The 2025 television season of HGTV’s hit series Home Town (Season 9) premiered on January 5, 2025, featuring home restoration experts Ben and Erin Napier as they revitalized historic residential properties across Laurel, Mississippi. Alongside the flagship series, the 2025 broadcast calendar highlighted Home Town Takeover Season 3 in Sebring, Florida. All episodes are available on HGTV, Max, and Discovery+.
Overview of the 2025 Home Town Broadcast and Franchise Expansion
HGTV’s premier home restoration franchise experienced significant growth during its 2025 programming cycle. Centered around the charm and architectural heritage of small-town America, Home Town continues to be one of the highest-rated unscripted home renovation broadcasts on cable television and streaming platforms.
The flagship series, hosted by husband-and-wife team Ben and Erin Napier, originally debuted in 2017. Over nearly a decade of production, the franchise has expanded beyond individual residential renovations in Laurel, Mississippi, into large-scale community restoration projects across the United States. The 2025 calendar marked a double milestone: the premiere of Home Town Season 9 and the nationwide broadcast of Home Town Takeover Season 3.
| Flagship: Home Town Season 9 | Spin-Off: Takeover Season 3 |
|---|---|
| Focus: Historic Homes in Laurel, MS | Focus: Sebring, Florida Town |
| Hosts: Ben & Erin Napier | Hosts: Napiers & Marrses |
Season 9 Launch and Laurel, Mississippi Focus
Season 9 of Home Town kicked off its official broadcast schedule on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Production for this season took place throughout late 2024, focusing heavily on Craftsman bungalows, Victorian cottages, and Mid-Century Modern homes located within the historic districts of Laurel.
Unlike standard home flipping shows that prioritize rapid demolition and modern structural overhauls, the 2025 season maintained the show's signature commitment to historical accuracy, adaptive reuse, and budget-conscious design. The Napiers worked directly with lifelong local residents, young families relocating to Jones County, and small business owners to preserve the unique architectural fabric of South Mississippi.
Home Town Takeover Season 3 in Sebring, Florida
In addition to the localized projects in Laurel, HGTV expanded the scope of the Home Town universe in 2025 with the broadcast of Home Town Takeover Season 3. Following successful full-town renovations in Wetumpka, Alabama (Season 1) and Fort Morgan, Colorado (Season 2), the network selected Sebring, Florida, for its 2025 initiative.
Located in Highlands County, Sebring presented a unique historical landscape featuring a circular downtown design (the "Circle Historic District") listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For Season 3, Ben and Erin Napier joined forces with fellow HGTV renovators Dave and Jenny Marrs (Fixer to Fabulous) to undertake an ambitious municipal effort:
- Restoring historical commercial storefronts surrounding the central downtown circle.
- Upgrading community gathering spots, public parks, and local landmarks.
- Executing full exterior and interior residential overhauls for local civic leaders and community volunteers.
Key Episodes, Architectural Styles, and Design Philosophies
The 2025 season of Home Town emphasized historical preservation techniques tailored to Southern coastal and piney-woods architecture. Each episode approached home renovation as an act of historic conservation rather than modern replacement.
- Property Selection
- Historic Preservation Assessment
- Design & Drafting
- Erin's Color & Custom Layouts
- Custom Build
- Ben's Woodworking & Adaptive Reuse
- Final Reveal
- Furnished Historical Restoration
Historic Preservation and Small-Town Revitalization
Throughout Season 9, Ben and Erin Napier applied structural conservation strategies designed to protect historical building materials:
- Heart Pine Floor Restoration: Instead of tearing out original subfloors, historic longleaf yellow pine flooring was salvaged, planed, and re-finished using historical oil-based sealants.
- Architectural Millwork Replication: To maintain historical integrity, custom molding, baseboards, and window casings were milled to match original 19th- and early 20th-century profiles.
- Facade Conservation: Original wood siding, historic brick masonry, and decorative porch brackets were repaired using traditional carpentry rather than synthetic vinyl alternatives.
Custom Craftsmanship and Adaptive Reuse
A defining characteristic of the 2025 episodes was Ben Napier’s custom woodworking shop, where reclaimed architectural elements were repurposed into bespoke furniture pieces. Notable projects throughout Season 9 included:
- Reclaimed Timber Tables: Dining tables constructed from heart pine joists salvaged from historic Laurel textile mills and lumber yards.
- Built-in Architectural Cabinetry: Custom nook seating, library shelving, and kitchen pantries designed to match original home footprints without sacrificing modern storage needs.
- Restored Stained Glass: Re-leading and framing historic stained glass transom windows discovered behind drywall during structural demolition.
Cast and Production Team Updates
The success of the 2025 Home Town television lineup relies on a core group of design professionals, contractors, and local artisans operating under production management by RTR Media.
| Production & Creative Team | Role / Details |
|---|---|
| Ben Napier | Master Woodworker, Historic Carpentry Lead |
| Erin Napier | Lead Designer, Graphic Artist, Colorist |
| Jim & Mallorie | Business Partners & Artisans (Scotsman Co.) |
| Production Co. | RTR Media (for HGTV / Warner Bros. Discovery) |
Ben and Erin Napier’s Creative Roles
- Ben Napier: Focuses on structural framing, custom woodworking, furniture construction, and historical building research. His background in craft carpentry allows the show to incorporate custom-milled pieces in every property.
- Erin Napier: Serves as the lead designer, graphic artist, and spatial strategist. Her approach relies on historic color palettes, custom wallpaper prints, textured fabrics, and family-oriented floor plans that honor the home’s original era.
Supporting Artisans and Local Contractors
Behind the camera, the 2025 season continued to utilize local Mississippi talent and contractor networks:
- Scotsman Manufacturing & Co.: Ben Napier’s general store and woodworking facility in Laurel, which builds custom cabinetry, furniture, and countertops shown on screen.
- Local Trade Specialists: Historic plaster repair experts, stone masons, and ironworkers who provide specialized trade skills during structural restoration.
Detailed Comparison: 2025 Home Town Offerings
To understand how the various Home Town broadcasts fit into the overall network schedule in 2025, review the breakdown of flagship shows and spin-offs below:
| Feature / Metric | Home Town (Season 9) | Home Town Takeover (Season 3) | Home Town Kickstart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Location | Laurel, Mississippi | Sebring, Florida | Various U.S. Small Towns |
| Premiere Window | January 5, 2025 | Mid-2025 Broadcast | On-Demand / Library |
| Primary Hosts | Ben & Erin Napier | Ben & Erin Napier, Dave & Jenny Marrs | Rotating HGTV Hosts |
| Project Scope | Single Family Historic Homes | Entire Downtown & Community Sites | Small Business & Main St. |
| Average Budget | $50,000 – $150,000 per home | Multi-Million Dollar Community Fund | Corporate Grant-Funded |
| Episode Length | 60 Minutes (with ads) | 60 Minutes (with ads) | 60 Minutes (with ads) |
| Primary Focus | Residential Architecture | Municipal Revitalization | Local Heroes & Businesses |
How to Watch and Stream Home Town (2025 Episodes)
Viewers seeking to stream or watch Home Town Season 9 and its accompanying spin-offs have multiple options across linear cable television and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms.
- Linear Cable Broadcast (HGTV Channel)
- Live Airings (Sundays 8/7c)
- DVR Recording Options
- Digital Streaming (Max / Discovery+)
- On-Demand Episodes
- 4K / HD Ad-Free Options
Linear Cable Broadcasting
For viewers with traditional cable, satellite, or live TV streaming packages:
- Network: HGTV (Home & Garden Television)
- Broadcast Slot: Primary premier episodes aired on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central time.
- Re-air Schedule: HGTV frequently broadcasts back-to-back episode blocks during weekday afternoons and Saturday morning marathons.
Subscription Streaming Services
For cord-cutters and digital-first viewers, all 2025 episodes of Home Town were made available for streaming simultaneously with or immediately following their television broadcast:
- Max: Provides full on-demand access to Season 9 episodes, past seasons (Seasons 1–8), and spin-offs like Home Town Takeover. Subscribers can watch in high definition or 4K depending on their tier.
- Discovery+: Contains the complete streaming archive of the Home Town franchise, including exclusive behind-the-scenes content and digital extras.
- Live TV Streaming Services: Platforms such as Philo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream carry live feeds of HGTV, allowing users to watch episodes live or record them to cloud DVR systems.
How to Apply for Future Seasons: Homeowner Requirements
Homeowners interested in featuring their property on upcoming seasons of Home Town must meet strict eligibility guidelines set by the production company (RTR Media) and HGTV. Casting calls are issued periodically throughout the year.
- Location Radius: Within 20 Miles of Laurel, MS
- Property Type: Historic/Older Home Needing Repair
- Finances: Minimum Renovation Budget ($50k+)
- Availability: Vacate Property During 8-12 Wk Build
Geographic and Financial Requirements
To be considered for residential projects on the flagship series:
- Location: The property must be located within a specific geographic radius of downtown Laurel, Mississippi (typically within 15–20 miles of Jones County).
- Renovation Budget: Applicants must possess a established renovation budget. While HGTV and sponsors contribute custom furnishings and structural materials, the homeowner must fund the baseline renovation cost (typically starting at $50,000–$100,000 depending on structural condition).
- Property Purchase: Homeowners must either already own the home or be in the process of purchasing an eligible historic structure within the designated search area.
Production and Living Logistics
Selected participants must adhere to production schedules:
- Vacating the Premises: Homeowners must temporarily relocate at their own expense for the duration of active construction, which usually lasts between 8 to 12 weeks.
- Design Autonomy: Participants must allow Erin and Ben Napier full creative control over the layout, finish selections, and interior design. Reveal days are shot without the homeowner having seen the progress beforehand.
- Media Releases: All household members must agree to participate in multi-day filming schedules, interviews, and reveal day sequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Home Town filmed?
The flagship series Home Town is filmed primarily in Laurel, Mississippi, located in Jones County. Spin-off series take place in selected small towns across the United States, such as Sebring, Florida for Home Town Takeover Season 3.
Who pays for the renovations on HGTV's Home Town?
The homeowners pay for their own residential renovations using their personal funds, home loans, or property acquisition budgets. However, HGTV, production sponsors, and local craftsmen frequently contribute custom furniture, upgraded decor, labor, and high-end materials that add significant value beyond the homeowner's base budget.
Are Ben and Erin Napier still hosting Home Town?
Yes. Ben and Erin Napier remain the lead hosts, designers, and executive figures of Home Town. They continue to manage their local businesses in Laurel, Mississippi—including Scotsman Co. and Laurel Mercantile—while filming the flagship show and its spin-offs.
How many episodes are in Home Town Season 9?
Season 9 consists of a standard multi-episode slate produced by RTR Media for HGTV, typically ranging between 12 to 20 episodes. Broadcast schedules began in January 2025 and continued through the spring streaming calendar.
How can I watch past seasons of Home Town?
Past seasons (Seasons 1 through 8) along with Season 9 are available to stream on demand via Max and Discovery+. Selected episodes also air regularly in broadcast syndication on the HGTV cable network.
Practical Action Plan for Fans and Homeowners
Whether you are seeking to watch the latest episodes or plan a trip to experience the locations in person, follow these recommended steps:
- Verify Your Streaming Access: Ensure your subscription to Max or Discovery+ is active, or schedule your cable DVR to record new broadcasts on HGTV on Sunday evenings.
- Visit Historic Laurel, Mississippi: If traveling to see the real-world impact of the series, visit downtown Laurel to explore local establishments featured on the show, such as the Laurel Mercantile Co., Scotsman General Store, and historic residential walking routes.
- Check Official Casting Calls: If you are purchasing or restoring a historic home near Jones County, Mississippi, monitor the official RTR Media casting page (rtermedia.com) for active homeowner application windows.
