Why 'Extreme Makeover' Contest Winner Got Evicted From Dream Home

The Michigan mom who got her dream home on reality TV is now living a nightmare. Arlene Nickless' home was completely transformed on ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' in 2008. Nine years later, she has been evicted. Inside Edition cameras were rolling as she and her family scrambled to pack her furniture and personal belongings out of the 3,200-square-foot house and into a moving van. "The sheriff could show up anytime," she said. "We'd have to leave whatever's left behind." #InsideEdition

[hillbillypatriot]

Moral of this story, if you ever get a free home makeover, sell it as fast as you can.

[miguelrocks]

Once the taxes went up. I would've sold the house quick and walked with a fat bank account.

[rpmfreak]

She should have sold that house quicker than it took for the new paint to dry.

[WigWoo]

She could have just filed for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

They take all of your debt and past mortage payments and put it into a 3-5 year repayment plan.
you get to keep the house AND you get to pay off your debt interest free

[bobofett]

Mommy always said, "Try not paying your property tax and you'll find out very quickly exactly WHO owns your home!"

[LuBre]

How can you give such a luxury house to someone who struggles to raise her 3 children? If someone ever gifted me a Ferrari I would sell it within 24 hours.

[xcar]

This actually happens to a lot of families who've had their house redone by this show.

[thelazyhuntress]

Oh man, I remember that episode, I was about 8 years old and felt super happy for them. I hope they're safe, together, and making ends meet. I used to move a lot so I understand how hard it is to say goodbye to a home especially one with a ton of memories.

[whitneylee]

For some reason I thought these home makeovers were gifted to these families?... Wow...really sad

[PuffOfSmoke]

This show was heavily criticized for the whole concept of going big without considering how the hell homeowners could afford it moving forward.

[AlexYadaYada]

It seems like this show leaves the family with more problems than they originally had.

[Magna_Carta]

She bought a house that needed work and was probably barely worth the 30 grand they paid for it back in the day. As a result of the show and her neighbors coming through for her, they quadrupled the value of that property, now the bank gets to reap the rewards. They didn't want to work with her because it was more profitable not to. Greed is the root of mankind's worst aspects.

[johns]

Land: Exists for millions of years.

Govt: Wait that's taxable

[stevemichael]

I would've just sold the house once the taxes went up and moved to a smaller house with less taxes on it. They always find a way to get you. Government is so corrupt and evil

[seeriousli]

why is everyone blaming the show? she had 9 years to figure out she couldnt afford the taxes and sell it . they gift you a house theyre not life coaches

[Alemensch]

This is exactly why I don’t show updated photos of my home on real estate sites from the inside and backyard, they’ll just update the home assessment and charge me more in property taxes.

Why should I have to pay more per month for a home I’m trying to pay off just because I want it to look nicer? Screw that.

[besmartvoteblue]

When you fix up your house, they raise the value and then the taxes go up. This should be built into the reno's/TV show contract.

[SportZFanLfe]

The mortgage company Didn't want to help her because they wanted the house.

Mafia style.

[justingrant]

Kinda feel like this interview is poorly timed considering she literally just said if the sheriff shows up we have to leave what's here

[GoBlue]

Losing her home had nothing to do with the show “Extreme Makeover”. Also, by law, she had approximately 90 days to remove personal items, furniture & furnishings from the home before the sheriff would take any action. This took place in Michigan. I live in Michigan.