Buyer Beware in Tierra Del Sol

[tdslaspalmas@gmail.com]

Please know the facts about Tierra del Sol before you decide to purchase a new home there. The owners and management of TDS have blatantly lied in the press about both the progress AND happiness of homeonwers who have recently purchased there.

Despite David Brown's assertion that "most" of the Las Palmas community has moved in and are enjoying their purchases, nothing can be further from the truth. Here are the facts:

- only 14 of 28 honmeowners have actually closed their real estate transactions - fewer than this have moved in
- keep in mind, these homes / condos were purchased upwards to 5 years ago with promises of being completed within 12-18 months.
- TDS has pulled virtually all the labour off 8 units that are far from being completed, and they say it will be March 2010 the earliest when they are done (in Aruba years . . . this is likely September . . . almost 6 years since being purchased)
- the infrastructure of TDS is not completed - street lights are not in and there are serious problems with the electrical related to the street lights. House numbers are not in and I recently heard of a visitor who spent over 3 hours past midnight trying to locate the home they were staying at . . . and TDS could care less.
- the "punch list" as they call it (the items that are either not completed or there are quality issues with) number up to 50 - 60 for many of the homeowners and according to homeowners, TDS will not provide any commitment to "if or when" these will be completed.

Over 100 homeowners have banded together to seek legal counsel and intend on launching a law suit against Tierra Del Sol . . . TDS has even changed the master declaration of the community without any regard for the homeowners and are now raising the annual association fees by 60% in one year without any change to services or accountability - there is also some concern over capital reserve funds which TDS refuses to account for to the homeonwers -

Don't take this posters word for it - just go over to TDS and speak with ANY of the homeonwers there . . . particularly in the Moramar and Las Palmas developments - they are NOT HAPPY!

Do not trust what anyone at Tierra Del Sol says about buying a new home there - buyer beware!

[mmattalo]

I am one of the purchasers in Las Palmas and it certainly has not been the experience we expected or were promised. I can't speak to "all" the details the poster refers to, but know first hand that there have been many challenges.

We finally took possession earlier this year and still have many deficiencies (referred to as punch list items) in our home. TDS has all the potential of being a first class development if they can overcome the ongoing issues.

Merry Christmas all - back to paradise in less than 5 weeks.

[Andrea J.]

could you tell the forum members what your punch list includes?
andrea

Originally Posted by mmattalo

I am one of the purchasers in Las Palmas and it certainly has not been the experience we expected or were promised. I can't speak to "all" the details the poster refers to, but know first hand that there have been many challenges.

We finally took possession earlier this year and still have many deficiencies (referred to as punch list items) in our home. TDS has all the potential of being a first class development if they can overcome the ongoing issues.

Merry Christmas all - back to paradise in less than 5 weeks.

[mmattalo]

Andrea - I have PM'd you. Prefer not to be public about the details.

[lizzardo]

There are many different builders at TDS but I have yet to hear
of a 'happy' customer there. I know people who are still waiting,
people who have live there and people who are selling their
place there. Construction all around does not seem to
equal what they are selling as 'quality homes'.

Now I hear that the mgt at TDS is putting most of it's resources
into their time share project.

Let's hope that turns out better.

[Shnyda]

We took a drive through TDS in October - portions of it were gorgeous.

How many phases of construction are there at TDS?

[lizzardo]

I understand that this is a moderated board - but there were some
interesting points the guy had posted yesterday. Things I didn't
know. Oh well...

To answer the previous post - I would not recommend buying
at the TDS - time share or home. It may 'look' beautiful -
but do your homework.

[lizzardo]

.....

[Andrea J.]

ya they certainly have issues with their contracts and punch lists and lots of other stuff.

and we thought it was only us here in maine that had problems with contractors!

thans for the link liz
it will prove helpful i am sure for those that need to vent and to communicate.
andrea