Homeowners burdened by homebuilder's money woes
As hard times fall on a Dallas-based homebuilding company, homeowners are also feeling the weight of the problem. Michael Garver moved into his new Sotherby home two months ago. Within the past two weeks, letters started arriving in the mail from subcontractors threatening to put liens on his house and demanding thousands of dollars.

High-end Plano homebuilder suspends some operations
Plano-based Sotherby Homes builds more than 300 houses a year that sell for between $300,000 and $500,000. This week, the company's Internet marketing sites weren't working, and some of its sales offices were idled. Sotherby has been in business for 14 years and builds in Collin and Denton counties. Officials did not return phone calls or e-mails Monday. But the builder released a statement that said "national lenders have severely curtailed financing to builders such as Sotherby due to the recent economic crisis."...Almost two dozen North Texas homebuilders have gone out of business during the last two years because of declining sales and reduced construction.