National Public Radio (NPR) takes a look at Politics and Homebuilding Texas Style
A  Two Part NPR Report - “Weekend Edition” with Scott Simon. A system that for Texas homeowners with defective home has gone awry.  See date and times...

Who supports the Texas Residential Construction Commission
The staff of the Sunset Commission after a 6-month indepth investigation recommended abolishing the TRCC. A list of those in support of this recommendation and those who were against abolishing was published in the report issued by the staff. Here is the list of those who are for abolishing the Commission... then the list in support of abolishing the TRCC:

Homebuilder who backs TRCC donated thousands to lawmakers deciding agency's fate
The fate of the Texas Residential Construction Commission, an agency designed to regulate and handle complaints against homebuilders, lies in the hands of lawmakers who received thousands of dollars from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, one of the agency's top supporters.  The Legislature's Sunset Commission staff – which reviews state agencies and recommends how to beef them up – determined last year that the agency is so toothless and such a hindrance to aggrieved homeowners that it should be abolished. Since 2000, Perry, whose corporate attorney helped create the commission six years ago, has donated $388,000 to 10 of the 11 members of the Business and Industry Committee, state records show."Maybe the tail was wagging the dog," said Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-El Paso, the only member of the House committee who has never received a donation from Perry.

Business & Industry Hearing - Rep. McClendon Sunset Bill 2295 
Executive Director Duane Waddill misrepresents facts. Consumers tell the true story of TRCC failures.
View Hearing video: 03-23-09: 3:46 p.m. - 9:49 p.m.

Mexican bricks blamed for crumbling homes
When you think about brick, the word sturdy probably comes to mind. Yet hundreds of North Texans are running across a similar problem: the brick on their homes is crumbling to pieces. If you don't have the problem yet, don't think you're safe either. Experts say what they've seen is just the start

Leaky home owner ordered to pay builders
Miranda Patrick says the government's leaky homes solution is far from being fair and just and now she has to stump up more than $170,000 in court costs for those who built and signed off on her home, despite the fact everyone agrees she has a leaky house...  In fact the situation is so bad that her million dollar mansion is rotten and developed toxic mould. For eight years she fought for compensation, during which time her marriage collapsed, she lost her job, and battled tongue and throat cancer. "You're fighting so many different people and it's a constant battle and it requires so much of your time and effort that it's very hard to focus on the other areas of your life and it's very depressing as well," says Miranda.

DATELINE: INSIDE THE FINANCIAL FIASCO SERIES BEGINS
For the first hour of a three-part investigative series, "Inside the Financial Fiasco: Mortgage Madness," NBC's Chris Hansen reports on how risky home loans helped cause a chain reaction that led to failures on Wall Street and the near collapse of the American economy. The report also includes exclusive accounts from insiders and whistleblowers speaking out for the first time.Check TheHansenFiles.com afterwards for web-exclusive material.  See NBC main page...

Texas Homebuyer/Consumer Bills Filed:Builder Licensing Bills, Aoilishment of TRCC, Lemon etc.  Sunset Bill by Rep. McClendon HB2295: Sunset Bill would empower the Builder’s TRCC agency the ability to Force Homeowner to Binding Mandatory Arbitration by law, giving homebuilder dominated agency "commission jurisdiction." Bill provides no incentive or penalty for the builder to assure compliance with standards or that a new home is built correctly at the time of sale. Builders maintain and enjoy multiple opportunities and rights to make repairs. Bill continues to mandate TRCC's current State Public Policy and authority that regulates homebuyers who purchase defective homes. Knowledge and financial responsibility remain optional or nonexistent for Texas homebuilders. See reviews and ratings

Representative Gattis Sets the Record Straight
At a Business and Industry hearing Executive Director Duane Waddill describes homeowner complaint as small things like wobbly ceiling fans. 1hr: 45 Gattis took exception calling it "disrespectful" if 91% of the time you find there is a defect.  The fallacy of a cease and desist order and contempt hearing.  25% to 50% of remodelers not registered. Waddill tries to claim credit actions taken in Jeryl , Tx where the sheriff and District Attorney pursued criminal prosecution of a builder. See House Committee Hearing: 02-23-09, 3:44 p.m. - 6:09 p.m.  Gattis hearing beginning at 1 hr. 44.50

MONDAY IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
This hearing is being held to determine if the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) will be abolished. House Bill 2295 – McClendon – Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Residential Construction Commission.This bill allows TRCC to continue opperating for the benifit of the homebuilding industry.  SEE OTHER BILLS FILED

Americas Watchdog Warns Florida & Virginia Homeowners About A Quick Fix For Toxic Chinese Drywall & WarnsThe Gloves Are Off 
Americas Watchdog & Its Homeowners Consumer Center have been the leaders in a national, and state by state investigation of toxic Chinese drywall in Florida, Virginia and numerous other US states. Americas Watchdog is now warning homeowners in Florida, Virginia and other states; "do not accept a homebuilders offer to re-drywall their home, until we have had a chance to see if the toxic gasses emitted by the Chinese drywall have not penetrated your studs, your plywood, your trusses, and your furniture. We are strongly encouraging homeowners to not accept the quick fix, before we have better science."

KB Home Ex-CEO Charged with Conspiring to Defraud
Last week Karatz was charged with conspiring to defraud the company through a scheme to backdate stock options. His attorney says Karatz did nothing wrong...“When you’re constantly told you’re great, and when you constantly justify the faith others have in you, it’s hard to escape the feeling that success is your natural right,” he warned USC law graduates some years back.  LA BIZ Observed on KB Exec.

E-mails show county, state, EPA coordinated release with builder
E-mails - exchanged over 3 1/2 months by state and county health officials and the EPA - regarding possible dangers of Chinese drywall indicate the parties waited to coordinate with a homebuilder and its consultant on how and when to alert the public. One Environmental Protection Agency official even suggested television "Sweeps Week" in November might be the time to tell the public, rather than acting independently from special interests and getting word to the public as soon as possible.

A postscript to KB's Ex-CEO Bruce Karatz 
 After decades of KB Home leadership, devoted service, federal investigations relating to questionable business practices, allegations of shoddy homebuilding and mortgage fraud, communities which once promised homeownership now stand empty and rundown mostly occupied by renters and millions in executive bonuses for mega corporate profits, Bruce Karatz faces hard times. "YouTube" Sponsor an Executive

Ex-Leaders of Countrywide Profit From Bad Loan
So it may come as a surprise that a dozen former top Countrywide executives now stand to make millions from the home mortgage mess. Stanford L. Kurland, Countrywide’s former president, and his team have been buying up delinquent home mortgages that the government took over from other failed banks, sometimes for pennies on the dollar. They get a piece of what they can collect. “It has been very successful — very strong,” John Lawrence, the company’s head of loan servicing, told Mr. Kurland one recent morning in a glass-walled boardroom here at PennyMac’s spacious headquarters, opened last year in the same Los Angeles suburb where Countrywide once flourished.