Here’s a sad case of real life coming face-to-face with a reality show . But instead of a happy ending there are devastating results. Patricia and Milton Harper were lucky enough to get chosen for “Extreme Home Makeover” back in 2005 but today they came close to be among the nation’s homeless (perhaps not literally). But what is true, is their 5,300 square foot mini-mansion in the suburbs of Atlanta was supposed to be sold to the highest bidder from the Clayton County Courthouse steps today. This is happening even though the show gave them the house, scholarships for their 3 sons and enough money to pay taxes for 25 years But late Monday night the Harper’s filed bankruptcy (which saves them for now).
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Harper’s took out a loan for $450,000 to start a construction business and used the house as collateral. That business went belly-up and they lost all of their investment. (Not sure how because that is a hell of a lot of money to go through). In any case, I am sure the state of the economy has only made matters worse. We heard about their plight back in the summer, but then the bank gave them a reprieve. Turns out they still couldn’t swing the payments.
On top of that, Milton Harper was sued by a local hospital earlier this year for a $10,000 bill he couldn’t pay. And the family allegedly has been receiving death threats since their struggles came to light over the summer. (One reason may be that a local construction company collected donations in excess of $250,000 to help makeover that home).
Anyway, for some reason the Harper’s don’t seem to be getting anyone’s sympathy. Other “Extreme Home Makeover” families in Detroit and Florida dodged the foreclosure bullet when their dire financial conditions were revealed. (Perhaps they didn’t blow all their money on an ill-conceived business).
In The Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing the Harper’s are said to owe between $100,000-$500,000 in debts including their mortgage, six credit cards and Sprint. But this move doesn’t exempt them from continuing to pay their bills. Now they have until an April court date to figure something out.
They can also remain in their home until this is all settled.
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March 13th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Why do I have little sympathy for this family? It’s like the Higher Spirit gave them a spoon full in a time of starvation for most everyone else and I imagine that they blew it living high on the hog. Sad commentary on money and asset management and to be quite honest they cask for 25 years of tax payments in Clark County is significant for a house of that size. It should have been placed in an endowment with direct distribution to the city every year for the taxes. EHM revives and rebuilds these homes in dreamlike fashion and typically garner donations so that there is no mortgage. These folks were greedy and have proven themselves unworthy.