The Villages - #1 Selling Master Planned Community for 2011

You probably won’t be surprised by the community holding the top spot: The Villages, FL.

The Villages leads all Florida communities, but not only that, they top the entire list with 2,307 homes sold in 2011.

To put this into perspective for you, the 2nd ranked community on the list, The Woodlands in Houston, Texas sold 945 homes in 2011.

Now, some of you know that I have a whole other website and book dedicated to The Villages, so you know I’m a fan and think its a great choice for a lot of people. I won’t spend a lot of time here playing that up. If you’re interested in learning more check out TheVillagesFloridaBook.com.

But I do want to spend a few minutes talking about some reasons why The Villages is far and away the top selling community.

The first reason is that what they do, they do really well. They make outlandish promises…and for the most part they keep them.

For instance, in most of their TV commercials and ads they promise free golf for life on their executive courses. The Villages finished 2011 with more than 500 holes of golf. Not all of those are free to play, but the majority of them are.

They promise nightly entertainment in the town squares. Right now there are two town squares with a third on the way expected to be open later this year.

They promise a “millionaire lifestyle on a retirement budget”. Of course you can spend close to a million dollars on a home in The Villages, but you could also buy one for $200,000. Something for everyone.

The second reason I think The Villages does so well year in and year out despite a still lousy economy and sluggish real estate market is word-of-mouth marketing.

In 2011 The Villages crossed the 86,000 resident mark. You have to suspect that each of those people knows at least one more person considering moving to Florida and looking for a place to live. If you use my math, that’s another 86,000 people, yet The Villages is only planned to hold between 110,000 and 115,000.

The third piece to the puzzle is what I like to call the “be everywhere” strategy. In 2011 The Villages appeared in a CBS Sunday Morning Show segment that to date has been watched by more than 2.6 million people on YouTube. Those are Justin Bieber type numbers. Keep in mind that’s not counting the number of people who watched it live when it first aired and then when CBS re-aired it a few months later.

Then in September, the morning show FOX & Friends broadcast live from Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages with Florida Governor Rick Scott, Oliver North, and others as guests.

The Villages will be in the news a lot in 2012 as well. The top GOP presidential candidates passed through The Villages just last week before the Florida Republican Primary. You may have even seen Mitt Romney break into song while speaking with residents in The Villages. That video was picked up by almost every major news station, and MTV even had a story on it.

No matter who the Republican nominee is, I guarantee they will be in The Villages again before November. What do you call 86,000 people with about an 85% voter turnout rate? A politicians dream, if they are on your side.

Be Everywhere. It just works.

Alright, enough about The Villages. Let’s take a look at the 6 other Florida communities that made the list. Some of these are pretty great in their own right. Keep in mind, not everyone wants to live in a huge community such as The Villages. I should also note that not all of these communities are geared toward retirement. Some are designed primarily for families.

Lakewood Ranch – 391 Homes Sold in 2011
Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community located in Sarasota, FL. Lakewood Ranch offers 36 holes of private golf and 18 holes of daily fee golf. There are 18 tennis courts, as well as cricket and polo.

Florida’s Gulf Coast is extremely popular among mid-westerners, and its a great place to consider in Florida.

Monterra – 359 Homes Sold in 2011
Monterra is located in Cooper City, FL. This is part of Broward County (South Florida). I haven’t reviewed this community here on Florida for Boomers because they definitely focus more on families than retirement. But, for more and more retirees that I speak with, that is not a deal breaker at all. So if you’re open to living among people of all ages, definitely check out Monterra.

Nocatee – 313 Homes Sold in 2011
Nocatee is located in Ponte Vedra, between St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Ponte Vedra is home to the ATP Tour, the PGA Tour, and The Players Championship (played at TPC Sawgrass). Nocatee is home to 7 communities, among them is Del Webb Ponte Vedra (formerly named Riverwood at Nocatee by Del Webb).

Del Webb Ponte Vedra is an age-restricted (55 or better) community that covers more than 1,000 acres and will have nearly 2,000 residences when it is complete. One highlight is the newly opened 37,000 sq. ft. Anastasia Club featuring indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center, and more.

Valencia Reserve – 281 Homes Sold in 2011
Valencia Reserve is built by GL Homes. GL Homes happens to be one of the gracious supporters of this website. GL Homes builds both active adult communities as well as communities for families.

Valencia Reserve is one of their active adult communities and it is located in Boynton Beach, approximately 20 miles south of West Palm Beach. At completion Valencia Reserve will be a community of over 800 homes with a 41,000 square foot clubhouse as the centerpiece.

Though it didn’t make the list of the 50 top-selling communities, Valencia Lakes in Tampa is GL Homes’ other active adult community and it is definitely worth a look as well.

FishHawk Ranch – 229 Homes Sold in 2011
FishHawk Ranch is a community for families of all ages, located in the Tampa/St. Pete area. The community has areas of single-family homes and low maintenance homes with 13 builders to choose from.

There are parks, clubhouses, fitness centers, an aquatic club, a medical center, and much more.

Durbin Crossing – 167 Homes Sold in 2011
Durbin Crossing is also geared to families of all ages, so I haven’t reviewed it in-depth here on Florida for Boomers, but again it might be worth checking out.

Durbin Crossing is located just a few minutes from downtown Jacksonville in St. Johns County.

Over to you. Do any of the communities above interest you? Does the fact that a community is considered a top-selling community play into your decision making process?

Let us know in the comments below.

Lake Weir Living is pretty unique when compared to other Florida retirement communities because they do not have any HOA fees and have very few restrictions. They cater primarily to “toy owners”…people who own boats, RV’s, motorcycle’s, etc.

The key reason I like Lake Weir Living is the proximity to The Villages. Approximately 8 miles away from Lake Weir Living you’ve got hundreds of stores and restaurants within easy reach.

Lake Weir Living also lets you customize their floorplans to your liking. They almost have to in order to accommodate some of the toy owners they have looking at the community. They’ve even gone so far as to build 5-car garage, RV garages, and more.

One other thing Lake Weir Living does a fantastic job of is using social media and video to get the word out. On their blog you can see evidence of this in the videos they post regularly featuring both current and potential customers, the community, and the homes they have under construction. Some of the videos are quite fun to watch.

All of the above things that make Lake Weir Living unique, result in an atmosphere that attracts exactly the type of homebuyer they cater to…the baby boomer who does not want any rules or restrictions on how they should choose to live their retirement life.

It’s easy to see why NEWSWEEK chose to include them in their Best in U.S. Retirement Showcase.

If you haven’t already done so, check out Lake Weir Living today. Request their information package here.

Scheduled for Saturday January 28, 2012, the grand opening celebration will feature food, refreshments, and more.

Riverstone will feature homes raging in size from 2,081 square feet up to more than 4,700 square feet. Prices currently range from the $300’s to the $600’s.

The community’s lifestyle complex will feature an indoor sports complex, full basketball court, a party pavilion with restrooms, a tot lot, Har-Tru tennis courts, a water play area, lap pool, resort style pool, and more.

GLHomes is well known for their amazing community entrances, and as you can see from the video below, Riverstone will be no exception.

Now, hopefully you never need this advice, but you’ve likely gotten this far in life through smart planning and having all your ducks in a row, and there’s no reason to stop now. Fortunately there are several simple things you can do today to ensure that police or medical authorities are able to reach your appropriate family members or friends in a time of need. Each of these tasks will take less than 5 minutes each to complete, but doing so could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Keep It Simple
One thing that you should do is keep a list of emergency contacts in your purse or wallet at all times. This can be on a folded 3×5 index card or even on the back of a business card. Just be sure to write “In Case of Emergency” at the top.

You should have at least three contacts listed in case of emergency, and label them in order of importance…#1, #2, and #3. You should also note on this list any pre-existing medical conditions or allergies you may have, and any important medicines you need on a regular basis.

Mobile Apps
There are several mobile apps that allow you to save the emergency contacts and details you listed on the card above in digital form on your cell phone. More and more, EMT’s and other emergency personnel are checking victims cell phones for details on who to contact before going through their wallets, so this is something else I strongly urge you to do.

As I mentioned, there are several apps that do this available for both iPhone and Android. Just search the appropriate app store for the phrase “in case of emergency” and several options should come up for you.

Florida Emergency Contact Information Program (ECI)
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently announced a service that allows you to provide emergency contact information to law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

According to the program website:

This information may save crucial time if ever it becomes necessary to contact family members, or other loved ones. This service is only available to individuals holding a current Florida Driver License or Florida Identification Card.

The way it works is you go online to the program website and enter your Florida DL number. Then you fill out your list of emergency contacts. In the event of an emergency, a law enforcement officer will be able to look-up your emergency contacts using your driver’s license. Pretty nifty.

My goal has always been to help make your Florida retirement go as smooth as possible, but I also want to make sure you stay safe and prepared once you get here. So please, don’t procrastinate…take the advice I’ve given you above and be safe out there.

These special districts are prevalent in Florida and serve as a way for developers to finance the construction of certain improvements in their communities without having to put up the money themselves.

Not to be confused with a homeowners association, a community development district shifts the burden of developing infrastructure, maintaining roads and landscaping, building clubhouses and other improvements from the developer to the homeowners in that district.

The way CDDs work is the CDD, run by a board that is chosen by the developer, issues bonds to pay for the infrastructure and other community improvements. Then the homeowners of that community have to pay back the bonds over the course of a number of years, usually 20 to 30. The amount homeowners are assessed for this is added to their tax bill. This can be an unexpected extra expense if you are not familiar with the rules of the CDD.

A lot of people think that as more people move into the community, the amount of assessment will go down. This is not always the case. For example, CDDs can be used to fund clubhouses and golf courses. If the clubhouse and golf course are not self-sustaining and running a growing deficit, who do you think pays for that? Of course, the homeowner.

When CDD’s Go Bad
CDD’s have gone bankrupt in Florida, and more will do so every year while the real estate market stays flat. In fact, according to one article in Florida Trend I was able to find written back in 2010, at the time that article was written Florida had 125 districts in default on $3 billion in bonds. The article remarked that an additional 70 were teetering on default.

CDD financial problems can really only be helped in a few ways. One, an increase in demand for real estate within that district creates the needed revenue to cover bond payments. Or, as has happened in several instances, the bad debt along with the land and improvements on it are bought at such a large discount that the new owners are able to go in and build the community and sell homes at prices that rival those of foreclosures and short sales that have flooded the market.

But just because a certain area is in high demand, it doesn’t necessarily mean their CDD’s aren’t at risk. A perfect example of this is The Villages, home to several CDD’s. As you probably know, The Villages is the most popular retirement community in Florida and probably the whole United States right now. Homes continue to sell there at a fast pace, despite the overall economy and real estate market.

But while they may enjoy good financial health, The Villages CDD’s have come under attack by the IRS, which has had an investigation going on for a little over four years now looking into whether these CDD’s have been controlled and run according to the rules that are in place to keep them tax exempt.

It’s still too early still to tell who will have to pay the back taxes and/or penalties should the IRS decide these bonds should not have been tax-exempt…the developer or the homeowners.

And then, just this week, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order setting in motion a review of all special districts in Florida by the Office of Policy and Budget.

According to the Governor:

Floridians have a right to know what they’re being taxed for and how that money is spent. This review will bring to light these questions and allow us to identify ways to save taxpayers money and increase accountability.

Proceed With Caution
So what is a prospective retirement community homebuyer to do? Do your homework and proceed with caution.

CDDs are not necessarily a bad thing though, as they can provide a community with amenities and services it otherwise might not get. You just have to be careful and know what you are getting yourself into before buying in a CDD. There are new CDDs popping up all the time so always be sure ask when buying a home if it is in a CDD, and if so, learn as much as you can about the financial health and stability of that particular CDD.

If 2012 is the year you finally decide to pull the trigger and invest in a home in a Florida retirement community and you are looking at re-sale homes, you might run into several short sales along the way.

Here’s the deal. Most homes in Florida today are worth less than they were 5 years ago. You probably already knew that. While most news outlets focus on the backlog of foreclosures in Florida today, they have neglected to effectively cover the fact that short sales are on the rise as banks are realizing that in many cases allowing a home to be sold for less than the amount owed is many times better for them than if the home goes all the way through the foreclosure process.

If the owner of a home you are considering bought before or just as real estate prices started to fall, and they financed a large percentage of the purchase, they likely owe the bank more money than they could sell the house for, resulting in a short sale.

While there are many articles on how to manage the short sale process from an owner/seller’s perspective, there aren’t many articles on how to navigate the purchasing process, especially as it relates to buying a short sale in Florida retirement communities, so I hope you appreciate and benefit from the advice I’m about to deliver. Follow this advice and you will be smiling the whole way through this process.

So you’ve found what you think is the home of your retirement dreams and you want to make an offer. Depending on the situation, you may or may not know going in whether a homeowner owes more than the home is worth less than their home is worth until after contract negotiations begin.

Once it becomes clear to you that this transaction will need to be a short sale, you’ll need to be prepared for the following things:

Short Sale Addendum and an “As-Is” Contract Addendum
The contract will have a short sale addendum basically letting you know that the sale will be contingent upon the owner getting short sale approval from their bank.

Most banks require the sale to be an “As-Is” sale, meaning they will not pay for any repairs needed to the home. The bank will already be losing money on this transaction due to the shortfall between the sales price and the amount owed on the loan, plus typical seller closing costs, and possibly real estate commissions if a broker is involved.

Also, most Florida retirement communities will have homeowners association dues that need to be paid, and if the homeowner is behind on their dues, the bank will have to fork over to catch up on these too.

Bottom-line: They ain’t paying for anything they don’t have to pay for.

Don’t Forget to Have an Inspection Done
But just because this may be an “As-Is” sale, as the buyer you still have the right to perform an inspection so that you know yourself what repairs may need to be made after you take possession. DO NOT NEGLECT TO DO THIS!

Have Patience
Patience is a virtue, and a requirement when dealing with a short sale. Short sales can take months to close, so if you are going to buy a home as a short sale make sure that you don’t have any specific time requirements for when you absolutely need to be in the home. The contract will typically have a “close by” date that is months away, which you can negotiate of course, but if you have the flexibility and don’t absolutely need to move in quick, this process will go better for you.

After the contract is signed by you and the seller, the hard work really begins for the seller as they will need to provide documentation to their lender and try to negotiate the approval of the short sale.

As the buyer, you are going to have to be very patient as this is rarely a fast process. Feel free to check periodically with your real estate agent or the closing agent to get an update on the status, but know that nobody will have any answers for the first few weeks (at least) while paperwork, bank statements, tax returns and more are being reviewed by the lender.

Watch Out for the Curve Balls
Something else that may occur is the bank says they will not allow the short sale at all, or they may not offer debt forgiveness for the seller. Depending on the seller’s financials, they may or may not be able to close the deal by paying the difference.

If they can, great. But if not, you may be asked to pay more to cover the difference. This is of course totally up to you and will depend on how badly you want this particular home.

My advice in regards to short sale is to make sure this is THE house for you, prepare yourself for a long wait and a transaction that could drag on for 30-90 days, and ask yourself the question beforehand as to whether you’d be willing to pay more to get the deal done. Make this decision before signing the contract, because once a closing date creeps up a whole lot of emotions start to weigh on your decision.

I hope this helps you if you are considering buying a short sale in Florida. I’m actually smack dab in the middle of a short sale transaction right now, so the above comes from personal experience. I’ll be sure to update this post when (hopefully) my transaction closes.

But as you know there are plenty of retirement communities in Florida. However one thing you may not know is that we actually have a town named Christmas.

Christmas is a very small town in the Orlando (Orange County) area. It got its name because on December 25, 1837 US Army soldiers arrived there to build a fort, which they named Fort Christmas. The “Fort” in the name was later dropped.

Christmas is well known to many central Floridians as thousands make the trek there each holiday season to send their Christmas cards out from the post office there just to get the “Christmas” postmark. I know, I know…kind corny, but hey, whatever puts a smile on people’s faces, right?

According to Wikipedia, Christmas is also home to the world’s largest alligator shaped building. Don’t know the history behind that, and I’m not sure I want to know

So if you’ve always dreamed of being like Santa once you retired but don’t want to freeze your jolly old cheeks off, come on down to Christmas, Florida!

Merry Christmas!

Sunset in Key Largo

The Florida Keys is perfect whether visiting for a weekend or deciding to make it a permanent home.

An idyllic tropical setting at the tip of the United States combined with a myriad of recreation, entertainment, and cultural opportunities create the ideal place to spend the next stage in life.

Whether retiring or looking for a change of scenery, check out your options in the Florida Keys.

Climate

The steady climate of the Florida Keys is a secret known to residents. The temperatures in the winter rarely get below the 60s. Summer heat is not a problem because the ocean helps to keep the temperatures of the cities in the Keys in the 80s.

Most people are surprised to hear this, as it does not sound like the weather in other parts of Florida at all. Where I live, in Daytona Beach Shores, we regularly get up into the mid to high 90′s in the summer, and there are times when we experience the teens and twenties during the winter. Granted, some people like to experience the different seasons, but if you prefer steady ideal weather all year ’round, the Keys might be for you.

Into every life some rain must fall, but the rain usually waits until the summer to fall in the Keys. When the rain does fall, it usually takes the form of short-lived thunderstorms in the afternoons. Few days are complete wash-outs from hours of rain falling. The winter months are the driest months, only experiencing brief rains, if any.

Some people are concerned about hurricanes when considering a move to the Florida Keys, but these are not as much of a problem as outsiders think. Hurricanes do not hit the Keys every year, and when they do, it will likely be in the late summer months.

Preparation is the key to avoiding serious damage to property, and with hurricanes, time to prepare is given. Weather forecasters usually provide ample time before a storm hits to prepare a home and evacuate, if needed. This means that Keys residents are never caught off guard. The local building codes are such so that most newer homes will ride out many of the tropical systems that pass through the Keys.

The one downside during hurricane season though is that whenever a big hurricane threatens the Keys, residents and visitors are urged to evacuate. Sounds simple enough, but it can get a little hectic with one road in, and one road out of the Keys (U.S. 1).

Southernmost Point Buoy

You can certainly get to the Keys by boat. In fact, before the 1910′s and the completion of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway, boats were the only way to get to the Keys.

As I mentioned previously, U.S. 1 is the only road in and out of the Keys. The Keys begin about 15 miles south of Miami. From that point it’s about 3.5 hours to drive all the way to the bottom of the Keys in Key West.

You can also get to the Keys by plane. Both commercial and private planes use either Key West International Airport, or the Florida Keys Marathon Airport.

Arts and Culture

Though it rests at the tip of Florida, the Keys maintains its own identity when it comes to the arts. Museums abound in the Keys, focusing on such diverse topics as the history of diving, Ernest Hemingway and shipwrecks.

Even if it is possible to visit all of the museums the Keys has to offer, there are still performances to attend. The TIB Bank amphitheater offers an outdoor venue for musical performances on Plantation Key. Concerts are offered through the Florida Keys Concert Association and the Upper Keys Concert Series and Islamorada Community Entertainment.

Several live theater groups make the Florida Keys their home. The Keys Players, the Waterfront Playhouse, the Red Barn Theatre, and the Tennessee Williams Theatre are just a few of the options for catching a live performance. These groups provide a wide range of genres in their performances, ensuring that there will be something to suit the tastes of every theatergoer.

History

The Florida Keys are full of history. Historic sites around the Keys convey this to visitors. Many residents neglect to spot these gems in the rough, but for anyone newly transplanted to the Keys a trip to the historic sites will give a full picture of the area.

Harry Truman has his presidential library on Key West, called the “Little White House.” It is Florida’s only presidential library. Fans of Ernest Hemingway will want to make a stop at his home in Key West. Other museums focusing on the history and culture of the Florida Keys should be regular destinations for any resident with an interest in history.

Recreation

Outdoors types will have nearly limitless recreation options. Beaches abound in the Keys where fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and diving can be enjoyed. Nature preserves and parks provide a quiet getaway for hiking or birdwatching. Indian Key state park, Fort Zachary Taylor state park, San Pedro underwater archaeological preserve state park, the Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, and the Crane Point nature center are available for recreation for residents and visitors alike.

For golfers, a large number of course, both public and members-only, are scattered over the Keys, and the climate of the Keys will ensure that every day is a great day for golf.

Spas offer a different way to unwind from the stresses of life. A weekly treat of a visit to one of the many spas in the Keys should be in order, especially for retirees who want to make the most of this new stage of life.

Real Estate

While most people visit this website in search of Florida retirement communities, you won’t find many (if any?) dedicated retirement communities in the Florida Keys like you see in other parts of the state. But, there are some great communities, nonetheless.

The first step would be to take a trip to the Keys, possibly working your way down the line over the course of a week or two and spending time in different places. There are plenty of hotels throughout the Keys, and for every budget. But you also might want to consider a vacation rental owned by a private homeowner. You can find these on sites like VRBO.com, just know that rates will vary depending on the time of year.

As you are visiting certain areas, be sure to pick up any real estate magazines you see in grocery stores or hotels, as these will give you a good idea of what’s available in that particular area.

A quick Google searches yielded the following Florida Keys related real estate websites:

- FLKeysLiving.com
- KeysProperties.com

…and many others. You should certainly do your own search as well.

Follow the other tips I spell out in my book Florida for Boomers such as checking out national real estate websites like Zillow.com, Trulia.com, and Realtor.com.

In the end, moving to the Florida Keys requires prior planning and thought put into the decision, but once people move to the Keys, they often wonder why they did not do it sooner.

Known as the “Isle of Eight Flags”, Amelia Island has a rich history. It has seen the flags of France, Spain, Great Britain, France once more, Patriots of Amelia Island, Green Cross of Florida, Mexico, Confederate States of America and the U.S.A.

Amelia Island’s rich history makes it an idea place for those who would like to actually tour a 19th century brick fortress, which can be visited inside Fort Clinch State Park on nearby Fernandina Beach. Others might like to partake in a walking, Segway or a carriage tour of the island.

There are plenty of water sports to go along with all that history. From pleasure boating, to water skiing, parasailing, kayaking and fishing. Anglers can try their hands at beach front fishing or on a sporting excursion where you can land a marlin or sailfish.

Those who enjoy outdoor sports will find no shortage of venues. Tennis is widely available there. The Island was home to the Women’s Tennis Association Bausch & Lomb Championships for 28 years. There are six golf courses located on Amelia Island alone: the Royal Amelia Golf links, the Amelia River Course, the Golf Club of Amelia Island, the Long Point Course, the Ocean Links Course and the Oakmarsh Course.

If nature is something you like to enjoy, then the nature center at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort is ideal. Hiking is also available on the island. Or enjoy the beauty of Little Talbot State Park or nearby Fort George Island Cultural State Park.

Shoppers will take great delight in what Amelia Island has to offer. Forget about claustrophobic, closed-in malls with cheap florescent lighting. Amelia Island offers something entirely different to shoppers. Charming retail stores, galleries and boutiques are what you’ll find.

And everyone can take delight in those most beautiful sunrise as it appears from the east over the Atlantic Ocean. Or, my favorite at the right time of the month, a moonrise while enjoying a fabulous meal and glass of wine overlooking the ocean.

All the activities, shopping, dining, and rich history that make Amelia Island a great vacation and leisure destination are the same qualities that make it an attractive choice for retiring boomers looking to stay here permanently.

But before purchasing a home here, every future resident should be aware of a health hazard that has affected an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 residential properties. The health hazard stems from a construction material known as “Chinese drywall”.

While I have not heard of chinese drywall affecting specific Florida retirement communities, I can’t say for sure that is hasn’t. My goal though is to make you aware of the issue so that you can do your own due diligence.

Background

A controversy broke out from 2007 through 2009 and remains to this day. Chinese drywall was used in many new construction and remodeled homes throughout the state of Florida. Homeowners exposed to Chinese drywall have reported a variety of health problems, including but not limited to: sinus problems, asthma attacks, chronic headaches, itchy and/or irritated eyes, chronic coughing, insomnia, runny and/or bloody nose and wheezing.

Origins

Chinese drywall made it first appearance in the state of Florida after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. With many residential and commercial buildings damaged along the Gulf Coast, during the previous year in 2004, American-made drywall was in short supply. Because of the shortage, a massive amount of drywall manufactured in China was imported into the United States to meet demand. An estimated 550 million pounds of the building material came into the U.S.

Warnings

Homeowners in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama reported smelling a foul odor in their residences. Reacting to the complaints, the Florida Department of Health issued a health advisory. It warned homeowners of the suspected health threat and instructed them to inspect copper on refrigeration and air conditioning units for corrosion. If corrosion was found, it might be due to the affects of hydrogen sulfide, the leading indicator of Chinese drywall. Homeowners were also told that an odor similar to rotten eggs was a telltale sign of Chinese drywall.

Homeowners with Chinese drywall were urged to replace the contaminated gypsum board and any affected copper tubing to avoid health hazards.

Additionally, homeowners that noticed substantial tarnishing of silver jewelry, flatware and dinnerware were warned the tarnish could be the result of Chinese drywall contamination.

After Effects

The Chinese drywall health hazard caused a cottage industry of fraudulent companies to appear. Most notably were companies selling bogus testing kits. The illegal practice grew large enough to cause the Florida Attorney General’s office to issue warnings about fake testing kits and fixes. Some scam artists actually posed as health inspectors. Others misrepresented themselves as contractors selling remodeling services. These individuals were investigated by the Palm Beach Post and found not to carry proper licensing.

Lawsuits

As a result of the contaminated construction material finding its way into the state of Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast, class action lawsuits were filed. Homeowner’s seeking insurance claims were also handed a court-order ruling making insurance companies responsible to replace defective materials through legitimate claims.

Footnotes:
Chinese Drywall Wiki
Chinese Drywall Story from ABC Nightline