Widowed grandma June Smith flipping mansion she won for just $31 dollars into eye-popping $6M

A widowed grandma who won a $6 million mansion for less than $50 has decided to sell the luxury property just three months later.

In May this year, June Smith, 74, from Essex in the UK, entered the Omaze Million Pound House Draw for £25 ($31) and won.

She secured herself an ultra-modern three-story, six-bedroom house in the seaside county of Cornwall.

The property was said to be the biggest-ever house prize to be given away in a draw in Britain and came mortgage free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered. Ms. Smith also pocketed £100,000 ($127,000) in cash to help her settle in.

Ms. Smith, who has three children and six grandchildren, lost her husband of 42 years, Ron, last year after he suffered a heart attack aged 74.

At the time of the win, she was said to be undecided about what to do with the waterfront property, as local estate agents guessed it was worth between $6,200 and $916 (£5000-7000) per month as a rental and up to $17,600 (£14,000) per week as a holiday let in peak season.

Ms Smith said at the time she would keep the house “for a while”, but just three months after she picked up the keys, the concrete and glass abode is on the market.

The property has been spotted on real estate website RightMove, listed for £4.5 million ($5.7 million) — the same price at which it was valued when Ms. Smith won.

Viewings done by JB Estates are strictly by appointment, with the site’s mortgage calculator estimating monthly repayments of £26,467 ($33,000) over 25 years.

The listing describes the mansion, which overlooks the Fowey Estuary in Cornwall, as a “striking, state-of-the-art waterfront home commanding an elevated position over the Fowey Estuary with uninterrupted, panoramic views.”

It boasts a main sitting room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering stunning views of the estuary, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a stylish dining room, its own mooring and even a yoga studio at the end of the garden.

Ms. Smith said she decided to sell the mansion to help her children and grandchildren “with the next chapter in their lives”.

But she only decided to part ways with the dream house once she and her family had enjoyed a holiday there together.

“Winning this house has been an incredible experience, I still can’t believe it all actually happened to me, it still feels so surreal,” she told the Daily Mail.

“I wanted to enjoy at least one family holiday here before I put it on the market.

“We all came and stayed together and absolutely love the house and Cornwall — and my six grandchildren have certainly made the most of it.

“I knew winning this house would be life-changing for all my family, and that’s why I’ve decided to sell now, as I want to use the money to help all my children and grandchildren with the next chapter in their lives.”

Speaking after her win, Ms. Smith said her late husband would have “absolutely loved the design of this house” and will be “looking down with an approving smile”.

She added: “I’m sure he played a part in this win — he won it for all of us. Ron always wanted us to be financially secure as a family, and this house gives us that security.”