Scammed HGTV Host Wins House

The star of HGTV's Rehab Addict Rescue has won a dispute with Detroit over ownership of a blighted home. Nicole Curtis said she spent at least $60,000 to start fixing up the home after buying it from a couple for $17,000. But the Detroit Land Bank Authority stepped forward and said it was the actual legal owner. Wayne County Judge Tim Kenny ruled in Curtis' favor, the AP reports, saying her renovation group had recorded a title to the property before the Land Bank did. Kenny told Curtis to complete the renovation and reduce the risk to the public.

Curtis’ Detroit Renovations LLC apparently didn’t know that the house had returned to the Land Bank's control after the previous owners failed to fixed it up. Mayor Mike Duggan has said Curtis was "scammed" by people who didn't legally own the property. After the court ruling, the mayor called to congratulate her. "As far as we are concerned, the matter is resolved," Duggan spokesman John Roach said. Curtis' attorney declined to comment; Curtis intended to spend $500,000 to revive the property. The Land Bank "considers the matter resolved," spokeswoman Alyssa Strickland said. "Our goal for this property has always been to see it renovated and returned to productive use."

(More HGTV stories.)