Extreme Home Makeover In Arizona, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Sep 5th 2009 at 1:01PM

The problem with the "Extreme Makeover" homes is that while they make great television, they don't always make great living for the families that receive them. A post from Move Trends led me to the Gilbert, Arizona home of the Okvath family. The Okvath's had their home remodeled by the ABC show in 2005. The television crew outfitted the home with a movie theater, a carousel in the backyard and a bunch of colorful themed rooms for the family's seven children.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the home's escalating utility and property tax bills began to overwhelm the family. They took out a $405,000 adjustable-rate loan in 2006 but had trouble making the payments. The head of the family, Bryan Okvath lost his job, and the home was almost foreclosed on last year according to a report in the Arizona Republic. The home goes on the market at a time when the Phoenix-area market is particularly gloomy. They tried to sell back in 2007 for $1.8 million but found no takers. Now the six-bedroom home is listed at $1.3 million.

The WSJ article details a few other home makeover debacles including the story of the Hassall family who is trying to sell their made over home in Kentucky. It suffers some of the same goofball decorating as the home shown above. It is listed for $330,000.

Gallery: An Extreme Home Makeover In Arizona

Tags: arizona, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, extreme home makeover, ExtremeHomeMakeover

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

steven Sep 5th 2009 4:48PM

There is nothing "goof-ball" about the decorating -- it is a warm and inviting home designed with a very specific family in mind.

What IS "goofy" in this case and in others, is the utter financial stupidity of the recipients of EHMO's largesse.

Yes, I can understand that the property taxes, insurance, and utility bills might be higher than they were before, and that such bills can put a strain on finances. But not $405K worth. Obviously the family decided to treat their house like an ATM machine, and now they are reaping the consequences.

Kriton Sep 6th 2009 1:54AM

OKAY, a nuclear radiation-themed bedroom is NOT "warm and inviting" !!!! It is a little scary! Moreover, who would pay $1 million + IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD??? Answer: nobody!!! This is a classic example of over-remodeling a home right out of the price ranger of the area in which is was built.

Can you say, "Hello, bankruptcy court!!!"

CH Sep 6th 2009 12:52PM

We obviously see varying opinions on this house. Personally i think it's a great home for a young family.

Maricar McFunder Sep 9th 2009 12:01PM

what i didn't like with the design is that there is no consistency, and some parts are too cluttered but i am not saying that it's not good, indeed, it's beautiful, just a little tweaking is needed.

- John Ray - http://bentonreos.com

laura Sep 10th 2009 8:53PM

The decor is horrid, but nothing a roll-off couldnlt take care of.

Henry Tuttle Sep 16th 2009 2:19AM

These extreme makeover houses are tailored to individual families to live in, not for sale. These families used the increased value of their homes to take out home equity loans on the supposed increased value, but the increased value is sketchy. They are still in bad neighborhoods and far too specific to sell easily. Many rooms would need to be completely redone.