Letters: Let's build higher standards
Can't stop now
By Carol Becka
Frisco residents fully understand that if nothing is done "now" …to provide protection from home builders' careless and inferior construction of new homes, all Frisco residents will ultimately pay the price in lost property values and increased taxes to subsidize the city for lost revenue from devalued homes...

Whom do you believe?
By Andrew Ellender
Home buyers expect the truth from home builders. We certainly did… Who would oppose a new-home disclosure besides someone who wants to hide the truth? I believe an informed consent requirement would be a welcome addition in any city… Bonding also makes sense for the home building industry… Dr. Becka does not want what happened to his family and others, like mine, to happen to anyone else…

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                                   

           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 These important rights, once taken for granted, have been replaced by a very limited state-mandated warranty that covers few defects.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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.