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Lincoln woman picks winning key in UHD contest

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By MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 - 04:51:46 pm CDT

Lincolnite Susan Haase is the thrilled new owner of a $300,000 home — at least for the time being.

Haase, 38, a business associate at Lincoln Benefit Life, drew the winning key in Saturday morning’s Ultimate Home Delivery contest sponsored by the Lincoln Journal Star.

She was the fourth of 10 finalists to try her key in a door during the Journal Star’s “Ultimate Tailgate Event” preceding the Husker football team’s opening game.

Story Photo
Susan Haase reacts after unlocking the door and winning a new home from the Lincoln Journal Star's Ultimate Home Delivery on Saturday morning. At right is Journal Star publisher John Maher. (Michael Paulsen)

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Lincoln woman wins home

Susan Haase picked the winning key Saturday morning in the Ultimate Home Delivery contest sponsored by the Lincoln Journal Star. (Hilary Kindschu...

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Ultimate Home Delivery
Party at the paper

* Susan Haase, the Ultimate Home Delivery winner, was chosen as part of the Journal Star's "Ultimate Tailgate Event" that coincides with the Husker football team's opening game.

* Festivities run to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the newspaper's printing plant at Ninth and Q streets.

* Food, beverages, vendors and games — including a rock-climbing wall, football toss and "bounce house" — will be available at the event. Admission is free and open to the public.

* Complete details on the Web: ultimatehomedelivery.com

As a cheering crowd watched, three finalists tested their keys before Haase, to no avail. Then Haase slipped her key into the lock.

As it began to turn, her hands started shaking — so badly, in fact, that Journal Star publisher John Maher had to help finish the job.

When the door opened, she said breathlessly: “I don’t know what to say!”

Haase chose a home at 8940 S. 30th St. in the Wilderness Hills subdivision, one of five new homes to pick from.

Along with an appealing first-floor master bedroom and den, Haase said the Aspen Builders home was her No. 1 choice because it’s near the homes of her older sister, Karen, and younger brother, Jeff. Haase currently lives with her parents, Jerry and LouAnn, on Southwest 24th Street.

Still, Haase isn’t 100 percent sure she’ll move in: Worried about the taxes that come with such a home, she said she’s thinking of selling it instead and putting the part of the profits toward a master’s degree, adding to her earlier studies at Southeast Community College and Doane College.

But the thought of moving into a brand-new home will be tempting, she admitted immediately after winning.

“The debate will begin now,” the Crete native said as she prepared for pictures and a tour of the home with some 25 family members.

The tour only boosted the home’s allure, Haase reported later: Family members fell in love with the home and proposed spending Christmas there, and nieces and nephews even picked out which bedrooms they’d sleep in during extended visits.

But, Haase said, “The reality is Uncle Sam’s calling. I have to run some figures this week.”

The remaining four homes built for the Ultimate Home Delivery contest — by Integrity Builders in the Fallbrook subdivision; Goings Homes in Waterford Estates; Heritage Builders in Heritage Lakes; and Manzitto Bros. in Village Gardens — will go on the market. All are appraised at $300,000.

The Journal Star launched Ultimate Home Delivery in January, partnering with the five builders. Newspaper subscribers were automatically entered into the contest, and some nonsubscribers entered via postcard.

The 10 finalists, all subscribers, were chosen at random from January to August. They included a retired business instructor, a grandmother from Bennet, a cancer survivor and more.

None left the contest empty-handed. The other finalists received $500 gift cards from Schaefer’s TV and Appliance Center and other assorted gifts.

When Haase got the call at work that she’d been selected as a finalist, her co-workers were in shock, she said.

Now she suspects they’ll be even more surprised to hear she won: “They’re going to freak.”

Haase herself struggled to digest the news right away.

As media interviewed Haase and family and well-wishers crowded around offering hugs and congratulations, her right hand, clutching her winning key, was still shaking.

“I just can’t believe it,” she said.

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.


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karwied wrote on August 29, 2008 4:38 pm:
" Well, that is great....good luck...I hope the winner can afford the taxes and insurance and all that goes with owning a $300,000 home. I tend to remember the recent debacle with people getting loans for homes that they would not be able to pay for after the initial low interest period. Hopefully, this will make a family very happy. "

 George Kruger wrote on August 29, 2008 5:14 pm:
" Do the remaining nine selectees get anything? I think a cash or voucher for a home improvement company such as builder's warehouse or the like should be awarded. Otherwise, there are going to be nine severely disapointed people. "

 New York Baby wrote on August 29, 2008 5:55 pm:
" Hmm. Cool. Do they get to sell it asap and get the bucks for their curent debts? Good Luck! "

 D.A. wrote on August 29, 2008 9:53 pm:
" Proper custom window treatments alone in a $300,000 home could easily cost minimum of $30,000 if done by a designer...Wal-Mart or Penney's could probably do it for $3000 to $8000. A new roof when the time comes would run $22,000 minimum. Hope the winner has deep pockets to properly take care of this prize. "

 Marie wrote on August 29, 2008 11:45 pm:
" It amazes me that people have nothing but negative comments about such an innovative idea. Someone is going to win a $300,000 home! This is a great thing for the community and a great thing for the family that will win it. The consolation prizes are very generous, but there can only be one winner. I find it very exciting and a positive boost for Lincoln. "

 Good Luck wrote on August 30, 2008 9:58 am:
" Good Luck to the Lucky 10! How exciting! Go Big Red........... "

 jen wrote on August 30, 2008 1:03 pm:
" to D.A., a new roof doesn't cost $22,000 it's more like $10,000 - $12,000. be happy that someone got a new home. she's 38 and still lives with her parents. it's time that she had her own home so be happy for her. "

 D.A. wrote on August 30, 2008 1:13 pm:
" Hey Jen, I put a new roof on my 900 sq. foot home 5 years ago and it was $6,000.00 for 25 year warranty great shingles and a good roofer. This house is worth 3x mine, so its probably 2,500 sq. feet, do the math. Right now that roof would cost $17,000 if done right, you could do it cheaper, but I'm comparing apples to apples. In 15 years when this new roof is ready for replacement after normal wear and tear you won't replace it with quality materials and workmanship for less than $20,000. "

 Great for Susan wrote on August 30, 2008 1:18 pm:
" And it's not so difficult to live in a $300k house, property taxes and all. Even if she has to take out a small mortgage to pay the income taxes on the new house she can still pay less than $800 a month for everything.

Congrats Susan...enjoy you new house! "

 CB wrote on August 30, 2008 2:16 pm:
" ...I'm sorry you had to buy a new roof, but it's not about you or your roof. Be happy this person won something so amazing. "

 JS wrote on August 30, 2008 2:33 pm:
" Sounds like most people are jealous. Why are you talking about a new roof when it is a brand new home? That's years down the road. Also, who says she had debts to pay off? It's true that she will owe a great deal of income tax on the prize, but she will own, free and clear, a $300,000 home. It seems as if many people in Lincoln spend more time being jealous than working to own a decent house. "

 jay wrote on August 30, 2008 2:43 pm:
" why do people like D.A. always try to look at the negative side of everything. who cares, be happy for this lady. i for one could not be happier for her. this is a great thing all the builders involved did and the LJS. go complain somewhere else D.A.(what does D.A. stand for anyway...dumb a??) "

 dk wrote on August 30, 2008 4:23 pm:
" Congratulations Susan! How exciting for you! I hope other Lincolnites share your joy instead of being jealous about what they don't have. I wish you the best of luck with whatever decision you decide to make. :o) "

 Lori wrote on August 30, 2008 5:03 pm:
" What a wonderful contest! I have followed it since the very beginning and I am happy to see that someone very deserving won the home! Congratulations! "

 whatever wrote on August 30, 2008 5:16 pm:
" Congrats to the winner! If you pay 22,000 bucks for a new roof you are nuts. I put a new roof on a house for under 3500, granted a small house of 1100 square feet with a 7/12 roof pitch two story house. So even a house twice the size shouldn't cost you more than 10,000. That's new shingles and 7/16th sheathing. If you are paying 22k for a new roof in Lincoln you folks are being ripped off big time. "

 A Co-worker wrote on August 30, 2008 6:20 pm:
" I work with Susan and it couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving person. Congrats, Susan, and good luck whether you move in or decide to sell! "

 Best wishes wrote on August 30, 2008 7:06 pm:
" Congrats on your new home! Hope you enjoy it for many years. I went through the home and it's beautiful. "

 ashamed wrote on August 30, 2008 9:08 pm:
" Why would anyone who lives and/or works in Lincoln, NE make a negative comment about an exciting contest designed to create a positive attitude in the housing market? I find this mentality disturbing to say the least.
Congrats to Susan celebrate and enjoy, I am happy for you! "

 Congrats wrote on August 30, 2008 11:00 pm:
" Congratulations Susan! What a wonderful gift! "

 jealous wrote on August 30, 2008 11:05 pm:
" I certainly am jealous but the good kind, wish it was me! But amen & blessings to Susan and her new home. That rocks! "

 envious wrote on August 31, 2008 8:30 am:
" I am envious. Good luck Susan. That's a $300,000 opportunity that you and all the others didn't have yesterday no matter what you decide. You can sell it, rent it or live in it.... "

 Jalengrma wrote on August 31, 2008 9:06 am:
" Cool idea for a contest!! Congrats and good luck!! "

 Cole wrote on August 31, 2008 9:58 am:
" Yes - some people are being overly negative. The fact remains that if she can't afford the taxes and insurance, the prize's only use is liquid value. While significant, it still sullies the spirit of the prize and should have been something the organizers thought about. Two $150,000 houses may have made more sense, but wouldn't have been as sexy as the luxury showplace.

The organizations that came together to make this happen are to be congratulated for doing something positive.

Those of you wearing rose-colored glasses shouldn't fault those who see room for improvement. The exchange of ideas and opinions is precisely what this space is for. "

 dear D.A. wrote on August 31, 2008 12:38 pm:
" dear D.A., the house isn't 2500 sq ft. it's 1400 sq ft. you can look on the county assessor and check it out for yourself. and it didn't cost $300,000 like the article said, it was a little under $250,000. when i redid my roof on my 2400 sq ft house it was $10,000 and that was with a very good roofer so you got ripped off if you paid $6000. can't you just be happy for her.... you shouldn't be so angry about it. it just shows that you feel resentful of her. congratulations susan. don't listen to what other people say or think about you winning a new home, you deserve it so you enjoy it. "

 tracy wrote on August 31, 2008 12:41 pm:
" hey d.a. if you're spending $30,000 on window treatments then i think you're wasting your money. "

 PJ wrote on August 31, 2008 2:52 pm:
" It would be tempting to sell the house but having a new home would be nice. Taxes and insurance would probably be in the $600-$700 a month range, which is a lot but if that's all your paying for a house it's not too bad. I say live in it for 5 years and sell it when the market's better and you get more money for it. And DA I'm building a new house and my 1600 sq ft house cost about 8k for a new roof with 25 yr shingles, which is the same size house as this one. "

 another co-worker wrote on September 1, 2008 11:28 am:
" This is AMAZING, Susan is a great person to work with, super hard working, and I am so glad that you got it, whatever you decide to do with it.. :) "

 another co-worker wrote on September 2, 2008 10:21 am:
" CONGRATS SUSAN!! I couldn't be more thrilled for you!! There is no one who deserves this house more than you! WAY TO GO!! Whether you decide to sell it or move it, it's YOUR HOUSE...do with it what you want! Don't listen to the naysayers!! "

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