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Extreme Home Makeover Property Was Sold By County For $1
October 20, 2010
The Rainbow Avenue property being used for this week’s Extreme Home Makeover build in Pensacola belonged to Escambia County until it was sold “for the development of affordable housing” for $1 about a month ago.
The 0.38 acres was acquired by the county through a governmental foreclosure in September 2005. The Escambia County Commission declared the property surplus and put it out for bid in February 2006 for a minimum bid of $21,220.
In May, the Escambia County Commission authorized selling the property to the highest bidder in excess of $12,635. The dollar figure represented the amount the county spent to remove a 636 square foot dilapidated structure on the lot.
Unanimously approving a motion by Commissioner Kevin White, the county agreed to sell the property to Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. for $1 for the purpose of developing affordable housing. The county waived document and closing fees associated with the sale.
Comments
53 Responses to “Extreme Home Makeover Property Was Sold By County For $1”
I don’t have the problem with the person receiving the house. That part makes me angry in no way. It’s the giving away of the land to people who use it for profit. Tv show gives away a house in return for ratings which equals more dollars. We do pay taxes and our government uses it to give to the poor. So leave the religious stuff out before I laugh at u.
JJ
Not everyone is putting them down I am happy for them if they are deserving again I say let’s see them in action. They can take the trip and the house bit can they give as well? And I don’t mean their family that is love not giving back. Giving is a gift to a stranger or community project like their home and i asssure you there are plenty of givers working on that project. Do you think one of them would mow your lawn if you ask them to. If i could bet on it I would be no the answer might be yes but bet it would be winter and dead before they got around to an agenda of helping.
I’m sure glad we have this debate forum for ” Horrific”. Always got the right answers to everything, and everyone else is wrong. If ” you all” people make you so sick then why log on? But I will say I get a good laugh from time to time reading your right answers. Amazing
welfare makes people lazy and gives them a sense of entitlement! there is no entitlement, you either earn something or you do not. this is why this country has multi generational welfare families. they are raised in the system and see how it works and what you need to do to work it. this is just another example of working the system……..
yep your right… I told you I think they are toooo big and tooo ridiculous,……
let’s hope your right and he lets some more unfortunate ppl move in
with him….or he takes in unwanted children or some other humanitarian
thing…….
If I was a drinking person I’d drink to that. lol
Exactly but let’s give and build a 3000 plus SF house to 4 people, Why? That house will be large enough for 2 families.
OH and as for the stupid banks who wouldn’t let ppl stay in their homes
and give them time to get on their feet and keep their children in their
homes. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Stupid banks…..what do they think their going to do with a million + homes and growing on the market with ppl out of work.
I’ll tell you…..they get nothing….nada….zip!!!!!
Instead of working with that home owner.
I think the guy down the street is squatting in the home that was foreclosed
on him.
He may be renting it, but with his tract record I doubt it. I’d have to see the
\rent reciepts, but then I don’t think much of the guy so I may be a little jaded
in my thinking about him anyway….
But am I going to call on him. Heck no! WE bailed out the banks you and
me and I say he can stay…..
There is no one to buy the house anyway……..
To Dad on October ME TOO. Guess i’m not too optimistic but I bet it won’t be great. Wonder if they can sel this house or use it as collateral for a loan? I just don’t think it’s right to give luxuries that most ordinary everyday hard working families cannot afford. I understand the geo thermal units are extremely efficient couldn’t we all benefit by having one. Extremely costly to put one in. If you want to revitalize a community do something for the community as a whole. Who else in this area can afford to fix their homes so they are comprable to the newest mansion. You don’t revitalize by building a mansion in a neighborhood of poor people. It will breed jealousy and resentment.
This could be hashed night and day. The fact is you still have givers and takers and until I see those that get paying back I believe they are probably like every other taker in the world. Someone owes them something. As for a story I bet we could all submit one. I feel certain most of us know a sad story. Would love to see this paper do a story about people that have been given such generous gifts giving back to our community. That’s community not family. Go to a park, cemetary , school, nursing home, hospital, animal shelter and give back.
I was so hurt to read all the things that people had to say on here God never promised us anything on this earth would a bed of roses but people that are on here bashing everyone else maybe you need a job. Thats what is wrong with escambia county know they all want a hand out and if i can get on good if i dont good. But you people that are on here putting this person down will never be blessed because you dont know what blessed is when you pick you head up every day you are blessed. I lived in the best money can buy and know i dont but you think i have hard feelings about the people no i dont its life and i hope they enjoy it and if they dont give thanks for what has happen to them they will pay for if not you. I know alot of people that needs homes like this i have a member of my family that i think should have this happen for them but if god blesses them one day ok if he dont they are still happy people.
A nydaynow,
I had missed some how your post…. what a good post.
I also noticed your last line……now I am wondering about that…guess we will
have to do more research on that on.
As for these ppl being exploited. I’m for a little exploitation for a greater good…..
The survival ppl are exploited too, but most of them didn’t deserve the money
and their was no greater good.
In general people appreciate what they work for more than what is given. What about all of the people that have worked hard and lost what they have worked hard or because of a faltering economy. I see plenty of foreclosures how many families could they have been placed in an empty home for the same as cost as the one they are building? These are the people I feel for losing their homes, jobs, retirements, pensions, healt insurance,etc. Many that have been long time upstanding good citizens of the community. How about let’s give to them. You say you are 70 wonder if this man would come mow your yard if ask too? Hmmmm
I’d like to see a show where they go back to the EM house a year later unannounced and see what it looks like.
No, I do not know them I am just guessing. I would just like to know what they have done in the community besides driving on a suspended license and petit theft. Bet while he was driving he probably did not have car insurance. How would you feel if he hit you or someone you love and gave you a gift that you may have to live with for life? Really sounds like he is giving back. Right? All I am saying is let’s see a story on what the takers and getters are doing back to improve the community then maybe every one would rejoice in their moment of joy. Will be interesting to see this house in a year. Wonder if they will keep the yard and home maintenance up. Home ownership does come with a price. Maybe they will continue to get volunteer handouts.
OH as as for the take take take….
I get real tired of that too…..sometimes I think they should do away with
welfare all together….but then the children would starve….arrrgh…
T0 bad we have to feed the lazy parents…..
CTH
if you know more about this whole deal why don’t you take it up with
EHM ppl.
I don’t always think they pick the best ppl or the best places or that
they always used good sense about just how MUCH they gave to
someone. Sometimes I think the homes are outlandish and
redictulas.
BUT I don’t live in those kinds of homes, maybe the ppl who put on these
shows do….so to them their not too lavish.
MAYBE THEY JUST WANT TO DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL FOR SOMEONE.
i just don’t see how you figure this guy won’t give back to the community, or
that HE doesn’t deserve it. Do you know him?
Working and paying my own way and own MORTGAGE! All i’m asking is let us see these people giving back. Publish a story on how the takers or getters give back to their community. Show us and then maybe everyone can be happy for them. People are tired of the take, take, take and never any give, give, give. I don’t have an ounce of resentment as who would want to have a McMansion in a drug infested neighborhood? Glad they didn’t do us any favors and plop them into a nice neighborhood like ours. Have you done any research on the other families like the one who lost everything in a fire and their child has had 14 brain surgeries. Now who really was more deserving? At least thepeople in Baker had a place to live obviously. How about instead of sending them to Disney they stay and work on their own home. Maybe it would truly be appreciated then.
We all would like to have this to happend to us but, this family was the one who got this Blessing, There are Many more Blessings to go around . We are to be happy for someone else and our turn will come..
No matter who you are you know this is a Great Blessing!!!!! Feel good for someone else. IT WILL MAKE U FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF LOVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS!!! Have fun in your new house. This mite not be the best place I have lived in my area for a long time its not the best but its what you make of it.. but people like you CAN make it better.!!
What I’m trying to say is….it already sounds llike this guy had a hard start,
tried, and then choose the highroad and things have still been hard and
he did things wrong along the way…
thats because he diddn’t have leadership or he didn’t have good leadership!!!!
Thats why it takes a village.
I don’t understand why we don’t embrace this family and help and lead……
I’m almost 70 and have the flu right now….but I have and still do my share
any chance I get……
CTH
IF this kid is taken into this community and given a helping hand and
asked if he wants to go with someone else to lend a helping hand
then I bet he would.
Sometimes you have to lead ppl to show them the way……..
NOW….WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
If it is so great wonder if this family will be seen volunteering their time on a community project in the near future? Say like Habitat for Humanity. Would love to see these people giving back.Really see it like we will see what they have been given. How about a show seeing all families who are helped giving back in some way. Always the givers giving and takers taking. You cannot say he quit college and taking care of his family is giving. Most people faced with this issue would choose their families. That’s love not giving back.
Kevin White has helped me with a few problems GO Kevin White!!! Keep Helping
People That Really Needs Someone Like You To Help Them! TO ALL THE HATERS DO SOMETHING GOOD AND GOOD WILL COME TO YOU ARE SOMEONE YOU KNOW!!!! KEVIN WE LOVE YOU, YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO HELP OTHERS!!!!!!!!!!! WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.!!!! THANK YOU!!!
The land should have been donated at no cost, but I’m glad to the see the County do something good for a change. To everyone who has a problem with someone being given a helping hand, it is so sad that people feel the way that they do. These types of things are what’s required of anyone hoping to make it into Heaven. God did not make us all rich or wealthy, but those who have are suppose to give to those who have not (Matthew 19:16-25).
NOW if you all want to whine at kevin white or any of your commissioners
about how their spending your money why aren’t you whining about the
project on 97.
look at it….
that road doesn’t need anything, but there are plenty of roads in this town
that do.
IF that money was only to go to towns that have roads that are on the
..hurricane escape route then widen it or something, otherwise don’t take
the money.
Their not spending the money on anything that is going to help anything,
it’s just a total waist of money.
Of course nobody is whining about that because the federal money was
given to YOUR county. I forgot you don’[t whine when your getting anything.
You ppl make me SICK
ALL iof you…..Shame on you….This is a GOOD thing…you all just can’t stand that it isn’t YOU.
Just like Molino ppl…Lets take a NICE thing and tear it all a sunder….
THERE is CRAP in everything ppl …. if thats all your looking for.
GET A JOB AND A LIFE!
By the way you can buy lots AND property that are useless and nobody
wants them for low money any time you want them.
Ever hear of government auctions.
NOW THIS PROPERTY WILL BE WORTH SOMETHING.
RIGHT HERE IN PENSACOLA AND THIS GUY WILL HAVE TO PAY
TAXES. HE WILL SPEND MONEY. I PERSONNALLY HOPE HIM AND
HIS FAMILY THRIVE AND HELP THIS COUNTY THRIVE.
This whole town is defunct !
This makes us look good almost like your all good ppl who care about
others less fortunate…………………….NOT!
what is it about all the questions on the property taxes??! YES people! They will be able to afford it because they won’t have a mortgage payment! If he is working, then he will be able to afford the dang taxes…i mean, if he’s paying a mortgage or rent, that right there can be his ‘tax’ payment
on another note, i’m sure they have him set up with a college grant or something also…you know how the show loves to do things like that. maybe he will use it and get a ‘good’ job so that he can afford ‘all of those taxes’ that everyone thinks is just more than he can handle!
I’m happy for the people getting the house; but why would the lot be donated for $1.00. After all the fuss over a $1.00 per year lease for our church building, I don’t understand. Guess it just depends on who you are. Sorry New Life Baptist Church, you were just feeding hundreds of peoe & saving souls.
The Extreme Makeover folks and sponsors usually payoff the mortgage … So why do it at $1.00? How are the folks going to be able to commute and afford the property taxes in this county?
Again, I’m proud for the family getting the house but just disagree with the county and the double standards.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
many Americans give of themselves and live well below the poverty level. They do this for love of country and sheer pride in America. We know these men and women as the US Military. they give and ask for nothing, often doing it unknown to most americans. I love a good story that is heart warming but this story is not it. It is a story of explotation and commerical greed. As a disabled Vet I could go to home depot or lowes and ask for some free stuff to fix my house and they would tell me to get bent. the stores do not care about the story, they care about money and publicity! this $1 land deal shows just how corupt our government is. can regular citizens get $1 land deals? I thought not, I do not blame the family, they are getting a good deal, it is everyone else who is getting shafted. God Bless the USA and the men and women of the Armed Forces, they are the real ones needing a happy ending.
who will pay the taxes on this new home
It seems that a lot of people are feeling so deprived that they resent someone else’s good fortune. Did you not read the story about the young man?
The way the Makeover show works is that someone who takes notice of an individual in need of a safe home, who has a generous heart and uplifting attitude and who is self sacrificing in their generosity toward others and they nominate the person or family by writing the show and telling the story of the person’s life and circumstances. Most of the labor is done by volunteers, the materials and furnishing are donated by corporations that sell building materials, home furnishings and appliances and all that stuff in return for the building materials and appliances and furnishings they get a good bit of advertising time and space. The show is popular because Americans love a happy ending, and Americans love to see good people be recognized and rewarded for being selfless. I guess because it’s so rare, in America, these days
I don’t have a problem with the show helping this generous and kind hearted young man. Although, I’ve always felt that these people are exploited for commercial reasons. What I am curious about, as some others seem to be, is why was the lot sold to a corporation for $1 and did the corporation sell the property to the Makeover folks? If so, what was the sales price? Why isn’t the property transfer activity on the tax assessors website?
Wonder if they recieve public assistance? If yes will there new found gift be considered as an asset?
So how exactly do I sign up to get some “surplus” county land for $1, actually I have a $10 in my wallet right now they can keep the change. What has this country become, there is still no such thing as a free lunch. free to them means expensive for us (us tax payers that is) I am all for helping out others but where do we draw the line? when the have nots and the do nots get all the breaks what is the motivation for me and others like me to keep paying our bills and doing what we are supposed to? if you don’t pay your mortguage they give you a reduced % rate or a bail out, if you do pay it it costs you to do a re-fi. I often wonder why I even bother anymore. I hope this family enjoys their “Gift” and appreciates how much it cost everyone else! God Bless
Why Escambia Co. Pensacola. Why would Okaloosa Co. not help them? Baker is just 10 miles NW of Crestview which is the County seat of Okaloosa. Don’t understand that a small piece of land in a bad neighborhood is more preferable than anything Okaloosa could offer?
The County leaders have the right to make rules for or against the other Districts, but the people in other Districts dont have the right to decide who is voted into those Districts.the laws need to be changed,because if you have the right to affect me i sould have the right to affect you. as for the money for the land,the county sould not be able to sell or give anything away, that the County tax payers have paid for. it just shows the County leaders are just as corrupt ,but they use a Lawyer ,that we as tax payers pay, to screw as many as possable. they need to be gone…( and the Lawyer too)
I better not hear any more whining by the County Commissioners about budget. They are GIVING away property that belongs to the people of Escambia County. I don’t begrudge someone receiving help now and then, but I am SICK of the government, local or otherwise, foolishly handling the citizen’s assets. Vote them all out!
“This family lives in Baker, work and school, from Pensacola it will be an hour drive to get there. Not only will they have to pay higher taxes, will they be able to afford the increase in gas, $2.74 a gallon, What kind of hardship will this put on the family?” Let’s see now… New home completely paid for. I wish someone would lay this kind of “Hardship” on me.
Is not the purpose of the extreme makeover show to rebuild their existing house? Not provide them with a new house? Wish someone would provide me with a 3500 sq ft house for free. I work, have a college education, and can’t buy a brand new house like the one they are getting for free….
Isn’t Community Enterprise Investments a real estate investment corporation?? I was going to look to see how much CEI sold the property for, and wa-laaa. The Escambia county property appraiser has no records of 1301 Rainbow Avenue. Imagine that.
Goes to show you the Extreme Home Makeover folks did a good job shopping for this home and the community was involved thru the County Commision. It’s good to know they really do some homework when blessing these folks with a new home…..Good Job Escambia County Commision and Extreme Home Makeover!!
On the other Makeover shows the family that is getting the makeover has there house torn down. This family lives in Baker, work and school, from Pensacola it will be an hour drive to get there. Not only will they have to pay higher taxes, will they be able to afford the increase in gas, $2.74 a gallon, What kind of hardship will this put on the family?
oh, and “oversight”, i think the answer to ‘will they be able to afford the propery taxes?’ is, YES. if they have a home that is paid for, and they have a job, then they can pay for the utilities and taxes…they’ll have homestead exemption and probably get back a good bit in income taxes too……………..
i agree with “christopher maloney”….it’s not like they couldn’t have afforded to buy the property….crazy, just crazy i say!
not that the county should be giving property away, but it’s not like anyone would have bought a lot in that area for $12K, or even $5K, or even $1K.
I think it’s for a good cause so I don’t see the problem with it. This will change someones life for the better, and their are children involved. God works in many many ways.
“Oversight”…I ask the say question, Let me go on record as saying “I am proud for and support this family” BUT, can they afford to keep it up, and the taxes at 3500 sq ft? ….As for Kevin White, he is what we know as a “TURN COAT” He requested another vote on gameing at the dog track, (Type that is not even aloud to be done in Atmore) THEN to everyones surprise the Indians buy the dog track….Something stinketh?…JUST SAYING…
Way to go Sandra. We have already let one slip back in office for four more years because people did not get out and vote. This over zealous group have surely long lived their usefulness as public servants. they all need to go. Please, people get out and vote and help yourself and your neighbors.
I guess I hold a different view. I think it’s a wonderful thing for the community, in many ways. The community is about to get national publicity & a family who is very much in need is about to get an incredible home for free. If the property has been sitting there that long, there’s no good reason to deny them this build there. I’m not a betting person but if I was, I’d bet that if the commissioners had declined this request or tried to make a ton of money on it, they would still be strung up by the voters for being heartless.
Sandra, you’re right about Kevin White, he lost my vote…everytime I have a concern about something, I get the same canned answers….”it’s okay”, “I checked into it”, “I talked to them”…But nothing ever happens…If it was okay, I wouldn’t be asking about it!!!…He’s back to his, Mr. DoNothing…Now off to your sidewalk dedication Kevin…lol
I am so done with Kevin White. I have defended him in the past but no more. If Daffy Duck runs against him next time he’s got my vote.
Go figure our County Commissioners are giving stuff away again! Why wasn’t it offered to the public fir the higher prices? Oh that is right who would want to live in my neighborhood? Could you not have found a safer better suited site for this EXTREME MAKEOVER???? JUST SAYING!!!!
So our county sold a piece of property for $1 so that a TV show can make millions of dollars in advertising/high ratings? They can sugar coat the crap all they want to by calling it ‘development of affordable housing’ but underneith all that sugar there is still crap.
Here’s the thousand dollar question – will the recipients of this new home be able to afford the higher property taxes that will surly follow?