Comments on: HGTV Dream Home Winner: Stephanie Dee

By: Rudy

Rudy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:38:30 +0000

Yes, it was very odd the way the 2008 winner acted. But, I am with HGTV realist (Jan.2 2009). Reality is, how many of us would be able to keep the house? I know people who live in the Keys and also in Calif. VERY expensive to own a home in these areas.

For the month of January it is fun to ‘dream’ and think how you would redecorate and etc, but try coming up with the tax money. How many of us can really quit our jobs and move our families to the dream home.

HGTV needs to take a survey on the income range the people have that enter their contest. Build a home that is less than 500,000. Or, cut cost by not putting so much knick knack’s in the home! My 1st thing I would do is have a garage sale and get rid of 3/4 of that crap! And, what is with the bright green paint in the master bedroom? HGTV needs to get rid of the interior designer. I love HGTV and watch it 6-7 times a week, but they do need to get down to reality on their ‘dream’ home.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:43:30 +0000

I don’t know Stephanie personally but I am from Solon and know others who do and it’s really ridiculous the amount of crap she’s had to take from this. There’s even websites saying her reaction is because she’s racist since Lauren is black. Firstly, she was confused and irritated because her friends wanted to have a party at her house for her birthday, which wasn’t for awhile yet and she had no idea why they were insisting on having it so early. Then either someone told her she won or she figured it out herself, but she was so nervous and emotional once she realized it that she didn’t know what to do. After they taped her reaction she was crying and everything, but she was too shy and embarrassed when the cameras were there. She was trying to keep a straight face so she wouldn’t be crying on TV. Not everyone jumps up and down and screams when they are happy. Lighten up people. Give the girl a break.

By: HGTVrealist

HGTVrealist — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:22:35 +0000

You guys have to keep a straight perspective.
The reality is, YOU CAN’T KEEP IT.
HGTV pumps it up and makes everyone think you will live in the house. Listen to the ads. THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR LOSS.
They need to make a dream house at around 400 to 500 thousand so that a winner can ACTUALLY KEEP IT. HGTV does not expect you to keep it and know that unless you have a lot of money, YOU CAN’T KEEP IT.

MSNBC quotes HGTV spokeswoman Emily Yarborough as saying: “Our vision of the dream is that it enables you to do what you want to do.”

He ( winner Mr Cook ) said the electric bill on the dream home is more than 10 times what he currently pays.

( winner Mr. Cruz ) The contest’s 2005 winner, Don Cruz, moved from suburban Chicago to Tyler, Texas, to take possession of his dream home, a lakefront property valued at $1.5 million, plus furnishings. But taxes on his winnings are expected to total more than $650,000, and local officials slammed the door on Cruz’s plan to pay his bills by renting the boathouse and a master bedroom

HGTV spokeswoman Emily Yarborough emphasizes that the network still doesn’t expect winners to actually live in the Dream Home.

( 2004 winner Ms Nakao ) Ordinary people cannot keep a home like that,” she said from Sacramento, Calif., where she lives.

Mr Cruz states that he is not allowed to do anything to the property because you do not win the property, it is rented to you on a 30 year lease.

Monthly maintenance runs about $2500.

The intent is not for a winner to actually KEEP the house but to have to Sell it. WHy doesnt HGTV just hand you a check for the 2 million dollars and cut the BS????

Reality says you will be lucky to just sleep in the bed.

Try to win the contest but I would not be jumping up and down and screeming knowing the next day I need to find a realtor.

HGTV needs to get reality based.

By: Angelique

Angelique — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:04:31 +0000

Do we know if she did sell it back to the developer? I was there two weekends ago and everything is overgrown in the developement. I had toured the site back in February of this year and was told all houses were sold but it looks like the developer might be in foreclosure with the developement.

By: hgtvan

hgtvan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:55:46 +0000

Lauren Lake is weird! and she can’t design. If I have to see one more of her blue or green kitchens with cherry cabinets, granited coutner tops and wood floors..I will stab myself in the eye. EVERY one of her designs is the same. I stopped watching a long time ago.

By: BARBIE from FLA

BARBIE from FLA — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:07:43 +0000

I thought , my God, this woman doesn’t give a damn about winning this dream home that I have been trying to win for 10 of the past 11 years for my dear, wonderful husband who DESERVES IT SO SOOOOOOOO MUCH !!!! And I woulda been jumping up and down so hard the girls woulda bounced off the popcorn ceiling I’d've been soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo THRILLED !!!!!
This woman coulda give a s#!+ !!!!!!!!!!!! How awful for the host and all of us who wanted to win soooooooooo badly !!!!!!!

TOTALLY UNDESERVING !!!!!

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:11:49 +0000

My kids and I couldn’t believe how unexcited she was. My kids were very upset that she didn’t at least pretend to be grateful. I guess there must of been a lot of things going through her mind…like how to I pay the taxes. Any idea as to how much money a winner of a dream house needs to come up with when they win a home? I wonder how much she finally ended up with when she sold the home back to the developer?

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:54:24 +0000

She of course sold the house back to the developer. Happened to be in Key Largo this past weekend and thanks to some local info, went to see it. It now sits behind a chain link gate. There were supposed to be several other houses in the development but none are started. It kinda sad to see it sitting empty. Original value is 2.2m. Don’t know what she sold it back for but it would be recorded in Monroe Country fl.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:27:13 +0000

Did this woman ever say thank you? Even if you were overwhelmed. wouldn’t that be like the very first thing you would say?? - but then she was okay when her friends were nearby, so the shock thing isn’t working for me. She acted mad - and really, so did her husband. I’m not crazy about Lauren either, but didn’t you just feel for her? It was like racing into a brick wall! They had to know she was coming - right? Lauren wouldn’t just walk into the house, would she? Sorry - just can’t get over this one . . .

By: Jess078

Jess078 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:42:28 +0000

WEIRD! What’s with her?? OMG, she acted as if she couldn’t get over the fact that someone just walked into her house uninvited. Her husband wasn’t very enthusiastic either. Before the host walked in–I thought..oh-this is gonna be so amazing to see the looks/reactions on this family’s faces! But uh–no.. so boring. CRAZY STUFF.