My Lottery Dream Home - General Discussion

[surfgirl]

I'm watching this episode where the couple won 1 million on a Scratch ticket and David says, 'Oh, you're a millionaire now!' and I immediately think, 'Nope, they're about a $600 thousandaire now!' Why do these people always forget taxes?!?

[Irlandesa]

I never watch the scratch off episodes but I love the big budget Madison episode so I did this time.

But they said this was the biggest budget anyone has ever had. I could have sworn there was an episode where a couple bought a 10 million dollar house in CA early on. 

[surfgirl]

I really appreciate the lower budget places. House Hunters is so OTT with out of touch buyers who have no clue rhe difference between a Craftsman and craftsmanship! And they want it all. The folks on this show are just so down to earth and I find it very sweet and refreshing. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

5 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I never watch the scratch off episodes but I love the big budget Madison episode so I did this time.

But they said this was the biggest budget anyone has ever had. I could have sworn there was an episode where a couple bought a 10 million dollar house in CA early on. 

The first season (maybe not really first season) the couple hit it big, and bought a mansion on a mountain top, bought the ranch below, and more of the mountain, and it was super expensive and spectacular.   However, later a family member couldn't travel up there, so they sold the mansion and moved.    

I enjoyed all but one episode of this show, and that one the husband obviously hated being on the show.      I figure that whatever the person spends is what they can afford, and we'll never know what debts they have, what else they're doing with the money, or if they're supporting other family members expenses.    Some of the cheapest houses are still someone's dream, and seem to be something they've never been able to afford until the lottery win, or inheritance.    

[Baltimore Betty]

7 hours ago, surfgirl said:

I'm watching this episode where the couple won 1 million on a Scratch ticket and David says, 'Oh, you're a millionaire now!' and I immediately think, 'Nope, they're about a $600 thousandaire now!' Why do these people always forget taxes?!?

I yell that at the TV every damn show!!!

[surfgirl]

There husky bear dude single dad who chose Plum Creek house, I realized the furniture during the showing was the same during the 'two weeks later' clip. WTAF?! Am.I the only one just seeing this? Are they doing this to all the homes now? 

[buttersister]

Or perhaps he already lived there with his furniture;-)

[CrazyInAlabama]

9 hours ago, surfgirl said:

There husky bear dude single dad who chose Plum Creek house, I realized the furniture during the showing was the same during the 'two weeks later' clip. WTAF?! Am.I the only one just seeing this? Are they doing this to all the homes now? 

Some places do sell the homes or condos furnished, often in resort areas.   However, the producers sometimes have David say "you can always offer to buy the furniture" as a way to fool the viewers.    

[CrazyInAlabama]

“Mega Mountain Dreams"

S16.E13, New,  12/6/2024 (Since it’s the season premiere, I bet it's actually left over from last season.   Next week is S17.E01, new, 12/13/2024)

Jen and Manny missed winning a $1.6 billion jackpot by one number, but they did have all the numbers to win $1 million dollars! Now, they're calling on David to help realize their dream of owning a mountain lodge in the gorgeous forests of New Hampshire. She bought 40 Mega Millions tickets for her 40th birthday, and he bought 7 scratchers, her tickets were all losers, but he won $1 million. 

Wishlist-Mountain Lodge in New Hampshire.    Needs a mountain view, 2 or more baths, 3 - 4 bathrooms, $800,000 to $850,000 budget.   House will be a second home for now, but a retirement home later. 

Realtor says for $850,000 there are 13 to 15 homes in the area. 

House 1-Hale's Hill in Conway-5 bed, 3 bath, 2500 sq ft, on 2.5 acres, $920,000 beautiful wrap around porch, gorgeous beams, soaring living room, fantastic view.  Kitchen is well done, medium size.  All bathrooms are the same, no ensuite.   upstairs 1 bath 2 bedrooms, main floor has 2 bed 1 bath.  basement has family/game room, with 2 bedrooms and another bath, to walk out on deck.   screened porch with hot tub.  

House 2-Apollo Place in Sandwich, 45 minutes from Conway -3 bed, 5 bath, 3100 sq ft, on almost 19 acres $899,000.   Wild yellow outside, interior is gorgeous, lots of hardwoods, fireplace, huge kitchen, great dining room, upstair main bedroom is huge with a fireplace, ensuite is fanstastic, with a claw foot tub, third floor is an apartment bedroom, bath, tiny kitchen, another apartment in the basement, bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette. 

David asks if they consider building, since it's a retirement home.  David checks out the Christmas Store in Conway.   Jen and Manny call, they want to build and look at land with the realtor, Greydon.  2 to 18 acres, with a great view.  This is David's first tour of a new build by the winners. 

House 3-Land  in Bartlett to build a home.  David comes back to see the finished home.     Contemporary, beautiful decks, fantastic views, Mega Vista Mountain Lodge,  $850,000 with the lot.    2.2 acres, beartiful high ceiling living room, great, huge dining room, fantastic kitchen with a big island, main bedroom on first floor, with ensuite, and great bathroom, huge shower,  kids rooms upstairs, bedroom suite overlooking the valley, 1st floor has another suite, family and game roo, with walk out to a huge patio under the main deck.    

They buy #3 and build.  

Edited December 7, 2024 by CrazyInAlabama

[buttersister]

Sounds like I need to record the re-broadcast!

[Grizzly]

I think they loved the second house but the location was wrong. The third house seemed very similar.

[buttersister]

Nice to see busting their “budget” wasn’t an issue.

I’m not much for industrial style, so I don’t get the attraction of concrete countertops. Nice view, though! And the way they kept thanking David, I couldn’t tell if that was the script or if he gave them design ideas.

Edited December 9, 2024 by buttersister
Garbled typos

[Yeah No]

I really liked the house they built and I'm not usually a fan of sliding barn doors   and concrete countertops either. But somehow it all worked. 

Although I didn't for one minute believe that the final scene was filmed 13 months later. The 2nd house they toured that kinda/sorta resembled the house they had built was probably David's way of finding something close to what they had already built. I knew something was up when the Realtor only mentioned one house in passing. Usually they show them describing a few houses to David.

[CrazyInAlabama]

“Brent’s Bounty"

New,  12/13/2024, S17.E01 (no it doesn’t make sense that last week’s premiere was S16.E13.  The show is on break through the holidays, with Scratch off enhanced reruns on)

"For someone who rarely plays the lottery, single dad Brent struck it lucky when a scratcher won him $10 million! After taking care of his loved ones, he's now turning to David to find a family dream home with a sparkling pool in gorgeous Visalia, California!  Brent grew up in Visalia. His first act was writing his parents a check to set them, and his daughter up for life."

Wishlist- Central California, in Visalia, San Joaquin Valley.   Brent wants pool, nice backyard, 3 to 5 bedrooms, $750,00 to $850,000 in NW Visalia.   David was in Visalia seven years ago, and it’s grown a lot since.  It’s now suburban, and lots of businesses.   NW Visalia is bougie. 

House 1-Lupin Lane in Visalia -5 bed,4 bath, 3200 sq ft, $769,000.   One story.  open concept.  Lovely kitchen, living room, dining.  Guest bedrooms, three on one side with another bath.   Split floorplan, main suite is huge, with a great ensuite, beamed bedroom ceiling.   Upstairs has a huge bonus room, fifth bedroom and another bath upstairs too.  Pool is huge and lovely, firepit, putting green.  With  some grass or fake turf?    

House 2- Sugaree Tree in Visalia-3 bed, 2.5 bath, sq ft, $739,000. 3 car garage, two story, older house. Kitchen, family room, dining are open, plus an office, and two bonus spaces.  Island is quartz, and needs other countertops.   Upstairs is carpeted, another big family room, 3 bedrooms, main is huge with asitting room, bathroom is big, closet is huge.   guest rooms and bath are upstairs and big.   Backyard has beautiful landscaping, pool.   

House 3-Ripple Ridge in Visalia -4 bed, 3 bath, 2700 sq ft, $820,000.  Gated community, living, and dining, den for a playroom, guest bath, main bedroom and ensuite are huge, plantation shutters, kitchen is big, lots of granite.  Family room with fireplace. kitchen has huge drawers.  gas stove.   House needs repainting, it's yellow.  3 guest bedrooms and one bath are split floor plan. Backyard has a huge pool, covered back patio, cabana.  some grass.  Single story.   Private back yard. 

He buys # 1.  I loved all three homes. 

Edited December 14, 2024 by CrazyInAlabama

[Vermicious Knid]

I think I would have bought house 2 and just ripped out and redone the kitchen. Beautiful outside, plenty of room inside. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

They list this Friday's episode as new, but it's not.  It's a rerun of the Pensacola episode from this last season. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

S17.E05 Starlicious Gazing

New,  1/3/2025

"After an unexpected windfall from selling the family farm, a New York couple, Rob and Swati,  now have the funds to relocate to Port St. Lucie, Fla.; she wants a place to host new friends while he wants remote and quiet."

Port St. Lucie, FL is halfway between Orlando and Miami on the east coast of Florida.   She works at the UN, and is retiring, Rob is all remote. (If Port St. Lucie sounds familiar and you watch OP Live, they've been featured recently).

Wishlist-Swati wants: A fancy gated community. Open plan, 2200 sq ft or bigger, 55+ community, golf cart living.  Rob: wants quieter, maybe on golf course.  Budget $600,000, Swati wants $800,000 to $850,000.  Rob said not more than $800,000.  

House 1-Dahoon Drive, Port St Lucie, not gated, no HOA -5 bed, 3 bath, 3100 sq ft, $759,000.   Single story, lovely open plan, high ceilings, beatiful house.  Not a gray and white box.   lovely kitchen.  Main bedroom suite is huge, bathroom is great, main closet is big.  A separate office for Rob. Lovely pool with spa and cabana/bar.  Pool isn't screened, but it's huge.   The couple go golf cart shopping with David.  (A personal note, get seat belts installed.)

House 2-Trident Trail in Port St. Lucie, gated 55+ golf cart community. -3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2200 sq ft, $725,000 single story, huge island, great kitchen, not a bland house, nice office for Rob. Community has lakes, pools, all kinds of amenities. Main bedroom is gigantic, ensuite is huge.  Screened pool, with canal view, with a rather large alligator lurking there.  

House 3-Gumbo Gorge, 55+, gated, golf cart community in Port St. Lucie -4 bed,4  bath, 2457 sq ft, $799,000 single story.  Huge kitchen with a fancy bubble glas chandelier.  Stunning view of the canal.  Main bedroom isn't as big as the other two houses, but nice.  great guest bedrooms, and baths.   Spool (Spa pool, is spa and small pool).  lovely patio.   

They buy # 2.   

1/10 is not new, just a scratch off version apparently, 1/17 is new. 

Edited January 4 by CrazyInAlabama

[LexieLily]

Of all the episodes I've seen of this show this one tonight gave me House Hunters vibes - they both seemed to want diametrically different things/vibes in a house and she ended up getting her way on everything in the end.

[CrazyInAlabama]

“Jacksonville Jackpot"

New,  1/17/2025, S17.E06

A woman's gamble paid off to the tune of $1 million dollars after she purchased an entire book of scratchers! Now, she and her wife are ready to find their first home in Jacksonville, Florida, and David's got some gated community stunners to choose from.    

The show filmed  in Jacksonville in the first season, eight years ago.   

Wishlist-Morgan and Charman, looking for a house.  3 to 4 bedroom 2 to 3 bedrooms, big kitchen with island, Open plan. crafting room for Charman, shoe room for Morgan, $350 to $400,000 budget, maybe up to $425,000.   They've been married for 10 years.   This will be their first home. 

Such a lovely, fun couple.   

All new builds because there's such a huge inventory. 

House 1-Limbo Lane -4 bed, 2  bath, 1500sq ft, $279,900 two car garage.  Lovely living/dining/kitchen with a huge peninsula. Laundry room, guest rooms are nice, one for shoes, and one for crafting. Main bedroom is huge, en suite is beautiful. Back yard is fenced, not huge, needs an awning or covering or pergola. 

House 2-Julington Gem -4 bed, 3 bath, 1800 sq ft, $315,000. two story, two car garage.  lovely kitchen with a huge island, granite.  dining and living room are beautiful with room for a speak easy, and Christmas trees.  David has 25 Christmas trees in various sizes.   Second floor has four bedrooms, two for crafts and shoes, main bedroom is huge, en suite is beautiful, walk in closet is big, with a great shower.  Backyard in beautiful, covered patio, needs a fire pit.  

House 3-Queen's Landing -3 bed,2  bath, 1800 sq ft, $339,300. Single story.  brick and siding above.  big open entry, great room, kitchen/dining are so big, living is huge.  Great craft room, and Morgan's shoe room. Primary is big,  David says get a custom closet for the shoes.   Main ensuite is big, with a big shower.  Back yard is decent sized, backing onto a pond, needs a fence.   

They bought #3.  

Edited January 19 by CrazyInAlabama

[buttersister]

They obviously looovved #3, it seemed perfect for them. Liked their party at the end.

[Yeah No]

They were an upbeat couple, I liked their vibe. The houses were a little ho-hum but wow, were those reasonable prices! 

I actually liked the feeling of the middle home better but it felt small next to the third one so I think they made the best choice for them.

I figure they bought in a development that still had a furnished model when they filmed the show so they showed them touring that. Then they filmed the last segment in their actual home like the next day or something, LOL. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

“Greener Pastures"  S17.E07, New,  1/24/2025

After hitting a $926,000 jackpot, a 34-year Chicago police officer,  is ready to find her dream home outside the city in Crete, Illinois. David finds some fabulous properties with sprawling backyards and plenty of room for her nine grandkids to share!

He's in Crete Illinois, an hour outside of Chicago, meeting Sharon, the winner.  After

Wishlist-at 3 to 4 bedroom, at least 2 baths, in Crete Illinois.  Budget $400,000. 

House 1- Mistwood Trail in Crete-5 bed, 2 bath, 2500 sq ft, $269,000 on 1.1 an acre.  Geat living room built ins, two story, unfinished basement.  Main floor primary, en suite, nice size closet, and another guest bath on the first floor.  Kichen needs stone countertops.   2 bedrooms, basement could have two more bedrooms, and add a bath.   huge back yard, room for swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, hot tub.   fire pit in yard already.  

House 2-Horsemint Hills in Linwood -split level, 5 bed,3  bath, 2300 sq ft, proerty is smaller than yesterday.   $310,000.   Upstairs living room, kitchen, dining room is big. Kitchen in medium sized, with cute pendants over the half moon breakfast bar.   1/2 bath, 4 bedrooms on the upper floor, basement bedroom with bath and a gym.  Huge basement family room.  

House 3-Spicebush Fields in the countryside outside of Crete-5 bed, 4 bath, 4500 sq ft, $349,000 on .75 acre.   great wide circular drive.  Two story.  nice living room, big kitchen, double ovens with gas stove, dining nook, and dining room,  family room with wood burning fireplace.   Bedroom with a guest bath adjoining.  Upstairs 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.  Main  bedroomwith en suite.  finished basement, with family room, exercise center, bar, another bedroom with family room.    Back yard is big.  room for a pool, outdoor kitchen, hot tub.   

She buys #3.  (She fooled me, any of the houses would have been a lovely place to live). 

One of her former police partners sent David a cut little police gnome. 

(Next week’s new episode is definitely going to be epic)

Edited Saturday at 01:37 PM by CrazyInAlabama

[Grizzly]

What was up with all the hand holding? It became weird. House #1 had too much stuff in it for it to be for sale. #2's yard was too small for her many grand babies. So despite her protestations that it was too big, #3 had to be the one.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Maybe the woman was nervous on camera, or was feeling unsteady?     If she had chosen house 1, then it would have been her stuff.     They also try to fake people out by saying 'you can negotiate for the furniture'.    I loved house 2, except for the yard being so sloping, and small.   I liked House 3 for the space, and the huge indoor space with the 3 car garage.  

[Chit Chat]

On 12/6/2024 at 8:32 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

Contemporary, beautiful decks, fantastic views, Mega Vista Mountain Lodge,  $850,000 with the lot. 

I'm pretty far behind in my viewing, so I just watched this one today.  All things considering, I thought that $125,000 wasn't bad for the land they purchased.  I'm kind of surprised that the house ended up costing $850,000 to build though.  I know that prices for home building supplies went up after covid, so I'm assuming those things haven't come down very much.  Of course, if they went high-end on everything, that'll eat up your budget quickly!  I don't begrudge them getting everything they want though.  Might as well do it the way you want to if you've got the money!

The house they built was pretty, but I didn't care for the kitchen countertops, or the bedroom being right off of the living room.  Barn doors can be pretty, but I don't care for them.   YMMV.  

When I see a wall of windows, my first thought goes to how energy efficient they are.  I'm sure they got the best of the best, but it's still a wall of windows.  We had some windows replaced recently that are supposed to be of high quality.  I can tell a difference already, but when that temperature dropped down in the teens the past few days, there's no window that won't feel cold and radiate it too!  Brr.