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Lisalisa

Beach Comber
Jul 20, 2014
42
7
Any experience, information or opinions?
 

Jim Tucker

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
1,189
497
Very professional and consistent product. Not the highest level of quality compared to the luxury in SoWal but a good value. They sell more homes than anyone in America and it's because they know what they are doing. I've met some of the people who work for them and like them all. They are professional and seem to be doing a good job and are glad to be working here instead of somewhere in the middle of the country.
 

John G

Beach Fanatic
Jul 16, 2014
1,803
553
Any experience, information or opinions?

1) Fracking. Google D.R. Horton and you should fairly quickly find the connection. Past sales contracts had the buyers giving away their mineral rights (below ground) in very fine print. With Fracking all over the local Media and a hot topic at the last BCC Meeting, this might be important.

2) Poor quality. Seams pop just after warranty. Be sure to get you punch list done ASAP and follow up daily to ensure it is done, PRIOR to the one year.

3) Associations / HOA's - D.R. will keep control until the last minute, then dump it on the owners. This happened at a property North of 98 and it was then discovered that no rebar was put in with the concrete sidewalks in the neighborhood. At another property some shared amenities were said to be part of the association and the homes were marketed as such. Later it was determined that the amenities were NOT part of the association and ads were pulled promoting this.

4) Recent legal case in the Tampa Area has a condo with a lot of MOLD problems. Condo or town-homes built by DR. You should be able to search and find that article, fairly recent.

5) Emerald Homes = D.R. Horton, same thing.

As with any purchase of Real Estate, do your homework and use a Licensed Realtor.
 

Poppaj

SoWal Insider
Oct 9, 2015
8,164
19,927
DR Horton builds a nice product for a fair price and stands behind what they build. Anyone who builds as many units as they do will undoubtedly have some complaints it's how the complaints are resolved that matters. Too many buyers expect a $300,000 house to be built like a $600,000 house.
 

Dawn

Beach Fanatic
Oct 16, 2008
1,206
527
@John G
1. Please join our efforts in Walton County to ban fracking here. At least show support to commissioners Meadows and Comander who oppose it.
2. They back up product well. What seams are you referring to?
3. Doesn't every development hand over HOA to owners at some point?
4. If you build over 35,000 homes per year you will encounter issues. I've seen plenty of builders around here totally screw people.
5. Emerald Homes is the "upscale" division. I think the finishes are nicer but probably the same construction methods. Probably marketing reasons.
6. Are you a builder?

Always keep your eyes open. Have all contracts checked out. Be sure warranty is solid from any builder, or purchase a third party warranty.
 

Lisalisa

Beach Comber
Jul 20, 2014
42
7
Thank you for the feedback
 

BeachArkie

Beach Lover
Jun 27, 2008
156
85
44
Seagrove
Their prices are much higher than their quality level. Their prices are based on the local market, not on actual building costs. They are built fast and cheap and they put the burden on the homeowner to find issues and get them resolved before the clock runs out.

Make sure you check the flood maps, many are not in flood zone X. Also, make sure you factor in the association fees, they are often hundreds of dollars a month.

As far as mineral rights, few properties in the area convey those rights with the property, that isn't just a Horton thing.
 

carson

Beach Fanatic
Jan 15, 2014
1,143
824
55
Seagrove
David Weekly sells houses in Watersound West Beach for 1.2 million that they could not sell for 600k in Texas, even with insane lot prices here it is still a 300k house. So it is whatever the market will bear.
 
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