs it ever wins. Can’t be both, can it?! I am inclined to believe it is mostly the latter. (but everything is relative!)
I want to know why no one on the west coast ever wins…(and how would you pull off a surprise visit and still be able to show it in prime time on the east coast if they did ….hmmmmmm?????? But maybe you have.)
Good luck to whoever won.
FYI; the SISBP means “Sippin’ in Sonoma Bloggers Party”…a group of bloggers wants to get together at The Plaza and have a picnic and get-together in celebration of the beautiful DH09 ! I guess now it will be a “Why didn’t I win party”? I wonder how many people will show up? I’m going to watch the special again at 8pm and see myself on the show…I didn’t get my 15 minutes of fame…I got 2 seconds!!! They’ll be no living with me now. My poor husband!
Ingrid from Sonoma
Mary, what I’m thinking is I’ll say she’s speechless when you can’t even think of that word. I would have just talked and talked, about the details of the house, network, all the people that made it happen, the sponsering co’s., Sonoma, also my degree is bus. finance so I would have been discussing all the fees and legalities. Oh well maybe camera shy.
I hope they like it!!
i need all my research and looked for jobs and was all set to move to Sonoma, Congrats to the winner. I wish it was me but congrats. I hope Hgtv , will announce the winner immediately after picking their names. Hope I win someday
Sorry I meant I did all my research on Sonama
HONESTLY- WHY IS NO ONE ON THE WEST COAST EVER CHOSEN?? BEEN ENTERING FOR 8 YEARS AND IT IS ALWAYS EAST COAST PEOPLE WHO WIN? SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME.
The giveaway starts here in less than 15 minutes. I’m so excited to see who wins!
Congrats to the WINNER and her hubby. I am not a sore looser, but I do want to mention one little thing. I guess because I live on the West coast I have still about 5 minutes before I see the show. I don’t like the fact that everyone and the i-net already knows who the winner is. What a surprise blower.
I agree with you Chervelle! You’re right
congratulations to the smith family from Lakeland, FL
.
Well, since this was a RANDOM drawing, we really can’t control who wins! There could be thousands of reasons why an Easter Coaster wins as opposed to a West Coaster; maybe there’s more East Coast entries. Who knows, but who really cares? Come on now! Let’s be positive here!
Congrats to the winner. I would like to know why black, hispanic and legal immigrants never win an HGTV dream house?
I just saw Ingrid on TV:) They showed a little from the interview with Gail..
I am on west coast and watching it right now!
I am sooo happy for the winner! Congrats to her and her family!!!
I wasn’t able to finish the show. Stopped watching 5 minutes in because it was too boring. Watched some documentary about Charlie Manson instead….
It’s going to be tough to sell the house in this market. They would probably be better off taking the cash and getting taxed on that. Maybe HGTV should start giving away homes that will be a bit more affordable to the winner. A dream home doesn’t have to be a million dollars or more. I really hope things work out for them whether or not they choose to keep the home.
Anyway, the horrible “Catwoman” movie is on and I must watch it. An actress that can win a Best Actress Oscar in 2002 and a Worst Actress Razzie in 2005 is just amusing to me.
Lina: It’s really luck of the draw. black, hispanic and legal immigrants don’t make up the majority of this country. When I say “legal immigrants”, I mean recent ones, not May Flower type ones. Because if that’s the case, then yea, legal immigrants have won.
Congrats to the winner. Thanks HGTV for the best dream home special to date. It was entertaining even if I wasn’t the lucky one in 39 million.
At first I was a bit sad I didnt win but I am truly happy for her but I sure wish was me. I was all set to go to Sonoma to start a new life. I had my job just waiting to apply. Hope the next time they annonce the winner as soon as they pick it.Geeze I was all ready to go. Congrats Cheryl. I’m a Miami ole gul so Congrats again Enjoy
I’m totally bummed that neither me nor my fiance won, but I am so very happy for Cheryl Smith. I hope she will have a great next few weeks touring the home and getting pampered by HGTV
It’s almost sad reading some of the comments posted tonight. I think HGTV giving away a dream home is something A) they don’t HAVE to do & B) gets people really excited for the possibility of winning & how HGTV airs the programming should be their choice. They are providing us entertainment, we choose to watch or not. Everyone who is seriously complaining about this shouldn’t enter the contest. It doesn’t matter who wins, their age or income or skin color! You can be disappointed without attacking the winner! All of that is ridiculous. I say Congratulations!!! and move on!…hopefully there will be another one next year! I look forward to trying again…I’m on the East Coast so maybe next year I’ll win!
Are these contests really fair – are you sure they are not rigged???
I think its a trend, it’s middle aged and retired prople who usually win except for the lady last year who seem like she wasn’t that happy, sp maybe next time will be either a black, hispanic or legal immigrant. Got to sleep It was a good thing I didnt quit my job yet
Happy 4 the winner even though it wasn’t me!
I too have a complaint that this is really not a “LIVE” broadcast. So even though I live not a 4 hour drive from the new Dream home, I had to find out through the internet before the TV broadcast that the winner was another East Coast person! And with the 3 hour delay this is truly not a live broadcast!
Why I don’t know…. It’s not that hard to do with the modern technology that is available. So next year HGTV please make it a live broadcast!
See I’m not complaining that I didn’t win, I don’t win anything, so this is nothing new. My only complaint is that its not LIVE but a 3 hour delay…
Thank you HGTV for doing the Dream home giveaway, at least for 12 months I can dream about “What If”
ChrisW
This was easily the best give away episode ever. I like how it was kept calm and simple, unlike past years. Thanks!
DO people really win no matter how they spin it. That’s why they don’t do the Publishers game anymore. The people that won always had nice homes, cars etc.
I live in Sonoma it’s a great place and we will try and welcome “outsiders”. Congratulations to the winners, your taxes on the property is due in April and we need the revenue.
first off, congrats to the winner! That is so awesome! But I will never enter into a sweepstakes with HGTV again, every year my husband and I have entered. And its always an older couple that wins or someone on the east coast with it always being set up and fake circumstances (cheesy), HGTV you are jerks for leading us all on like this every year on the west coast. Truly unfair and a retarded sweepstakes! Just one big lie to get people to tune in and make money off all our broken dreams. They do background checks and screen the winners, so this is obviously a setup. such CRAP! I am done with HGTV, and the media’s lies. Although I am very very happy for the winners, and I admit to being very envious, of course. It was obviously meant for them. Mainly perturbed at the producers and show ethics. I hope they know how expensive it is to live in California especially the wine country, its not cheap along with the huge tax payouts! They will probably sell it back to HGTV anyways. congrats to HGTV another disappointing year with a cheesy sweepstakes.
Hey there Gary I just wanted to let you know why I responded the way I did with my first blog even though I know I really don’t have to. I wasn’t necessarily speaking just to you, but to all of the people that were complaining about the winners and you were actually one of the people so I can understand your being offended by what I wrote. If you had just said about the HGTV thing than I think I can understand your frustration a little bit. I also thought it was going to be live and I was disappointed that it wasn’t, but oh well I figured their a business and they gotta do what they gotta do..won’t stop me from watching my shows…lol.
This is what you wrote:
I cannot believe that HGTV keeps deceiving all of us by telling us that the show is live when it is NOT! Thank you to the persons who discovered that it was taped last week.
By the way, how many winners does that make for Florida now? The 2009 winners don’t appear to be in need of another home, but who knows. I wonder what is in that BIG storage building of theirs???
I’m not sure how many winners Florida has had in the 13 years they’ve been doing this, but when I’m done eating my late dinner I will research for you and let you know unless you already do (even though you didn’t mention the number). Also…..who really needs another home? Nobody really unless they choose to by one or by the grace of GOD WIN ONE!!! These people were just like everyone else…they wanted to win and they entered and they did. Do you own your home? If you do would you be telling yourself that you didn’t need to win and give it to someone that was maybe renting? I’m not mad at you at all just curious. Sometimes we are so quick to judge the blessings of others’ because we want them for ourselves and than we spend our whole lives wondering why we always got the short end of the stick. I believe it’s because we’re never satisfied with what we have and we’re always looking at what other people have and judging them and than we just miss a world of opportunity. I don’t want this for anyone!! I bet your blessing is right around the corner you just need to keep your eyes open and look for it:) I really thought I was going to win and I actually cried like a dork because I didn’t, but you know what??? I know there’s a blessing for me and that just wasn’t it (though I dreamed about it). Let’s not worry about what people have in their storage units, let’s worry about what they have in their hearts and wish them all the best……they really do deserve it! God Bless you Mr. C and I hope you keep your head up!
Super excited for that sweet lady and her husband! They looked like nice people who lived a clean, hard-working life- just enjoying their retirement. She was gracious and appreciative. So happy for her and her husband!!
Read the blogs while watching on TV. (West coast) Cheryl seems truly happy and I’m happy for her and her husband. They have until April 15th of next year to come up with the income taxes. Don’t know when the property taxes will be due.
I hope they and their family have an opportunity to stay in the house a few times before they have to put it on the market. I also hope that Steve Ledson would still be willing to purchase it if they have used it for awhile.
I’m very happy for them. I am in the same category as the winners, retired, fairly affluent, and white and I find the
comments of many of the bloggers appalling. Jealousy is a tool of the devil.
Congratulations to the winners and to the sore losers, that’s what you are, losers.
jerry
The dream home as we all know is beautiful…but my opinon is that to all those that are complaining and feel the need to state how the winner should have been chosen, you can’t be too upset. God has a plan for all of us and for the over 39million of us that didnt win we can only look forward to and continue to dream of what is in store for our futures. The greatest blessings of all are not material things, regardless to how expspensive and gorgeous they may be. True blessings are family, friends, our health and the way we positively live our lives. Let’s remember that. I am a 22 year old single mother of two who entered the contest daily and of course was dissappointed when i realized that i hadn’t won, but with that being said I’ll be darned if i get on here gripeing about not winning. I am happy for the couple that did win and I hope that they enjoy living in California just as much as I do. God Bless everyone.
Did you guys see the videos of the winners answering the bloggers questions? They mentioned you Marie Miller in the second part!!!! Wohoo! I haven’t seen all the videos because the buffering is taking forever!
They have been entering daily for the past 10 years!!!!!! WOW!!! It sounds to me like it was their turn to win! I just hope I don;t have to wait another 9 years to win my dream home!!!!
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-dream-home-2009-giveaway-enter/package/index.html
Well said again Stephanie!
Hi All…I watched it again, and was disappointed that Cheryl Smith never said “thank-you”. I’ve been reading this blog forever, and most of the bloggers have said,”thank you for the chance to win”…and yet the actual winner doesn’t thank HGTV???
Oh well, let’s hope she was tongue-tied and meant to. Ingrid from Sonoma
Dear hgdtv (all of you)
I am so very happy for the lady who won that beautiful dream home!:) I don’t know how many times I wrote hoping it would be me. However there is always next year! I love that you won this beautiful home! It is truly the most beautiful home I have seen although anything hdgtv does is outstanding and they have the most talented people on the planet. My best to you and enjoy every moment of this gift from God. I am truly happy for you and your family! God Bless You.
I have learned through this process that wishing is never enough! I am goiong to get a house like that through working! My husband and I are in school, and we are really poor right now, but I have learned to be happy where I am at while keeping my ambition alive. you don’t have to have a dream house to have a happy home!!!!!!
Cheryl,
You seem like such a nice bubbly person and I am really very happy that you won the house and the car! It is beautiful and that area is exceptional! May God bless you and your family and enjoy every moment that you are winner and all that goes with it! I am happy for you and your family.
Congrats to Cheryl and her family for winning the DH09! I had to tuck my son in, so I missed the show, but I will watch the re-run (I knew the bloggers would fill me in).
It was wonderful to dream of living in Sonoma and the house was truly my taste and style. Kudos to HGTV for a classy project, especially Gail, who was sincere, charming, and funny.
Now….when is the SISBP?????
So..I am guessing it was not live this evening since the tape they have of them with their family was shot in the daytime. Very confusing…Am I missing something? Did we all sit on the edge of our seats for nothing tonight?
I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble, but this probably wouldn’t be the best prize for a retired couple to accept. First of all, if they are on Medicare or are recieving anything from Social Security they will lose those benefits. Then at the first of 2010 they will have to pay 35% Federal Income tax and 10.3% CA state income tax on the ARV of $2,052,450 for a total of $929,760 in taxes, not including the $25,000 anual property taxes; half due next month and the other half due in December. And if they can’t afford that and wish to take out a mortgage to pay for the taxes the monthly payment on that would be $8,792 per month, or so. And if they decide to sell the house within the first two years of owning it there would be a 35% federal capitol gains tax + 10.3% state capitol gains tax on the sales price of the house (assuming it’s $1,800,000) for a total of $815,400 in taxes. Leaving them with $307,290 minus any other taxes and fees they may need to pay after its all said and done. The reason I know all of this is because of the career I have. I help people get the most out of their assets.
I was in tears watching the excitement of Cheryl Smith and her husband. It was wonderful to see an older couple receive this home. I’m a loyal fan, and this location and home is beautiful! It is such an impact on a family the home the memories are made in. This home will produce beautiful memories to there family and friends.
Bonnie thanks so much for posting the tax implications of winning this fools-sweepstakes. I seriously doubt these poor people will ever set foot in the “dream house”.. pretty sad. It all comes down to advertising dollars, 39 million entries?? how many add sales dollar via the internet did hgtv make I wonder?
rather Kevin.. sorry
I was in tears watching the excitement of Cheryl Smith and her husband. It was wonderful to see an older couple receive this home. I’m a loyal fan, and this location and home is beautiful! It is such an impact on a family the home the memories are made in. This home will produce beautiful life long memories to their family and friends.
LOL…Wow Kevin you need to be my tax guy!!!! Thanks for the awesome breakdown! It’s like we all knew we’d have to pay taxes on it if we’d won, but I think the guessitmate was like $700k. You sound like you know what your talking about..thanks for the reality check!
Please, PLEASE, do not take this contest too seriously!! Do not get upset because you will need all of your marbles for what’s coming this week. IMO, this is all about MARKETING. Here are some questions I have. Why was the sweet lady wearing a red shirt advertising “Coca Cola”? and the red perfectly matched the presenter’s red dress? Instead of millions (zillions?) of entries (as they graphically showed this time) why not have everybody just enter “once” to give everybody better possibilities of winning?
By the way, we are blessed with a large home and grounds (paid off)in Southern CA by following what’s in the B.I.B.L.E. (Best Instruction Before Leaving Earth). Blessings to you all!
My, how this fun happy Blog has changed
. Every year!! 
Ingrid, it was fun to see you on the give-away! Did you know you were going to be on it?
The only reason I knew that the winner was from Florida and had already been ambushed, is because her next door neighbor came on the message board and told us.
He was probably banned for doing that.
I thought it was a pretty good show. Short and sweet.
I am just so happy that we finally had a Dream Home in California and I got to go see it some many times
. What a lot of fun it has been.
I would love to be able to be there when the winner is presented with the Keys to the house.
Oh, want to let some of you know that there has been a winner from California.
But more people live on the East coast then the West coast, so of course there will be more people from that part of the country entering.
And PLEASEEEEE people..let’s not go there with the “race” thing.
I guess I am not really dissapointed because I have met so many FUN people here, and it has been grrrreat!!
And I live in California, and there are so many great little towns here.
Now time to plan the SISBP
!!
My last comment is “awaiting moderation”. (This blog closes tomorrow!)I’ll try again but my last one was more meaningful. I pray that you will all have your “Dream Homes” soon. We have a large dream home and land in So. CA (paid for) by following what’s in the B. I. B. L. E. (Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth). Blessings to you all!
Ingrid, It was you for a few seconds, did you have to sign a release to have your 3 seconds of fame? I really hope that the original SISBP does happen, I saw some new blogs from Santa Rosa, and Marin. Thank you for telling people about it. I hope it turns out to be the exciting party everyone was talking about, and not a “Whine tasting Party” like the blog looks like tonight. If people could just have felt the love in that hotel that day, I am sure a lot of people would make the journey to attend. I hope you will get to attend the official party hosted by HGTV at the DH. Now that your famous and all, I didn’t see, was BoBo in the shot? If you do get an invite, please tell us all about your new neighbors. I hope to be returning soon to visit with Lovelykitty, Brenda and hubbies. I will most likely be going with just Bitts, so I will probably make 2 trips, 1 with and 1 alone. I know Bitts would Love to meet BoBo. I hope to see you soon, and I saw that Brenda is starting talk about the Where and Whens of making the party happen. Good Night
You are only half right, Kevin. The income tax is only paid on the winnings. The real estate tax is going to be deferred for one year. And the mortgage payment would be closer to 5,000 or 6,000 a month. Capital gains tax is ONLY paid on an investment, not in this situation.
why is it that it is always a person that already has a nice home that wins, when there are people that really need a home never win, and I agree that it is also always the people on the east coas that win never us on the west coast or pacific coast.
I think it is funny to compare the comments before they select the winner with the ones here after they select the winner. A lot of people are just as sweet before as they are after, but there are a few sore losers out there.
I am so happy for the winner and her husband. They must be so excited right now.
I noticed that there were videos with answers to bloggers questions, but the last video about the green home won’t work for me. It freezes a third of the way through. PLEASE fix it HGTV!!! I am starting to get excited about the green home now, and I wanted to see that sneak peak.
Hi cheryl, This is Price and congladulations to you and your husband on your new HGTV Dream Home of this year and good luck with the taxes and everything there and enjoy life while you can and i’m so happy for you guy’s. Thanks Price Hallman
I am so happy for the couple!! I can not believe all the sour grapes about the winners. I wanted to win also, but it’s the
luck of the draw, and I am happy for them.
As far as people questioning how they could afford the taxes, I do not think most of us on this blog could afford the taxes.
CONGRATS TO THEM !!!
Thank you for the dose of reality, Kevin Potter! Detailed tax liability info should be included in the entry form, even if only in the fine print. Entrants should be made aware of their liability BEFORE deciding to enter what is seemingly otherwise a “DREAM” home, which, should they win,” could undoubtedly become their “Nightmare Home.”
Of course, even if HGTV did disclose the tax liability, some people will still continue to think they can “get something for nothing,” as is evidenced by the state of our current economy, wherein the “it’s all about me” attitude thrives and so many people continue to live so far beyond their means! Can you say “bailout”???
CONGRATULATIONS SMITH FAMILY,
I’m very happy for you. I know you were thrilled and overwhelmed by the surprise. I know I would have been. May the money from this house put you on “easy street” for a long time to come. May God bless your family.
For anyone who said they could afford the house, now is the time to step up and bid for it.
I’ll bet every one of you complaining about how it was done would not have cared one bit at all about the ambush not being live if you had won! Would you be calling HGTV liars and saying you hate them? You’re just upset that you didn’t win. Please don’t allow this negativity to eat away at you, it’s not healthy. We all had fun dreaming. No one is forced to enter. I think if you don’t like the way it is done that you shouldn’t enter, it will better my chances for next year!
How come no one has mentioned that it couldn’t have been a surprise because she was given a brand new COKE shirt to wear for the filming. It seemed like an obvious product placement to me. Otherwise, if she had just happened to have this brand new shirt on, the producers legally have to smudge the logo onscreen because logo shirts can’t be worn without the permission of the company in spots like this… If it had been live, it would have said LIVE on the bottom of the TV.
They specifically used wording, that sweepstakes promoters often use of “check to see if you’re a/the winner”, which misleads people into thinking the winner notification would be live (during the 8pm eastern time slot Sunday). Its often stated that way to drive web traffic for increased numbers, or this time to get higher ratings for the giveaway show. They never said it was a live event show, like when they had a studio audience with Clive and Joan doing the “ambush” live.
However if you read the blog this past week someone scooped an HGTV camera crew lady’s baby blog where she mentioned somewhere a few days ago, “we wrapped up the host part in Sonoma” (the part when Monica was filmed) and “I have to hop a plane Sunday to film the winner and I don’t know where I’m going yet”
I agree with the post Bob posted about building more affordable housing and letting more people win each year instead of a house that is so ridiculously expensive the winner is not going to be able to live in it. Let’s hope they can sell quickly or is going to bankrupt them anyway.
While a beautiful house not the type of house I would even think of as being a dream house for myself and my family because I know we could not afford to keep it. In this economy or any economy just because you can build a house and furnish it–doesn’t mean you can live in it comfortably for any length of time.
HGTV please get real and think of the ‘normal’ person out there. A home that is between $175-225,000 and even less than that is more in keeping with what a normal family MAY be able to afford.
My question is, why don’t they are pick single people? Do you have to be married to win a house? Well, I suppose you could just lump me in with the rest of the complainers- ‘why don’t they ever pick… fill in the blank– a black person, a young person, a poor person, a person from the west coast’ etc etc etc. OK- my Sonoma dreams are dashed– moving on!
Lovelykitty, Brenda, JandV’sMom, Ingrid and Bobo, (the missing)Jenny D and her mom Betty… well, we didn’t win but we’re able to be ecstatic for the winners! It’s sad to hear the bashing of HGTV and the winners from those who are unappreciative of all that this wonderful contest provided us. As JandV’sMom said, we who met in Sonoma because of this contest, felt the love. I have sent off my congratulatory card to the Smith’s with a “picture of a dead president” in it! I am ready to start planning the party with all of you. I hope the winners are interested in planning it with us. It would be great to have them at the party and be able to congratulate them in person. I look forward to hearing more about the plans soon.
Bonnie B
Congrats to the winner! When I saw that it wasn’t my state I still couldn’t turn it off because I was waiting to see if she was a Dream Home blogger but I don’t think she was. I don’t see anywhere where it says it is a LIVE recording. Could it be that they tape it live? I don’t know but I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone! I hope to see you guys Dreaming for the 2010 Dreamhome on the blog!
To the people who are complaining that this lady already had a beautiful home….well come on! I here that from my kids all day….( she got a bigger piece of cake…no I didn’t his is bigger!) It is CONTEST folks! Don’t be a sore loser! How do you know she doesn’t rent her home? Even if someone already had a million dollar house they have every right to enter and to win just as you and I are.
Love you!
Anita
To all the “Ladies of the Ledson Hotel”. No, I had NO idea that I would be on the give-away show last night! I was so surprised to see my(goofy)smile! Too bad cutie-pie BoBo didn’t make the final cut. Oh well, I think our “15″ minutes of fame have come to an end.
It’s been a kick, and I’ll keep everyone posted if there’s any changes at the DH once the Smith Family arrives. Do I see a garage sale outing in my future? Ingrid from Sonoma
i am jelous of the winner. i was thinking that iwas the winner
Dear HGTV – I am VERY ashamed to read some of the posts today on this blog. I cannot believe the (NO pun intended) “sour grapes” attitudes some folks have!!! It’s incredible. I just want everyone at HGTV to know that it is NOT a consensus here! Thank you HGTV, and sponsors, for the fabulous time you have given all of us. Keep up the GREAT work. Don’t mind the few people NO ONE can ever please!!
Did the other dream house get this kind of bad comments after the winner was announced? Just curious.
Who cares if it was a doctor, judge, CEO of a company that won this house, they won it because they entered a contest which was open to all to enter and meet the qualifications to win.
Congrats.
Congratulations to the Smiths! May you enjoy these coming days of constant excitement and whirlwind decisions!
I don’t understand how any one can afford this house. The taxes have to be ourageous. And as some one else commented on, how in the world will these people pay the taxes on this house? How will they be able to pay the taxes on the car they won???? Since you spend OVER $2 million on ONE house, why not build 4 houses for about $500,000? And in different parts of the country. I think is is terrible that only one person can win. How do you think some one who is poor is going to fit into a neighborhood like that? They will be shunned!!!! You people that run this aren’t very smart.
Kevin Potter – I need an advisor like you is there anyway I can get your contact info? I’m in So Cal. Are you a member of myspace, facebook, etc? Thanks
I been given such inspiration because of the graciousness of this years winner to continue my quest to enter every contest HGTV wants to give away.New hopes and dreams forever. So happy for the winners I truely beleive they were the right ones. Keep up the good work HGTV. I would like to know when we see them visit their dream home in Sonoma? Got my calender marked for the contest to start on the GREEN DREAM. My life is far from dull, most times there is not enough time in a day for work, family, HGTV, housework, laundry, yard work, and on and on. But I’m not going to miss out on the HGTV DREAM and enter and have a good time with it. Love you all!! BIG DREAMER
Hi Kristine, I would love to answer any questions you may have. I am licensed in California, Arizona and Utah to help financially advise people in those states. I don’t have a myspace nor a facebook page. But I do have a blog on blogspot.com and you could just click on my name below to find me. You can even look me up in the UT, CA, or AZ Department of Insurance database… just google it and you can find me. HGTV doesn’t allow anybody to post their contact info so you’ll have to do a little research to find me.
Congrats to the winners, I wish the best to them and hope that they can keep the house and enjoy it for a very long time in retirement.
And a side note to Louie… when they go to closing and sign the papers to take ownership of the home that is when they will have to pay any fees and/or taxes due. Last time I bought a house in CA I had to pay part of the taxes on that day. In this case that would make HGTV responsible for 1/4 of the 2009 real estate taxes and the winners are responsible for the other 3/4 of it. And any house that is owned for less than 2 years or if its not your primary residence then it’s considered an investment property. The winners already have a home in Florida, and most likely won’t be able to sell it in time to take over ownership by the date HGTV chooses. Capital Gains tax will have to be payed unless they do a 1031 exchange and use all the gains to buy another house. I deal with Finances every day and I know what I’m talking about.
ok…you have got to get someone else to do this give a way. “How do you feel at this moment” question got old. It’s so PCH!
Other then that, congrats to the winners and best of luck.
All of the DreamHome winners, no one has been able to pay the taxes on their new home and they have all given it up
Kevin, the past Dream Home winners that we on the message board have heard from, said they did not have to pay the taxes on their DH until the NEXT year. Like the taxes for DH08 are due THIS April 15th.
HGTV pays NO taxes on the Dream Homes at all. I Know this for a FACT!!
The winners will have to pay insurance before they can spend the night there.
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