What started as a dream home purchase has turned into a costly nightmare for one Fernandina Beach couple, raising questions about the reliability of home inspections and the importance of buyer due diligence.

Dimitri Smaragdas purchased his manufactured home in January for $240,000, only to discover extensive damage, including toxic black mold, rotting walls, and a deteriorating roof. He faced nearly $70,000 in repairs.

“Two months ago, we had a pipe burst in the sink,” Smaragdas said. “We called the insurance company, they sent remediators out, but they stopped because they saw black mold on the floor.”

The situation worsened when investigators discovered an actively leaking water heater — an issue Smaragdas said should have been caught during the initial home inspection.

Mike Baker,

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