A representative for JPMorgan Chase says a 30-day hold has been put on the foreclosure of a Lake City, Ga., "Extreme Makeover" house.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the hold was activated to allow Milton and Patricia Harper the opportunity to negotiate a deal so they can stay current with their payments.

The couple's family was presented with the new 5,300-square-foot, five-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on "Extreme Makeover" in 2005. They were chosen from among thousands of applicants for the show because they said their septic tank flooded the basement, forcing the family to sleep in their van.

The house, which the Harpers used as collateral for a $450,000 loan to fund a construction business, had been scheduled to hit the auction block Tuesday, the newspaper said.

However, JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman Christine Holevas told the Journal-Constitution a 30-day hold has been granted and an agreement is expected to be signed in the next few days.

"We're confident the Harpers will stay in their home," she said.

The newspaper said the Harpers did not returns phone calls seeking comment.