ABC has produced several reality shows that have been very successful, but none have been as successful as "Extreme Home Makeover" with host Ty Pennington. This hour long show, broadcast on Sunday nights, rewards a deserving family who is trying to overcome some medical or personal tragedy with a total remodel of their home. The entire home (with the exception of behind the scenes planning and some pre-building) is basically designed, built and decorated in a week's time, usually while the family vacations in Walt Disney World.



In 2005 the Harper family who lost their son in a choking accident in New York as they waited for paramedics to arrive. The Harper's lived in the projects, where policy states that paramedics are not allowed to enter without a police escort.

The Harper family decided to relocate their family to  a much safer Lake City, Georgia. They buy what they feel is their dream home, a split-level brick ranch, but turns out to be the beginning of their new nightmare. (Old home shown below with new home)




The Harper's who had rented all of their lives, did not realize that their "dream home" basement would fill up with nearly 3 feet worth of raw sewage every time it rained. And after spending thousands on repairs that did not fix the issue, the broke and desperate family began sleeping in their van and they applied to be on ABC's Extreme Makover.

January 16th, 2005, their prayers were answered as the hit reality show arrived with Beazer Homes Construction and the new $450,000 home was ready for the family on January 22, 2005.  Between ABC and Beazer Homes, another $100,000 was raised for the family to care for the home, $50,000 was donated to a charity in their son's name, and their mortgage was paid off. It was a dream come true for any family.

But what happens nearly 4 years later? Have you ever wondered what happens after the dream comes true?


In the Harper's case, it is extreme foreclosure. It seems that in 2007, the Harper's borrowed $450,000 from Chase Home Finance to open a construction business. That loan is now in default, which leaves the extreme home as collateral which will be sold on the courthouse steps on August 5, 2008.

During an interview Patricia Harper  states that she has struck a new deal with the lender, however you can also hear her say that she is "thinking of just taking her money and moving because she is being harassed."

But most in the community are mad. Even Lake City mayor Willie Oswalt spoke out on behalf of over 1800 volunteers who helped to create this gift for the Harpers, saying that he could not understand how you have no mortgage and $100,000 in cash and still can't make it.

Which makes you wonder, is ABC really doing a good thing by "gifting" people with half a million dollar homes that they can not afford to, and are not equipped to take care of financially? According to ABC staff, homeowners are advised to get a financial planner to ensure a smooth transition, but they also state that the homeowner's privacy is most important, which is why they would not speak about the foreclosure.