Extreme Home Makeover in Tucson? (real estate, foreclosure, rental)

[mdtoaz]

I caught a blurb on the news last night that they're looking for volunteers to help with the show for a house makeover in Tucson. I've gone to the website, but the only link is an email link... no info.

Has anyone else heard about this? Just curious.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

I caught a blurb on the news last night that they're looking for volunteers to help with the show for a house makeover in Tucson. I've gone to the website, but the only link is an email link... no info.

Has anyone else heard about this? Just curious.

No, but my ears pricked up! The dream... my two left hands watch while those handy peeps turn my place into an oasis...

Which show exactly are you talking about, though? If it's the "extreme makeover" on Sunday we ain't gonna qualify...

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

No, but my ears pricked up! The dream... my two left hands watch while those handy peeps turn my place into an oasis...

Which show exactly are you talking about, though? If it's the "extreme makeover" on Sunday we ain't gonna qualify...

That's the one... with the really hyper guy and the "move that bus" chant. They said on KGUN-9 that they were looking for "skilled and unskilled" volunteers, and that you had 48 hours to sign up. I didn't catch when they were doing it or anything else.

I sent an email, but haven't gotten a response yet. I would love to volunteer on that... if nothing else, just to see the before and after in person.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

That's the one... with the really hyper guy and the "move that bus" chant. They said on KGUN-9 that they were looking for "skilled and unskilled" volunteers, and that you had 48 hours to sign up. I didn't catch when they were doing it or anything else.

Oh, I guess I got your post entirely wrong. I was hoping for a makeover of my home.

[Marcy1210]

If you get accepted, you'll work your butt off, not get paid, and look like you are great friends of the family. We particiapated in a Colo Spgs one and it was grueling with no recognition. You won't meet the stars (Ty Pennington, et. al.), you'll be drilled by the contractor who volunteers his time, and you'll be totally a background person who does the menial labor--they hire professionals for tile, carpet, and all the other remodelling work, even the demolition of the old house. It's a lot like Habitat for Humanity in that you do the work with little or no recognition. Personally, I'd rather do Habitat for Humanity. Most of the Extreme Home Makeover people end up selling their now million dollar houses and move down. They are mortgage free for the first year and all property taxes are paid by ABC. So, most of them sell, move out to more affordable housing and bank the money. Sorry to be such a downer, but that's the sad truth. The family we worked on in Ellicot, CO had a daughter who couldn't go outside and was allergic to everything. She was homeschooled and needed a climate controlled house. Her family had lost their original home, and were renting, when ABC came along and chose them. After their "free" year was up, they couldn't pay the mortgage or the property taxes and ended up moving back to a rental and selling the gorgeous, climate controlled, allergy free home that should have been their dream home. But, they couldn't afford it.

[michael krotchie]

Originally Posted by Marcy1210

If you get accepted, you'll work your butt off, not get paid, and look like you are great friends of the family. We particiapated in a Colo Spgs one and it was grueling with no recognition. You won't meet the stars (Ty Pennington, et. al.), you'll be drilled by the contractor who volunteers his time, and you'll be totally a background person who does the menial labor--they hire professionals for tile, carpet, and all the other remodelling work, even the demolition of the old house. It's a lot like Habitat for Humanity in that you do the work with little or no recognition. Personally, I'd rather do Habitat for Humanity. Most of the Extreme Home Makeover people end up selling their now million dollar houses and move down. They are mortgage free for the first year and all property taxes are paid by ABC. So, most of them sell, move out to more affordable housing and bank the money. Sorry to be such a downer, but that's the sad truth. The family we worked on in Ellicot, CO had a daughter who couldn't go outside and was allergic to everything. She was homeschooled and needed a climate controlled house. Her family had lost their original home, and were renting, when ABC came along and chose them. After their "free" year was up, they couldn't pay the mortgage or the property taxes and ended up moving back to a rental and selling the gorgeous, climate controlled, allergy free home that should have been their dream home. But, they couldn't afford it.

I think I saw that episode, they had the industrial air purification system installed? Red Cross I think?

Anyway it is sad when the house gets sold, or worse yet when the owners refi and then go into foreclosure (think I've seen three of those stories in the past year).

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Marcy1210

After their "free" year was up, they couldn't pay the mortgage or the property taxes and ended up moving back to a rental and selling the gorgeous, climate controlled, allergy free home that should have been their dream home. But, they couldn't afford it.

Same deal with winning HGTV's dream houses. What are these people gonna do with them...? They can't afford even the taxes and maintenance. I remember reading a story about how one winner decided to try to live in the house. Predictably went broke.

IMO they shouldn't even accept them in some cases because the houses tend to be built in remote locations (mansions in the middle of nowhere) where you might not even be able to unload them.

[mdtoaz]

It was just more out of curiosity than anything... I didn't think I'd be getting camera time (wouldn't want it anyway, actually) or some one-on-one with the cast. I was just kind of interested in seeing the process of a house being gutted/redone within such a short amount of time.

I have heard stories of people unable to deal with the mortgage/taxes afterwards... that's pretty sad. I know the woman who was on the show from Maryland who runs the therapeutic horseback riding program. I think her episode was on last year. Her property's been in her family for generations... I hope she can hang on to it.

[Marcy1210]

I would love to do Habitat for Humanity because the potential owners also work on the house. It's a community affair to build a home for a family that needs it, can afford it, and plans on living in it. I think Habitat is a wonderful experience, and the new owners are so incredibly grateful. And they help in the building which makes it more personal to them than the Extreme Makeover people who send the family to DisneyWorld or something while their house gets built with no input from them. Cynical, yes. But it's reality.

[sierraAZ]

This house was finished.

Extreme Makeover Tucson - Welcome Home Bell Family | Tucson Real Estate | Tucson Homes

Heh, I'm not sure I want to live in a house built in a week...