Palin House:Sarah Palin’s House Built For Free?
By Dylan on Oct 13, 2008 in US News | | |
Palin House:Sarah Palin’s House Built For Free? - Palin house is the drama of the day.The Palin family has a house worth $552,000 that is causing a bit of controversy. Palin house is located at Lake Lucille.It is a two-story, four bedroom, four bath home and “Todd Palin said that he built the house with friends who were contractors.”But reports claim that the house was actually built by the Spenard Builders Supply that was hired for the $12.5 million Wasilla Sports Complex.To make a long story short Palin made Spenard Builders Supply build her house in order for them to obtain the big Sports Complex contract.
That’s all we have for now on Palin House:Sarah Palin’s House Built For Free?
Cazador | Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
According to the tax returns released by the Palins, they paid $10,203 in mortgage interest in 2007. Based on the average interest rates for 30-yr and 15-yr fixed-rate mortgages in 2002 (www.hsh.com/natmo2002.html), the principle at its origination would have been approximately $165,000 and $220,000, respectively. As their house is now worth $552,000, the Palins sure have “built” a lot of equity in 5 years.
jake | Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
I would like to have my house built for free. I built my house and the bank that loaned me the money requiried completion records and records of inspection. She is defintly using her power to skate around the system. What are her payments?
Grace Barella | Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
A list of subcontractors on the [sports complex] job, obtained by the Voice, includes many with Palin ties. One was Spenard Builders Supply, the state’s leading supplier of wood, floor, roof, and other “pre-engineered components.” In addition to being a sponsor of Todd Palin’s snow-machine team that has earned tens of thousands for the Palin family, Spenard hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004. When the Palins began building a new family home off Lake Lucille in 2002—at the same time that Palin was running for lieutenant governor and in her final months as mayor—Spenard supplied the materials, according to Antoine Bricks, who works in its Wasilla office. Spenard actually filed a notice “of its right to assert a lien” on the deed for the Palin property after contracting for labor and materials for the site. Spenard’s name has popped up in the trial of Senator Stevens—it worked on the house that is at the center of the VECO scandal as well.
Todd Palin told Fox News that he built the two-story, 3,450-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath, wood house himself, with the help of contractors he described as “buddies.” As mayor, Sarah Palin blocked an effort to require the filing of building permits in the wide-open city, and there is no public record of who the “buddies” were. The house was built very near the complex, on a site whose city purchase led to years of unsuccessful litigation and, now, $1.3 million in additional costs, with a law firm that’s also donated to Palin collecting costly fees from the city.
Dorwin and Joanne Smith, the principals of complex subcontractor DJ Excavation & Development, have donated $7,100 to Palin and her allied candidate Charlie Fannon (Joanne is a Palin appointee on the state Board of Nursing). Sheldon Ewing, who owns another complex subcontractor, Weld Air, has donated $1,300, and PN&D, an engineering firm on the complex, has contributed $699.
Ewing was one of the few sports-complex contractors, aside from Spenard, willing to address the question of whether he worked on the house as well, but he had little to say: “I doubt that it occurred, but if it did indirectly, how would I know anyhow?” The odd timing of Palin’s house construction—it was completed two months before she left City Hall and while she and Todd Palin were campaigning statewide for the first time—raises questions, especially considering its synergy with the complex.
What an unusual situation. Giant construction contracts are being awarded to campaign contributors at the same time that “buddies” who just happen to be contractors are “helping” Todd build their two-story house. At the same time Sarah ensures there will be no public record of building permits. WTF? How is this different from the Stevens situation?
We need to know:
Who Built Sarah Palin’s House?
Susan | Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
Many people have built a lot of equity in the past few years. Also, consider the possibility that ,unlike many, they might not have borrowed every cent it took to buy the property and built the home.
I am not a republican. I am just shedding another light on the commentary. I do think the whole deal is fishy and very Stevens-like, but the appraised value relevant to the mortgage interest is not a good indicator.
Brenda an Alaskan | Oct 15, 2008 | Reply
Wasilla, Alaska does not require building permits. Housing values have doubled or more in the past two years in the Wasilla area. Alaskan’s have a culture to help their friends when they ask for help. Spenard Builder’s Supply is the largest building materials supplier in the state. They supply anything to anyone. That doesn’t mean that it’s free.
Kurt | Oct 15, 2008 | Reply
Here in Washington State, we have a Republican (Rossi)running for gov. who has close ties to the building industry. In fact, there is a lawsuit against him concerning donation agreements with them.
I think he got some sweetheart development deal after he lost 4 years ago too.
ed | Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
it must be nice to have friends who will build you a house worth 3 times what you owe on. wonder how much she was making as mayor? or did she just have $350,000.00 saved up from her piggy bank.
sick of it ... | Oct 18, 2008 | Reply
wow … $552,000 appraised value. Is that all? Didn’t I hear something about Barack Obama getting something like $1.4 million dollars from Freddie and/or Fannie? What is his house worth? And being a mere servant of the people, how does he afford it? It would be nice if politicians didn’t use “favors” to get what they want/need, but that is not reality and I think there are bigger fish to fry. Maybe Palin should have built something a little more grandiose, and really given muck rackers something to spead.
Dazed and Confused | Oct 21, 2008 | Reply
She is as guilty of this as she is of Troopergate. If you want to advocate for her you are just as guilty as she is. How can people actually respect someone who has done the outright disrespectful and deliberate things that she has done? AIP is having there way in Alaska.
BS Detector | Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
And a $150,000.00 shopping spree from the RNC too.
That $500 haircut that John Edwards got looks inexpensive now, huh?
MrPriest | Oct 23, 2008 | Reply
OK, here’s how building a house works, I built my own so I have some idea about costs. As a general rule it costs double when you have to have a contractor build it for you. If your house costs $200,000 in materials and land then you will pay a contractor $400,000 to build it for you, $200,000 in materials/land plus $200,000 in Contractor labor = $400,000. Your house will then be worth roughly $450,000+, as a general rule depending on location.
If you can build it without using a contractor you will save the $200,000 and can add the equity $50,000+ onto that savings as well. I have contractor friends that have helped build houses for each other (including me) in their spare time, the savings are enormous and the instant equity is huge. Building a house in two weeks is not out of the norm, building a house part time could take up to a month. Either way if Todd had help from contractor friends, then it wouldn’t be abnormal to have so much equity. What his problem was, is that having his contractor friends help build his house lends the appearance of a conflict of interest. Bottom line is unless there is evidence that proves collusion (which doesn’t seem to be the case) then there isn’t anything illegal about it. Just stupidity
sick of it ... | Oct 24, 2008 | Reply
I find it hard to believe that one can condemn Sarah Palin about her home and clothes and can somehow justify the behavior (”I did not have sexual relations with that woman”) and the associations (Rev Wright for OVER 20 YEARS, among others)that some of our elected democrats have so blatantly thrown in our faces. Talk about disrespectful and deliberate.
Native Texan ! | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
If Ted Stevens has been foundguilty ….wouldh’t it be appropriate to have Sarah Palin stand trail also ???
Jeff from Seattle | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
To “sick of it…”
You asked “What is his house worth? And being a mere servant of the people, how does he afford it?”. Per Wikipedia, his house is worth 1.3 million (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Family_and_personal_life)…. but he didn’t pay cash for it and still carries a mortgage. As far as how he could afford it as a ‘mere servant of the people’, you’re ‘forgetting’ that he is also a successful author, and his wife has a great job as too. You’ll have to look elsewhere for your conspiracy.
PS - after leaving his post leading the Harvard Review, he could have picked from a wide variety of 6 figure jobs. Instead he chose to work to improve his community. Don’t fault the man for trying to be part of the solution.
Rick Cain | Oct 28, 2008 | Reply
Well on the good side, Palin only has ONE house.
Maybe if she gets in trouble for this one, she can rent one of McCain’s 7 houses.
Reba Fehey | Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
I hope Gov Palin will soon be on her way home to Alaska to live in her “little” house and figure out that she just couldn’t bamboozle the American people. I just heard her comments to CNN where she says she wants to work with President elect Obama on energy issues in the next administration…..I hope he will say no thank you to her offer - there are probably many problems attached to any offer she makes after the personal attacks she made during the campaign. Good luck Alaska.
Pal | Nov 5, 2008 | Reply
I think she’ll take over Steven’s house once he’s in jail. And I think she’ll take over Steven’s job as well. Can she appoint herself to the Senate? Hide and watch. Bet she tries!
diane | Nov 7, 2008 | Reply
This is what I am wondering also this sounds worse than the stevens case
Waterdog | Nov 8, 2008 | Reply
Alaska for the good of all Americans and Alsaka. Please, get to the bottom of all Sarah Palin’s lies and half truths, we as a country do not need the distraction of her running again in 4 years. Please not again. With us all having to witness,her using the “attack dog” approach she seems to relish on the most qualified, this because she can not compete on the issues and qualifications, so she scares the less informed to elect the wrong person.There is something very,very wrong with this woman’s thought process…Best of luck Alaska….
Marcus | Nov 9, 2008 | Reply
You are right Brenda.I’m from rural North Carolina and we do the same here. My friends helped me build my house and I helped helped build theirs. It’s a cultural thing they just don’t understand. They think everyone is on the take.
Robin | Nov 9, 2008 | Reply
Wow, that house would fit in Obama’s garage. She should have contacted Barak’s real estate buddy Tony Rezko. He got a sweet deal for Obama. Oh, thats right, he’s in jail.
Charlie | Nov 13, 2008 | Reply
If it quacks like one walks like one it is one. Come on guys, she is an expert opportunist. Most people who have hepled her career, have been bowled over or screwed over by her including McCain, she started running for 2012 two weeks into the campaign (remember her comments about Michigan) and anyone else who stands in the way of her rise to power. The power who she believes is her destiny. Queen Sarah will not stop until she is in the White house or in ruins by her own hand. The latter of which I believe will be her destiny. Someone she stepped on or who she will step on, is going to blow the whislte on her. And then her house of cards built illegaly or unethically will fold.
Tate | Nov 17, 2008 | Reply
I noticed in the interview with Matt Lauer, the glass banisters/railings in her kitchen, stairway, and loft area ….. look like those used in a sports complex? I’m just sayin’….
howIroll | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
There are 2 mortgages on the house according to records: 1 for $245,00 and 1 for $94,000.00. Spendards is the largest building supply house in town and they definitely have the best prices. Nearly everyone gets their construction supplies there, and more than half the people I know here build their own houses with help from friends.