Overview
Dream Finders Homes is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, where it was founded in 2008. Florida is the company's largest and most established market, with active communities in the Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida metropolitan areas. DFH has faced multiple individual construction defect lawsuits in Florida courts, particularly in St. Johns County and Clay County (source: UniCourt and Trellis.Law court records).
Florida's Right to Repair Act (Chapter 558) and the state's common-law implied warranty of habitability create a legal framework that applies to Dream Finders home purchases. Florida courts have found implied warranty of habitability waivers unenforceable in some cases, which may affect the enforceability of DFH's contractual warranty limitations.
How Florida Law Affects Your Contract
The following analysis examines how Dream Finders Homes's documented contract patterns interact with Florida consumer protection law.
Florida Right to Repair Act (Chapter 558)
Florida Statutes §§ 558.001–558.005 require homeowners to provide 60 days' written notice to the contractor before filing a construction defect lawsuit. The builder has the right to inspect the property and offer a repair. This pre-litigation requirement applies to Dream Finders purchase agreements regardless of the contract's own dispute resolution provisions.
Implied Warranty of Habitability
Florida courts recognize an implied warranty that new homes will be habitable and constructed in a workmanlike manner (Gable v. Silver, 258 So. 2d 11, Fla. 1972). Dream Finders' contractual waiver of implied warranties (HAB-001) may face enforceability challenges in Florida, as state courts have found such waivers unenforceable in certain circumstances.
Arbitration Provisions Under Florida Law
Mandatory arbitration clauses are generally enforceable in Florida, though specific provisions have been found unconscionable. Dream Finders has compelled arbitration in construction defect cases, including the Silver Meadows matter in Colorado. Buyers should review whether the arbitration clause in their Florida purchase agreement limits discovery, restricts damages, or designates a forum outside Florida.
Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA)
FDUTPA (Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201–501.213) prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce. If Dream Finders or its affiliated lender Jet HomeLoans made misleading representations during the sales process, this statute may provide a cause of action. FDUTPA claims may be asserted even if the purchase agreement contains an arbitration clause.
Affiliated Lender Considerations Under Florida Law
Dream Finders operates Jet HomeLoans and Golden Dog Title & Trust in Florida. Under RESPA, buyers are not required to use the builder's affiliated lender or title company. Florida buyers should compare Jet HomeLoans rates and fees with independent lenders and verify that incentives tied to using affiliated services do not result in higher overall transaction costs.
Florida Legal History
Selected cases and investigations involving Dream Finders Homes in Florida.
Dream Finders has been named as defendant in numerous individual construction defect lawsuits in Florida, particularly in St. Johns County and Clay County, alleging design and construction deficiencies, building code violations, and concealment of defects. Cases include Heintzman v. DFH (2021), Guggilam v. DFH, Jordan Burks v. DFH, Levings v. DFH, and others filed in the Seventh Judicial Circuit (source: UniCourt and Trellis.Law court records).
Relevant Florida Laws
Requires a 60-day written notice to the contractor before filing a construction defect lawsuit, giving the builder an opportunity to inspect and offer a repair.
Florida courts recognize an implied warranty that new homes will be habitable and constructed in a workmanlike manner. Contractual waivers of this warranty may be found unenforceable.
Florida maintains one of the most comprehensive building codes in the United States, with particular emphasis on hurricane and wind resistance standards.
Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce, providing consumers with a cause of action for misleading representations during the home sales process.
Florida Key Facts
- 1Florida courts have found implied warranty of habitability waivers unenforceable in some cases.
- 2Mandatory arbitration is generally enforceable, though specific provisions have been found unconscionable.
- 3Florida's building code is among the most comprehensive in the U.S., particularly for hurricane resistance.
- 4The right-to-repair statute requires 60-day notice before suing for construction defects.
- 5Florida has a 4-year statute of limitations for construction defect claims and a 10-year statute of repose.
- 6Builders in Florida must be licensed under the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
What Florida Buyers Should Know
- Comply with Florida's 60-day notice requirement. Florida's Right to Repair Act requires 60 days' written notice to the builder before filing a construction defect lawsuit. Document all defects with photographs, dates, and written descriptions before sending notice.
- Know that Florida recognizes an implied warranty of habitability. Florida courts recognize an implied warranty that new homes will be habitable and constructed in a workmanlike manner. This provides a baseline level of protection beyond what is written in the Dream Finders purchase agreement.
- Be aware of Florida's statutes of limitation and repose. Florida has a 4-year statute of limitations for construction defect claims and a 10-year statute of repose. If you discover defects, document them promptly and consult an attorney to ensure your claims are timely.
- Compare Jet HomeLoans terms with outside lenders. Verify that any incentives offered for using Jet HomeLoans do not come at the cost of higher overall financing costs. Compare interest rates, closing costs, and total monthly payments with at least two independent lenders.
- Hire an independent inspector given DFH's Florida litigation history. Dream Finders has faced multiple construction defect lawsuits in Florida courts. If the contract restricts third-party inspections, negotiate for that right in writing before signing the purchase agreement.