Protection of trees was responsibility of home builder
$10,000 fine is inconsequential for developer of 72-lot subdivision.  Salem residents have this funny attitude toward trees. They love them. Trees are part of the Oregon psyche. So it's not surprising that the "accidental" demolition of five trees has area residents fuming -- about the lost trees, about the developer's response and about the puny $10,000 fine he faces. See other related articles and opinions...

Builder may be cited for felling trees
Housing developer George Suniga has learned the hard way about city ordinances for protecting trees -- and it might cost him $10,000. Suniga's city-approved development plan requires that he spare some of the trees at his Waln Creek Estates subdivision, which is under construction near Liberty Road S and Holder Lane. But a maple, a spruce and three fir trees that were supposed to be saved were removed, irking neighbors who were assured that the trees would be left alone. See other related articles and opinions...

Nearly 1000 builders suspended
The Mpumalanga construction company which was ordered to stop building by the Pretoria High Court is one of nearly 1000 builders who may not operate, said the National Home Builders' Registration Council (NHBRC) on Monday...The NHBRC lists on its website 979 builders nationally which it has suspended from operations for various infringements of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act. The law is intended to protect home-owners from unscrupulous builders...They build houses which sometimes have structural defects. We tell them to fix them. If they refuse, we suspend them."

When renovations go bad
Michelle Slatter, 30, was left with a badly broken nose and her young son, Cody, narrowly escaped serious injury – or worse – when this overhead kitchen cupboard full of glass and crockery came crashing down just before dinner time.  The cupboard had been put up illegally in the northern suburbs home by unlicensed builders as part of a $12,000 kitchen renovation.

Give homeowners some basic rights
The homebuilding industry is plagued by such problems. Thousands of homes are built and remodeled each year. The hotter the market, the more risk there seems to be of falling prey to negligent construction. Under current Washington law, contractors do not have to pass any qualifying tests. A contractor's "license" can be bought in a day: You register with the state, post a small bond and provide insurance...To make matters worse, in today's market buyers often release all warranty rights, even the rights provided by statutes, in exchange for nearly worthless third-party home warranty companies. State law does not prevent those waivers.

Jade Homes shuts down operations
Jade Homes, a Sarasota-based builder with 75 houses in varying stages of construction in Sarasota, Charlotte and Manatee counties, has shut down its operations and closed its main office and six sales centers.

Ohio bank sues home builder
A new lawsuit and foreclosure proceedings by Ohio Savings Bank may put an end to the dreams of buyers still hoping home builder Turner-Dunn would find a way to finish as many as 200 homes left withering in the Arizona summer sun.

News 8 Investigates: Inflated appraisals threaten neighborhoods 
Documents obtained by News 8 show that in February of 2002, one McKinney home listed for $315,000.  In January of 2006, it sold for $625,000, and in the closing documents, someone walked out of the deal with $256,000 listed as a “disbursement.” Records show that money did not go to the seller.

Midlothian homeowners appeal to city for help
Homeowners of three subdivisions in Midlothian say their builder won't fix their homes. They want the city council to intervene. News 8's Byron Harris reports that anger has been building in Midlothian for months.... After complaining for months, disgruntled homeowners in three Midlothian subdivisions went to City Hall for help Tuesday night. They say their builder—Choice Homes—won't fix construction-related problems, including cracks in walls, shifting bricks, sagging foundations, high water pressure, and streets with washboard bumps.

Eyewitness News ABC24
Woman Claims: Bad Builder
Tenn: Lisa Bostic says the  foundation is cracked and her new home is making her sick.  Lisa Bostic says she doesn't want it fixed.  She wants out of the house. Construction defects and mold... - Possible Construction Scam: Bobby Earl Scam artists - Beware of construction worker con. Bobby Earl says lock'em up... See News Video