Builder rake in refunds
Several publicly traded companies, including Lennar Corp., Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. and Pulte Homes Inc., expect to rake in roughly $2.5 billion in federal tax refunds combined, according to company filings. Lawmakers amended the tax code last fall to help struggling companies stay in business by essentially giving them a greater opportunity to recoup previously paid taxes. The move has helped some of the biggest builders turn a profit for the first time in years. But some small builders say the souped-up tax break is primarily giving their large rivals yet another competitive edge. That's because the latest windfall looks less like a lifeline and more like a war chest. Several large builders are now sitting on more than $1 billion in cash and are snapping up tracts of land to be ready for the next building boom.

Rivermist hillside fix to begin

City OK's plan to stabilze Rivermist retaining wall
Centex has met with city officials to present a plan to stabilize the failing retaining wall in San Antonio's Hills of Rivermist subdivision.The company released information that described the sort of work needed to make the area secure from future landslides.They say the first stop included drilling and inserting several stabilizing piers in a pattern across the landslide area of the slope. According to Centex, the piers will stabilize the area so that soil and damaged portions of the wall can be removed.They will utilize 100 piers, or pins, which are 30 feet long and between 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Each of the pins has a nine-inch steel tube embedded with 4,000 psi concrete. Additional KENS 5 News Reports

Building inspectors in bribery investigation revealed
We've now uncovered the names of two City of San Antonio building inspectors who are the target of an on-going bribery investigation.  One of the inspectors in trouble is Ernest A. Martinez, a building inspection supervisor and a ten year veteran of the city's planning and development department.  The other is George Moreno, a senior electrical inspector.  Both resigned last November after the city took steps to fire them after investigating a complaint they accepted bribes from contractors in exchange for approving work they did not inspect.

Grand Homes in Trouble
Law enforcement officials have just confirmed that a HUD/RESPA complaint filed by certain Richardson Residents involving locally-based Grand Texas Homes, Inc. (GRAND) and its captive builder-controlled title company, Grand Title Company, LLC (GTC) involving illegal real estate settlement-related practices was successful. The complaint and ensuing investigation focused on selling, marketing, affiliated business disclosures, required title service provider practices and sales agreement provisions, and related business referral/kick-backs involving federally-related mortgage transactions associated with the Enclave of Breckinridge development in northeast Richardson. As the lead HUD/RESPA investigator in Washington, D.C. remarked when critical additional documents were provided by the two lead complainants, “YOU’VE MADE OUR CASE.”

United Home Owners of Rivermist
Feeling the heat from Rivermist residents, Pulte / Centex agrees to buy back 27 homes.  But is that enough?On Wednesday, March 10th, over 80 Rivermist residents, community leaders, and State Rep. David Leibowitz rallied and spoke with reporters to demand that Centex Homes and its parent company Pulte take full responsibility for the harm inflicted on the Rivermist community. Afraid of the negative publicity, Pulte /Centex released a statement to the press simultaneously announcing that they would offer to buy back the 27 homes that had their certificate of occupancy removed by city inspectors

A message from Janet Ahmad: Nations 7th Largest City and Largest Homebuilder Pulte-Centex Take Lots of Heat as Builder Buys Back Houses

AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN
See the latest on the Rivermist Community  See Photos

Rivermist Fun and Food
Rivermist Families held activities, ate together, and all had fun Saturday.  The community event was held in honor of the all displaced families. Little ones enjoyed the many activities and played with their friends.

Rancher fights city's own wall collapse
In the summer of the epically wet 2007, a city-owned retaining wall that sits between Pearsall Park and Ruiz's South Side ranch collapsed during a rainstorm, sending dirt and debris onto his property and into Leon Creek... While San Antonio rebuilt the damaged portions of the retaining wall and cleaned up its property, Ruiz said the city has done nothing to clean up his property, and he's still trying to recover. He lost between 40 and 50 large, old trees, including pecan, elm, hackberry, black walnut and mulberry. The pileup of dirt and debris also damaged fences, cut off access to 30 acres of grazing pasture and caused water to back up on his property, he said..."Here they have an ordinance about trees," Ruiz said. Former Mayor Phil "Hardberger is out there hugging trees, and they're here kicking me in the butt."

City owned a faulty retaining wall
After a tall retaining wall buckled in a San Antonio neighborhood, threatening dozens of homes, rancher Ernest Ruiz called us with a tip about another faulty retaining wall. Ruiz�s story had an interesting twist: The collapsed wall near his rural property hadn�t been constructed by Centex Homes or other homebuilders. This wall was owned by the city: From a mostly quiet tract of land surrounded by the hubbub of urban life, Ernest Ruiz has waged a nearly three-year fight against the city of San Antonio over the failure of a retaining wall.

Constructora comprara casas afectadas
Veintisiete propietarios recuperarn parte de su inversion en Rivermist   Video Report

Texas Representative David Leibowitz Calls on San Antonio City Members for Transparency and to Stop Issuing Permits
Rep. Leibowitz paid an official visit to City Leaders telling them… It is a slap in the face to the resident who are displaced to see new homes being constructed in the very neighborhood from which they are displaced. Stop the building and the issuing of permits until this matter is thoroughly investigated...As elected officials, we have to establish, and enforce, regulations to the extent necessary to protect the citizenry.  Unfortunately, the city has not been as strict historically, with the regulation of developers as many San Antonio residents would like...This incident, and the indecision which has followed, will irreparably damage their ability to sell their homes.
Read Letter to San Antonio City Council          

Homeowners: Too late to start over 
Homeowners from San Antonio's Northwest Side neighborhood that underwent a landslide had a few minutes apiece before a House committee today. The committee is considering the issue of consumers being required to agree that they'll take any claims to arbitration in deals such as home-purchase contracts. Janet Ahmad of HomeOwners for Better Building said the San Antonio homeowners' contracts had such clauses for all disputes. Cervantes said he used Centex's in-house mortgage and title services when he bought his home. Now, he said he must go to an arbitrator with his concerns and "I'm going to be at their mercy."Cervantes said it's too late for him, but he'd like to see the law changed to protect his children and grandchildren.

State Representative says City should toughen up on developers
State Representative David Leibowitz, D-District 117, is going to bat for dozens of homeowners living in limbo in the Northwest side subdivision. He is asking the Council take action to protect the family’s living near a cracked retaining wall.  “Stop the building and the issuing of permits until this matter is thoroughly investigated,” Leibowitz suggested to the Council. The Representative told Council members the saga in the subdivision could have been avoided had the City fully investigated concerns he and others raised three years ago about the quality of fill material used to develop the area. Leibowitz is also suggesting the city toughen up on the developers.