Navigating Kitec Plumbing in Today’s Market (A Recent Closing in Stoneridge, Roseville)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B4_C2wKOCk

We just closed on a property in Stoneridge, Roseville, and it highlighted a situation that comes up more often than people think—navigating a home with Kitec Plumbing.

What Is Kitec Plumbing?

Kitec is a type of PEX plumbing that was commonly used in homes built in the early 2000s.

PEX itself is a flexible, cost-effective alternative to copper and is widely used today. Many brands perform well and are considered reliable.

Kitec, however, was part of a class action lawsuit due to a higher rate of failure—especially at the fittings, which could lead to leaks over time.

Because of this history, Kitec has become a known concern in real estate transactions.

Why It Matters in a Sale

In this case, the seller was the original owner and had never experienced any issues with the plumbing.

From their perspective, it was out of sight, out of mind.

But from a buyer’s perspective, it can raise concerns.

Some buyers won’t consider homes with Kitec at all.

Others will move forward but want it replaced.

And some are comfortable taking on the risk as-is.

There’s no right or wrong approach—it really comes down to each buyer’s comfort level.

How We Navigated It

For this transaction, the buyers wanted to replace the Kitec plumbing after closing.

So, we:

• Gathered multiple quotes from licensed plumbers

• Used those estimates to negotiate

• Secured a credit from the seller toward the buyer’s closing costs

This allowed the buyers to move forward with the purchase while planning to replace the plumbing immediately after closing.

Key Takeaways

Situations like this are all about communication, education, and problem solving.

Kitec doesn’t automatically kill a deal—but it does require a thoughtful approach.

Understanding the risk, aligning expectations, and structuring the right solution is what ultimately gets the deal across the finish line.

Final Thoughts

Every home has its nuances.

The goal isn’t to avoid every issue—it’s to navigate them correctly.

With the right strategy, even properties with known concerns can successfully close.

Kyle Wells, Realtor®

KWells Group Real Estate

Brokered by eXp Realty of California, Inc.

915 Highland Pointe Dr STE 250

Roseville, CA 95678

📞 916-778-8659

🌐 www.kwellsgroup.com

DRE #02145088

Serving Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis & surrounding Placer County communities