Shannon Woods development has problems, residents say
By James Kmosko
Residents of Shannon Woods, a housing development at the intersection of NC-150 and NC-16 business, have reported a variety of problems with the new community.
The development was launched by Lennar, the second-largest home building company in the United States. Shannon Woods will boast over 700 homes when it is completed. New home construction in the community has been constant for more than two years. Some residents believe the scale of the development has negatively affected the building quality.
“[The] homes are built with what I assume are toothpicks, because they fall apart,” wrote one resident. “[It is] literally the worst home I’ve ever purchased.”
Lennar offers a warranty with the sale of each of their new homes. The warranty generally covers defects in plumbing, electrical systems, structural issues, and appliances for several years. However, some Shannon Woods residents say that their claims went unanswered or were wrongly denied.
“They have neglected our claims about how the builder built our house,” a resident wrote. “The primary issue concerns the draining faucet on my countertop because of improper installation. The warranty department has been a glorified call center that keeps Lennar’s money safe. Many issues have not been resolved, and they don't care to help. I am heavily disappointed in this company.”
The only clear path to restitution for most residents is a warranty claim, but there is little that can be done if Lennar denies those claims. The deed signed by each homeowner in Shannon Woods prevents residents from taking legal action against Lennar in the case of any violation. Instead, residents must present their case before a neutral arbitrator. Buyers waive their right to a jury trial in the event that arbitration fails, agreeing, via the deed, to a trial by judge.
Lennar’s alleged communication issues are not limited to the warranty department. Residents claim that Lennar routinely ignores their emails and phone calls, especially concerning the maintenance of common areas.
“The problem is with Lennar as a whole and their lack of responsibility once your check clears,” wrote a resident. “I live next to a space that is supposed to be maintained by the developer. For over 8 months they have not cut or sprayed for weeds even though I am constantly reminding them to. The only thing they are consistent on is sending out notices and not returning emails.”
Shannon Woods residents reported similar issues with the neighborhood homeowner’s association, an organization currently run by Sentry Management, a Lennar subcontractor.
“[The] HOA is a piece of work. They never answer any communication, but extend violations left and right,” wrote one resident. “All common areas have dead sod and have been neglected.”
Other landscaping issues include extensive erosion, water drainage issues, and dead trees on residents’ lawns. As with the alleged construction issues, residents claim that Lennar has been uncommunicative and has not provided a resolution.
Lennar has also failed to respond to residents’ concerns about a community center that the developer promised to build in the heart of Shannon Woods, featuring an inground pool, fitness facility, and other amenities. Lennar currently expects the facility to be completed by “late 2025.”
“When my house was being built, the team promised that the community center would be completed by the summer of 2024,” a resident wrote. “But Lennar doesn't care about if the neighborhood looks nice or delivers on its promises. All it cares about is getting your money so they can build the next house with the cheapest labor they can find.”
Despite the alleged issues, some residents are satisfied with their homes.
“You may have an inconvenience or two,” wrote one resident. “But that is the price to pay for moving into a mass production built home. When it is all said and done, the value and location of this development is unmatched. You get a lot for your money. We are happy living here.”
Reports of problems in the development almost exclusively target Lennar or the HOA. Many of the residents find no issue with their neighbors and community.
“We absolutely love our neighbors and there are some incredible people that live here,” a resident wrote. “It’s amazing seeing the people of the community coming together to help one another when someone is in need.”
Issues with Lennar are not limited to Shannon Woods. According to nearly 700 verified reviews compiled by ConsumerAffairs, Lennar’s national brand has an average rating of 1.1 out of 5 stars.
A Facebook group with nearly 40,000 members is dedicated to documenting and providing help to those who have had trouble with homes in Lennar developments. Many of the complaints posted on the group’s page are similar to the complaints made by Shannon Woods residents.
Since 2020, Lennar has been the subject of at least four class-action lawsuits relating to questionable building practices, including at least one filed this year.
Both Lennar and Sentry Management were contacted for comment. At the time of publishing, neither company replied.