The 2025 HGTV Smart Home has a brand new owner, and her story will tug at your heart.
HGTV just put up an Instagram post announcing Cathy Everts as the new owner of the $1.1 million dollar prize package. And that news comes as a huge bright spot for Everts, who has been navigating a challenging few years.
In the video, Smart Home designer and general contractor Poonam Moore tells us Cathy is a “retired small business owner, mother and grandmother.”
While Cathy lives in Idaho, Poonam traveled to Victorville, California to surprise Cathy with the news that she won. Cathy lives near her son and his family in Idaho, but has been spending most of her time lately in California taking care of her ailing 92-year-old mother.
And that’s just one of the struggles Cathy has faced in recent years. She lost her beloved husband to cancer in 2020.
In fact, after all those challenges, Cathy had a tough time believing something good was happening to her!
Smart Home Surprise: Here’s How It Happened
In the Instagram video, we see Poonam Moore enlisting the help of Cathy’s son Drew.
Since Drew travels regularly for work, he told his mom that he’d be near her in California and would stop by for a visit.
HGTV outfitted his car with a camera to catch every moment as he drove to pick up his mom and take her to lunch.
Drew told Poonam, “We lost my dad, it’s been five years now. She’s been trying to recover from that. It’s been challenging and now her mom’s going through what she’s going through now. I think it’s going to be helpful for her mentally. What a blessing.”
After Drew and Cathy arrive at the restaurant, Poonam comes to the table to present the specials, which are pictures of the 2025 Smart Home in San Antonio, Texas.
When Poonam delivers the news that Cathy has won, she reaches for her son, saying, “No, I’m gonna fall over.”
Then Cathy reveals, “My husband is buried in Texas and I have wanted to go back there, so this is awesome.”
Cathy Everts Says She Had a Feeling She Would Win
Believe it or not, winning the 2025 HGTV Smart Home isn’t a total surprise to Cathy.
According to an HGTV press release, Cathy had a feeling she was going to win at some point. Cathy told HGTV, “My God gut told me I was going to win a few years ago … my God gut is 99.9% as long as I don’t overthink it. So when I didn’t win that year, I said ‘I’ll just see what happens.’”
Even more amazing, Cathy and her late husband Dan moved to Texas to retire before he was diagnosed with cancer. Cathy left their Texas dream behind to be closer to her son in Idaho after Dan died, but felt the tug to return and live out their dream.
Fighting back tears, she told HGTV that she was always, “planning to go back there … this is a God thing. He knows I was struggling since Dan died.”
Cathy’s New Home Comes With Loads of Extras
Cathy Everts gets more than just the keys to the 3,000 square foot home. She’s also won a new 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC Plug-In Hybrid SUV, and $100,000 cash.
And her new home is jam-packed with special features.
In a press release, HGTV says “this stunning renovation merges nostalgic charm with a sporty, high-tech twist. Designed for indoor-outdoor living, the open concept home spans over 3,000 square feet, featuring three luxurious bedrooms, three spa-inspired bathrooms, and creative outdoor spaces like the relaxing balcony.”
The home promises to be a sports enthusiast’s paradise. The press release specifies features including a “private basketball court, a sports-inspired media lounge, multiple gaming consoles, and a refreshing cold plunge. The house is full of smart features and solutions for effortless entertaining.”
