You cannot purchase a new home in Texas without a "binding Arbitration clause." This means you have no 7th amendment rights. You have given up your right to sue the builder, even if your new home is unlivable!
Arbitration can cost you $100,000, easily. The burden of proof is on you the homeowner. Arbitration Companies are dependent on bad builders for repeat business. It is a secret process, held behind close doors and upheld by the courts. There is no appeal.
Texas Residential Construction Commission, TRCC.
Most of you won't qualify and if you should it will cost you $350-$650 to file a complaint. The laws are ambiguous at best and even the Governor can't explain them. It is a worthless bureaucracy and takes no action against the builder. As Representative Garnet Coleman stated, in the Austin American-Statesman, "In Texas you can buy your own state agency, then regulate yourself."
Tremont Homes/Stature contruction/University Development ...Or whomever they are calling themselves this week, are a prime example of how greed with absolute power corrupts absolutely? This diabolical builder has been allowed for years to build with unbridled disregard for home owners. Please go to HOBB.ORG to see for yourself, the wake of their destruction is documented with photographs.
Tremont/Stature has had their membership revoked by the Better Business Bureau. Tremont/Stature was FIRED attempting to build the memorial police station after $120,000 worth of mold damage and a 7 month delay. Yet, our city and state representatives stay silent, in essence giving them a thumbs-up to continue to prey on innocent homebuyers. If you complain, T/S delays, makes excuses and then threatens to sue you. "Buy and Shut up clauses" are already showing up in Houston. Soon you will have no 1st or 7th amendment rights!
Tremont/Stature has created disasters in Hydepark: defective roofs, water intrusion and mold. Knox Street: Front and back decks having to be removed and trim work is falling off. Tremont Tower has $200,000 worth of damage and 49 units leaking. Only 10 out of 76 are inhabited! Candlelight Estates 35% of the homes have problems.
The perpetrators, protected by their perverse corporate veil are: Jorge Casimiro, Thomas Thibodeau and Armad Al-Banna. Casimiro is NOW on your Harris County Housing Authority and listed in Hispanic Magazine's Top 500 for 4 consecutive years.
More recently Tremont/ Stature has made two national magazines, People, under "Contractors form Hell", and a 7-page expose on their exploits in Houston. Both can be viewed at HOBB.ORG.
If you or someone you know have been adversely affected by builders, contact your city and state representatives... Help me help you.
Consumer Advocate
Jordan Fogal
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