I read in the paper that the family in Nebraska that had a house built lost it within a year because the taxes were so high they couldn't pay them.  The neighbors were pissed because their property taxes went up because of the McMansion in their neighborhood too.  Everyone was unhappy in the end.  I think it is a nice idea, but, I think someone should be footing the bill for the enormous increase in utilities, taxes and etc that come along with a mansion.  I cried more that they lost the house than I did when they got it.  I quit watching.

I have always wondered what they did about utilities and taxes.....

Usually one of the building companies offers to pay a year's worth of the utilities and stuff...That should be a big help.  Also, wouldn't the builders try to make the houses as "green" as possible as to curb some of the rising power and electricity costs?  I'm no tree hugger but I do know that having a more energy efficient design and using things like bamboo rather than wood flooring, installing some solar panels, ect ect, would greatly curb the cost for the families.

As far as property taxes go, I was told (and read) that the property taxes are unaffected because the families were (usually) rather poor and the house was a donation.  I don't know about the neighbors, but someone should take all of that into consideration.

If my house was falling apart (which my house is invisible because I don't have one) and someone came to fix it up for me, I'd be more than grateful...but I really don't need a McMansion and plasma screens and stuff.

In general property taxes would indeed be affected.  There are some locations where property tax increases are capped at small annual increases for low income owners, but that is the exception, not the rule.

that damn show always makes me sob, a fact my husband finds hilarious