Abc's Extreme Home Makeover-Atlanta Episode

[Sig]

I watched this show for the first time ever tonight, mainly because a friend of mine who works for Beazer Corporate was involved in this particular 'makeover'.

I have to admit, this was one of the more emotional shows I have seen in a long time. Watching the owners' reactions to their new home brought a tear to my eye. What they gave this family was nothing short of amazing.... truly truly amazing. On top of the new home, they received a 100K home maintenance fund.

Anyone else catch this show?

 

[K.O.]

Sig,

I watch Abc's Extreme Home Makeover almost every week and they out-did themselves this week. The house was absolutely amazing. And to think they built it in 7 days! As always, seeing the families' reactions to their new house makes you all fuzzy inside.

I think one of our fellow prime members will be on a future show which is pretty kool.

 

[White92]

I also watch this show pretty much every week. I did watch last night's show as well. I couldn't believe that house! It was amazing! The family was so grateful too! That was so sad in the beginning when they were talking about life in the projects. One night during dinner their little boy was choking. They called 911, but the ambulance won't go into the projects without a police escort. So by the time that happened, it was too late and he died. I can't even imagine losing a child. :frown:

I have to wonder though, if the family can't afford to repair the septic tank, how are they going to afford the property taxes on a house like that now? Is that what that maintenance fund was for?

 

[SCS2k]

I watched it for the second time last night. I was trying to familiarize myself with the regulars on the show. Ed, with the British accent, was the one I took care of. The Arizona episode will air March 13th.

 

[NsXMas]

While I enjoy the show, sometimes I kind of wonder if the extravagance could be reduced for more substance, ie scholarship funds, job training for new opportunities, etc etc.

I thought this blog was pretty good:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/16/114437.php

 

[White92]

Yeah, I always thought that too. Like the youngest kid last night, he wanted to grow up and be a cardiologist. Why not set up a scholarship fund?
I was also reading in a magazine awhile back about a family in Northern AZ that was on the show and has since file for bankruptcy because they can't afford anything that they did for them.
I guess it's not for me to say. They are doing great things and it's easy for us to sit at home and say that they could do more.

 

[CDX_NSX]

I know someone who does camera work for shows like these. He told me that a good number of families end up having to sell the homes because they can no longer afford the tax on it.

 

[Sig]

A house like that in the area in which it is located would probably sell for somewhere in the high-200's to low-300's(maybe even less depending on it's exact location). Figuring property taxes at about 1% or a bit higher, taxes wouldn't be too far north of 3K a year and insurance probably another grand. At 4-5K a year for taxes/insurance, their 100K fund will go a loooong way.


Scholarships and things of the like would go a long way to the future of the family members. In the end, we have to remember this show is first and foremost made for television and ratings. Giving out scholarships and other meaningful gifts does not make nearly the type of television these dramatic makeover stories provide.

 

[White92]

Scholarships and things of the like would go a long way to the future of the family members. In the end, we have to remember this show is first and foremost made for television and ratings. Giving out scholarships and other meaningful gifts does not make nearly the type of television these dramatic makeover stories provide.

That's true. I love it when they've brought people in at the end of the show and told them that they were paying off the mortgage, etc...
Like the family who's house burned down and they didn't even get enough money from the insurance company to pay off that mortgage for a house that didn't even exist anymore. That was great!

 

[SCS2k]

A house like that in the area in which it is located would probably sell for somewhere in the high-200's to low-300's(maybe even less depending on it's exact location). Figuring property taxes at about 1% or a bit higher, taxes wouldn't be too far north of 3K a year and insurance probably another grand. At 4-5K a year for taxes/insurance, their 100K fund will go a loooong way.


Scholarships and things of the like would go a long way to the future of the family members. In the end, we have to remember this show is first and foremost made for television and ratings. Giving out scholarships and other meaningful gifts does not make nearly the type of television these dramatic makeover stories provide.

Yes, but keep in mind that everything they just received for free will be taxed as income/winnings. That means 35-40% of that $300k house and $100k fund. That's at least a $120k tax bill assuming 30%. In most cases, ABC pays off the mortgage on the old house as well, which also would be a taxable gift. It's very nice that these people are getting all of this stuff for "free" but it is likely going to cost them quite a bit, although much less than it would to actually buy it all.

 

[Sig]

Yes, but keep in mind that everything they just received for free will be taxed as income/winnings. That means 35-40% of that $300k house and $100k fund. That's at least a $120k tax bill assuming 30%.

Oops, didn't factor that. However, the house will be considered improvements on existing land. The way in which it will be taxed will be on the difference between the (old home&land value and the new home&land value)+old mortgage payoff if one took place, which will still be significant but far less than the full value of house and land. I imagine that the 100K fund they recieved had most of those items factored in.

I am curious on the full list of t's & c's though. I'll try to get in touch with my friend and see to what level of detail he is able to get access to.

 

[White92]

Yes, but keep in mind that everything they just received for free will be taxed as income/winnings. That means 35-40% of that $300k house and $100k fund. That's at least a $120k tax bill assuming 30%. In most cases, ABC pays off the mortgage on the old house as well, which also would be a taxable gift. It's very nice that these people are getting all of this stuff for "free" but it is likely going to cost them quite a bit, although much less than it would to actually buy it all.

I thought that also, but the magazine article that I read talked about how the producers thought they found a loop hole in the laws of most states. They paid the owners "rent" using the house for one week. That way they didn't have to go through all of this other crap. But I guess alot of the stats call BS on this loop hole and go after them later anyway. But by then the producers are long gone.

That same story also interviewed one of the first people who received a makeover. The guy was really into cars so they made his master bath tub/shower like a car wash. There were nossles all over that would spray you like in a car wash. But the owner was saying how the sprayers never worked in time for the final taping, so the producers hooked up an air compresser and hose to make it look like water was coming out. But they didn't finish it before they left and he has yet to hear from them.