The Frisco Story: Why the Becka family decided to help future homebuyers

 After several years and many futile attempts to persuade their builder, Huntington Homes to address construction problems the Becka’s learned that builders are not licensed in Texas and that state laws do not protect homebuyers,.  Finally, upon discovering that their home had been destroyed by toxic mold due to construction defects and non-compliance with city building codes, the Becka’s decided to exercise the legislative process to change the way homebuilders do business in their town. 

**********

Frisco Grassroots Group Exceeds Signatures Needed For Ballot Vote

Volunteers gathered signatures to require Homebuilder Accountability

Take Back Your Rights

Press Conference

Monday – November 8, 2004

Location: FriscoCity Hall

Time: 11:30 A.M.

Frisco Grassroots Group Exceeds Signatures Needed For Ballot Vote

Volunteers gathered signatures to require Homebuilder Accountability

   Frisco, Texas– The local grassroots consumer group “Take Back Your Rights,” headed by Dr. David Becka, circulated petitions calling for a City Charter Revision Election to regulate homebuilders.

                “The Legislative Process is a remarkable privilege. This is the first time in the history of Frisco that citizens have attempted to gather the required signatures to revise the Frisco City Charter and I am delighted to have been a part of the process. This is the first step toward protecting new homebuyers and holding homebuilders accountable for their mistakes,” said Dr. Becka.

Despite some inclement weather and 100 degree days it didn’t dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of volunteers.  The group’s original goal of collecting the needed signatures exceeded all expectations and grew to over 4,000 signatures each to get the two history setting Charter Amendments on the next ballot.

“I truly believe there is a real need for not only Frisco but all homebuyers to be provided with the necessary disclosure of vital information to make an informed decision when signing builder contracts.  As we have learned, clauses like Binding Arbitration can have far reaching adverse effect on families.

New Article 15 – Will require that any homebuilder doing business within the city limits of Frisco will be required to show proof of Financial Responsibility by posting a Surety Bond up to $2,000,000 before building permits can be issued for the construction of any new home.

New Article 16 – Will require the filing of an “Informed Consent” document with the City of Frisco builders’ contract and warranty.  Most important, the document will inform buyers that they have the right to decline an agreement for Binding Arbitration during negotiations with the builder for the purchase of a new home.

, signed by all new homebuyers to assure that they understand that when buying a new home they will be giving up their constitutional right to ever sue the builder if they agree to a Binding. Arbitration clause in the

                               As I have said before, there is something wrong when the biggest purchase of a lifetime comes with the least amount of consumer protection. This is a question of Taking Back Consumer Rights and protecting new homebuyers when buying a home in Frisco,” concluded Dr. Becka.