Gaard Swanson

Sports broadcaster by day, home renovator by night: that describes Gaard Swanson, a native of San Francisco, whose passions in life are divided. For the past 20 years Gaard has enjoyed a career in sports broadcasting, having anchored at Fox Sports in Los Angeles and KING-TV in Seattle.

But when he's not covering Super Bowls and pennant races, he's out scouting property. Gaard has a thing for old houses that need help. He's renovated dozens of them in California and Washington state, which makes him a perfect host for one of HGTV's hottest series, Generation Renovation.

Speaking from personal experience, Gaard knows what it takes to turn an ugly duckling into a swan. He once bought a fixer-upper and transformed it into a 4,300-square-foot palace from the ground up. Accustomed to tearing down walls and being ankle deep in dust, he can relate to the homeowners on Generation Renovation. He understands the work involved and has a deep appreciation for what homeowners go through.

A graduate of San Diego State University, Gaard is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his two children, Madeline and Isabel.