BARNEGAT – Township officials announced last week they are doing everything they can to get residents into their newly purchased homes at Escapes Ocean Breeze.
“I’ve sent a couple of letters to the attorney for Paramount,” shared Barnegat Township Attorney Christopher Dasti. “We have spent a great deal of time and work laying out a roadmap for the developer to get TCOs (temporary certificates of occupancy) on the current homes under construction or built.”
More than half a dozen prospective township residents have expressed their frustration with Paramount Homes, the project’s developer. A couple have lost lower point mortgage rates multiple times because of hold-ups in obtaining certificates of occupancy. Others are in limbo because they’ve sold another residence with expectations of moving into the luxury over 55 community.
At the Barnegat Township Committee’s July meeting, Dasti attributed the delay to Paramount’s failure to construct affordable housing units according to schedule.
A certificate of occupancy (CO) is standard fare with home purchases. Lenders won’t issue mortgages without them in place, although a TCO often suffices. Most people understand that a certificate of occupancy serves as documentation that a home meets standards and codes.
The non-issuance of COs hurts the builder’s pockets and impacts the collection of taxes. Town officials assert they’re not interested in holding things up and are ready, willing, and able to help people get into their homes.
“The township will not hold up a TCO because of the Affordable Housing Schedule,” Dasti said. “However, to my knowledge, the developer has not applied for any TCOs.”
The onus is on Paramount Homes to submit applications for the TCOs as they can’t be issued until the developer does so. Unfortunately, that means buyers can’t move into their retirement homes until the builder undertakes the process.
With the affordable housing issues no longer in the equation, homebuyers want to know what’s stopping the developer from applying for the TCOs. They question whether all other requirements have been met on the new home construction projects.
Illene Miller was at both the township committee’s July and August meetings and described her concerns. After Miller lost her husband, she decided to contract for a new home that better met her needs. She expressed her exasperation that delays on closing the deal could hit her hard financially and wanted to know what steps to take next.
Dasti suggested that Miller speak with her attorney about contacting the builder’s sales office stating she was ready to move in. He also responded to Miller’s inquiry concerning whether the developer would face fines or penalties.
“The Township is required by law to issue violations related to prior approvals,” said Dasti. “These violations would just accrue and not create a situation where the developer would have to pay the violations before you were free to move in.”
“The town would theoretically resolve the issues with the builder at some point in the future,” Dasti continued.
According to the Escapes Ocean Breeze website, six different styles of homes are available for sale within the community. The Manahawkin portion of the development is complete, and construction is continuing in the Barnegat section.
Neither representatives from Paramount Homes nor their attorneys were available for comment when this article was published.
