"Makeover" Home Revealed in Pekin

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By Gina Ford

Story Published: Oct 28, 2008 at 6:38 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 28, 2008 at 7:28 PM CDT

In Pekin, the new home for the Grys family was unveiled Tuesday after a rebuild from the team from the TV show "Extreme Makeover-Home Edition".

The Grys family has returned from a week–long trip to Disney World.

Pekin mayor Dave Tebben says the 4–thousand square foot home is valued between 4–and –500–thousand dollars.

Donations have been flooding in to help pay off the family's current mortgage.

But the assessment officer says if the house is worth a half million dollars the family can expect to pay about 800–dollars a month in property taxes starting January of `09

Sunday, Nov 2 at 3:22 PM Common Sence In Texas wrote ...

I don't understand why these homes have to be so overboard.It seems a lot better to help 3 families with $150,000 homes or 2 with $250,000 homes.Habitat for humanity doesn't build $500,000 homes for people in need and they help many more than this.More reasonable homes would still help,even more in most cases.The utilities,tax's,insurance and upkeep would be within reach for these families.It's almost cruel to give them this huge home they can't afford to keep.Less home more help.Think about it

Saturday, Nov 1 at 9:58 AM Anonymous wrote ...

hey donate....are you going to give $1.00 a month to every family in the entire area that needs help to pay their taxes and other bills ?????

Thursday, Oct 30 at 10:30 PM Donate! wrote ...

Someone should start a donation website to help pay for the taxes. There are over 100,000 people in Peoria alone. If you could get 1,000 people a year to donate $1.00 per month or $12.00 per year, it would easily cover the extra tax cost. I would donate $1.00 a month with no question to help this family and I have never even met them. If you cannot afford $1.00 a month you should'nt be able to afford the computer or internet service your reading this on. Share the wealth, they deserve it!

Thursday, Oct 30 at 2:01 AM Me wrote ...

Whatever said: "Get over it and if you do not want to hear about it turn off your tv, put down the paper." I believe the same could be said about those who only want to hear and/or read certain responses? The fact is, all of us have opinions and we should be free to express them. I think everyone wishes this family well, but that doesn't mean we have to agree with everything.

Thursday, Oct 30 at 12:11 AM whatever wrote ...

Do all fo you have to be so petty, they had this all figured out before they agreed to even do this, yes we should be concerned , i understand that many people are having rough times , hell so I am but I did what i could if you are not able to don't,I watch everyday those able to work put don't so they can get hand outs,it seems that when someone gets a gift like this others have to have nothing good to say Gte over it and if you do not want to hear about it turn off your tv, put down the paper

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 9:19 PM Good deed in town wrote ...

Where is everyone's head? This was a very kind thing to do, not cute, not bad, not over the top...whatever this family needs I think the community will provide. Yes we all have bills and food to put on the table but at least we do have our health and the ability to help others.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 6:41 PM amazed wrote ...

I am amazed at the number of people willing to berate this topic. Why is their taxes and bills of importance to you. You are not the ones who have to pay their bills. This family was given an amazing gift and yes they will have to deal with other additional cost but that is for them to worry about not the rest of us. Let's just be happy for them that they now have a home that is safe for their 8 year old son that will foster his independence.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 4:08 PM :) wrote ...

The Grys family have been truly blessed and this is through the work of God, God will provide for them so they can keep their house.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:56 PM Indepent Pekinite wrote ...

--I know there house payments will go up but in the long run the bank will still be paying the taxes and the could use the money to pay other things-- Banks do NOT pay the taxes for mortgagees, they sumbit the tax payment for them out of the escrow. Big difference. If the bank underestimated the escrow than the person will have to pay the amount the escrow fund was short, as well as the raised escrow price the next year.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:32 PM Brenda wrote ...

The home looks wonderful from the outside, and I have no doubt it is on the inside as well. I hope that WEEK TV will do more to cover the aspects of the new home's value... and the effects it may have on this family. I'd hate to think that they (or their neighbors) would have to sell simply because they received this GIFT. I admit to not knowing a whole lot about the Makeover process (who is chosen), but I believe this family is awesome. I've seen them around town. And Jake is SUCH a sweetie!

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:28 PM noone wrote ...

Fair has to be fair, they knew going into this what the taxes would be, I'm sure it was all spelled out to them (if not it's their own fault). It's not Pekin trying to scam, it's the tax laws everyone lives by. Giving them a break because of the situation many would call more of a scam. I truely hope and pray they are able to make it. I'm certain though this has all be thought out and if they couldn't afford it, they wouldn't have gone through with it.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:23 PM Carrie wrote ...

I would say $800 a month for a brand new 4 to 5 hundred thousand dollar house is pretty good. I would assume that the donations coming in would pay off the old mortgage so if $800 a month is all they have to worry about I would say they are fine. Their old mortgage was probably more than that.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 2:46 PM shocked wrote ...

I wondered how this was going to turn out....and as I suspected, it is way more than they need, and can probably afford. Hope they can make it, nice thought, but over the top

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 2:26 PM Becky in Pekin wrote ...

I totally agree w/ "Suprise" and "Get Real." Their neighboors will be paying more for taxes, no doubt about it. I'm all for helping out the next guy, if they deserve it. However they aren't the only one's in need. I'm trying to get my kids' Christmas saved, put food on the table, pay bills and just, well, live. Sorry, but I won't be helping financially. I do hope it was worth it.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 1:10 PM Kim wrote ...

They really shouldnt pay off the old house if they have there taxes included in there house paymentslet the bank pay them.I know there house payments will go up but in the long run the bank will still be paying the taxes and the could use the money to pay other things

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 11:43 AM john wrote ...

giving people discounts because they have a disability is a cute idea, but not even remotely possible. first, the term disability would have to be defined. if that could be accomplished, then it wouldnt take long for everyone with a cold to claim they are disabled. like the disabled parking permits for cars, the system would quickly become taken advantage of and turned into a big joke.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 11:42 AM Me wrote ...

Well, my parents did a lot for children too. However, they took it a step further and adopted us. It's all a wonderful thing to do, but you do it for the children and not special treatment. And, no, I don't think this family is wanting special treatment, but there are some implying it should go that way. Pekin should simply be fair--nothing less, nothing more.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 10:36 AM concerned wrote ...

There should be some kind of discount on the taxes with someone in the home that has a disability you would think. I dont want to see them struggle any more than anyone, good luck.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 9:52 AM Get Real wrote ...

Just me, the city of Pekin is not scamming anyone. Bigger house = higher taxes. DUH!! It would have been much more efficient to just renovate the house rather than have this extremly outragous house all for show.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 9:50 AM Too bad wrote ...

The family did ask for this house. They petitioned the show, remember? Well this just goes to show that Extreme Home Makeover is all just for entertainment value. Research how many of the show's recipients had to seel their homes in the last year because they couldn't afford them. They had their week of fame, now reality sets in. They should have just remodeled.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 9:44 AM john wrote ...

sorry "just me", it doesnt matter how much work someone has done with children, the family will get a tax hike. a big one. if you live in a nice house, you have to pay the taxes. its not a scam. ok, maybe it is a little. hahaha

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 9:01 AM Just Me wrote ...

That is ridiculous. The family does not deserve a tax hike. They deserve this because of the good they have done for a lot of children. I will lose a lot of respect for the city of Pekin if they try to scam some money off of this.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 8:49 AM Surprise wrote ...

Wait till all the other neighbors Taxes go up becuse of this house being in the neighborhood

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 8:36 AM Kim wrote ...

While the house may be a $500.00 home the value of the houses around it will also affect the value of the home. The other homes close by will drag down the value of this home. There is an article about a similar situation in Austin, Texas about another "Extreme" home. The home was officially valued at $500.00 but the because of the neighborhood, the home was only worth $296.00.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 8:24 AM Kelly wrote ...

I'm sure City of Pekin thinks this is the Grandview Drive of Pekin. This family didn't ask for this house. Raise the taxes if they sell the house. I don't think property taxes in Lutikens Cove is that expensive...and those are 400-500K houses...City of Pekin is a joke!

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 8:08 AM Good Luck wrote ...

Keep the faith...I don't evan have a home due to a disability. I hope they can make it .

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:09 AM Carl wrote ...

Sure its all very cool and neat now,but wait until the bills start coming in this winter, they are going to wished they would have never heard of Extreme Makeover,They are just not going to be able to handle taxes,Cilco...even if they are a two income family which I have no idea if she works out of the home, it would be very hard to make ends meet.I do wish them the best.They are going to need it.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 3:03 AM Su wrote ...

I don't see where Exteme Makeover did them any good at all, they will never be able to make it there...no way plus that house looks totally out of place and it will probably raise the neighbors taxes too.Pekin is just not that big deal of a town anyway..we are just plain folks.Noting fancy like that place, again I say it looks out of place, it made all the other homes less valuable.To bad!I live on a lake have a 4,000 square foot home my taxes are only $6,000 per year get real Pekin.

Wednesday, Oct 29 at 12:31 AM john wrote ...

i am happy for the family and it looks like they just had the best 2 weeks anyone could ever dream of. but soon reality will set in, and they are going to find out that it takes a darn good income to support a $450,000 /- house. i hope they can pull it off.

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 11:23 PM Dan wrote ...

I think the property tax assessment is laughable. You mean to tell me that this house's taxes should cost nearly $10,000 per year?!?! Get real! This is PEKIN for crying out loud!

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 10:50 PM concerned wrote ...

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. $800 a month for taxes. I think I would be packing up out of pekin.

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 9:13 PM Brandon Cross - Pekin wrote ...

$500,000 dollars says that the family wont be able to afford the property taxes in the first year alone. That equals out to be nearly $10,000 a year in taxes alone. Not to mention the tripling of their Cilco bill each month

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 9:10 PM t wrote ...

there lies the thing no one thinks of when they build these homes for people higher taxes higher cilco bills how will they be able to afford that plus upkeep on the house the homes need to be built more for what they can afford to maintain

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 8:40 PM Enlightened wrote ...

Week filmed this from my family's front lawn. I was very shocked to see how rude and pushy the week camera man was. He said " I hate covering this kind of thing"

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 7:28 PM Confused wrote ...

Gee.. $800 increase property taxes for '09...be greatful you don't live in Manito, and watch your neighbors taxes...Will they be happy?

Tuesday, Oct 28 at 6:49 PM WOW wrote ...

how much to heat that 4,000 square foot house, hope the were able to pay off the old house then they might be OK -

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