HGTV Stars Depict Living the Dream in Small Mississippi Town

Ben Napier and Erin Napier attend the 56th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 9, 2022. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

“Home Town” TV show stars Ben and Erin Napier are living the dream in Mississippi and want others to know the truth about residing in a small town.

In their Laurel, Mississippi, home, the couple are raising a family and restoring historic houses with found materials and old textiles.

“People just have it in their mind what it is to live in a small town and what it isn’t,” Erin Napier told Fox News on Dec. 19. “I hope that the more you watch ‘Home Town,’ the more you see that you can live the dream.”

Home & Garden TV (HGTV) premiered “Home Town” in 2016 and will launch its eighth season on Dec. 29. Ben is a former church minister turned woodworker and entrepreneur and his wife is a designer and entrepreneur. Together, they own Laurel Mercantile Co.

“You can have your hot sauce and salsa farm in the middle of town, and you can build a school for children who are underserved,” Erin said. “You can do anything in a small town and that’s the story that’s so fun to tell for us.”

In addition to a business and TV show, Erin and Ben share two daughters: Helen, 6, and Mae, 3.

On her Instagram account, Erin posted photos of her husband and Helen holding vegetables.

“I’m into fall and winter gardens,” she wrote on Dec. 19 while also promoting a planting calendar.

“We’ve never been parents before,“ Erin added. ”We’re still learning every single day. Learning how to do our jobs well and be the best parents possible is always the biggest challenge.”

The U.S. Census Bureau determined that some 17,000 people live in Laurel. Celebrities such as Lance Bass, Leontyne Price, and Parker Posey were born there and Realtor.com lists the median home price at $205,000.

“The Napiers’ depiction resonates because it captures both the charm and the substance of small-town life,” financial planner Tyler Meyer told The Epoch Times on Dec. 20.

Meyer lives in Kingman, Kansas, which is also a small town consisting of some 2,890 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“It’s the kind of place where you feel safe, your kids can roam freely, and neighbors are genuinely invested in each other’s lives,” Meyer added. “I get an immense amount of joy watching all the neighborhood kids congregate in my back yard to play a football game.”

Alyson Austin, 56, who recently relocated from San Diego to Wells, Maine, and watches “Home Town” faithfully, said that by living in Laurel, Ben and Erin Napier are shedding light on the beauty of community, tradition, and a more relaxed way of living.

“The way they have revitalized Laurel truly showcases what makes towns in America so special,” Austin told The Epoch Times on Dec. 20. “It reminds me of my experience here in Wells, Maine, where connections run deep and unexpected reunions are always heartwarming—like bumping into my aunt at the post office, which would be rare in a city like San Diego.”

Nearly 12,000 people live in Wells, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In the first six episodes of the eighth season, viewers will watch the couple tear down a house they’ve deemed irreparable.

“That’s big,” Ben Napier said. “I mean, we’re going to tear down a house. There is a house that we thought we could fix.”

Laurel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic homes were built in Laurel between 1899 and 1910 during the city’s timber era, which began in 1893 and ended in about 1937.

“Houses in such locations may be older with underlying structural issues, obsolete systems, or even environmental hazards that one can’t fathom,” Florida realtor Alexei Morgado told The Epoch Times on Dec. 20. “Small-town markets can periodically draw in purchasers looking for low-cost houses, however, these purchasers frequently grossly miscalculate the actual cost of the necessary repairs.”

For most home buyers it is advisable to request an inspection especially on older houses.

“A bad foundation, particularly if it is a slab, is the most likely item that would result in a house actually needing to be torn down but I have seen a lot of bad foundations be fixed over the years that didn’t result in a teardown,” Houston-based Brilliant Day Homes owner Kevin Bazazzadeh told The Epoch Times on Dec. 20.

Demolition, however, can be costly.

For example, in small towns, demolition can cost up to $25,000 and that’s not including disposal fees, environmental requirements, and the price of municipal permits, environmental assessments, and utility disconnections, according to Owncondo managing partner Kenneth Yim.

“Small-town regulations can actually be stricter than cities regarding demolition, especially in historic areas,” Yim told The Epoch Times on Dec. 20. “Always get a comprehensive inspection before purchasing. Bring a contractor to viewings to spot potential issues early. Research local building codes and permit requirements carefully.”