Two San Diego Country Estates Homes Featured on HGTV's Ugliest House in America
SDCE is taking the national spotlight by storm, with two of its most unforgettable homes landing on HGTV’s Ugliest House in America—and one now in the running for the ultimate $150,000 makeover.
San Diego Country Estates is getting national attention after not one, but two neighborhood homes were featured on HGTV's Ugliest House in America Season 8.
While one Estates home owned by Claudia Iniguez has advanced to being a West Coast finalist, another unique property owned by Jon and Tyme Cook was featured, giving viewers a glimpse inside one of the community's most distinctive homes.
The Cooks, who moved to San Diego Country Estates in December 2024, never expected their home to end up on national television.
"We're transplants," said Jon Cook. "I'm from Seattle, and Tyme is from New Jersey."
The opportunity came unexpectedly after HGTV reached out about the property. According to the Cooks, the previous owners had submitted the home for consideration before it was sold. The show's casting team contacted their real estate agent, Addie Jacobs, who then forwarded the request to the new homeowners.
"The house was already on their radar," Jon explained. "They initially reached out for Season 7, but we ended up filming for Season 8."
Filming took place during the first week of April 2026, with the crew spending approximately 12 hours at the home to create a segment that lasted only about 10 minutes on television. Their home appeared in Season 8, Episode 2, titled “The West Coast Gets Ugly.” It premiered on July 27, 2026.
Although the Cooks knew their home's eclectic style made it memorable, they didn't expect it to be on the show.
"Our house is unique," Tyme said. She knew they probably wouldn't make the cut because their house isn't really ugly.
One of the highlights of the experience was meeting comedian Retta, who hosts the popular HGTV series.
"She's fun," Jon said. "I can see why she's the host. She's quick on her feet and very funny."
Tyme also praised the production team for making the experience enjoyable.
"The HGTV crew was very gracious and professional," she said. "They kept us informed about the day's schedule, when lunch would be, and when Retta would arrive. They set up in our garage and checked in with us throughout the day. The whole experience was fun and lighthearted."
The Cooks said they enjoyed seeing their distinctive home showcased on national television and appreciated how genuine the show's reactions were.
Meanwhile, another San Diego Country Estates property has captured the attention of viewers. Claudia Iniguez’ famously green, 1970s-inspired condominium has advanced to being a West Coast finalist, where it will compete against three other regional winners for the title of America's Ugliest House.
The home's floor-to-ceiling green décor and retro wallpaper have become one of the season's most talked-about designs, even appearing in promotional artwork for Season 8. It is a strong contender because much of its dated appearance appears to be cosmetic, creating the potential for a dramatic before-and-after renovation.
Claudia Iniguez, SDCE resident of 35 years, bought the condo six years ago in 2020 right before the pandemic. “We closed on the Friday before the pandemic,” says Iniguez. “All of the stores closed the following Monday.” She says that buying the condo right before the pandemic was a blessing because there was so much light in the condo and the green color made it enjoyable for her family to stay inside during the pandemic.
When she bought the condo, it came all furnished. HGTV contacted Claudia to be on the show after she bought the condo, but then the pandemic occurred so filming had to stop because the crews couldn’t go inside of people’s homes during this time.
Claudia’s favorite part about the experience was when Retta was inside her home in the kitchen and they were looking at the trash compactor. “I honestly had never pressed the button, and it worked,” Claudia said.
Hosted by Retta, Ugliest House in America follows homeowners who nominate their own homes for their unusual, outdated, or unconventional features. Designer Alison Victoria awards the overall winner a $150,000 renovation, transforming the winning property into a dream home.
With two homes from San Diego Country Estates featured during the same season, the community has found itself in the national spotlight, showcasing that sometimes the most unforgettable homes are the ones with the most personality.
Photos courtesy of Claudia Iniguez, Jon and Tyme Cook.
