Mar
16
Watch the Winner!
Want to take one more look at our winner ambush? Learn more about Cheryl Smith, the winner of the HGTV Dream Home 2009, plus watch exclusive online interviews (we asked Cheryl questions you posted on this blog!).
No wonder no one was making any comments on the last page, A new one!
I wished that the special had spent more time with the winning family, That is what I was really interested in finding out about.
I knew it! It’s all fake! I watched the give away tonight at 6 pm where it was still day light in Colorado but they wanted me to believe that it was dark in California/Pacific time. Then, the winner in Florida (for the 2nd year in a row) was watching Dancing with the Stars in the background and that is on Monday night with this, the LIVE giveaway on SUNDAY night…oops I guess it wasn’t live! I should have known, a chance to live a 2-million dollar home was too good to be true.
For 2010, I believe the Dream Home should be in: Seabeck, Washington State. Seabeck has INCREDIBLE VIEWS: 180 degree views of the ocean, SPECTACULAR snow-capped mountains, and forest all around. AND Seattle is a short ferry ride away! When the sky meats the ocean, meats the mountains and the forest, THAT is truely a dream. Seabeck, WA should absolutely be considered for HGTV Dream Home 2010!!!
(Sorry, my spelling is horrid! ^_^ I meant to spell “meets” instead of “meats”. LOL!)
“For 2010, I believe the Dream Home should be in: Seabeck, Washington State. Seabeck has INCREDIBLE VIEWS: 180 degree views of the ocean, SPECTACULAR snow-capped mountains, and forest all around. AND Seattle is a short ferry ride away! When the sky meats the ocean, meats the mountains and the forest, THAT is truely a dream. Seabeck, WA should absolutely be considered for HGTV Dream Home 2010!!!”
Sounds Great, Stacy! I’d TOTALLY want to live there!
Congrats to the Smiths. It sounds like they are ready to sell. She mentions having money for her grandkids’ college funds. She won’t have that unless she sells. Plus, what grandma who spends 3-4 days a week with her grandchildren is going to leave them for a city where she knows no one but her husband?
A home is more than a house.
OMG! It’s very exciting. I got so teary watching the video when the winners found they’re the owners of HDTG DH09. Congratulations.
I do wish them the best! They sounded like very nice people. And to everyone who thinks that HGTV selects people, well maybe they do when it gets down to a handful drawn. They cannot surprise meth heads or drunkards. Think about it..they disclose their right to screen in the rules. I think that it is fun and it definitely is better than watching the news these days. Thanks HGTV!
he,he..I kept refreshing the page and no more comments…now I know why! A new blog!!! Ha,ha,ha
John Lassiter was going to be my neighbor!!!! OMG! Now I’m even more disappointed I didn’t win! Oh well, I can always but a home there and relocate to Sonoma…hey! I’m still up in the clouds dreaming…Audra! Wake up! Spring Break is over! Time to get ready to go teach tomorrow at 8:00am eastern time..so it won’t be live on the west coast…sorry….he,he,he
I am so happy for the Smith’s, however I wonder why HGTV has never given away a dream home to an African American family. I have never seen that before. Only older white couples or single white women. I dont know how much of this I beleive isnt set up. I love HGTV but I really think they should play fair. What about giving away the dream home to someone who cant afford to buy a home and is renting? I am happy for this couple but I am dissappointed in HGTV.
If you cant afford to buy a home RaSha then you wouldn't be able to pay the taxes or utilities on this size house… I don't think you realize what goes into owning a home. Its more than just the note. There is alot of up keep after a few years too. Could someone that cant afford to buy or is renting take on such responsibilities? HGTV has put alot of time and money into building such a beautiful home and want to make sure that it is going to be kept that way.
all that you've said is ridiculous. they dont call it a "dream" home for no reason. in my opinion, this home is intended to be unreachable for most which is why so many dare to dream and enter the contest in the first place. it's upsetting that you imply that b/c i'm a renter i have no chance in winning. this is absurd. and mistake me if i'm wrong, but i was under the impression that hgtv starting awarding a cash prize a few yrs ago b/c of the fact that people couldn't afford the taxes, upkeep etc. on these homes and that money could be used for such things.
What are you kidding? Take your race card and play it somehwhere else!
No one really expects to live in it,… I think if you expect to afford it you don't deserve it.
Congratulations to the winning family. I’m concerned for them since they are retired and will have to pay the taxes on this home. Hopefully they can come up with the funds.
I have entered this contest for over 10 years but this will be my last entry.
Good luck, and enjoy your new beautiful home.
Congratulations to the winners!! I missed it on tv and just watched the announcement online. It was so exciting watching the winners! I smiled from ear to ear and had tears streaming down my face because I was so happy for the couple!! I loved seeing their joy and excitement!! Thanks HGTV, keep ‘em coming every year! Your homes and dreams are beautiful!!
I thought I would be totally jealous of whoever won but she and her husband were so ecstatic and overly happy that I just couldn’t be. Oh the financial freedom of not having a house payment!!! But that’s okay. She and her husband have paid their dues, working hard and raising a family. Maybe another 20-30 years and my husband and I will win. Next year, well I absolutely love Wimea, Kauaii. Mona, Utah (yes, it is a tiny town but has moutains on the east and west and a large pond that is gorgeous) or Sedona, Arizona. All are beautiful.
You know everyone deserves to win…But really what are they going to do with such a big house for just the two of them. Hopefully one of there sons will move in with them. I think for the next home HGTV should really consider only family’s who really don’t own there own home, or the ones who really have young children. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking why couldn’t it had been a family who won this home not couple.I also dont beleive this was an ambush today. come on it was night time when they were there. I saw the show at 5:00 p.m. still day time in calif this was recorded around four days ago. But I’m happy for the Smith’s they really seem happy congrats.
ok so i spelled (beleive) wrong should have been (believe) i’m tired it’s 10:30 going to bed. tah tah”
So after switching over from the blog from March 13th and reading the comments after the “ambush”, Here’s what I think: I think they were ambushed last night(Saturday night). Of course they filmed other portions sooner (It would make sense to do that), but I feel that the actual on the porch ambush was the night before it aired. There was lots of speculation that it was a whole week earlier because “Dancing With the Stars” was on in the background. However an encore presentation of DWTS was aired on Saturday night. If they did it too soon, the news would inevitably be spread prematurely. One blogger(…kitty) even saw that the winners next door neighbor had posted on a message board that she saw the ambush happen. I wonder when the neighbor posted the message?
Congratulations to the Smith’s. I’m not going to go down the road of thinking that only certain demographics should be allowed to win. Everybody has their own set of circumstances and needs. I’m sure this will bless their lives. I’m happy for them!
Thanks Mary, for putting in all these vidios on a Sunday! Great video. They seem like such a nice couple. Ingrid And BoBo, I am sure they would welcome your visit and cookies
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Ii am just so happy for them
Lovelykitty, I’m glad you just posted. I was spacing the first half of your name in my recent post! (I really should be in bed now.)
Your just the person I have a question for… When was it that you saw the Smith’s next door neighbor’s message board post that they had seen the “ambush”? I wonder if that would support my theory above about the “ambush” being on Saturday night.(The night before it aired.)
I had a lot of fun reading everyone’s positive talk leading up to this. There are lots of good people out there! God bless!
I am wondering if Cheryl Smith was the backup winner & what efforts were made to contact the actual winner if she was the backup winner? WHO can answer that question?
Some really weird things happened Friday night and early saturday morning before I even got out of bed so I was thinking maybe I won and they couldnt get in contact with me. I know it sounds silly but I wouldnt answer the door at 8:05am saturday morning when my bell was ringing and I didnt answer my phone at 10:15 the night before.
No the ambush was done before Saturday. I saw it on there Friday, or Thursday, but I know it wasn’t Saturday.
IF MR AND MRS SMITH DECIDE TO SELL THE HOUSE…I’LL MAKE THE FIRST OFFER….I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A HOUSE UP THERE FOR A LONG TIME…AND I’VE GOTTEN VERY ATTACHED…..AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN ALL COME BY AND VISIT…EVEN IF IT’S NOT FOR FREE. INGRID…MY SCANDINAVIAN COMRADE…LOL…YOU SEEM LIKE YOU WOULD BE A LOVELY NEIGHBOR…AND OUR DOGS COULD PLAY TOGETHER…AND WE COULD HAVE A SWEDISH/DANISH SMORGASBOARD… NIGHT FOLKS…FOR TODAY. THANKS LOVELYKITTY….YOU’VE BEEN GREAT. WHO HAVE WE NOT HEARD FROM TODAY…I FEEL LIKE SOMEONES MISSING. OH WELL, IT’S LATE. PLEASANT DREAMS TO ONE AND ALL.
CONGRATULATIONS SMITH FAMILY,
I'm very happy for you and wish you all the best.
i am a hater,,, lol
Congratulations to Cheryl Smith. I’m sure they will be selling as they moved to where they are to be close to one of their sons that lives in the same town.
I’m sorry it wasn’t a blogger but they seemed really nice. I wish them the best.
At least all of the bloggers have clean houses and look just beautiful!
This has a drop down window with more clips from the winner. She answers blogger questions too. I almost missed it again!
To all the wonderful bloggers, this was really fun. However, my brain is saying “How come she was wearing a brand new t-shirt with the words “Coca Cola” on it?
My brain wants to know!
Angie- Yes it was 5pm in California which means it was 8pm here on the east coast where the winner (in Florida) and I (in New Jersey) are located. It was nighttime – dark here when the show came on. That’s why it was dark outside when they were ambushed. I did think it was odd though that they weren’t watching the HGTV ambush on TV when the front door was opened. I know we shouldn’t be bitter but I did hope that if it wasn’t me who won that it would at least be one of the millions of people who have lost their jobs this last year because of what George Bush did to the economy. Why does it always have to be a comfortable retired couple with a nice house already? I would have loved to see someone who really needed it win.
It honestly bothers me that every year another white family wins the HGTV dream home. i’ve never seen a black family win, or any other race at that. Is HGTV racist?
I think the giveaway should have focused on people who dont have a home or lost their home due to the economic disaster… but i guess they wouldnt have gotten as many viewers suprising a family in the ghetto. I do however wish the winners the best. the SMITHS.
I wish to see one day at spanish people could win that house.
Angie- Yes it was 5pm in California which means it was 8pm here on the east coast where the winner (in Florida) and I (in New Jersey) are located. It was nighttime – dark here when the show came on. That’s why it was dark outside when they were ambushed. I did think it was odd though that they weren’t watching the HGTV ambush on TV when the front door was opened. I know we shouldn’t be bitter but I did hope that if it wasn’t me who won that it would at least be one of the millions of people who have lost their jobs this last year. Why does it always have to be a comfortable retired couple with a nice house already? I would have loved to see someone who really need it win.
Congrats to the winner they were drawn good for them. It doesn’t matter to me that they did or didn’t come from a certain demigraphic. The rules didn’t state that. Get over the fact that you didn’t win and let the winner enjoy it. Think about how you would feel if you had just won and everyone was posting comments about you winning and acted like a sore loser. Let them be and let them be happy. Again, Cheryl congrats on winning the beautiful HGTV dream home 2009.
I hope that the next DH will be one that is not a financial hardship on the winner. Would be nice even though I know HGTV does not care about nor control that fact.
Meant to add that it is sad that some many people are so critical on the prior post. (smh)
Luisa, did you see anywhere on the entry form where it ask what race you are?
Do you think the computer is programed to only pick a certain race?
If there is one thing I really believe about this give-away, and that is that it is really a random drawing.
Well, here is the new article from the democratpress about the winner. The winner was ambushed on MONDAY!!
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090315/ARTICLES/903150966/1349?Title=Florida-couple-wins-Sonoma-dream-home
Good morning fellow bloggers! First of all congrats to that sweet couple! I hope this helps their retirement dreams come true. Wasn’t that a fun week? So many of the things we read were correct! The winner was from Florida, remember the post that said someone in Florida saw their neighbor ambushed? Secondly, I think it was last weekend like we read in the article, because they filmed the couple walking on their property and it was daylight! So while the show was live, the ambush was not. But, HGTV never claimed to have a live ambush, only a live show showing the ambush, there is a difference. Hey! Did you notice that Marie Miller’s question was one of the blogger questions? I am praying that if this sweet couple intends on selling the home (which most of us would have had to do), that it will sell quickly and not become a financial burden to them. It is very difficult to sell a home these days (my brothers home has been on the market for over a year for $125k less than they owe on it), but this home is sooooooo beautiful and has had the best advertisement! I guess they would NOT need to call in “Designed to Sell” to help them sell this home! hahhahahaha! Diane, I think that HGTV does care and would help the winner to sell if they didn’t have the money to keep it. They do however take no responsibility (understandably) if you choose to keep it and fail financially.
so now that the dream is fading, how does it really work? property tax $20,000/year. how much does uncle sam have the right to take?
Lovelykitty, thanks for the link. Ledson said he would be willing to buy back the dreamhome from the winners and ride out the downturn in the market! Thats integrity. I’m so relieved to know this. Now I can truly be happy, happy, happy for this lucky couple!
Hey all. The winner’s weekend is April 12th which is a Friday. Maybe we should try to get together that Saturday and play in Sonoma and go by the house?
Dianne T, isn’t it sad that people have to be critical? Lets make this the HAPPY PAGE!
Wow, once again there is a contest, once again there is a winner, and once again the winner is someone who really doesnt need it. Granted, it was an open contest and anyone could join. But jesus, there are people without homes down in New Orleans. There are people who are just starting out in life and lost their home in this crazy market. And once again, they chose someone older in age, who really doesnt need a 2 million dollar home. Their house looked fine enough. Maybe next year HGTV shouldnt hold a drawing. Maybe next year you will pick someone who really Needs a house.
I wanted that house but I guess I will be a tad happpy for them.. I would of moved there..Let my kids enjoy that park and enjoy that neighborhood. Maybe next year…:(
To everyone who doesn’t like the way HGTV does this, please don’t enter next year, it will give me better odds of winning!!!!!!
Wow! I’m shocked by all of the racist comments on this board that HGTV picks only white families and should select a black or hispanic family. THAT’S RACIST! Not the fact that HGTV doesn’t pick them. HGTV doesn’t “pick” anyone. It’s a random drawing that anyone is allowed to enter.
Boo hoo for the low income or folks in New Orleans that lost their homes. But they are entitled to enter this sweepstakes just like the Smith family.
Congrats to the Smith’s and best wishes!
Richard, I understand that there is a lot of need out there and my heart goes out to all those suffering right now. But this was a random drawing, HGTV did not “choose” a winner. There was an outside company brought in to make sure that it was purely random and fair. It was not a contest based on need, it was purely random.
MY children were so excited that it might be us that won the new dream home that they could hardly be contained.Yes we rent a house now in Louisiana and can not afford to buy one at this time.I am happy for the “COUPLE’ that won,but from other blogs i have read i do believe that someone should have won that rented and had children.We even put a letter on the front door stateing we were at church and gave directions.But now i hear it was possibly done the day before.I am disappointed in HGTV.
With the controversy over the selection process of past winners on last year’s blog. It is no surprise HGTV has tried to cover themselves, by showing the selection process on TV. Which is still rigged. However, they did try to select someone who lived “in the middle of nowhere” this time. HGTV should really consider adding to the official rules “if black need not apply”. This contest has been going on for over 12 years. No discredit to the winners.
What a fake piece of sh!t. I tried to log on just now and HGTV didn’t even have my email address, even though I “entered” the contest several times. “Dancing with the Stars” (I guess it could have been on TiVo), Coca-Cola (obvious advertisement), night time (so the weather couldn’t be compared using the sky)…all these things tell me the whole thing was fake. Why did they have to pick a “runner up”? This whole thing was staged and I will never enter this again. They should have given it to someone who could have actually moved in — someone who’s life would have really been changed for the better — not someone who “plays around with horses”. Now I have to go through the process stopping all the HGTV email they are sending me (did I mention they claim to NOT have my email address?) Sour grapes? No. I just hate believing in something that is so obviously rigged.
BOO HOO, get over not winning!