LGI Homes

I purchased a new LGI home some time ago in northern Florida and it is the worst home I have ever bought - and I have built five other brand new homes from other builders as well.

For starters, you have to sign off on the yard as being completely satisfactory for being level and proper drainage and that the sod is in good condition before you even get a chance to fully experience the yard like you would by mowing it. And they specifically exempt the yard from warranty after you sign that which has to be done BEFORE you close.

My yard?

Everything from all the other yards would drain into my yard. I basically have a lake in my backyard every time it rains.

Next up is the paint. My house was built with James Hardee cement board siding which requires a specific paint and primer process otherwise the acidity of the cement board bleeds through which it most certainly did, and in less than a year my dark brown house was nearly white due to fade.

Which then led to really exposing the poor job of installing the siding as you could see very distinguishable black MOLD lines where they did not seal the siding joints to prevent that.

On to the electrical. Code specifies that wiring is REQUIRED to be clamped no further than 12" from the outlet or junction box, with no more than 8" protruding from the outlet box.

NONE of the wiring in this house was clamped - ANYWHERE.

When I went to change lighting from the super cheap single 60W unit they install that does not even light the room, I was able to keep pulling several feet of wiring from the outlet box, and none of it was secured.

Went into the attic and confirmed that none of the conduit wiring is secured anywhere.

Now for the HVAC system.

Florida law requires builders to properly size the HVAC system for the climate zones here along with size of the house.

The one I purchased is 1846 sq ft and in no climate region within the United States does the HVAC calculation guidelines specify a 2.5 ton (30,000 Btu) unit for this size home.

Based on minimum proper load calculations, the minimum for this size house is a 3.5 ton, (42,000 Btu) unit.

Checking with the neighbors in this community, LGI used the SAME HVAC units no matter which house or size built, from the 1250 sq ft 3 br home on up to the 1846 sq ft 4 br home which I have.

As a result, I have been spending a significantly higher amount for electricity as this system cannot keep this house cool in out hot summers, nor does it heat it when the temps get into the 30's as it occasionally does here in north Florida during winter.

Next issue was the foundation. The concrete foundation wasn't even close to level with significant dips and humps throughout the house, causing the cheap plastic laminate flooring to continually peel.

I finally replaced that laminate with porcelain tile, which caused the discovery of the fact the second bathroom toilet was not sealed and leaking, and they put a heavy bead of caulk around the base to keep it flooding the room.

But since it wasn't sealed, the insides were full of mold and nasty waste due to the leaking.

Why was it not sealed? The foundation was not high enough to cover the drain pipe from the toilet, which caused a round hump in the middle so they just installed it with shims to level the toilet and then caulked to keep it from flooding the room.

Interior construction is also poor unless you happen to like crooked walls that you don't even need a level or square to see how bad they are.

Entry door sills that are intended for interior doors such as a garage service door so if you decide to install a storm door you need to add an extension to the sill in order for the storm door to seal.

Unfortunately bought an lgi in deland. Closed in Dec of 2017.

It's only 6 years old and falling apart. Needs all new floors doors and windows. All the plumbing is brittle and needs to be replaced. Didn't put gfi's near the sinks, just regular plugs, which have all died and need to be replaced.

One bedroom wall leaks water at the floor when it rains. The cabinets are made from Chinese wood that's used to build hen houses. There's cracks in my shower wall. All bathroom fixtures and toilets had to be replaced.

Had to replace kitchen sink faucet and all the kitchen appliances. Thermostat didn't last long. The screens are the cheapest pieces of crap ever made. About 20 cracks from roof to ground on the outside walls.

Can't hang pictures or curtains because the walls can't hold them in. The ac unit has broken down twice, which is very expensive. This piece of *** house Is literally falling down around us. They put in the cabinets vanities and toilets before the flooring, and didn't caulk anything, leaving gaps between.

The wiring is our biggest concern. I worry we're going to burn to death cuz this *** catches fire while we're sleeping, I doubt the fire alarms will work. At a year old, in 2019, we needed over 30k in work. Now it's 2023, and it literally needs to be gutted to the studs (if there even are any)

Run don't walk from lgi.

The salesmans name is JAY FAUNCE.

He's a conman. He's from MAITLAND FL.

Sorry to send an email like this but me and my wife are disappointed that the future of getting a home at the El Tesoro most likely won't happen. We went in there and spoke to a person called Leon Rendon.

We told him our situation and he pulled a hard credit report ( not sure why a hard one since this will possibly hurt us ). We also had 20% to put down. My credit was what he now says on the phone needs to be a 620 and that is not what he said when he produced the 559 one. Which I see online as 606.

My wife's credit and employment were fine. So, he says I can go get a job and produce 4 paychecks and come back in and we can work something out. Because I had more questions, I called him and then sent him more information in an email. Thats how I got his email address.

I then went there when I had no response and he said that me and my wife had to come together and to make an appointment. So, I had gathered more documents and sent an email with a question as to what time would work for him to meet. No response. I then sent an email asking if he received my emails and nothing.

So, in a phone call today he said yes, he did receive my emails and now I need to work for 6 months and get my score up to a 620. So, I was shocked to hear this as because of his comments I started a new Job on Monday 09/25. So, me and my wife are thinking we are on our way to getting a new home in the most perfect location for us, which is El Tesoro. His customer service skill lack skill.

His statements to us on what he said we need were not true. So now we are disappointed and now what. The place we wanted and me getting a job was based on his recommendation. My brain says I am tired of people taking advantage of us.

I want to just come and picket the place and tell everyone what happened. I want to post everywhere what happened to us. We are more than just a number for a salesperson to take advantage of. I told him I was going to write someone higher, and he said go ahead.

So I am. Thanks

If I could give a zero, I would. The same reasons we were approved for the loan conditionally are the same reasons they use to disqualify us.

Which doesn't make sense. First they said they could get a hold of my employer, which that is a lie. Im not sure what employer they were trying to reach. They wasted our time, money and energy.

Moreover, they did not even have the decency to tell us why the loan did not go through and we had to call, text, and email to find out. I am not sure if we were denied because of our race ( AA). They have set us back, I wish we had seen their non-transparency from the beginning. We wouldn't have even started the process.

I would not recommend this company to anyone unless they take the necessary steps to make effective changes. I would have to review on different platforms just to keeps others aware of what this messy company is all about before the customers decide to unnecessarily spent their time, money and energy.

My 35 plus year old children were told that they could afford a LGI Home. They showed them the lot and everything that they would get.

EVERYTHING. They said they need asap $1,000 to hold the lot as they were going quickly. I wrote the check for $1,000. I knew they could not afford this home.

But the salesman kept saying yes you can!!! The salesman did not even have a business card. He wrote his number on the back of one of my cards. After being asked for extra monies and other crazy stuff, they told me that if they were to get the home, I would have to cosign and have a credit credit.

This would be the only way they could qualify. They were told they could qualify by themselves. We sent in a release and cancellation of contract and asked for return of the $1,000. I can't get in touch with anybody.

Nobody will call me back. Wrong office.

Phones disconnected. I need my $1,000 back.

Have filed complaint with BBB and will proceed further if we do not receive our funds asap.. RED FLAGS regarding LGI.

This is not an honest company. They take your photo with a Sold sign to then say your not approved and need to do x,y,z after guaranteeing they will get you into a home. On top of that they will take a $1000 deposit from a legally disabled individual and cash it. To then tell them every excuse in the book why your money is delayed being refunded to you.

Well this simply is not acceptable. I waited the amount of time plus another 7 days and given the same excuse and am now told to wait until Sunday (another week) I will not be put off. I want my deposit rightly refunded back to me and if it is not produced within the next 48 hrs we are seeking legal action. I caution all prospective home buyers to not get baited like we did.

Completely unethical.. very disappointing on a business operation level.

Do not promise to be what you are not as a company and then jerk people around when you owe them what legally belongs to them and says so on your legal documents. You produced documents stating we would have our funds in hand no later than January 30th and have now lied to us, trying to put us off 7 more days to Sunday which is a day no one is available!

I hope my email finds its way to you as an eye opener as to how your employees are conducting business when no one is overseeing them.
It is actually a matter that deserves a detailed phone conversation regarding two of your employees who actually have lost their humanity and professionalism for especially being in a business with so much personal interaction with potential home buyers.
This letter is regarding the unethical behavior of New Home Consultant Ms. JoAnn Ryan & Sales Manager, Mr.

Matthew Stepanek.
I just cannot even process what I experienced while in the process of purchasing one of your new properties in Montrose MN on WhiteTail Lane.
The bottom line here, is on Thursday March 24th, 2022, I visited your site to specifically see the home that was on the website for $289,900, accompanied with my real estate agent and my son.
My real-estate agent set time and day up with Ms. JoAnn Ryan. I live in Apple Valley, MN. I drove just about over an hour out to see the property.

I come up to the development and Ms. JoAnn shows up and parks in front of a different townhome address than the one I specifically drove all the way to view.
We asked her at least 3 times before going into this different townhouse "where is the townhome for $289,900 that I am interested in?"
She stated to me and my son; "Oh! That sold last night". That struck me as strange because why didnt she convey that to me or to my agent before I made the drive all the way out.

And, as she is taking us to this different new townhouse, she kept repeating to me that I have to sign the paper work because all the properties were increasing by $10,000 at the end of the day.
I just could not believe what I was hearing. She stated in our group text the evening before that the $10,000 increase was not going into place until April 1st 2022!!!!
My agent and I and my son, walked through the townhome that was at 1032 White Tail Lane. Well this one was $319,900.
Ms. Joann was just so unprofessional from the start.

She started by telling me she needs the $1000 earnest check now so I will get this townhome and again, the price increases by $10,000 at the end of business day, on all the properties.
Ms. Joann overshared her personal, health and private family life to the point I just felt uncomfortable.
When we asked to use the restroom, she sent my son out to her van to get some toilet paper!!!!!
Then I asked her again about the townhome for $289,900. Again, she said these houses are just selling so fast and she has been working late, late nights to keep up.
She just did not seem "all there". She kept repeating herself, asking me the same questions twice.

Just really disconnected.
To convey my point and open your eyes to the most horrible experience I have ever had with purchasing anything from buying a cup of coffee to buying a car.
Long story short; since Ms. JoAnn told me that the property I originally drove to see and buy was sold, then I moved on to buy the one at 1032 white tail lane for $319,900.
Keep in mind, this is a $30,000 difference between the house I wanted and the one I was going to buy.
I signed all the paperwork and she said my husband would have to drive back to sign. My agent couldnt understand why we just cannot utilize DocuSign?
My husband was on a plane back home from business trip that evening. So Ms.

Joann stated she would send the paper work for him to sign but it had to be signed tonight (Thursday) before the $10,000.00 increase kicks in.
She told me we had a move in date of 04/27/22. I told her that is so soon could she extend it by at least a month?
We are living in an apartment and we will need to break the lease, which costs $2500.
Ms. Joann stated she could not give us anymore time. She told me when I get home,
I should tell my landlord, we purchased a house and we are moving out on 04/27/22 and I am giving my notice (By the way, my landlord requires 1 60 day notice upon moving out).

Well I did just that.
Well, just hang in there Mr. Lipar. Here is where the whole thing blows up.
Keep in mind we pay $2000 a month for rent and how much I'm going to be stuck with because I'm not able to give the required 60 days notice, because that the only date Ms.
JoAnn could work out for me.
I get a text message from Ms. JoAnn after my husband had just finished signing all the paperwork online that her Manager caught this in his "job"!!!!: The townhome I did a walkthrough with my real estate agent and my son that afternoon with her, WAS ACTUALLY SOLD!!!!!
She texted me and left me a voicemail the same evening after my husband signed the paper work, stating that the property we walked through (1032 white tail lane), which we already signed the paper work for, with the understanding this is the property I am purchasing is SOLD!!!!
In her voicemail, she conveyed she is sending us new paper work to sign for a property that was on the corner lot, and that it was exactly the same floor plan, but different address.
While in her text, she asked me to call her back right away.
I call her, it is 8:30 PM and she stated to me the address my husband and I signed paperwork for is actually sold.
I just could not believe this because she sent me new paperwork to sign online that evening for the property that is just on the corner and it is the same view and exact same floor plan.

I asked her if she was joking me.
I said I am not going to sign paperwork for $319,900 for a house and not physically walk through it!!!! Who would be asked to do such a thing by a real estate agent????
FYI, all this time, regarding her big mistake, she has never contacted my real estate agent, to make her aware of this.
Ms. JoAnn, said it's not really a big deal. She would sign it if it was her.
I asked her "Are you making my mortgage payments?"
I asked to speak with the manager.

I told him I do just not understand how this could have gone so wrong within hours!!!!
He was very rude, and short tempered and said that it's sold. I happened to mention that I originally had come to see the $289.900 home and he tells me it's still available!!!!!
I'm like, what? I proceeded to tell him JoAnn assured me it was sold the evening before (Wednesday 03/23/22).
Oh, no he said, it is still available. I believe Ms.

JoAnn was on the line also so I asked her if this is true! She said, she thought I was only interested in the 1032 White Tail lane home.
I am asking her did you lie to me? She just would not answer me, but the manager was on the line and said if I'm interested in that one, then I have to come back tomorrow ( Friday) and he will honor the original price even though the $10,000 increase had already kicked in on Thursday.
I asked Ms. JoAnn what that view was like in the $289,900 one.

She said it wasn't like it is in the $321,900 one and her manager is whispering to her in the background "tell her yes it is"!!!!
This was seriously disturbing, unethical and very unprofessional. I just could not believe this is for real.
To the leadership and higher management of LGI homes:
Eric Lipar, Mike Snider, Charles Merdian, Jack Lipar, Rachel Eaton, Scott Garber;
My husband and me did not sleep all night as we could not believe what we are hearing and experiencing. This does not match up and represent your core values.
I drive out again on Friday. I had an infusion Dr.

appointment that I had to cancel last minute because Ms. Joann said Friday is her day off and I had to come back at 10:00 am to go through the home I originally inquired about but she lied to me and told me it was sold.
I came back, my agent was with me. She stated, she has never worked with such unprofessional and unethical people like this ever!
We met with Ms. JoAnn and she was not talking at all.

Then I asked her why she lied to me about the other house? She said, "Lori I'm human, we all make mistakes."
(Hello, we are talking about a $30,000 mistake, not a small amount 30 or 300 dollars amount! This was planned).
Ah! This was not a mistake regarding the $289,900 property, it's called unethical GREED.
Knowing all of this happened, I still wanted to proceed and buy a house.

So, I told her, I would move forward to purchase the home she showed us on Friday (which keep in mind, this is the one she told me, it was sold).
I told her I will move forward but I want an upgraded refrigerator and washer and dryer for the way she lied to me and messed everything from the get go. She said she could not do that. I asked her if there is a manager to talk to and she responded that they are all off today.
Then she proceeded to call Mr. Matthew Stepanek.

All I can say is these two particular individuals do not represent your business in a good light.
Mr. Stepanek was actually yelling at me on speakerphone. He told me he is not doing anything more for me, and that Ms. JoAnn did make a mistake and if I did not sign the paper work for this home now, it will be $10,000 more when I walk away.
He quoted, yelling: we dont need your business Lori, maybe you should think about taking it somewhere else!
That was it!!!

My agent and I walked out!
Obviously, your people are hiding something. Just wanted me to be on my way because they both knew they messed up and messed up in a terrible way.
Once I got home after leaving your property, I called my husband and he just could not believe what just took place.
My husband nor my son has ever spoke to me like this man did!!!
We just were taken back by all of this!
My agent called your HR office regarding these employees but no one has reached out as of yet.
Mr. Lipar,
I am not upset with you personally, I love your homes, I loved the property but now I would never entertain the thought of purchasing anything from LGI homes because of the dishonesty and unethical ways I have been treated as a home buyer.
I hope you will take this seriously at how these employees are representing your business. I would appreciate a call back from you as well after you have read this and what I'm supposed to do now about giving notice to my landlord and giving them $2500 to break my lease and now where do I go from here.

This has disrupted our life in a terrifying and chaotic way now. I need to find a home before April 27th or another apartment to rent and move all our stuff from our 3 bedroom apartment.
OMG, this is too much for anyone to have to go through when all I was doing was looking at a new build and was lied to my face about it actually being sold.
Your company has lost my faith and trust.
I plan to post this letter in your reviews and other social media sites, but I will be respectful until I hear from you!
"Jaded New Home Buyer"
Lori Br