Does ABC help them out on this or are they inadvertently placing a bigger burden on the family?
2006-09-25 07:21:43 · 12 answers · asked by Kimmy 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
Just adding to a couple of these responses - many of these families (such as the family last night from Alaska) have tiny homes they've been living in for many years. I'd say it's fair to assume many of them were barely getting by as it is with a mortgage payment that was $600 or less. They may easily pay that much just between gas, power and water in the new house even before property taxes. Pay taxes or eat? That's a tough one.
I, too, have a hard time believing ABC worries about what a burden this can be.
2006-09-25 09:38:12 · update #1
NAQ - those articles are very interesting. I think the one from msn.com should be required reading for anyone thinking of applying for the show. Greedy bastards!
2006-09-25 09:43:38 · update #2
i wonder that myself too. but i think in one episode they said they built the house like.. eco friendly to reduce the cost of the electric bill. but i dont know if they do that for everyone.
Edit:
i searched a little bit and apparently the Extreme Home Makeover people advise contestants to take advantage of some legal loop holes when it comes to filing the taxes. In the end they do not pay any taxes for all their gains.
http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/abc-extreme-makeover-home-edition-exploits-dubious-means-dodge-taxes-2552.php
another article
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4933223/
2006-09-25 07:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by NAQ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On all of the episodes I've seen, at the end of the show, typically the builder pays off the mortgage. Given that, the owner is presumably only responsible for the property taxes and utilities, the former most likely being higher than the latter.
So let's see - if their property taxes are around $300 - $500 a month and their utilities are around $250 a month, they'd be a monthly bill in the vicinity of $700 a month? So even if they were working a minimum wage job, they ought to be able to scrape enough money to pay that, wouldn't you say?
2006-09-25 07:30:06 · answer #2 · answered by Big Blue 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I actually asked my husband that question not to long ago! Can you imagine what the utilities would be to run that house and the taxes are probably outrageous! It seems like sometimes the family will also get a check for 50k from a local company or something BUT I don't think ABC gives them any additional money.
2006-09-25 07:27:34 · answer #3 · answered by M☆mma 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have wondered this as well as who helps with the routine maintenance and upkeep of the house.
I have no clue about ABC but I know HGTV gives away their "dream home" annually and I recently saw an article where the recipient had to sell it because he couldn't afford utils and taxes.
2006-09-25 07:24:55 · answer #4 · answered by Stumpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've thought about this before, too.....good question. Perhaps because they're not burdened with a mortgage payment, they have the money to pay utilities/taxes? I wonder how we could check this out and find out for sure....
2006-09-25 07:25:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some have to sell.. That's why you have started to see construction companies hoand out checks or say they will help pay the utilities for a year or for the kids college...you're right, it's very expensive to cool and heat a 3,500 square foot house...
2006-09-25 07:24:18 · answer #6 · answered by Billy! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had that same thought. It seems to me that once the cameras are gone do these people set up for the next part of a better house and just who pays the taxes? Do you think they leave them high and dry?
2006-09-25 07:25:26 · answer #7 · answered by sideways 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
who cares?
one they've taken advantage of the families poor situation, and everyone has their warm fuzzy feeling, they leave the families to sink or swim in their new place. they are no longer of interest to ABC.
you didnt think ABC really CARED about helping those people, do you? it just makes for great TV.
2006-09-25 07:31:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They can't so they end up selling the house and buying something else they can afford.
Johnson family!! we going to make your sucky lives even worse!!!
2006-09-25 07:26:21 · answer #9 · answered by Fire_God_69 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they give them a check
2006-09-25 09:57:13 · answer #10 · answered by aya 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋