That's a Smart House
Inside the Texas HGTV Smart House that could be yours for free
Each year, HGTV builds and furnishes a “Smart Home” to be given away to a lucky sweepstakes winner. Last year, HGTV unloaded a charming, high-tech home in Nashville. This year, it’s a 2,300-square-foot house in Austin’s Zilker Park.
Austin was at the top of HGTV’s list for many reasons, says Jack Thomasson, an HGTV professional house planner.
“You can’t find a city with a better combination of emerging technologies, exciting nightlife, great food and a welcoming culture,” Thomasson says. “To be able to build this new home in a thriving neighborhood close to downtown Austin puts it in the center of everything ‘smart’ the city has to offer.”
The three-bedroom, three-bath modern farmhouse, designated as an Austin Energy Green Building, was constructed by Riverside Homes. An open concept kitchen and living space is surrounded by windows designed with special features meant for blocking sunlight and reducing heat, but they still provide plenty of natural light.
Upstairs, there are even more windows and multiple skylights that operate remotely, plus a vaulted media loft. Perhaps most important, there’s a wet bar in the master bedroom.
Because the home was built in a historic neighborhood, construction complied with the “McMansion” ordinances, which were designed by the City of Austin to minimize the impact of construction and protect the character of the city’s older neighborhoods.
The home boasts multiple outdoor living spaces, including a screened-in porch and dining area that has, of course, a grill. The outdoor spaces feature drought-resistant plants, gravel landscaping and an automatic sprinkler system to avoid water waste.
The fully furnished home is only part of the grand prize package valued at more than $1 million. The lucky winner also receives $100,000 provided by national mortgage lender Quicken loans, as well as a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class to park in the beautiful driveway.
Starting at 8 am CST on April 15, eligible viewers can enter to win the package twice per day on HGTV.com. The giveaway period runs through June 2, and you can even sign up for daily email reminders. Check out a virtual tour of the home here.