Over the years that HGTV has been doing their Dream House Giveaway, my interest in the houses has ebbed and flowed depending on location and style.
Without a doubt my all-time favorite was the 1998 house in Beaufort, SC (pictured LEFT). Well, actually I have come to find out that it’s on Saint Helena Island AND it’s up for sale!
I am a southerner by birth (my mom was born and raised in West Virgina) and at heart but I’m a Lowcountry girl by choice – the area chose me years ago when I was living in Georgia.
I was doing a little research for another post I’m working on when I came across some information about the 1998 winners, Tina and Dennis Carlson. When they won back in 1998 the package was worth about $500,000, NOT the $2 million+ HGTV packages now run.
According to this article, upon winning the couple discovered that they owed more than $200,000 in prize & property taxes. They took out a mortgage to cover those costs [they may have possibly tapped into equity they had in the house]. Given the retail price of the package they won, taking out a mortgage was an affordable choice and probably would be for most people.
Anyway, the Carlson’s kept the house, using it as a vacation retreat for family and friends. They sold it eight years later when they just weren’t visiting as often (they live in Southern California!) The article, which was written this past February, said the couple had made a recent return and discovered that the house was once again on the market.
Well, I’ve got a bit of Nancy Drew in me, so off I went scouring the internet in search of my beloved red-metal-roof, low country home. Here it is!! 52 Bermuda Downs. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I sure love it! The write up of the home reads:
“Originally an HGTV Dream House, this picturesque home is Alison Ramsey’s Bermuda Bluff Cottage and features a metal roof, amazing porches, a downstairs Master bedroom, and an open great room overlooking a serene lake brimming with wildlife. Bermuda Bluff Island is a gated community with amenities including a deepwater dock and boat ramp, swimming pool overlooking Port Royal Sound, tennis courts, walking trails and a clubhouse facility.”
It sits on 1.17 lakefront acres, three bedrooms/baths, 1900 heated square feet. It’s on the market for $409,000 (and I
bet you could get if for under $400,000! The assessor’s office has it valued in the $330,00s) The association fees are a whopping $1300/year and according to the county assessor’s records annual taxes are just over $4,300. By today’s HGTV Dream House standards, that ain’t bad!
Of course, it’s not decorated the way it was when it was a Dream House (but I still love it anyway) – you can read more about this house and see how it was originally decorated here. IF ONLY we weren’t tethered to the North Coast! If only . . . .
What has been your favorite HGTV Dream House? Here’s the link to Dream Houses Past to jog your memory.
About Diana
I’m a busy working designer & home stager who gets a lot of joy & happiness helping clients transform their houses into homes they love. I blog as part of that creative process. In our “spare” time my hubby & I are updating our Cottage in the Woods that we share with our cats. I’m a Christian & look forward to someday working for my Heavenly Father, the Greatest Designer of all, decorating mansions in Heaven!
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I love looking for vacation homes! This just looks so peaceful and nice, I’d love to hang out on that side porch with some lemonade. Great find!
It would be nice to have this for a vacation home – we could spend Jan – March there to escape the harsh winter here on the North Coast! Thanks for stopping by.
This is fun! I love it when someone goes “Nancy Drew” and finds a house like this. I could spend hours trying to track one down–doesn’t it feel good when you find it?
Very interesting learning the history behind it, and how much less expensive the dream homes were back then. That red roof is fabulous. Great post!
I can imagine the taxes and hidden fees that come along with winning something like that. I had a friend win an Ford Expedition and had to pay taxes up front…winning isn’t always fun!
It’s a beauty in one of my favorite part of the country. Does it look a little more country than low country?
Hey Terry,
Me too!
Actually the house embraces many elements typical of the traditional lowcountry venacular.
- Wide front porch (shown on the link to HGTV)
- Elevated off the ground on cement footers/piers/posts
- Low, wide, tin roof with overhung eves and exposed rafters.
- Tall, low placed windows with louvered or paneled shutters.
- Classic “farmhouse” style with hints of Greek revival or Colonial architecture.
This last item is probably where you’re getting the “country” vibe, especially with the functional porches. ;o)
The two styles definitely share some similarities and geography plays a huge role in defining style – country style homes are rarely elevated whereas lowcountry homes almost always were because of the flooding that happens in the land in the low areas. ;o)
I remember long time ago when i would actually enter those things — but like you said so hard to pay the darn taxes on the value.
Thanks for the fun information… very nice and well kept and yessss the RED roof..
TTFN~~Claudia
Oh my! That house looks lovely…are you off to buy it?
I found your site through another…and just had to comment on this house! This house was the whole inspiration for my own home! We were building our first home and I just love, loved this house! I painted many of my rooms the same colors! I still have printouts of this amazing home in my “decorating” folder! I’m so happy to know that someone else out there loves this home as much I do! (Remember the amazing green bedroom w/ black floors? Yum!)
My favorite was the one in Denver…I wish I had enough to buy this one! I live on the east coast. It would be easy…
$500k? Let’s buy it together!
Actually – I think we could get it for UNDER $400,000! ;o)
So, what’s stopping us?
Hi Diana:
Coincidentally, I am leaving Friday morning to vacation in Fripp Island SC, a mere 18 miles from Beaufort. Maybe I’ll get a look -see on this house while I am there. It looks to die for.
Have fun – you may want to stop in Habersham to tour the house Southern Living is giving away! Here’s a link: Sugarberry Cottage
My fav is definitely 2007 Winter Park Colorado.
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