Click the links below to see the listings for each house:

1. Nancy’s house in South Carolina

2. Amanda’s house in Tennessee

3. Stacie’s house in Massachusetts

4. Heidi’s house in Ohio

5. Lucy’s House in Vic, Australia

6. Janet’s house in Wisconsin

7. Amanda’s house in California

Thanks to all the readers who submitted their listings on my Facebook page. I hope they sell for “top dollar” as Clive Pearse would say. If you’re selling yours, too, feel free to leave a link to your listing in the comments! -Julia

Looking for something new to watch? HGTV just announced 9 original series they’re adding to their schedule. They include the home improvement competition series Brother vs. Brother with Jonathan and Drew Scott and a totally revamped Design Star…

HGTV General Manager Kathleen Finch

According to Kathleen Finch, the general manager of HGTV, “We’re still delivering series that fuel viewers’ passion for the big three in home-centric programming — real estate, renovation and decorating. However, these newer series will appeal to fans who want more action and intrigue served up with their renovation and design as well as to fans who prefer a more escapist viewing experience.”

The network also will “put a new spin on its classic competition series Design Star, retooling the series with the new title HGTV Star, showcasing finalists with non-traditional, yet relevant, home-related expertise.” New to the judging panel this season: designer Sabrina Soto. (Looks like Candice Olson is gone for good.)

Here are the 9 new additions to the HGTV lineup:

1. Brother vs. Brother

Premieres July 21 with hosts Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

Property Brothers stars, twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, battle it out on HGTV’s newest competition series, Brother vs. Brother. In this six-episode series, Jonathan and Drew each mentor a team of six home improvement experts. Each week, the contestants, who are skilled home renovators and decorators, compete in various challenges to find out if they’ve succeeded in upping the real estate value of the property. Along the way, Drew and Jonathan coach each contestant, but only one will be recognized as the most promising home improvement expert and win the $50,000 grand prize.

2. Flip or Flop

Premiered in April with hosts Tarek and Christina El Moussa

Tarek, a self-proclaimed “driven real estate genius” partners with his wife, Christina to flip new properties in HGTV’s Flip or Flop. From the nail-biting purchase at the auction to the frustrating renovations, HGTV cameras follow these novice flippers as they try their hand at the toughest game in town. Viewers also get a glimpse into their personal lives as they put everything into this venture, including the sanity of their family.

3. Catastrophe, Inc.

Premieres in July

When disaster strikes, it’s the first responders who save the day — but the unsung heroes of every catastrophe are the guys who clean it up.  In each episode of Catastrophe, Inc., a crew of disaster specialists rescue homes damaged by every type of devastation, including wildfires, hurricane-force winds, floods and fallen trees. From simple debris removal to full demolition, the team is there every step of the way to help families clean up, rebuild and redecorate their homes.

4. Renovation Raiders

Premieres May 30 with host Amy Matthews

Imagine leaving the house, going to dinner and coming back to a brand new space in your home. DIY Network’s Amy Matthews debuts on HGTV as the host of her newest series, Renovation Raiders.  Each week, licensed contractor Matthews raids homeowners’ houses while they’re out to dinner and pulls off a major remodel in less than four hours.  From lavish living rooms to gorgeous kitchens, the families are blown away when they come home and find their spaces transformed.

5. Renovate to Rent

Premieres June 11 with hosts Drew Levin and Danny Perkins

Real estate agent Drew Levin and his partner, licensed contractor Danny Perkins, have figured out how to make money in today’s housing market. In each episode, Drew and Danny buy old foreclosed homes, completely renovate them and rent the property for top dollar. These guys may be young, but when it’s time to sell the rental properties, they’ll be cashing out.

6. Renovation Unscripted

Premieres in June with hosts Heather Tom and James Achor (pictured above)

Emmy award-winning actress and soap opera star Heather Tom, and her musician husband James, are both drawn to renovation and design. Whether it’s a diamond in the rough or a grand design plan with a small budget, these two can’t say no.  Throughout the series, Heather and James bring their extensive renovation and design expertise to the table to create unique spaces all over Los Angeles.  When all the unexpected problems are resolved and the projects are complete, the spaces are true award winners.

7. Staged to Perfection

Premieres June 1 with host Meridith Baer

In Staged to Perfection, Los Angeles-based designer Meridith Baer, owner of the largest home-staging company in the world, and her team of 18 designers stage luxury properties that have stalled on the market. With her exquisite style, a 90,000 square-foot warehouse filled with decorative pieces ranging from priceless antiques to flea market finds and five moving crews, Meridith transforms each client’s empty home to look its absolute best in hopes it will sell at top market value.

8. Power Broker

Premieres July 23 with hosts Mike Aubrey and Juan Barbieri

Real estate expert Mike Aubrey and general contractor Juan Barbieri help homeowners get their new home at a dream price in HGTV’s Power Broker. In each episode, Mike tours several fixer-uppers, foreclosures and short-sales with his clients and shows them the best buying strategies to get a great deal, while Juan develops a unique floor plan and design for the newly purchased home with a limited budget. With the money saved by purchasing a place that needs some work, the new homeowners can turn their fixer-upper into a dream home.

9. HGTV Star

Premieres June 9 with hosts David Bromstad, Genevieve Gorder, Sabrina Soto and Vern Yip

HGTV Star offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an undiscovered virtuoso to win his or her own show on HGTV. Each week host and mentor David Bromstad oversees the competitors as they participate in unexpected creative challenges to showcase their talents. One by one, the finalists are voted out of the competition by a panel of expert judges — Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and (new host) Sabrina Soto — until one winner stands victorious.

What do you think of the new shows? Will you be tuning in to check any of them out? I’m probably most excited to see how they’ve retooled Design Star. Here’s hoping the changes are good ones! -Julia

Hooked on HGTV? Check out these popular posts:

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• You Can Win the HGTV Smart Home 2013
• Is Love It or List It Fake?
• What It Was Like to be on House Hunters
• What Happened to Ahmed Hassan on Yard Crashers?
• All About Sarah Richardson and Sarah’s House
• All About Candice Olson and her Divine Designs

Before it was renovated, this 1920s bungalow in Seattle was looking pretty pitiful. Meredith of Heaton Dainard Real Estate wrote me about its remodel, saying, “It was featured in the Northwest Green Home Tour and we had dozens of neighbors come by to thank us for what we did to the home. It had been the ‘house in despair’ on the block.”

Here’s how the house looked when renovations were underway…

Now, after its very modern and “green” remodel is complete, it’s almost unrecognizable as the same house:

I think my eyes actually “popped” when I saw the new exterior. I didn’t expect that at all. The orange was a bold choice, for sure.

They completely renovated and staged the house for resale, and it’s on the market for $799,900.

The listing says: “Limelite Development LLC brings another rare & beautiful example of a well built home that meets the highest of environmental standards.”

The family room has built-ins and a cool custom sliding door to home office.

“Open main floor features professional kitchen with energy efficient appliances, quartz counters & Bellmont cabinetry.”

I’m really digging the green tile in the kitchen.

Meredith says, “We loved this project. We worked really hard to bring the sunlight in, which is so important in Seattle. You can see it’s pretty bright in this home–we opened up a lot of the windows and added skylights in the stairway.”

The upper level has a master suite and two additional bedrooms with a bath.

I’ve never been to Seattle, but my BFF Beth lives there now and I hope to visit someday. She assures me that it’s not nearly as rainy, cold, and dismal as they made it look in The Killing.

Check out those city views:

The lower level is fully finished, and there’s a detached garage in back. For more photos and information about the property, visit Heaton Dainard. (Thanks to Meredith for sharing it with us!)

Hooked on Before & Afters? You’ve gotta see how this one turned out:

Here’s the house I’m daydreaming over today: a sprawling shingled home on over 11 acres of Kiawah Island in South Carolina. It was featured in Architectural Digest a few years ago and is now on the market for $18 million. Take a look…

The agent says, “This property’s singular character is achieved by the graceful balance of exacting features and easy Carolina Lowcountry charm. Its setting is made up of mature live oaks, leafy palmettos, and tall pines amid the sea grasses of the Stono Inlet and Kiawah River.”

The house was built in 2005 with weathered red cedar shingle and shake, along with handmade “Savannah Grey” brick.

It was designed by architectural firm Shope Reno Wharton of Norwalk, Connecticut, and decorated by Jacquelynne P. Lanham Designs of Atlanta.

Love this room and the other spaces the house has that take full advantage of the great light and gorgeous views:

After I saw this kitchen, I suddenly had the urge to buy lots of green glass bottles for mine.

There are 7 bedrooms…

…and 9 baths.

A sunroom with a brick floor:

A huge covered deck with marsh views:

“Lush landscaped gardens, designed and realized by Oehme van Sweden of Washington, D.C., transition to sunwashed, ever-changing marshgrasses and a generous private boat dock at Kiawah’s westernmost tip. The extensive 11.7-acre grounds include two additional homesites.”

The listing describes Kiawah as “a romantic sea island near historic Charleston.” This photo of the marshland and dock appeared in Architectural Digest, and you can read the entire article here. (AD photos by Ken Hayden.)

For more photos and information about the property, visit Kiawah Island Real Estate or take the video tour:

Hooked on Waterfront Properties? Click here to see more, including…

A Lake House in Alabama

Grogley Farm is home to the mural artist Janet Shearer, who lives in a converted barn on the property. You can rent this “typical Cornish farmhouse in the Ruthern Valley,” which dates back to the 18th century, and take painting lessons in her nearby studio. Doesn’t this look like a lovely spot to spend an artist’s holiday?

The artist-owner painted a trompe l’oeil cat in one of the bathrooms–looks real, doesn’t he?

The house sleeps seven.

I especially like the kitchen with its big farmhouse table:

Any artists out there? To learn more about Janet Shearer and her painting workshops, visit her website.

For more photos and information about the property, visit Unique Home Stays, a site I spend way too much time on…

 I love looking at properties in Cornwall and have featured several of them, including…

The Cornish Beach Cottage Used in the Demi Moore Movie Half-Light

After I showed you an historic house in Vermont that Michael J. Fox once owned, a couple of you asked why some celebrities move so often. Designer Cliff Fong says, “Ellen DeGeneres has moved more times than any person I know.” When Elle Decor featured the horse ranch she shares with wife Portia de Rossi in Santa Monica, they asked her about it, and here’s what she said…

“I can only change the furniture so much and I get bored,” Ellen explained. “Then I need a new structure to work on.” She insisted that it’s not about “flipping” houses, but the creative challenge each house brings.

This unusual property came with multiple buildings on it, including 8 cabins and 2 barns. They decorated each of the cabins to have a different mood, from “very much like Belgium” to “more contemporary.”

Ellen told the mag she was going for “a feeling of country and yet a relaxed sophistication.” Portia adds, “Ellen likes things to be a little more natural and rustic.”

The 26-acre Hidden Valley property was owned by the actor William Powell back in the 1920s. By the time they bought it, it had become a run-down professional horse facility that needed a lot of work.

There are two old barns on the property that are “the heart of the ranch.” The all-white “Art Barn” serves as a living and dining area:

They love animals, including horses. Portia has one she named Maeby after her daughter on Arrested Development.

I loved that show and can’t wait for the new episodes to stream on Netflix at the end of May. I’m re-watching the old episodes right now to get ready for the Bluths’ return, and they still make me laugh just as hard as the first time I saw them.

I also love Ellen’s show and DVR it every day. Some readers have submitted my Bad Real Estate photos to her over the years that she’s featured, and it’s always fun to see her talking about them.

On her show this week she mentioned the wildfires in California and how her farm became the firefighters’ headquarters so they’d have a place to sleep and eat and shower.

Check out the article in Elle Decor to read the story written by Ian Phillips and see the rest of the photos by William Abranowicz.

Hooked on Celebrity Houses? Click here to see more, including…

The house Ellen’s pal Matthew Perry just sold in L.A.

Welcome to Cari’s newly remodeled kitchen. When she submitted these photos for my contest, she wrote that the kitchen took almost 3 years to rebuild and they thought they’d never finish it: “It was a true labor of love. I must admit now that we are almost done I will miss working on it. It brought our family even closer together.”

Cari says, “I love the fact that we can all migrate as a family so freely around the kitchen without being cramped at all. It’s turned into the hub of the home, which is exactly what we wanted.”

She says that the house isn’t as big as you’d think after seeing photos of the kitchen: “It is not a huge house at all. Instead of adding on, we paid attention to the details and worked with the space we had, bringing walls down.”

“I love the morning light and the light that it receives throughout the day. Also, we are all able to cook together as a family with a great flow. I also love the fact that everything has its own place so it is easy to put things away, and know where all your kitchen things are without hesitation.”

“I’m so glad we chose (after much hesitation) to have a white kitchen. I know now we made the right choice!”

“I feel very blessed that we were able to build this kitchen for our family to have memories in and enjoy together.”

She also sent me some photos of her newly remodeled bathrooms, and I thought you might like to see them, too.

Thanks, Cari! Believe it or not, we’re coming to the end of the kitchen contest. I only have one or two left to show you. You can see all the entries on a page I created for them here. As always, thanks for keeping the conversations about your fellow readers’ rooms positive and polite!

Miss any Kitchen Contest Entries? Click Here to see them all, including…

Julia’s Black & White Kitchen

This “coastal cottage” featured in Better Homes and Gardens belongs to an active family of four. They wanted to create some vintage beach style with “a fresh-squeezed color scheme,” starting with the tangerine front door…

The colors they used were inspired by the painting over the mantel.

The dining room has coral and white-striped curtains that steal the show:

Outside the dining room is a cozy built-in bench:

Although the house is clearly bigger than what you’d usually think of as a cottage, they were aiming for that kind of charm and style in the rooms.

Visit BHG for all the photos and details.

The house looks so bright and cheery, doesn’t it? It’s been rainy and cool here in Ohio–wish we could get some of that warmth and sunshine today! -Julia

P.S. Hooked on Coastal Cottage Style? Check this out:

This three-story Victorian with a wide front porch is the kind of house I brake for when I’m driving through a neighborhood. Built in the 1860s, it’s on the market for $729,000 in Terrace Park, a scenic village known for its beautiful older homes in Ohio–take a look! 

I’d spend my summers on this porch. Love it.

The house seems to have great bones, and it doesn’t look as “fussy” as some Victorians tend to be. Wouldn’t it be fun to decorate?

There are 6 bedrooms and 3 baths.

I grew up in a neighborhood full of old houses and a lot of them had second-story “sleeping porches” like this one–and I always wished we had one, too.

The third floor:

I got to go on a neighborhood home tour in Terrace Park a few years ago and a tour guide told us that the servants often lived on the top floors of houses like this. She said, “Just imagine how warm it got up there in the middle of summer without air conditioning or, in some cases, windows that opened.”

The kitchen has been updated but still looks like it belongs in an older home. I’m always relieved when I see one like this that hasn’t been modernized with acres of granite countertops and stainless steel.

Want it? For more photos and information, check the Coldwell Banker West Shell listing.

Click here to see more houses for sale, including…

An Ohio Victorian in Clifton’s Gaslight District

Christina Aguilera has reportedly purchased this 11,000 square-foot, $10-million mansion in Beverly Hills. The listing says, “Situated on a double lot behind the gates of Mulholland Estates, it’s an exceptional Mediterranean designed by Hablinski-Manion.”

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Adrienne Maloof recently rented the house, reportedly paying $20,000/month in rent.

The exclusive Mulholland Estates community is home to other celebs like Charlie Sheen and Paris Hilton. The monthly HOA dues alone are $2,000.

The kitchen is massive. If the one in her former home is any indication, she’ll be giving this one a major makeover. She seems to like things a lot more colorful and whimsical than this.

There are 6 bedrooms and 8 baths.

The property includes a “saltwater pool and spa, bathhouse, gazebo, and built-in BBQ.” You can see the rest of the photos in the listing on Redfin.

It’ll be interesting to see if she transforms this house like she did her last one. Remember how she gave Ozzy and Sharon Osbournes’ former home a (major) makeover? You can see the before and after pics of that one here:

Hooked on Celebrity Real Estate? Click here to see more!