Every year since 1997, HGTV has been giving away a gorgeous home in their HGTV Dream Home Giveaway. This is one of the biggest annual giveaways in the United States, attracting hundreds of millions of entries every year. And with good reason — the Dream Homes are stunning and the annual prize also includes designer furnishings, cash, a vehicle and more! Read on to discover everything you need to know to enter and win.
Is the Dream Home Sweepstakes Real?
The HGTV Dream Home Giveaway is absolutely real, not a scam. It’s a legitimate giveaway run by a trustworthy company, the Scripps Network, which owns HGTV and several other national news outlets. It has awarded prizes reliably every year for nearly 30 years.
That being said, you should understand that the odds of being chosen as the winner are extremely long. Extremely. Long.
Usually, HGTV receives around 120–130 million entries for each Dream Home Giveaway. For some comparison, those are longer odds than correctly guessing a 26-character (including uppercase, lowercase, and digits) password on the first try.
So go in with an “enter it and forget about it” mindset. If you enter at all, you have a chance to win, but don’t get frustrated or think it’s a scam if you don’t get picked year after year.
Furthermore, it’s always a good idea to read the privacy policy and sweepstakes rules for every giveaway you enter, including the Dream Home. You should be aware of what you’re agreeing to and how your personal information is saved and used before you share any personal information. Also, the rules for the Dream Home Giveaway can change from year to year, so be sure that you agree with the current guidelines before you enter.
Who Can Enter?
The giveaway is generally open to residents of the United States aged 21 and over. But be sure to read the current sweepstakes rules, if any, to double-check your eligibility.
When Does It Typically Take Place?
The Dream Home giveaway generally starts in mid-December, give or take a week or two. It generally ends in mid-February. Check the sweepstakes listings to see if it’s currently running.
For reference, here are some of the previous years’ dates:
- 2025: December 17–February 14
- 2024: December 22–February 15
- 2023: December 23–February 16
How Do I Enter?
Usually, you can receive two entries a day, one for entering on the HGTV site and another for entering on a partner site, such as the Food Network or the DIY Network.
In previous years, you could send unlimited entries by mail, but HGTV stopped allowing mail-in entries in 2020. Since then, all entries have been made by filling out the online entry form.
What Are the Prizes Like?
The centerpiece of the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes is typically a brand-new or custom-renovated luxury home, fully designed by one of HGTV’s experts. The prize package includes the house, all its furnishings, a luxury car, and a substantial cash prize, with the total value usually ranging between $1.5 and $2 million.
In recent years, HGTV has introduced a larger cash option as an alternative to the house. Choosing the cash prize has the advantage of reducing the overall tax burden for the winner, and the taxes owed are easier to cover with the cash payout.
Historically, most HGTV Dream Home winners have ended up selling the house. Opting for the cash prize is a simpler solution, as it eliminates the need to find buyers or cover the costs of maintaining the home in the meantime.
How Can I Improve My Chances of Winning?
There is only one trustworthy way to improve your chances of becoming an HGTV Dream Home winner: enter twice a day, every day from the beginning until the end of the giveaway. If you do that, you’ll have the maximum odds.
Absolutely most important, however, is that you get at least one entry in. That first entry puts you in the running. After that, you’ll improve your odds by entering regularly, but it will still be a long shot, no matter what.
How Will I Know If I Win?
Fortunately, becoming an HGTV Dream Home winner is nearly impossible to overlook. According to the rules, winners may be notified by phone, email, or in writing. However, in many cases, HGTV stages an unforgettable “ambush” surprise, coordinating with your family, friends, or even your employer to create a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The big reveal is then shared on their network for everyone to enjoy.
Do I Have to Pay Anything If I Win?
As with every legitimate giveaway, you don’t have to pay anything to the sponsors if you win the Dream Home giveaway. Paying to receive a prize is a huge red flag that you’re dealing with a scam.
That said, you will be on the hook for taxes if you win the Dream Home. In the United States, prize wins are counted as income for the purpose of taxes, so winning a prize worth over a million bucks is nothing to sneeze at. That’s why so many of the Dream Home winners choose the cash option over taking possession of the house, as mentioned above.
Do Any Winners Keep the Dream Home?
Very few HGTV winners try to keep the Dream Home. Most either take the cash option or they sell the home within the first year.
The longest a winner has ever held on to the Dream Home is the 1998 winner of the home in Beaufort, South Carolina, who kept it for 8 years before selling.
Don Cruz, the 2005 HGTV Dream Home winner, initially hoped to keep the home and offset the costs by using part of it as a rental. Unfortunately, local zoning ordinances made that impossible. To make things worse, on top of hefty taxes, the home came with significant upkeep expenses. While he ultimately had to sell the property, Don described the experience as incredible and continued entering the Dream Home Giveaway on the off chance he’d win again.
Why Does HGTV Give Away Such a Big Prize?
If the winners can’t keep the home prize, why does HGTV give it away at all?
HGTV gives away such a big prize because the Dream Home Giveaway isn’t just about the winner — it’s also a brilliant marketing strategy. The sweepstakes generates massive viewer engagement, bringing millions of people to HGTV’s website and TV network every year.
The home itself becomes a star, showcasing the latest trends in design and technology, which inspires viewers and promotes HGTV’s brand as the go-to source for home and lifestyle ideas.
It also raises the profile of HGTV’s sponsors, who often provide furnishings, appliances, and other high-end features for the home. By highlighting these products in such a stunning setting, the giveaway creates valuable exposure for the brands involved while enhancing the aspirational appeal for viewers.
Even if most winners don’t keep the house, the excitement of entering—and imagining life in a dream home—keeps fans coming back year after year. For HGTV, the sweepstakes drives ratings, boosts ad revenue, and strengthens their relationship with their audience, making it a win for everyone involved.
Are There Other Good HGTV Sweepstakes?
Absolutely! HGTV offers a variety of exciting giveaways, including several big annual home giveaways. Among them are the Smart Home Giveaway, featuring a home outfitted with the latest smart technology, and the Urban Oasis Giveaway, which showcases breathtaking home design in dynamic city locations. Keep an eye on the Home Sweepstakes listings to find out when they start!