Montgomery Family Moves Into Their “Extreme Makeover” House

The Montgomery family of Philo spent Wednesday night in their new home --- courtesy of the TV show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition", and a host of local volunteers and businesses.

Local businesspeople bringing housewarming gifts applauded Wednesday, as Ed Brady of Brady Homes handed over the keys to Nathan and Jenny Montgomery's new home in Philo, with the words, "These are yours.". In just one week, construction crews and volunteers tore down the Montgomery's crumbling old house and built a brand new one. Nathan Montgomery says her youngest daughter summed up their feelings of excitement and disbelief as they saw the house for the first time on Tuesday.

"I think Lily was saying as we walked up the steps, she just kept repeating, 'this is real, this is real'", says Montgomery. "And I am catching myself reminding myself of that --- and I'm sure we will for awhile --- this is really our house."

Nathan and Jenny Montgomery says they can't say thank-you enough for the house, as well as the outpouring of community support for both them and Salt and Light Ministry, the faith-based charity that Nathan Montgomery founded. And the attention has also been good for Philo, a village of about 1300 people in southeast Champaign County. Mayor Craig Eckert says the Extreme Makeover producers told him Philo should expect more visitors as news about the Montgomery's new house gets around.

Eckert says the visitors are welcome. "Certainly as mayor, we love when people spend some of their money here in the community," says Mayor Eckert. "But it's going to highlight our town, and we're real proud of our community. And the Montgomery's just add to an already really wonderful place

The Montgomery family spent most of Wednesday filming segments inside their new house for the Extreme Makeover show about them that airs October 25th on ABC.