in 2013, furtick and his wife built a large house (8,400 sq. ft, heated, 16,000 sq. ft total) on 19 acres of land in waxhaw, nc, a suburb of charlotte. the house and land are valued at just under $1.8 million. furtick has stated that his home was paid for with money from his book sales and publisher advances, rather than his salary from elevation church. the church has refused to answer questions about furtick's salary, his tax-free housing allowance, how much he makes from books and speaking fees, with elevation only saying that furtick is generous to the church with the money he receives from writing books, arranges for the church to purchase his books directly from the publisher at the author's discount and keep the money from sales, and that the publisher pays the church to produce marketing materials to promote furtick's books. elevation has confirmed that furtick's salary is set by a board of overseers composed of other megachurch pastors, who vote on his salary based on a compensation study conducted by an outside firm, and that furtick does not vote on his own salary. in response to the news report, before his sermon on the weekend of october 27, 2013, furtick addressed the congregation directly, saying he was sorry if the house and surrounding questions caused them to have difficult conversations with co-workers, friends and neighbors. however, he defended the building of the house, calling it "a gift from god".