Audit slams housing agency A report finds potential fraud, other problems widespread in city department For more than a decade, Houston's Housing and Community Development Department chose projects based on its directors' whims, allowed for massive defaults on loans and created opportunities for conflicts of interest and fraud, an independent review of the department concludes.
Report on home builders finds waste, abuse "This is a system mired in the past, a system utterly incompatible with 21st century standards and expectations, a system that, in many respects, is as fractured and as imperiled by structural flaws as the problem-plagued homes it has produced," said the report released Thursday by the State Commission of Investigation. To correct the problems, the commission recommended several measures, including instituting stricter licensing of construction supervisors, requiring currently unlicensed carpenters and masons to become licensed, expanding the state Consumer Fraud Act to include new home construction and creating a "lemon law" for new homes that would require builders to buy back problem houses.
Star-Ledger Editorial Endorses Recommendations to Regulate Industry
Saturday, 02 April 2005
The Star-Ledger Editorial Safeguard home buyers The State Commission of Investigation's latest comprehensive report calls on the Legislature to protect consumers from developers who cut corners. While professional groups are already balking at some of the recommendations, we endorse the move to correct what the SCI found to be a persistent problem in the home-building industry... The SCI proposes a package of legislation including extension of the state's Consumer Fraud Act to new houses, enacting a lemon law that gives a builder a specific time period to correct problems or buy back the house, publishing a list of claims against builders and changing the definition of what's a major structural defect.
Home building remedies urged SCI: Industry rife with problems In its final, 51-page report on its investigation into systemic problems in the building industry, the SCI outlines a battery of suggested changes. Key among the recommendations are an overhaul of the state's Consumer Fraud Act, the creation of a "lemon law" for new home buyers, and a requirement that all construction crew supervisors earn licenses and certification before they can work on New Jersey developments... In its report, the SCI outlines how a "lemon law" could protect buyers of new homes that are still seriously flawed after several repairs are made. The law could force the builder of such a home to buy it back. 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
Investication Recomends New Home Lemon Law for New Jersey
Friday, 01 April 2005
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
Mortgage Fraud Remedies Proposed In an effort to take a bite out of the growing crime spree in mortgage fraud, federal regulators proposed this week that mortgage mammoths, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promptly report real and suspected mortgage fraud and create the internal control systems to detect the financial scourge.
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.
Foreclosures–One Texas County exceeds California, West Virginia, Montana and Hawaii Combined
Friday, 18 March 2005
Texas leads the nation in total home foreclosures Texas has earned bragging rights in a dubious arena: Homeowners went to foreclosure in 2004 in total numbers that far exceeded any other state.While the state was laying claim to No. 1, Bexar County had more residential foreclosures in December than California, West Virginia, Montana and Hawaii combined.
Frisco Charter Amendments to Regulate Homebuilders
Wednesday, 16 March 2005
Inside Collin County Business Frisco’s future could hinge on vote Residents in Frisco will soon decide the future of the homebuilding industry in their hometown. Two charter amendments are on the May ballot and their passage will either be the salvation for homeowners or an abomination to Frisco and the homebuilding industry. There is no question that it is important as both sides are gearing up for a fight to convince voters that their position is correct.
Dallas Morning News Editorial Home Buyers need to know about Bad Builders
Saturday, 12 March 2005
Dallas Morning News Editorial How's the American Dream? Home buyers need to know about bad builders Sugar Land. Frisco. Georgetown. Rooftops keep popping up all over Texas. About 140,000 of them last year. But not all those new homes are satisfying home owners. Walls crack. Foundations shift. Builders even walk off the job. If you're investing in the American Dream, this is not what you expect... reformers want more, pushing House Bill 662 in Austin...We like this bill because it gives home buyers power to make informed decisions. They could determine whether their builder has put up shoddy residences... Perhaps naturally, the home builder lobby doesn't want the bill because its members would be held to yet another standard. But you'd think most builders would want this latest reform. The measure would further weed out bad builders, whom surely most home builders don't want spoiling their industry's reputation... State Affairs needs to pass this measure soon so the full House can approve it. Eissler - HB 662 See video of hearing (time 1:05) House State Affairs Hearing on HB662
HOBBBoard Member Registers as “Cheetum Custom Homes†Jo Hayman, board member and Dallas/Fort Worth representative of HomeOwners for Better Building (HOBB), exposed the ease of becoming a builder in Texas when she registered as a builder doing business as “Cheetum Custom Homes.†When asked what it took to be a builder in Texas, Hayman responded, “$125, a social security number and absolutely no knowledge of how to construct a house."
The Dallas Morning News 2 proposals aim to protect homeowners from construction flaws Two proposed charter amendments aimed at giving homeowners protection against faulty construction will be on Frisco's May 7 ballot... "We're excited despite the delayed tactics of the city," said Carolyn Becka,... "We're pleased the amendments have been placed on the ballot so the citizens can vote on these important issues."
Placid Frisco has its own version of a political uprising
...the underlying theme of the Beckas' message is that life in the gated enclaves of Frisco is not what it's cracked up to be. Frisco City Hall is too boot-lickingly subservient to the home-building industry, they say. It has created an atmosphere where dream homes become nightmares and home buyers are without recourse... The Beckas are proposing changes to the Frisco city charter to provide home buyers with more ammunition in shootouts with builders...Twice the number of people who voted in the last general election in Frisco have signed petitions saying that home builders have too much power, too much sway, too much advantage at Frisco City Hall.
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