‘Where’s the golf course?’: Angry Houston residents slam developer of luxury golf community after paying thousands of dollars for services, amenities they never received
When Jennifer Chao moved into her Mediterranean Forest community in 2020, she was promised a luxury golf course community with high-end amenities. However, she quickly realized something wasn't right.
To start, the home she paid $300,000 for didn't match the floor plan she was given. Many of the luxury amenities, including a golf course, didn't exist — and still haven't been built.
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"They said this is a good location, and also a luxury house … Marti Golf Luxury Homes … but where's the golf course?" Chao said to Fox 26 reporters.
She's not alone. Other residents of the Mediterranean Forest neighborhood in southwest Houston express similar frustrations. Some say they’ve experienced issues with the water service, and have received notices of water shutoffs due to non-payment — despite not receiving regular water bills. In some situations, residents are being asked to pay thousands of dollars to restore water access, only to find the city doesn't provide water service for their location.
Residents who claim they paid thousands to live in a luxury community with a golf course and lake are instead dealing with a broken gate, dirty pond, clogged drains and overgrown grass. City inspectors and District F Council Member Tiffany Thomas have been in the area to observe the issues. They are calling on the developers and the homeowner’s association leaders to take accountability.
“No one wants to spend $300,000 on a home and then face potential liens due to issues with a non-existent management company and an abandoned developer," Thomas said during her visit.
As of publication, the developer and community management company hadn’t responded to Fox 26's request for comment.
‘Financial mismanagement could lead to home liens’
In addition to the frustrating lack of amenities, homeowners in Mediterranean Forest could face liens on their property through no fault of their own. The water shut-off notices, for example, could indicate that the management company is failing to pay utilities on behalf of the community. Utility companies may place a lien on the properties to recover the unpaid bills.
The lack of a golf course could signal larger issues if they’re due to the developer failing to pay contractors. If the developers have failed to fulfill their contracts, those creditors may file liens against individual properties — even if the homeowners aren't responsible for those debts.
Under Texas law, a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier can file a mechanics lien to secure payment for labor or materials they have provided to a project. This lien can be placed on the property itself, making it difficult for the owner to sell or refinance until the debt is settled.
Right now, homeowners in the Mediterranean Forest neighborhood are stuck and unsure how to hold the developer and the property owner’s association accountable for the missing amenities and other challenges.
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What recourse do homeowners in similar situations have?
The homeowners impacted have already taken several steps, including contacting their local authorities and sharing their experience with local news stations. With these steps, they aim to pressure the developer and property owner's association to take action. Several additional steps may help mitigate financial and legal risks for these residents and others facing similar challenges.
Reviewing the contracts can help residents understand the developer’s and associations’ obligations regarding construction and amenities. Next, request access to the association's financial records. By law, property owners’ associations must make these records open and “reasonably available” to owners. These documents may also provide additional contacts or mediation steps residents can leverage to resolve the issues.
Before taking legal steps, homeowners are generally required to file an internal dispute resolution (IDR) document. This is an informal process where the homeowner and the property association work to resolve the issue. The property owners' association contracts should explain how this process works.
Finally, consider getting legal representation. Navigating the laws around property liens and disputes is complicated. Most property associations and developers have their own legal representation, so it’s important to have someone to fight for your rights.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
