Find Out What It's Like to Win the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes
Tuesday January 13, 2009
Following some conversations last week about whether it's worthwhile to enter to win the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes when the taxes on the prize are so high, I contacted Don Cruz, winner of the 2005 HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes to ask him directly.
If you're not familiar with the name, Don Cruz was the only person who won the Dream Home and attempted to live in it, rather than sell it right away. For more information on the Cruz family's attempts to keep the Dream Home, read The House that Swallowed Don and Shelly Cruz from AOL Finance.
So the Cruz family had to sell their Dream Home (it sold at auction in January of 2008). But do they regret winning one of the most coveted prizes in the sweepstakes hobby?
Don Cruz graciously agreed to answer that question and others about what it was like to be a Dream Home winner. You might be surprised at what he said. Read my full Interview with Don Cruz for details.
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Comments
Thank you both so much for taking the time to do this interview! I’m glad to hear things worked out well for you and your family. What a fantastic story and memories you’ll have for the grandkids!
That was an encouraging and interesting interview. I enjoyed it, and thank you.
Thanks, John, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I had a great time doing the interview, too, the Cruzes are really nice to talk to!
Yes, it was a great interview and I am very glad it worked out well for them and they have no regrets.
I’ve got it all figured out: win the HGTV Dream House & the PCH $5,000 a week for life and I will be all set!
TKHarmonic, you’re right, that would make a perfect combination! And a pretty great story, too
Why can’t they have a contest to where anyone can actually be able to live in the house. I didn’t enter this one because I couldn’t even afford to pay the taxes on it. Most of the previous winners of HGTV’s Dream House grand prize packages have sold the houses. This seems to be a colossal shame. Consider if you will the ecstasy and excitement associated with winning a spectacular new home only to find that you cannot afford to reside in it. Yes I want a home of my own, but not to be in debt before I even get the keys for it. They make this contest to where you have to be rich just to afford the taxes and everything on it. Sorry HGTV do something for the poor folks now; Build us a descent home and let us have a contest with it.
Ken, don’t you think that the million-plus dollars you net after selling the Dream Home is a pretty nice prize, though?
I am working on a piece about some more affordable house prizes that are coming up, though, so stay tuned!
I’m really annoyed right now, the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes is for people ages 21 and over. It’s so unfair, I’m 19 years old, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to win or wouldn’t be able to handle winning a wonderful prize like the Dream Home