Move that bus!

**Dancing Lotus** · 01-12-2011, 03:31 PM

Extreme Home makeover is in my town . About two miles from my house. The street is closed to the public, if you want to see the house in progress you have to park at the land fill and take a bus over. It's open to see until Friday night.

Some of the folks in my town are already hollering that the family who owns this home is not deserving. He is a local business owner , his wife also owns a cafe. The family does a LOT of charity work and even own a small plane of their own. While they were away on a mission to install water purification pumps in some third world country a water pipe burst on the second floor of the house and destroyed it. With all the mold they can't live in it.

Frankly I'm saddened that so many people assume that because you own two business that means you shouldn't be that poor. Well let me tell you , it's highly likely these business cost more then they make. And sure they own a small plane but it's very old and in need of repair, repair they can't afford so the plane currently sits.

Things happen in peoples lives and just because they had money at one point doesn't mean they aren't deserving of help now. My family owned a million dollar industrial park. We never made more then we spent. Does that mean we are millionaires? This mans business is a ink cartridge refill store and her cafe is in his store and sells simple sandwiches. Between the two of them I'm sure they barely cover the expenses of the HUGE building that's largely empty.

I know it's jealously talking when people get nasty like that but I can't stand to listen to it.I try so hard to think positively but with so many negative people around it drives me crazy.
Anyway rant over, I think we are going over to see the house in progress tonight. They tore the old one down this Saturday and today the new one is up , roof one and windows in. You can see a live feed here
http://www.extremehomemakeoverspacecoast.com/

**Missy** · 01-12-2011, 03:47 PM

It's my secret wish to have them help us out.

A lot of the peole being negative is jelousy, but a lot of it is also know knowing the family's true situation. Obviously the show checked them out and it's not like the producers didn't check into EVERYTHING, I am sure. They make the decision of who to help very carefully. I think that o matter what, people are gonna gripe.

**mndtrp** · 01-12-2011, 06:39 PM

It's selfishness, plain and simple. The "why not me" mentality, you can see it all over the place. Someone wins something, gets a promotion, gets out of a parking ticket, generally the first thing someone else does is say something along the lines of "that's never happened to me".

One of my friends won tickets to a concert recently. It'd be awesome to go with him, but unlike several of his other friends, I didn't immediately respond with "take me, take me, take me". It's rude, instead I congratulated him. Same with coworkers who get promoted. While I would like to get the promotion instead, I'm not going to take their moment away from them.

On a side note, I dislike this show simply because these houses are so ridiculous, especially when compared to the houses in the neighborhood. I would rather have a sun yellow house on my street, which I do, than one of those mansions. Also, I don't think people realize what the tax, utility and maintenance implications are with these houses. If a family can't afford a mortgage, are they going to be able to afford a $400 a month heating bill? It seems unlikely.

**krbshappy71** · 01-12-2011, 06:45 PM

I have issues with the show as well. Loved it when it first came out, became critical of it the more I watched it.

However, I'm very excited that they're in your area because even with my misgivings of the show I'd be on that bus to go look at the house!!

**Imarachne** · 01-12-2011, 07:03 PM

Its human to criticize a circumstance when you don't know all the facts. I'm glad for them .

**Momto5RN** · 01-12-2011, 07:33 PM

the theme of the show lately seems to not only helping people who have less but helping people who cantt repair a home situation because they spend so much time and money selflessly helping others .

all those kvetching intown - i would ask them what they did lately to make the world a better place. probably nothing on the scale these people do.

they also probably are not aware of a medical condition that is happening in the family because they dont sound like complainers .
the reason they have such high tech stuff is because that is what the donators expect - if you are going to donate your building talents on TV you are going to get the best you can from the advertising and a cute little bungalow is nice but not that !

most times they end up with a paid off mortgage - college for their kids and or medical expenses $$ and only have to worry about taxes and upkeep .

and if 5 years down the road they cant afford it and have to sell it they lived in a dream home for 5 years -had a life experience no one else has had- and have allowed others to have such an experience too- all the people complaining about who gets it dont realize the joy that those who are giving to others are recieving and the lessons they are learning .

houses in the conditions that i see on that show would not still be standing 5 years later or would have caused extreme medical issues or death even so in the end - if they have to sell it etc they are still ahead of the game.

**Dancing Lotus** · 01-12-2011, 07:48 PM

One thing I can say is that the house won't be over done for the neighborhood. It's an interesting area with everything from mansions to trailers on the same road. But I do agree that I really don't like how OVER done they do the houses. I get that it just wouldn't get the attention it does if they just built normal houses but still the increased expenses really are taxing to these families.

I don't know this family but I'm sure they deserve it and I hope they enjoy it. It just pushed my buttons to listen to the snotty talk. And really even if they didn't deserve it why is it anyone's business to be the judge of that.

**sunshine** · 01-12-2011, 08:18 PM

Same thing is happening in SC where my son and family live. One of the military families won the makeover, and already the town is being snotty (according to my DIL, that goes to church with the wife). Sheesh.

**heartofmine** · 01-12-2011, 09:39 PM

People can sure be nasty. Its becoming a world of me me me and drop dead you. I'm happy for all the families that get chosen for the home makeovers.

I do wish they didn't overdo the houses though. I'm thinking if they did them smaller they could help more needy people.

**frugalfriend** · 01-12-2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by heartofmine

I do wish they didn't overdo the houses though. I'm thinking if they did them smaller they could help more needy people.

That is my exact thought every time I've seen the show. Spread out the help a little, people! But, I guess that wouldn't make as interesting of a show.

**mndtrp** · 01-13-2011, 12:24 AM

Besides, if they did things in a small way, the companies who are funding this hour long advertisement wouldn't get all their products shown.

**mommy2krj** · 01-13-2011, 07:35 AM

We had the same thing happen here with the family that won the makeover.

The family is a large immigrant family. They immigrated from...I believe the Phillipines...the father is a music director for the local private Catholic school here and he has done some other things that are geared toward keeping kids healthy. I don't remember what all he's done and can't for the life of me remember what his wife does or if she's a SAHM. I know they have 5 kids and people were complaining about how if they can't afford this or that they shouldn't have had so many kids. Blah, blah, blah!

The house they built though is insane. Doesn't fit into the neighborhood at all since the surrounding neighborhood is pretty much all small ranch style homes and the new house is GIGANTIC! Pretty cool looking though!

I think it's great that they won. I do wish they were able to spread things out instead of making these huge houses. You could still make some awesome houses that aren't quite in the McMansion way of things. AND the companies advertising could still get all their stuff advertised if they were doing smaller homes...it would just be a little more spread out.

**jas** · 01-13-2011, 08:53 AM

My only thought is about when they "over do" a home and the taxes and insurace, water, and all the utilities go up too and the family is still in financial trouble. If all that was a non-issue and not a future burden to the family all the better.

**Nana2two** · 01-13-2011, 09:58 AM

This show is being sued by so many people. People think its all free but its not. The owners have to pay out thousands of dollars in taxes and gift taxes. Any time a property is given to you. You pay a huge amount of gift tax. Right now the foreclosure rates on the houses they have done is at 90% Most of the families that they are doing all this can't afford it. I mean if your living in a house that is $60k and they build you a house that is worth $200k you have all that extra property tax and alot of other money thats involved.
They came to a town around 20 miles from here, helped a family with a disbaled son. The house they had was great just needed the boys bedroom opened up and a bathroom guttted and a east shower out in. The parents said its something that they wanted done for several years now.But money was so tight it was only a dream for them. 10 m0nths after Extreme Makeover Home Edition came in and did that and added a top level ect the owners had to forclose and lost the house. They have a law suit against the company. If you search the net you will see tons of law suits filed on this company.So looks like they are really helping. I think they are hurting people.

**Nana2two** · 01-13-2011, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by AnnK

One thing I can say is that the house won't be over done for the neighborhood. It's an interesting area with everything from mansions to trailers on the same road. But I do agree that I really don't like how OVER done they do the houses. I get that it just wouldn't get the attention it does if they just built normal houses but still the increased expenses really are taxing to these families.

I don't know this family but I'm sure they deserve it and I hope they enjoy it. It just pushed my buttons to listen to the snotty talk. And really even if they didn't deserve it why is it anyone's business to be the judge of that.

I think its great people are getting help . But another thing what people don't underdtand is that one Large house they are building or redoing. Will casuse everyones property taxes go up.