ATTENTION! Arbitration Stories
HOBB is in need of Binding Arbitration Stories.  A report on Arbitration is currently being prepared and we need to hear about your experience.  Even if you decided not to go to arbitration for any reason or have sent your arbitration experience before please send it again, with any updates and additional comments.

SpotLight - Live Talk Internet: With Denise Richardson & Jim Malmberg
Denise Richardson & Jim Malmberg have launched a Blog Talk Program every Thursday 1:00 P.M. EDT. Participate: Listen Live and and call in at 718-664-6583 and join in the conversation.  Step into the SpotLight each Thursday or hear a replay of the show at your connivance. Guests will include experts, consumers, attorneys, advocates and you! We want to increase public and corporate awareness by shining a SpotLight on issues that matter to you... Credit Reporting issues, Identity Theft, Privacy Rights, Consumer Protection Laws, Predatory Lending, Mortgage Servicing Fraud, Phishing Scams, Computer Security, Data Theft, Consumer Legislation, Consumer Action. SpotLight LiveTalk Internet

TRCC Sunset Review!  Let the Sun Set on the Texas Residential Construction Commission! 
The Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) is currently being reviewed by the Texas Sunset Commission to determine whether the agency will continue to operate. TRCC is run exclusively by the homebuilding industry to regulate homeowners. It is by far the most criticized state agencies ever created. Please send your comments to the Sunset Commission and a copy to me at HOBB

Resolution:League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
A national civil rights organization concerned with the welfare and human rights of all peoples, particularly those of Latino heritage...has witnessed a disturbing trend in substandard new home construction, lack of effective new home warranty protection and home durability; compounded by soaring foreclosures due to predatory lending, alleged violations of deceptive trade practice, and a declining ability for enjoyment of homeownership among minorities that has adversely impacted families in need... LULAC community leaders have in the course of advocacy and council with families witnessed mismanagement, chronic problems related to documented non-compliance with local and HUD minimum property standards, material substitutions and lack of proper warranty repairs that have adversely affected the habitability of dwellings, particularly with the San Antonio Mirasol communities, which were funded under the HUD HOPE VI program, and built by KB Home, administered by the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA)... LULAC and its  National Board call for an investigation by appropriate Federal Agencies having oversight or jurisdiction over the matters of; new home construction standards compliance, affordable housing, new home warranties, compliance with federal consumer protection laws, predatory lending, waste in government, and the welfare and human rights of all peoples... BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That LULAC calls for hearings...

Moldy house costs builder $3 million
A tarp covers a hole where the builders tore off part of this Reynoldsburg home's stucco exterior but never repaired it. The judge awarded the Cosners $2.2 million in compensatory damages -- triple the original jury award -- because jurors found that Maronda Homes had violated Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act by acting in an "unfair, deceptive or unconscionable" manner. Jurors tacked on an additional $1 million in punitive damages.On Friday, visiting Judge Dale A. Crawford ordered that Maronda pay almost $700,000 more in attorney fees if the judgment stands.

Economic woes provide fertile field for scam artists
Mortgage fraud is on the rise and consumers need to be wary of the many scams that often surface in the wake of this crime. Those are among the findings included in a new report issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI's report also showed the numbers of Suspicious Activity Reports (SAS) regarding mortgage fraud have skyrocketed in the past year. The top 10 mortgage fraud states for 2007 were: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, California, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, New York, Colorado, and Minnesota. Other states affected by mortgage fraud included Arizona, Maryland, Utah, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut;

Home builder Obra drops out of Valley market
At its peak in 2005, the company was the largest Valley-based home builder, putting up more than 500 homes here that year. In 2006 it ranked as the 70th largest home builder in the United States, with $135 million in revenue, according to Builder Online. Los Angeles-based KB Home, one of the nation's largest home builders, pulled out of the Valley in 2007.

Report Claims Pulte Contractors Abusive
The 17-page report was compiled by religious leaders from Chicago- based Interfaith Worker Justice who discovered a "disturbing pattern of injustice and abuse" among contractors used to build homes for Pulte. They visited Pulte developments and talked to workers about a number of problems, including unsafe working conditions, nonpayment of overtime, lack of affordable health care and benefits, and wages so low they had to work 60 to 70 hours a week to make ends meet. "When I worked for Hutchins Drywall, I had a boss who was corrupt and did not have any feelings or respect for the workers," Rangel said. "When I went to get my check at the end of the week, I had to give a kickback of $150 to the foreman. When I went to the office to complain, they started threatening that I would lose my job."

Residents to sue homebuilders
A group of homeowners in Bakersfield is suing one of the country's largest homebuilders over problems in their north-west homes.They released a statement saying: These homeowners have numerous problems with their homes including but not limited to cracking of stucco, cracking of concrete, window defects, roof defects, moisture intrusion into their homes and general poor construction qualify... Milstein, Adelman & Kreger is investigating these problems as well as problems of other homes constructed by Lennar Homes within the Westlake development. See Video Report: Write or video record your comments on this article