The Star-Ledger
N.J. home builders hammered by SCI
Probers call for lemon law, more licensing
In a scathing indictment of new home construction in New Jersey, the State Commission of Investigation yesterday proposed sweeping reforms designed to attack an "astonishing statewide panorama of waste, fraud and abuse." Sparing no facet of the industry, commissioners said their lengthy investigation had documented shoddy workmanship in expensive houses, a breakdown in the state inspection system and a nightmarish maze of trouble for homeowners trying to get problems corrected. The recommendations include everything from a lemon law that would require builders to buy back new houses with major deficiencies, to the licensing of unregulated construction trades like carpentry and masonry...SCI -- while agreeing that not all builders or inspectors are to blame -- stressed that the focus must be on protecting homeowners against whatever smaller percentage of ruthless contractors and inspectors that are out there. They said their investigation turned up roughly 2,000 victims. "When it happens to you, it doesn't really matter how many good houses are out there," Gaal said. 
State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation Report
State of New Jersey commission of Investigation 51 page Report
TITLED: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - New-Home Construction in New Jersey
SCI Latest Reports and Hearings

 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.

Runkle Canyon is poised to be Simi Valley’s newest neighborhood.
But did the city misinterpret the risk of radioactive material in the ground?