Parkland Parrot

Good News For Parkland Homeowners With Chinese Drywall

Chinese Drywall Settlement Could Cost Chinese Firm 1 Billion

Finally, the end looks near for the Chinese Drywall issue that has hit many states, particularly Parkland and South Florida.  Chinese Drywall manufacturer, Knauf and its Chinese affiliate Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, recently agreed to a settlement that would give cash to help replace the Chinese Drywall in affected homes.

The settlement will cost approximately $600 million to $1 billion.  According to NBC Miami,  the company will cover all of the necessary Chinese Drywall repairs on all 4,500 houses that were affected.  Among the homes affected, 55% of the homes are in the State of Florida. There are thousands of homeowners, mostly in the South, affected by the installation of tainted Chinese Drywall.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said that Knauf knew that the Chinese Drywall that they installed in homes was defective and neglected to tell customers. Chinese Drywall gives off a foul odor.  It also corrodes wiring and metal in appliances and causes health problems.  Settlements have been reached with other Chinese Drywall manufactures and more should follow.

This is great news for many Parkland and Florida homeowners that have been dealing with the Chinese Drywall saga for many years.  This news will also help stabilize the overall Parkland and Florida real estate market as more and more homeowners will receive settlements in order to finally remove the Chinese Drywall in their homes.  As a result, homeowners, and their families, will soon be able to enjoy their homes that they had built.  We will continue to provide the Parkland community with updated information on the Chinese Drywall court proceedings.

Know the neighborhood. Know the value. Know your hometown agents: The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team. If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

Tainted Chinese Drywall Builder WCI Gets Approval To Build Parkland Heron Bay Homes

WCI Communities Gets Parkland City Approval To Finish Building In Heron Bay

The Parkland City Commission voted last Thursday night by a 3-1 vote to permit Bonita Springs-based builder, WCI, to commence building 196 homes on the land that it owns in Parkland’s Heron Bay community

Our team was present during these council meetings and could definitely feel the frustration in the air.  In particular, a former Heron Bay homeowner, John Willis, led the charge in making a valiant claim to deny WCI the right to build.  Mr. Willis, and other concerned homeowners, presented evidence that WCI executives were aware about the tainted Chinese Drywall that was being put in their homes, but instead decided not to inform buyers in order to sell more houses.

But, WCI came prepared with their attorneys and argued that the City of Parkland did not have the legal right to deny them the bid to build the 196 homes because of Chinese Drywall issues.  The city commissioners heard other disgruntled residents state their claims.  But, in the end, the city approved WCI’s bid, because they did not want to be sued by WCI.  Parkland Mayor Michael Udine was quoted in the Sun Sentinel recently as saying, “I’m in agreement with how they (the Parkland residents) feel. Our hands were completely tied. We had to do this by law.”

Earlier this month, I wrote an article that received a lot of attention from our readers entitled, Should Builder WCI Be Allowed To Finish Parkland Heron Bay Community? Remember, WCI filed bankruptcy in 2008 and has never fixed any homes with Chinese Drywall.  Unlike WCI, builder Toll Brothers, who recently bought and took over the Parkland Golf & Country Club project from WCI, has already purchased dozens of homes in the community with Chinese Drywall and is totally re-mediating them to resell.  Many upset homeowners are angered how WCI has turned a blind eye towards their handling, or lack of handling, of homes with Chinese Drywall in Heron Bay, Parkland Golf & Country Club, and other Florida communities.

These homes must be built.  Having them stay vacant will only hurt Heron Bay and the overall Parkland real estate market in the long run.  But, it will be difficult to break the stigma that is associated with WCI as being a Chinese Drywall builder that cares more about money and their business than their residents.  How as real estate professionals am I supposed to sell the great features and benefits of Heron Bay to new perspective homeowners without being honest to my own personal concerns of how WCI has publically and privately handled the Chinese Drywall issues in Parkland?  I really hope that actions speak louder than words and that WCI builds 196 amazing homes in Heron Bay and goes above and beyond the call of duty for all residents to be 100% satisifed before, during, and after the building process!

We know the numbers, we analyze the market, our clients make better decisions. If you are interested in buying in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.

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WCI Knew Parkland Golf and Country Club and Heron Bay Had Chinese Drywall As Early As 2006

WCI Communities Kept Quiet About The Chinese Drywall Problem As Early As 2006

Yesterday, Sun-Sentinel article reports that Bonita Springs-based-homebuilder WCI Communities was aware that homeowners were complaining about Chinese Drywall as early as 2006.  Unfortunately, WCI kept quiet and said nothing to its customers and the government.  This new information was ascertained by ProPublica and the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The Chinese drywall issue did not catch the public’s attention until early 2009, when South Florida residents started to complain about foul smells and damaged appliances.

We reported that WCI emerged from bankruptcy protection last September. WCI built Heron Bay and Parkland Golf & Country Club, which are among the region’s hardest hit by Chinese drywall.

If WCI Communities hid the Chinese drywall problem from the many homeowners that purchased in their communities, then there is no telling what else they could be covering up from the public!

Buyers beware!  I urge perspective Parkland home buyers to hire professional and licensed home inspectors that also specialize in Chinese drywall inspections.  Any home built in 2001 or sooner should have a Chinese drywall inspection performed.  It is better to spend the extra money, so you do not become another victim of Chinese Drywall or other issues caused by WCI Communities.

WCI Communities -  Shame On You! Shame On You!

To stay updated with all of the current Parkland real estate home information, receive our blog posts directly to your inbox by subscribing to the squawk.

If you are interested in buying or selling a real estate property in Parkland or South Florida, please give us a call at 954-609-0591 or send a note to the squawk.

FEMA Announces No Relief For Parkland Chinese Drywall Victims

The Sun-Sentinel reported today that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not offer assistance to homeowners affected by Chinese Drywall.  This comes as a major blow to our Parkland residents in Heron Bay and Parkland Golf And Country Club

Local attorneys representing homeowners with Chinese Drywall said that FEMA’s refusal to offer relief and further investigation to this major problem is proof that the federal government does not understand the extent of the problem. FEMA has stated publicly that Chinese Drywall does not constitute as an emergency or major disaster.  However, the Florida Division of Emergency Management will try other options in order to help homeowners receive the necessary aid.

Parkland homes effected by Chinese Drywall are selling at bargain prices.  As a result, it is negatively impacting the local market in Heron Bay and Parkland Golf & Country Club.  I recently wrote an article that received a lot of attention in the public:  Buyers Can Steal Parkland Chinese Drywall Homes.  Many of these homes are now selling in the $200,000-$300,000 price range.

Click Here to Read More Article On Parkland Chinese Drywall

To stay updated with all of the current Parkland real estate home information, receive our blog posts directly to your inbox by subscribing to the squawk.

If you are interested in buying or selling a real estate property in Parkland, please give us a call at 954-609-0591 or send a note to the squawk.

Buyers Can Steal Parkland Chinese Drywall Homes

Calling All Parkland Chinese Drywall Potential Buyers

We have written numerous articles on Chinese Drywall and how it effects the Parkland community here on our website.  But, we have not discussed and showcased the current active homes in Parkland that were built using Chinese Drywall.

Many of our clients and readers have asked us for information regarding purchasing these homes at significantly discounted prices.  The communities that have been effected by Chinese Drywall are Heron Bay and Parkland Golf And Country Club.  The two single-family subdivisions in Heron Bay that have homes with Chinese Drywall issues are Banyan Isles and Sable Pointe.

Please click on the following hyperlink: Parkland Available Homes With Chinese Drywall to search the current inventory of Parkland homes on the market for sale with Chinese Drywall.  If you are a cash buyer and willing to pay to fix the problem, then there are some great deals out there.  Prices are as low as the $200,000 to $300,000’s, as banks want to sell these homes as soon as possible.

We are working with local, licensed Chinese Drywall inspectors that can help detect and give estimates to clear the Chinese Drywall problem. Remember, that banks are not financing homes that have evidence of Chinese Drywall.  As a result, cash is king!  Banks are willing to take huge losses.  Their loss could be your gain!

To stay updated with all of the current Parkland real estate home information, receive our blog posts directly to your inbox by subscribing to the squawk.

If you are interested in buying or selling a real estate property in Parkland, please give us a call at 954-609-0591 or send a note to the squawk.