HGTV Dream Home 2008
 

I see that the dream home is being built in Islamorada, Florida. Are there as many hurricanes in that area compared to other areas of Florida. Although I am sure they looked into that type of information but I wanted to know for myself.

Islamorada is in the Keys. Hurricanes are unpredictable until they form, but that's a vulnerable area, yes.

I don't have cable TV, so I'm unfamiliar with this show. What's their production schedule/calendar like? What part of it (if any) overlaps with prime hurricane season (August thru October)?

knot: Did you see a promo? I'd love to know when it airs. On their site it only mentions the 2007 one. I missed that one but wouldn't mind watching the next one. I'm sure it will be built with the latest material created to withstand hurricanes.

Hurricanes happen all over the globe; Indian Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific, and on just about every continent so it would be stupid to base building a home where a hurricane might happen.

If that were the case you should also avoid locations with earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, fires, etc.

But the odds do vary from place to place.

HGTV's Dream Homes are getting way out of line for us 'average' folk. The last one was valued at over 2 million dollars! Who can even pay the taxes on a prize like that much less afford the upkeep. Time for them to get real and have someting in the $300,000 to $500,000 range.

That's why they call it a *dream* home.

Anonymous, the odds don't vary from place to place.

In an area where hurricanes or cyclones occur, there is a 50/50 chance of it landing in your area AND hurricanes and cyclones destroy areas hundreds and sometimes a thousand miles from where they land.

That home they are building on Islamorada is probably being built to withstand 180 mile winds and is probably 22 feet off the ground. The pilings it sits on are probably concrete, rebar, and cinderblock sunk 15 feet below ground.

One detail about that area also is there is only one way in and out, when there is an evacuation, it's hectic.

Well I can tell you that I was born and raised in the Florida Keys and I am still here. Actually we do have our hurricane season but it's not different than earthquakes in California or Tornadoes in Kansas. Every area has it's weather to content with. It really is not that bad plus it's free. Plus this is a very expensive area on a free house would be great. Hey I would take it and I live here. Islamorada is great if you like fishing.

I used to know the statistics...I think maybe one winner in 10 years was able to pay the taxes without selling the house. A couple of years ago when the house was in Tyler, Texas, the winner tried to get a zoning change so he could turn part of it into a bed and breakfast to raise funds to be able to keep it; he was denied, so he had to sell it, too.