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 Homeownerâs 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 These important rights, once taken for granted, have been replaced by a very limited state-mandated warranty that covers few defects.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 canât go to court without first going through a lengthy, bureaucratic process and paying for expensive inspection fees. In short, fewer homeownersâ rights, lots more bureaucracy. Homebuilders are among the stateâs 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 Homesâ 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 â 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 â and correct â 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...
|
|
Sunday, 05 December 2004 |
Fine Print Has Homeowners Scared To Discuss Damage Buy a Home and Shut Up â Contact us immediately if you find you have a Builder Shut up ClauseAttention: 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 â 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...
|
|
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 |
|
|