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ABC Special Report
Investigation: New Home Heartbreak
Trump - NAHB Homebuilders Shoddy Construction and Forced Arbitration

Property Rights Denied!
Protecting HOA Members' Rights is NOT The #1 Priority
of Managed Communities
The High Price of Managed Living, Books and Records Hidden
gives appearances of impropriety
Editorial Feature: Part One - Are Homeowners' Rights a Myth? 

Part Two: HOA Bureaucrats Overstep Their Authority

LATEST NEWS
Legacy homeowners upset with warranty follow-up
Wednesday, 22 December 2004

By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV…The fact is new car warranties, which commonly last three years, are a lot better than home warranties in Texas. After a year, Legacy and most other big builders said an owner's gripes are not their problem… And in addition to lasting just a year, warranties don't cover much. .."These warranties are limited so much that they don't resemble a warranty, but they become a disclaimer for the builder," said Janet Ahmad of Homeowners for Better Building. "(They're) not a protection for the homebuyer..."                                                                                                   

12/21/04 WFAA Ch8 Legecy homeowners upset with Warranty 
12/1/04 Report Video: Byron Harris reports 
                                  

Read more...
 
Be careful what you ask for in Texas
Thursday, 16 December 2004

           Texas Homeowners with defective homes ask for consumer protection and this is what they got

A Homeowner’s Nightmare: No Protection from Money Pits. The Legislature passed in 2003 HB730, which greatly restricts the rights of homeowners to get their builder to fix major construction problems. Under this new law, homeowners no longer have common law rights to an implied warranty of good and workmanlike construction, nor can they sue for Deceptive Trade Practices. These important rights, once taken for granted, have been replaced by a very limited state-mandated warranty that covers few defects. In addition, a homeowner can’t go to court without first going through a lengthy, bureaucratic process and paying for expensive inspection fees. In short, fewer homeowners’ rights, lots more bureaucracy.

Homebuilders are among the state’s biggest donors. They gave over $5.2 million in our 2002 state elections. The biggest donor in Texas, Bob Perry of Perry Homes, alone gave over $3.8 million. Perry Homes’ general counsel was appointed to the board of the new Residential Construction Commission, which will enforce the new home construction law.

 
N.C. Home Builder Gets More Than Four Years For Fraud
Thursday, 16 December 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 
A well-known builder of luxury homes in Charlotte has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for defrauding banks and launderingmoney.

Builder Fraud
Related Article: The Charlotte Observer
Fallout from several cases of mortgage fraud
Property valuations drop, losses on loans and convictions mount 
The FBI says mortgage fraud has been on the rise nationally the past three years. In Washington, concerns over mortgage fraud prompted the Federal Housing Administration this year to stop insuring loans on homes that have been resold within 90 days. Charlotte Observer

Read more...
 
Special Interview with Author Jordan Fogal
Monday, 13 December 2004
Read more...
 
Dallas Morning News Opinion by Janet Ahmad
Saturday, 11 December 2004

Do homeowners have a chance when they take on their builders?
No – Builders control the system and residents pay -- Remember, homebuilders are not licensed in Texas . In fact, unlike any other profession, knowledge seems to be optional. There is no requirement to show proof of professional building skills, knowledge of current building codes or to show any historical proof of financial responsibility or proof of a current bank account.

Read more...
 
Dallas Morning News: Dr. David Becka Guest Commentary
Wednesday, 08 December 2004
David Becka: Looking for protection

As the leader of Take Back Your Rights, the group that led the drive for an election on building controls, I'd like to respond to – and correct – a misconception... Builders should look upon this as nothing more than extra insurance and the cost of doing business in Frisco, a city whose residents care so deeply about quality home construction that they called for an election to ensure construction excellence.

Read more...
 
Buy a Home and Shut Up
Sunday, 05 December 2004
Mercedes Homes
Fine Print Has Homeowners Scared To Discuss Damage

Buy a Home and Shut Up – Contact us immediately if you find you have a Builder Shut up Clause

Attention: New Homeowners check you contract and subdivision covenants to see if you have unknowingly given up you Constitutional to Rights to Speak

 Florida and Texas Builders – KB, Drees, Centex, Mercedes Homes and other builders are increasingly are using Bullying Tactic to silence Free Speech.  Have Homebuilders gone too far...they have no shame when it comes to their intent to defraud homebuyers. 

Read more...
 
Special Report, Dallas - ABC's WFAA-TV
Friday, 03 December 2004
Homeowners: We're tired of builder inattention
  Video: Byron Harris reports 
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV
Find a homeowner, and there's a good chance you'll hear a complaint about a homebuilder...Waterford Oaks East in Cedar Hill is just such a place, though, and buyers are angry about the workmanship and business practices of builder Legacy Homes... Ahmad sees similar problems among many Texas builders. "We find a pattern of structural defects; we find a pattern of sloppy work," she said. "It's the problem of getting the builder to address the issue whether it's minor or whether it's major." ... Ahmad said Texas warranties are designed to protect the builder rather than the homeowner. Until that changes, she said the only solution is to stay vocal and be persistent. ... Until we can regulate the industry, homeowners have only one choice, and that is to be very public about their problem and to make a pest of themselves." 
Read more...
 
Catching up on the Florida Corruption News
Friday, 03 December 2004
GUILTY -- TAMPA PUBLIC OFFICIAL CONVICTED!!!
St Petersburg Times Staff Writer

LaBrake, wife, guilty on all counts

Steve LaBrake, former Tampa housing chief, and his wife Lynne, have been found guilty as charged of taking a series of bribes and gratuities to build a 4,200-square-foot home and, in turn, steering millions of dollars in U.S. HUD contracts.

Read more...
 
Catching up on New Jersey Corruption News
Friday, 03 December 2004

Fired....Building official is accused of approving work on sites he owns.  Chief inspector, William Strohmeyer and another inspector John Tamburrinni also inspected the infamous Crosby's house in Branchberg, which has been the subject of newspapers reports for several years. See Crosby House news accounts in HOBB archives 
Building official in Bridgewater under fire                                                                           By PETER N. SPENCER Staff Writer
Published in the Courier News on November 21, 2004                                                        BRIDGEWATER -- The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is moving to revoke the license of Bridgewater's chief code enforcement officer for allegedly approving construction projects on three township properties he owns.

Read more...
 
No Binding Arbitration Allowed
Thursday, 02 December 2004

FANNIE MAE NO LONGER INVESTING IN MORTGAGES CONTAINING MANDATORY ARBITRATION CLAUSES
FANNIE MAE NO longer invests or accepts delivery of residential mortgage loan products that contain mandatory arbitration clauses.  According to Fannie Mae Announcement 04-06, Fannie Mae issued, among other things, new instructions to lenders outlining the policies for purchasing and accepting residential mortgage loans. Specifically, the instructions included a prohibition against purchasing or accepting delivery of residential mortgage loans containing mandatory arbitration clauses. A limited exception exists, permitting the use of mandatory arbitration provisions in mortgages that contain a waiver provision. The waiver provision shall provide that if the loan is sold or an interest in the mortgage loan is transferred to Fannie Mae, the mandatory arbitration clause becomes null and void.

Read more...
 
Deceptive Builders?
Monday, 29 November 2004
Street's future spurs rift
Resident says he wasn't told road in community would be major artery
...Little Elm subdivision at Eldorado Parkway and FM423 also has a major four-lane road running through it that will eventually connect Interstate 35 to the future Dallas North Tollway extension in Frisco.    DreesSucks.net
Read more...
 
Words from the past and present…
Tuesday, 23 November 2004

He will cheat without scruples who can cheat without fear.
                                                          Benjamin Franklin

What gives a builder the incentive to build a home that is lasting, when he has no fear of being held accountable for cheating.                Author Unknown   

 
Can Texas Homeowners afford to Complain? Texans to pay $350 to file complaint against builder
Sunday, 21 November 2004

Texas Homeowners ask Senators for help.

What other state agency charges consumers a fee to file a complaint?

HB730 Texas Residential Construction Commission Act (TRCCA) disproportionately changed the way homeowners must deal with builders who ignore both major and basic home warranty concerns.  Since the passage of TRCCA, homeowners with construction defect issues must pay the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) a $350.00 fee for standard warranty issues or $450.00 for major warranty issues. . .  What other state agency charges the consumer a fee to file a complaint?

Read more...
 
Consumer group presents city charter amendment petition
Tuesday, 16 November 2004

Frisco Enterprise

Dr. David Becka is on a mission to hold homebuilders accountable, and he's willing to fight City Hall to do it.

By Mike Raye, Staff Writer

Monday, he and members of a Frisco-based consumer advocacy group presented a petition signed by 9,300 like-minded neighbors to Frisco City Secretary Nan Parker, hoping to get two group-penned city charter amendments on a ballot next year.
TakeBackYourRights.com

Read more...
 
Huntington Homes Troubled with Lawsuits
Sunday, 14 November 2004

Huntington Homes and its subsidiaries Riddled with Lawsuits.
See Homeowners Website: HuntingTon of Problems
Huntington Homes is also known as, Sanders Custom Homes,
Sanders & Associates, Horizon Homes and Highland Homes 
Huntington Homes and Associates Lawsuits public records

 
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Knowledge and Financial Responsibility are still Optional for Texas Home Builders

OUTSTANDING FOX4 REPORT
TRCC from Bad to Worse
Case of the Crooked House

Perry's Gifts Keep on Talking
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TRCC AN ARRESTING EXPERIENCE
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Homebuilder's Right-To-Repair Illusion

Builders Looking for Federal Handouts

How Texas Home Building Industry shaped the TRCC to regulate buyers 

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