The Associated Press Appraiser sentenced in real-estate fraud SPOKANE — A real-estate appraiser has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and must repay $287,796 to his victims of real-estate fraud... Hansen, who operated his own appraisal business, inflated appraisals on homes purchased by vulnerable buyers, U.S. Attorney James McDevitt said.
Foreclosures–One Texas County exceeds California, West Virginia, Montana and Hawaii Combined
Friday, 18 March 2005
Texas leads the nation in total home foreclosures Texas has earned bragging rights in a dubious arena: Homeowners went to foreclosure in 2004 in total numbers that far exceeded any other state.While the state was laying claim to No. 1, Bexar County had more residential foreclosures in December than California, West Virginia, Montana and Hawaii combined.
Court rules on Arbitration - Wife and children are not bound to arbitration
Friday, 18 March 2005
HISTORY MAKING COURT DESICION Husband Bound by Arbitration Agreement, But Wife, Child Are Not A mobile home owner must arbitrate both contract and mold tort claims arising from alleged defects and mold exposure, but his wife and child were not parties to the purchase agreement and can pursue personal injury claims in court, a Louisiana appellate court ruled Feb. 16. Snyder v. Belmont Homes Inc., No. 2004 CA 0445 (La. App., 1st Cir.).
Frisco Charter Amendments to Regulate Homebuilders
Wednesday, 16 March 2005
Inside Collin County Business Frisco’s future could hinge on vote Residents in Frisco will soon decide the future of the homebuilding industry in their hometown. Two charter amendments are on the May ballot and their passage will either be the salvation for homeowners or an abomination to Frisco and the homebuilding industry. There is no question that it is important as both sides are gearing up for a fight to convince voters that their position is correct.
Dallas Morning News Editorial Home Buyers need to know about Bad Builders
Saturday, 12 March 2005
Dallas Morning News Editorial How's the American Dream? Home buyers need to know about bad builders Sugar Land. Frisco. Georgetown. Rooftops keep popping up all over Texas. About 140,000 of them last year. But not all those new homes are satisfying home owners. Walls crack. Foundations shift. Builders even walk off the job. If you're investing in the American Dream, this is not what you expect... reformers want more, pushing House Bill 662 in Austin...We like this bill because it gives home buyers power to make informed decisions. They could determine whether their builder has put up shoddy residences... Perhaps naturally, the home builder lobby doesn't want the bill because its members would be held to yet another standard. But you'd think most builders would want this latest reform. The measure would further weed out bad builders, whom surely most home builders don't want spoiling their industry's reputation... State Affairs needs to pass this measure soon so the full House can approve it. Eissler - HB 662 See video of hearing (time 1:05) House State Affairs Hearing on HB662
KB Home and others investigated for insurance kickbacks
Saturday, 12 March 2005
Garamendi digs deeper into alleged kickbacks Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi this week subpoenaed some of the largest real estate and mortgage firms operating in California as he stepped up his investigation of alleged kickbacks for homeowners' title insurance. In the latest round of a multistate investigation of title insurance, Garamendi subpoenaed KB Home of Los Angeles, William Lyon Homes of Newport Beach, Colorado-based Re/Max, United Home Mortgage Corp. of Indiana, Shea Financial Services of Aliso Viejo, and San Francisco's Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
HOBBBoard Member Registers as “Cheetum Custom Homes” Jo Hayman, board member and Dallas/Fort Worth representative of HomeOwners for Better Building (HOBB), exposed the ease of becoming a builder in Texas when she registered as a builder doing business as “Cheetum Custom Homes.” When asked what it took to be a builder in Texas, Hayman responded, “$125, a social security number and absolutely no knowledge of how to construct a house."
The Dallas Morning News 2 proposals aim to protect homeowners from construction flaws Two proposed charter amendments aimed at giving homeowners protection against faulty construction will be on Frisco's May 7 ballot... "We're excited despite the delayed tactics of the city," said Carolyn Becka,... "We're pleased the amendments have been placed on the ballot so the citizens can vote on these important issues."
Placid Frisco has its own version of a political uprising
...the underlying theme of the Beckas' message is that life in the gated enclaves of Frisco is not what it's cracked up to be. Frisco City Hall is too boot-lickingly subservient to the home-building industry, they say. It has created an atmosphere where dream homes become nightmares and home buyers are without recourse... The Beckas are proposing changes to the Frisco city charter to provide home buyers with more ammunition in shootouts with builders...Twice the number of people who voted in the last general election in Frisco have signed petitions saying that home builders have too much power, too much sway, too much advantage at Frisco City Hall.
Hundreds of residents dissatisfied with home builders It is quite likely the biggest investment you'll ever make, but it shouldn't cost you everything. Hundreds of Tennessee home buyers are filing complaints about mold and water leaking into their brand new homes. The problems are eating away at their investments and making their families sick. When you buy a brand new home you don't expect it to leak.
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Reduce Consumer Rights When American consumers sign contracts — for credit cards, bank loans, mortgages or telephone service — language in the fine print often waives their right to employ the full extent of the law should the company violate the contract...The fine print of many contracts says consumers "waive the right to go to court" to resolve any disputes about a product or service. They are instead committed to binding arbitration... Claybrook says the system is flawed. "The process completely favors the corporation," she said. "The corporation does repeat business with the arbitration company and if the company routinely finds in favor of consumers or gives large awards to consumers, they don't get used again."
Home builder dispute intensifies It seems reasonable that a bomb in your yard is worth complaining about, but a dispute in Arlington shows that doing so can get you in trouble with the law and with homebuilders. One homeowner insisted, "Is somebody gonna have to be injured, maimed, killed? What's it going to have to take to get some action?" The Army Corps of Engineers has been looking at the problem for years. "No one really foresaw that someone would be building subdivisions in these areas," said Dwayne Ford of the Army Corps of Engineers. When Southridge Hills was built, bombs had been cleared from the surface, but there were many more underground. Soon, the Corps of Engineers will begin digging for them. See Video:WFAA's Bryan Harris Investigates KB Home & Bombs
Groups Launch Nationwide Effort to Stop Use of Binding Mandatory Arbitration Clauses
Saturday, 26 February 2005
Stop Use of Binding Mandatory Arbitration Clauses At a press conference, the groups released a 10-point platform for action, which includes the unveiling of two educational Web sites, a call for state and federal legislation, and a campaign to encourage consumers to avoid doing business with companies that use BMA clauses. Give Me Back My Rights - www.givemebackmyrights.orgCall Before You Buy - www.callbeforeyoubuy.com See List ofParticipating Organizations and Press Release
Home 
Washington Post
