Checking On An HGTV Green Home: a house log

Ok, I will admit it: we have been shamelessly entering to the win the 2009 HGTV Green Home on a daily basis lately. As much as we enjoy our own home, we cannot pass up the chance at winning a striking, eco-friendly abode in sunny Florida (and the shiny new hybrid car that comes with it). Plus, think of all the things we could journal about if it were our names that they announced on June 28th.

So it was with Green Homes on the brain that we took a little detour last week while on our secret trip to Georgia. Thanks to our Florida vacation last Spring, we remembered that the 2008 HGTV Green Home was simply about 5 minutes off of I-95 in South Carolina. We did not tour it last year (it carried a hefty $25 admission fee!) so we figured we’d swing through Tradition, SC again this year and see if last year’s winner was home and might invite us in for a free tour (you know, all southern hospitality-like). Well, that did not happen (surprise). There were no glasses of organic lemonade waiting for us on a recycled bamboo tray. In fact, it did not even look like anyone was home…

And our guess as to why no one was home? Because it did look like anyone had moved in yet. There was even a key-box on the door like a house that is on the market…

…and why do we think no one has moved in? Because they are simply about the only house in the neighborhood so far.

I guess the little golf community of Tradition needs a bit more time to get off the ground. Then again, can we truly be surprised in this real estate market? It did look like it was shaping up to be a striking place (the four or five other in-progress homes were in the same beachy cottage style that we enjoy). But we cannot say our visit did not alter our utopian daydream a little bit.

So, moral of the story: do not bother entering to win the 2009 Green Home (you’d simply be hurting our chances anyway). Simply kidding. Enter away. She’s a beaut this year. Simply check out their virtual online tours for plenty of green eye candy. Update: check out the comments for some interesting revelations!