It is inescapable that all homes have their own unique warts. Ocean Hills Country Club is a beautiful 55+ community located in Oceanside CA, built between 1984 and 1999 and some of the homes there share common ‘warts’, if you will. This common issue has to do with the original plumbing that the builder installed as they constructed the homes.
The Original Plumbing Materials
As many of these homes were built in the earlier phases of the development of the community, plumbing pipes were installed in the concrete slabs of the homes. Polybutylene – or plastic – plumbing pipes were utilized inside the homes as well.
Many of the homes within the community began to experience leaks, so much so that a construction lawsuit was filed against the builder. In 1996 a settlement was reached and the homeowners were all awarded a monetary sum. Many OHCC residents used this settlement award to re-pipe their homes with copper pipes, routed through the attic space, abandoning the plumbing in the concrete slabs as well as the plastic polybutylene pipes.
How to Tell if a Home Has Been Re-Piped
While most of the homeowners within the community have made this modification over time, there still remain some homes that have the original plumbing in place.
How would a person know if a home has been re-piped? In many cases it is easy to see where the newer copper pipes have been rerouted through the garage and often times the copper pipes can be seen in the attic as well. However, in some of the floor plans it can be more difficult to discern if the re-piping has taken place.
Since this is a mature community, many properties have gone through several changes of homeownership and the issues of whether or not the home has been re-piped in copper has become blurred.
If we’re considering one of the floor plans that makes it difficult to discern discover what the plumbing consists of, we can ask the seller about the status. If the seller does not know – which does happen – then we would need to instruct the Home Inspector to check on this issue.
We have been told by a very reputable plumbing company who has done a lot of work within Ocean Hills Country Club for decades, that it is nearly physically impossible to attach polybutylene to copper pipes, so if we see copper pipes present in the home, it is a good indicator that it has been re-piped. However, we never know what is behind walls and we cannot open up walls to check.
What Sellers Must Disclose
It is important to know that home sellers are not obligated to re-pipe a home before it transfers to a new homeowner. They are obligated to disclose all that they know about the community and the home, including whether or not it has been re-piped and if there are any repaired or active leaks.
Some sellers know that their home still has the original plumbing. We’ve had these sellers tell us that they aren’t concerned because the home has existed since it was built without any issues. Just know that as time marches onward, the chances of plumbing leaks increase due to material breakdown.
The Impact of Hard Water in San Diego
San Diego does have very hard water, and this type of water has a corrosive effect on plumbing pipes. This is true of any home in San Diego, not just Ocean Hills Country Club. One remedy to this is to install a water softening system in your new home.
What Buyers Should Do
If you’re buying a home at Ocean Hills Country Club:
- Ask about the re-piping history early in your due diligence.
- Hire an experienced home inspector
- Budget for potential upgrades if original plumbing is present.
Knowledgeable representation is key when buying in a 55+ community like OHCC. Having an experienced local Realtor® who understands these details can help you make informed decisions — and negotiate accordingly.
Work With an Experienced Ocean Hills Country Club Realtor®
If you would like to schedule a tour of the community or have any questions on any aspect of buying a home in Ocean Hills Country Club, we’d love to help.
Schedule a Personal Tour: dreamwellhomes.com/ocean-hills-country-club/schedule-tour/
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Ready to Find Your Forever Home in San Diego?
Contact Jean and Ken Tritle, the husband-and-wife real estate team behind DreamWell Homes Realty— your trusted guide to traditional construction (stick-built) premier San Diego 55+ communities real estate.
Whether you’re downsizing, relocating, or searching for the perfect active adult community, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Call or Text: 760-798-9024
Email: jeanken@dreamwellhomes.com
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★★★★★ Ken Tritle, Ocean Hills Country Club Realtor® Reviews ★★★★★
Ken was a delight to work with, he was patient and knowledgeable about real estate and specifically about Ocean Hills Country Club! He knew trades people to help with work and walked me through the process with easy to understand explanations. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a professional real estate agent and most specifically for Ocean Hills! – Cathy Carey
Contact Ken Tritle: Ready for a personal tour of Ocean Hills Country Club? Contact Ken Tritle at DreamWell Homes Realty for unparalleled service and guidance.
Call or Text: 760-798-9024
Email: jeanken@dreamwellhomes.com
