There Are 41 Responses So Far. »

1. Pingback by Extreme Makeover Home Going Into Foreclosure | Mike On Portland Real Estate on 25 July 2008:

   [...] Recent news on a Georgia home that was in the foreclosure process but may have been [...]
2. 

   Comment by Brecht on 25 July 2008:

   That is just the thing isn’t it? Idiots. There is so much finger pointing and “predator” talk in our crisis when the fact is there are a bunch of idiots out there walking around who can’t manage a buck. This reminds me of MC Hammer or Flava Flav. If you can’t handle 100 bucks you can’t handle 1,000,000 bucks – bunch a friggin dummies.
3. 

   Comment by Miami Real Estate Attorney on 25 July 2008:

   No good deed goes unpunished!
4. 

   Comment by Nancy on 25 July 2008:

   Extreme Makeover paid off their mortgage and gave them 100k and these people still took $450,000 of the equity out of their house??? They are stupid AND greedy and deserve to lose all of this. Stupid stupid people!
5. 

   Comment by Sharon on 25 July 2008:

   I absolutely love that show. But you are right, it just gives people who are already in a bad situation to worsen their situation. I can’t believe they took out a second loan based on what their property is worth…. after everyone in the neighborhood chipped in to help them out!
6. 

   Comment by Shannon on 26 July 2008:

   Actually they gave them $200,000 with college savings for the kids as well.
7. 

   Comment by Lois on 26 July 2008:

   Yep, saw this on the evening news and my jaw just dropped. I rent because I cannot afford to own…not due to just the purchase price (no ARM please, thank you) but the upkeep. I know that, I accept it…and try my best to live within my means. I already have issues with the idea of borrowing more money than one is likely to be able to repay (that ARM issue again) but this is just unbelieveable and disgusting — loved the woman’s comment that she won’t be paying her mortgage payment because she’s being ‘harrassed’ – Harrassed??? Ridden out of town on a rail is what she should be. I rarely think there should be a return to debtor’s prison, because hard times can fall upon anyone but, in this case, I’d make an exception.

8. Pingback by Hitting the Links | Redfin Boston Sweet Digs on 27 July 2008:

   [...] Another “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house is in foreclosure. [The Real Estate Bloggers] [...]
9. 

   Comment by Jay on 27 July 2008:

   Loosers will always revert to their nature, it’s their comfort zone.
   If they are at the bottom of the food chain it’s because they want to.
   They should help the productive citizens not the lazy and stupid.
   “Whata waste of money, time and men power”.
10. 

    Comment by JANET L. MILLER on 27 July 2008:

    NO WONDER THIS WOMAN IN IN FORECLOSURE! ON NATIONAL TV SHE ADMITS THAT SHE WILL NOT PAY THE BANK MONEY DUE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HARASSING HER!!. WHY IS IT THEY WERE NOT HARASSING HER WHEN THEY GAVE HER $450,000. THAT DETAIL SEEMS TO GET LOST. I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE SWINDLED OF THEIR TIME AND HUMANITY IN HELPING THIS FAMILY. JUST PROVES THAT GIVING PEOPLE THINGS DOES NOT CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. ONLY CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY DOES THAT, ALL OF WHICH IS SORELY LACKING IN THIS FAMILY.
11. 

    Comment by Kevin V. Russell on 27 July 2008:

    How many of these houses going into forclosure are rental properties owned by absentee landlords? The tax laws in the U.S. have always favored speculation over productive investment (it’s the same wher I live in Australia) the only thing you can be sure of is that what goes up must come down. The banks are happy to lend money to speculators because they can’t lose – they just push the pain off on to someone else (ultimately the poor old taxpayer) but it’s the tax and spend policies of the Bush Government that has brought the U.S. to where it is today. The U.S. is borrowing $10 billion a month from China. When are you all going to wake up?
12. 

    Comment by Terri on 28 July 2008:

    I think that HomeTeam (another home makeover show that has now been cancelled) had a better idea..
    They had potential homeowners go through credit counseling and other classes. They bought a house that was appropriate and then had family and friends do 10,000 in rehab, and 10,000 in new furnishes (I found that less necessary but its TV) .. but the people did not end up in over their heads and the counseling was key. They even had a website that offered the credit counseling to viewers (worksheets and stuff).
    Its unfortunate but should be expected. If you have ever read the book A framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne. It explains how people who live in poverty view money differently and these kind of decisions are to be expected.
13. 

    Comment by Lloyd on 28 July 2008:

    Kevin Russell is obviously a liberal and an idiot. This has nothing to do with the Bush administration. This house went into foreclosure because they stole $450,000 in equity which was not theirs to begin with and squandered the money on a foolish business venture. The equity in the house belongs to the volunteers and sponsors of this TV show. This family will get what it deserves… a tiny apartment. Kevin, if you’re such the liberal why don’t you bail them out and pay their mortgage?
14. 

    Comment by Kevin V. Russell on 28 July 2008:

    Lloyd is obviously an ignorant apologist for the warmonger Bush. Lloyd mate, who are YOU going to blame wheen they come to repossess YOUR house. Who are you going to blame when your neighborhood is laid waste because of the profligate lending my your subprime lenders? And Lloyd mate, I am not a liberal, I am a socialist. I also own my house in Australia. See I get the best of both worlds. How’s your 401k going?
15. 

    Comment by monique on 28 July 2008:

    I am a single mom with 2 kids. I make about 40k and I am budgeting so I can become a homeowner. I cried when I first saw this show a couple of years ago. I was so happy for the family. Now I am just shocked my girls and I still have a year to go before I think I will qualify for my first home. It’s amazing how some people don’t appreciate their blessings
16. 

    Comment by Jerry Garcia on 28 July 2008:

    LOL bush gets blamed for this.this is simple greed and nothing
    more.they got a free home but that wasn’t good enough for them
    and they decided to roll the dice and lost.nothing less or more.
    simple greed.i feel sorry for the folks who put money and sweat
    for these people only to watch them squander it away.
17. 

    Comment by Kevin V Russell on 29 July 2008:

    Well of course Bush has to shoulder the blame for this. Whom is it who created the economic environment so beloved by speculators? The tax and spend Bush regime will go down in history as the greatest economic vandals the world has ever seen (well, after Reagan that is)
18. 

    Comment by Sammie on 29 July 2008:

    Most of the families that Home Makeover helps are living hand to mouth. They have no money skills as they haven’t needed them. To just hand over a house like that and all that money and expect them to know what to do with it is like giving a basket of candy to a toddler and asking him to eat wisely. Instead, why doesn’t Extreme Makeover force them to get some financial education, maybe send them to a financial advisor while they’re on vacation? And, why does Extreme Makeover make those mansions? They’re in mostly poor neighborhoods and they build a $450,000 house? Why not be more reasonable with the house they build? At any rate, it’s a shame for everyone concerned that this is happening …. everyone who helped, the people who donated time and money, AND the people that are losing that beautiful home! I hope it doesn’t deter EHM and all those volunteers from doing the good deeds that they’re doing!
19. 

    Comment by BlackCanary on 29 July 2008:

    I dont understand why so many of you are blamming the show? These peopel were given everything and squandered it. Of course had the business succeded and they were able to repay the loan they would harralded as heroes but of course that is not what happened. All these people had to do was make enough money to pay the property taxes, utilities and upkeep. Not a difficult task. The show gave them 100k, paid off the mortgage, built a beautiful house, and gave then 250K for the kids to go to college. Lets say they both work and make $25K ($12 hour) for a total houshold income of $50K. That is more than enough to pay the LOW Georgia property tax (NE sticks Georgia where they are) and the utility bills. Upkeep may pose a problem but the house is brand new and they have 100k in the bank to save for a new roof (in 20 years!) or a new hot water tank (10 years) or whatever little problems arise. These people were just stupid and there is no other way to expain it and no one else to blame.

    Sad thing is that the Home Makeover houses are usually built in lower income neighborhoods with surrounding houses with far less value. I doubt the house will sell at auction for far less than $450K.

    If they had been given $100K by the show that woudl have paid the taxes for quite a long time INCLUDING the hefty income tax bill they woudl have received that year for being given such a large gift (the house) that would have been counted as income.
20. 

    Comment by Missy on 29 July 2008:

    Oh Come on people! You hope they get screwed over? They could not SELL the house per the contract with the show…so they took out a lean against it for the highest amount they could get and aloowed it to foreclose. They wanted the money. they were given $250,000 in addition to the house! They are just greedey and wanted the money. The show was supposed to be about providing a nice home to raise a family..stability. These people are getting what they wanted. FREE MONEY!!!

21. Pingback by Foreclosure Looms for “Extreme Makeover” Home | The Phoenix Real Estate Guy on 29 July 2008:

    [...] And here is another post by the ever-brilliant Real Estate Bloggers. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
22. 

    Comment by Clif on 29 July 2008:

    I love how those responding to Kevin didn’t actually read his post, or maybe just didn’t understand it. Let me repeat the important sentence: “The tax laws in the U.S. have always favored speculation over productive investment.” I took this as less of a commentary on this individual case, but as a commentary on the overall housing problem as a whole. Banking companies and investors are being bailed out of the stupid situations right and left. JP Morgan Chase gave this family a 450,000 loan, despite the fact this family had no means to pay back that loan. They wanted to start a business that they knew nothing about, and had very little chance of actually being successful.

    Yes, this family sucks, but isn’t there more than enough blame to go around? The family was stupid, the bank was stupid, and our government is stupid for bailing out all the stupid banks, and letting the rest of us eat crow.

    I own my own house, I pay m own bills, and I live within my means. Despite this, my tax dollars are being used to bailout people who made mistakes, most of that going to wealthy corporations, not stupid individuals. My home value is declining and the overall economy is in jeopardy due to no fault of my own, just the stupidity of others. Despite JP Morgan Chase’s own stupidity, 30 billion dollars of our tax money is backing their Bear Sterns deal. If they make money on Bear Sterns, then they get to keep it, and if they lose money, then we’ll pay the tab.

    Shame on Extreme Makeover for rewarding individual stupidity, and shame on our government for rewarding corporate stuipdity.
23. 

    Comment by Kate on 29 July 2008:

    I wonder what kind of cars they drive?
24. 

    Comment by Karis on 29 July 2008:

    Regarding the posts by Lloyd – please don’t assume that just because someone describes themselves as “liberal” (like me), that they agree with what this family has done or feels sorry for them. Those people are greedy idiots, Kevin Russell is a self-righteous idiots, and anyone who helps bail this family out AGAIN is the biggest idiot of all.
25. 

    Comment by Jason on 29 July 2008:

    Kevin Russell – why do such imbeciles such as you insist on inserting your vapid political views and opinions into everything any chance you get? This blog is about the Extreme Makeover and the volunteer’s largess and the poor decisions that a family made regarding a house that was gifted to them. Kindly keep your inane comments outside of this subject matter to yourself, no one here really cares for your nonsensical comments.
26. 

    Comment by Kevin V Russell on 30 July 2008:

    The word you are looking for is largesse but then I don’t expect a denizen of the U.S. to have any respect for plain english. It’s a pity you people don’t spend a little more time looking outside your own country, you would see that social problems caused by miscreants like those in this case are extremely rare in the civilised world. As for my comments being “nonsensical”, answer me this, why does the U.S. have over 50 million people who cannot even afford health insurance. And in the richest country on earth? Why, it’s an obscenity against the human species.
27. 

    Comment by Maddie on 30 July 2008:

    The Harper family are not the only ones stuck on stupid in this situation:

    1. Why didn’t their original real estate agent mention the words “home inspection” and “home warranty”? Because they only care about the commission.

    2. Why did ABC/Beazer homes put $450K into a house in a neighborhood where the average house is $150K? They only needed a new septic system and roof. Greedy sponsors.

    3. Why did the Harpers start a “construction” business, something they obviously know nothing about? And did they tell the bank that’s what the money was for? Did the bank ask to see a business plan? Greedy homeowners.

    4. How did the bank appraise the house? Isn’t an appraisal supposed to be what a sane person would pay for a house? What sane person who can afford $450K is going to buy in a neighborhood of $150K houses? Greedy bank.

    estimate of value (it’s the expensive one in the middle.)
    http://www.zillow.com/search/RealEstateSearch.htm?addrstrthood=5489+Ahyo
28. 

    Comment by Sully on 30 July 2008:

    I bet the didn’t “invest” in anything. They pulled all this money out so no one in the house would have to work and they could sit on their lazy butts all day and live high off the hog Well, through the generosity of local volunteers and businesses, they got to do that for three years. Pretty good run. Well, gotta go, have to work so I can pay my taxes to support these legions of lazy good for nothing leeches who think because their great great grandfather was a slave, they should never have to do another days work

29. Pingback by Extreme Makeover Foreclosures | Zillow® Blog on 30 July 2008:

    [...] The most recent Extreme Makeover home in foreclosure is an Atlanta-area residence that was featured on the show in February 2005 (pictured above). The family reportedly used the home as collateral for a $450,000 loan to start a construction business. Some reports say that the house will now be going up for auction, while another story says that the owners may have struck a deal to rescue the home from foreclosure. [...]
30. 

    Comment by Barry on 30 July 2008:

    Kevin me old bludger. I lived in Oz for 14 years, my wife and kids are from there, and I loved every minute. But I saw massive social problems with high unemployment, dole bludgers and utterly mistreated Aboriginals – not to mention tremendous problems with integration of Muslims, Indians, Pakistans, Chinese and Vietnamese. Now I have lived in the US for 14 years and while it has it’s problems, it is still a nation of many cultures which live in harmony better than I have seen anywhere on earth (and I’ve lived on 5 continents). They have major problems but no less or more than Oz. And remember – when a massive Tsunami or Earthquake or Foreign Invader strikes Australia – who are you going to turn to? The Poms, Kiwis, Chinese (they may be invaders), Indians – maybe Iran or Russia (oops also potential invaders). Nebr mind the Marines will always be at hand to hold your hand.
31. 

    Comment by Susan on 30 July 2008:

    I actually used to live in the same county as these idiots..First, the houses in that neighborhood are worth less than $150K. All the hard work that everyone in this county did to help out these idiots are pissed. We all work our butts off to pay for our houses and they just got a free ride and wanted to live like kings…HELLO…Now their poor kids do not have a college fund because they wanted to blow all the money and act as if everyone owed it to them. They deserve to lose it all!!!!!!! JERKS
32. 

    Comment by Kevin V. Russell on 30 July 2008:

    Bazza mate, I don’t know where you got the idea I’m a bludger. I have worked all of my adult life. And you ought to know, the only reason the unemployment rate in the U.S. is as low as it is happens to be because there are a milliom people in gaol. If that’s the way a civilsed nation deals with it’s social problems, then how long will it be before you introduce transportation. Who are you going to turn to when the $U.S. tanks wwithin the next five years? I’ll bet the Iraqis would argue they are better off without the help of the U.S.
33. 

    Comment by TP Smith on 30 July 2008:

    OK OK finally it is out in the open..as a licensed ETHICAL loan officer in seven states…finally the PUBLIC can see it isn’t the Loan officers, the Realtors, or anyone else…FOLKS have to read for themselves and stop being HOUSE happy and be realistic. Just because I tell you to sit in the garage doesn’t make you a CAR same thing as if you make minimum wage and have great credit doesn’t mean you can afford a $300K house with an adjustable mortgage!!! Oh yeah because you don’t know what a Adjustable mortgage really means….and God forbid you ask….the only people who have the RIGHT to even complain about the mortgage crisis is those that have been affected by lay offs, sickness, or out of control issues. Not folks that knew they couldn’t afford the house in the begining and surely not the PEOPLE who got a FREE house and were crazy yes CRAZY enough to go out and get a mortgage on a PAID OFF HOUSE…God help us all!
34. 

    Comment by jon on 31 July 2008:

    Kevin you have a serious problem there mate.
    How far off the subject can you get?
    These people were given a free home and they pissed it away through stupidity, and thats what we are discussing.
    Your anti yankee hatred is clouding your vision to what the discussion here is about.
    I am no fan of Bush and his cohorts, and I do love Australia, the country and the people, visited there a number of times, but you need to get over your hatered of us, relax a little, we are not the anti-christ.
35. 

    Comment by Samantha on 31 July 2008:

    Sully, please tell me if would your feeings be different if the couple was WHITE? I agree with what you said up to the point of your “slave” comment. There are a lot of lazy people out there, a lot of people who want something for nothing and make a career out of beating the system. It’s not a color thing, it’s a people thing. I am a black female professional, I was a single parent and raised two beautiful children, worked bottom of the barrel jobs, put myself through school and made a good life for my children, who by the way are working professionals also. I am not living off the fact that my great, great grandparents were slaves, but instead off of the fact that hard work pays off.

    Please lets stick to the facts not speculation, these people no matter what their race, did a very stupid thing and didn’t appreciate the wonderful gift they were given.
36. 

    Comment by Kevin V Russell on 31 July 2008:

    Where did I ever use the word hate? If you knew me you would know that word does not feature in my lexicon. I was simply pointing out that notwithstanding there is an element of moral hazard associated with these televsion shows, there are serious strcutural problems in the U.S. economy which are exacerbating their worst effects.
37. 

    Comment by JGP on 1 August 2008:

    Mr. Russell,

    I appreciated your point of view until you replied to another poster “I don’t expect a denizen of the U.S…” What a pompous man and how very common you are, indeed.

    And to all of the other posters referring to these people as imbeciles, idiots, et al…, remember that they have children and said children will bear the brunt of their parents choices.

    Civilized words for civilized people.

38. Pingback by Selling The ‘Extreme Makeover’ Home in Clayton County, Georgia : The Real Estate Bloggers on 10 August 2008:

    [...] you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!The Extreme Home Makeover Foreclosure home in Lake City, Georgia has been given a reprieve from the auction block for 30 days. As we previously reported the [...]
39. 

    Comment by chuck Niffen on 9 September 2008:

    My Dad just had a double lung transplant & we Just met after 43 years.
    He also needs a new home because the home he lives in has to much mold, please if any one can help please email me & we can talk about this.
    or you can call 912-682-7066

    thank you & God Bless
40. 

    Comment by Lynne on 19 October 2008:

    And Obama wants to take from Joe the plumbers and give to the poor? Why, if they want it work for it!
41. 

    Comment by Linda on 24 October 2008:

    I’d love to know what the family did with $450,000. This is symbolic of 700 billion.
    The responsible end up paying for their own and for the irresponsibles.

    Sometimes, like in nature, things just need to burn.

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