A Florida retiree is getting a life-changing surprise after winning one of HGTV’s biggest annual home giveaways.
Karen Hiers, 77, of Jacksonville, Florida, has been named the winner of the HGTV Smart Home 2026 sweepstakes, taking home a grand-prize package valued at more than $1.3 million.
The prize includes a fully furnished, 3,000-square-foot smart home in Orlando, Florida, plus $100,000 in cash. The home was designed by 100-Day Dream Home hosts Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt.
For Hiers, the win came after years of entering HGTV giveaways and a routine that eventually paid off in a very big way. Here’s a closer look inside the home and what it features.
Who is Karen Hiers, the HGTV Smart Home 2026 winner?
Hiers is a retired high school substitute teacher who has lived in Jacksonville with her husband, Bill, for decades. The couple has been married for 55 years and has two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Her hobbies include quilting, gardening and refurbishing furniture with Bill, with Hiers often adding the finishing touches by staining and painting their projects.
The Orlando location also makes the prize particularly fitting for the Florida couple. Their new home is only about two hours from Jacksonville, keeping them relatively close to family and the life they already know.
For Hiers, entering HGTV’s sweepstakes had become a daily ritual long before she ever imagined winning. She entered the HGTV Smart Home giveaway twice a day throughout the sweepstakes period, sticking with the routine she had followed for years.
This time, her persistence paid off in a big way. Hiers was randomly selected from more than 75 million entries, turning her everyday habit into a life-changing prize package.
How much money is the HGTV Smart Home 2026 worth?
For Hiers, the news that she had won was almost too good to be true.
When the email arrived notifying her that she was the winner of the HGTV Smart Home 2026 sweepstakes, her first thought was that it could be a scam. She turned to to help verify the message before allowing herself to believe the news.
Even after they confirmed the email was legitimate, the reality of the win didn’t sink in right away.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” Hiers said.
After years of entering HGTV giveaways, Hiers suddenly found herself the winner of the fully furnished Florida home and $100,000 in cash, a prize worth more than $1.3 million.
What does the HGTV Smart Home 2026 look like? Where is it located?
Hiers’ new home is a 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom property in Orlando designed by Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt.
The design blends smart-home technology with a relaxed Florida resort aesthetic. Inside, the home features soft neutral colors, rattan accents, breezy textures and airy linen, creating a look inspired by Florida’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
What are some key features inside the 2026 HGTV Smart Home?
The HGTV Smart Home 2026 isn’t just about its resort-style backyard. Inside, the home is packed with spaces designed for entertainment, relaxing and spending time with family.
One of the standout features is the upstairs game room, complete with a multi-sport simulator that brings the feel of the game right into the house. Downstairs, a dedicated lounge features a multi-screen entertainment setup, creating the perfect spot for game days, movie nights or simply kicking back with family and friends.
The home’s open-concept living spaces add to the easygoing Florida feel, with plenty of room for gathering while still creating comfortable spaces to relax.
Together, the smart technology, entertainment features and breezy Florida-inspired design give the home a distinctly vacation-at-home feel without ever having to leave Orlando.
Take a look inside HGTV’s latest home giveaway located in Orlando, Florida
HGTV Smart Home 2026 features a ‘resort-style backyard’
The outdoor space is designed to feel more like a private vacation destination than an ordinary backyard.
Among the standout features are:
The result is a home built as much for Florida outdoor living as it is for everyday life.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Retired Jacksonville teacher wins $1.3M HGTV home after entering daily
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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By Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
