Angry Schertz homeowners decry lack of progress
In the Fairhaven subdivision in Schertz, the faults are readily apparent in this Pulte-built community: cracking walls, sidewalks, driveways and more."We have let them in our house multiple times to fix our problems and now ... my foundation is patched,” Hollestelle said. “They call it fixed."... Janet Ahmad, of Homeowners for Better Building, said builders are not held accountable for mistakes. "They get nothing when they build a bad house,” Ahmad said. “They don't get a ticket, they don't lose their license.

Buyer Had Adequate ‘Clickthrough' Notice of Terms
An AT&T customer will have to arbitrate claims individually, rather than pursue class claims in court, after a federal court decided March 26 that an online “clickthrough” process provided adequate notice of an arbitration agreement.  The plaintiff, Richard Sherman, sought to litigate an overcharge claim against AT&T Inc. in federal district court on behalf of a class...The online registration notice to the plaintiff did not explicitly mention the arbitration clause, the court acknowledged. But it did say, “other conditions and restrictions apply,”

Americans brace for next foreclosure wave
Half a decade into the deepest U.S. housing crisis since the 1930s, many Americans are hoping the crisis is finally nearing its end. House sales are picking up across most of the country, the plunge in prices is slowing and attempts by lenders to claim back properties from struggling borrowers dropped by more than a third in 2011, hitting a four-year low.

U.S. Battles Home Builder Over Pay Probe
The Labor Department has stepped up pressure on PulteGroup Inc. in what has become a nasty battle between the Michigan-based home builder and the Obama administration over an investigation into the housing industry's pay practices. The department filed a petition in federal district court in Michigan on Feb. 28 seeking to compel Pulte to produce thousands of records related to its employees and subcontractors, as requested in a subpoena it sent the company last year. ...Federal officials issued the subpoena as part of a broader investigation into pay practices of at least five national home-building companies. Related article: U.S. Hits Builders With Pay Probe       Pulte Homes Under U.S. Labor Dept. Investigation
The Boston Global: Pulte Homes contractors fined for failing to pay workers and taxes    

Stablewood Farms residents say builder never told about old sewer plant
Several homeowners in a southwest San Antonio neighborhood say they were not told their homes were built over an old sewer treatment plant and are demanding the builder buy back the homes. Residents in Stablewood Farms, some wearing radiation suits and gas masks, were waving signs in protest on Monday outside the D.R. Horton corporate officers.

Residents fear another retaining wall disaster
Residents living in the Fairhaven subdivision have been asking builder Pulte to buy back their homes for awhile now. They told News 4 WOAI they are concerned a retaining wall in their neighborhood could come tumbling down. "I feel this is unsafe, the wall is already starting to separate, " said homeowner Bruce Touve. Neighbors said the cracks and separation along the retaining walls isn't sitting well with them.

Fairhaven residents: Dream home a nightmare; Pulte should pay
“The last thing we need is to have this wall come crumbling down into our bedroom," Mendoza says. “I wake up in the middle of the night. I wake up in the morning thinking about it.”  Related photos: Building Pulte Walls with no Foundation

Homeowners seeking vote on builders rules

Some homeowners are calling for a ballot measure that would require builders to post surety bonds on every new home. The Schertz proposal would require home builders to post a $25,000 surety bond to cover home repairs if a builder did not address the problems. Homeowners hope to gather 925 signatures, enough to get the proposal on the May ballot.They estimate that of 210 homes in Phases II and III of the Fairhaven neighborhood, 70 have reported problems. More than 40 residents have asked the builder to buy back their homes. Baldwin said the city is willing to talk about changing ordinances. And he said he's sympathetic to the idea of a home lemon law. That's something the advocacy group Homeowners for Better Building, which is advising some of the Fairhaven owners, has been fighting for in Austin.  Related Features: Pulte Homes Foundation

Homeowners win $13.6M in arbitration against Del Webb
An arbitration panel has awarded homeowners in the Sun City Grand community in Surprise $13.6 million as compensation for construction defects at homes built by Del Webb Communities Inc. The binding arbitration covers 460 homes. Del Webb spokeswoman Jacque Petroulakis said the arbitrators awarded just $7.8 million to the homeowners involved and $5.7 million for attorney's fees, expert fees and cost. She said the original claim, filed in 2008, asked for $52 million, substantially more than ultimately was awarded.

Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee (Chairman Murray) 
22% of homeowners are under water. Oversight by HUD is important.  Senator Collins: Homelessness is a priority is a top priority.  Troubling Codes, cases of code violations, substandard property... HUD has an obligation to oversee the use of federal funds...  It's appalling...
View Hearing - March 1, 2012 Hearing on FY13 HUD Budget

Home Prices Hit New Depths
Home prices fell to fresh lows in December, but economists say that a drop in the number of homes listed for sale could help stabilize prices in parts of the country this year. Home prices fell by 4% last year, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index that tracks 20 metro areas. Prices dropped by 1.1% for the three-month period ending in December compared with the same period ending in November.That was slightly better than November's reading, when prices were down 1.3% from October.

Officials tour damaged Schertz homes
Several residents of a Schertz subdivision whose homes have cracked foundations and various structural problems opened those homes to local officials Saturday... The homeowners say they believe shifting soil beneath their homes is causing various structural problems, such as cracks in foundations, slabs, walls, ceilings, floors, driveways and sticking doors and windows.  Scagliola, who visited a half a dozen homes, said he didn't want to assign any blame to anyone, but he hoped that Pulte would do the right thing and address the homeowners' problems.

Nov 26,2001 Department of Veteran Affairs look into "a hybrid of the accepted foundation systems"
The Department of Justice investigated Pulte foundation failures in 2001. Residents of the Pulte-Centex Fairhaven Subdivision located in Schertz again call for an investigation for the substandard homebuilding in their community built by Pulte. Homeowners submitted letters to Pulte Homes requesting buy back of their homes in the Fairhaven subdivision.  Fairness For Fairhaven NOW is seeking redress for extensive faulty foundations and subsequesnt diminished home values. 

Fairhaven Homeowners To Picket Grand Opening Festivities Saturday
Fairhaven homeowners with broken foundations and faulty construction, will stage a protest at the Grand Opening of the New Cibolo Valley Subdivision by Centex, a division of the Pulte Group.  Pulte Fairhaven Homes Construction Defects & Protests

Homeowners hold open house to air complaints
A group of frustrated homeowners in the Fairhaven neighborhood opened their doors Saturday, leading several public officials on a tour of shifting foundations, cracked drywall and broken tile. Seventeen homeowners planted “Open House” signs in their front yards in hopes of bringing attention to their ongoing dispute with builder Pulte Homes.  Common complaints included sticking doors and foundation cracks that slice through the center of homes. Homeowners estimate that of 210 homes in Phases II and III of the neighborhood, 70 have reported problems.“We bought new construction because we thought we would not have all of these problems,” said Heather Camelio.