'Extreme Makeover' house in foreclosure (Atlanta, Clayton: crime, mortgages, credit)

[PKCorey]

5489 Ahyoka Dr, Lake City, GA 30260 | Zillow Real Estate

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by PKCorey

5489 Ahyoka Dr, Lake City, GA 30260 | Zillow Real Estate

All the other homes around it are rated in the $150,000 range, too. Well, at least on the Zillow site which isn't the most accurate. Still - close enough to see the HUGE gap.

Good luck selling it. Yikes.

[PurpleLove08]

I read about a family who was on Extreme Makeover a while back and couldn't afford the new property taxes.
When the first came on, I was young (I'm 18 and the show came on what...2-3 years ago?) and I always thought, "How are they going to afford the utility bills on this place?"

I remember one family that was given solar panels in their back yard which I was happy about: 1) Sustainable 2) No huge energy bills

I think more thought should be given to having the homes be energy efficient and water efficient.

[RoslynHolcomb]

But if they don't have a mortgage why can't they afford the utility bills/property taxes? Or is it unusual for their mortgage to be paid off? I just don't see how the property taxes could go up so much that it would equal a mortgage. Even if you had a $150k mortgage, your payment would be something like a $1k a month. That's $12,000 a year. I can't imagine even the highest utility bill around here equaling more than $500 a month, and property tax wouldn't even come close to that.

[sheenie2000]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

But if they don't have a mortgage why can't they afford the utility bills/property taxes? Or is it unusual for their mortgage to be paid off? I just don't see how the property taxes could go up so much that it would equal a mortgage. Even if you had a $150k mortgage, your payment would be something like a $1k a month. That's $12,000 a year. I can't imagine even the highest utility bill around here equaling more than $500 a month, and property tax wouldn't even come close to that.

I'm guessing most of these ppl on the show don't make much money. Say they are bringing home 2K a month. Their house may be now worth 300K after the makeover. If their property taxes went up by another 80 dollars and utilities went up 100 dollars per month, that extra 180 dollars could be too much for them.

[RoslynHolcomb]

I understand that, but they're taking away their largest debt, their mortgage. I mean, if their mortgage was even a $1k a month and that's gone, it frees up a substantial amount of liquidity.

So why would the extra $180 be a problem if their mortgage is paid off?

[sheenie2000]

When the show initially started, I don't think they were paying the mortgage off, were they?

Edit: I think now they are paying the mortgage off, so they should be able to pay all their bills. So there should be no excuse in that case.

[Saintmarks]

I don't understand all the hating toward the show. What is wrong with someone getting a dream house given them? I think EHMO is one of the best things on television, one of the few examples of "it is better to give than receive" in the media today. Communities come together, people donate man hours. So, this family squandered what they were blessed with. Does that make it the show's fault?

If they were screened as to their ability to handle finances, the same naysayers would cry discrimnation of some sort or another. If the show came in and put in the safeguards suggested, the show would then be too controlling and called big brother.

I would agree that the bank is at great fault here, but to blame the show? C'mon, it is a great show. I know of several smaller scale "makeovers" by church and civic groups that the show has inspired. Commercials and sponsors given air time? What has made TV possible in the first place? Gosh, some folks have to complain about anything and everything. It is so much easier to criticize and tear down than take the time and effort to be positive. This is a great show and should be honored for it.

[Mary_Moon]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

What really amazes me is that this is the first foreclosure on one of these houses that I've heard of. It wouldn't surprise me if there have been many more. I also can never understand why they build some of these lavish houses in some pretty ratty inner-city neighborhoods (I know of two in NJ)- it puts the family at risk of breakins or worse- especially after the whole world has seen the lavish interiors, electroncis, etc., that the houses have.

I post on a message board with a woman that was featured on a season finale Extreme Makeover. She is a single mom and adopted several HIV infected black boys and her house was falling apart. In fact, another member of our board initially submitted her name to the show and we all pitched in to send e-mail to the network and we were collectively thrilled for her when she was chosen.

Now, just a couple years after having a new huge home built and paid off, a new car and tuition money for herself to finish school plus tons of extras, she still cries that she has no money and can't manage her bills. Many of the people chosen for this show simply are not capable of managing themselves responsibly which is usually why they're in the position of needing assistance in the first place.

I'm sorry if this makes me seem like a monster, but I have zero sympathy for people who squander extraordinary blessings they receive.

[j0ja]

I don't watch this TV show and all the drama that people here describe that goes on the TV show (tear jerker stuff) probably gives the show high ratings, but if they were to film Habitat for Humanity cases, no one would bother to watch. Habitat for Humanity is the way to go for people in extreme cases such as these. The person who will inhabit the house has to put in so many hours to build the house as well.

It is extremely unfortunate that some of these people did ruin their chance opportunity to live well.