Inspection fees waived for home complaints
...On hand at the meeting were investigators from Taylor PD and the sheriff’s department as well as lawyers representing the Sonterra Homeowners Assoiciation, the Sonterra Municipal Utility District and TRCC. Gravel led the meeting, making sure it did not deteriorate into attacks on Stucky. Gravel shared some of the more sordid stories surrounding homes built by Stucky, including one involving Karen Carter, a wheelchair-bound woman who purchased a house from First Home in Jarrell. Carter bought her home under the condition that her doorways would be widened for her wheelchair.

Inspection fees waived for home complaints

Builder Pete Stucky’s ranch near Florence. Pictured are Stucky’s home, bottom left, a five-car garage, left, a private horse racing track, center, and horse stables, right. courtesy photo

By Philip Jankowski

The Texas Residential Construction Commission will likely waive all inspection fees incurred on homes built by Affiliates LLC and First Home.

Commission Executive Director Duane Waddill made the announcement during a packed meeting at the Sonterra development in Jarrell to homeowners from Taylor, Jarrell and Belton.

Scores of homeowners raised their hands when asked whether the $250 fee for an independent investigation was prohibiting them from filing complaints.

“Because of the size and the scope of this, we will be waiving all [inspection] fees, I can tell you right now,” Waddill said.

He provided further advice to the audience of more than 150 on how to pursue complaints of shoddy construction by First Home and Affiliates LLC as well as how to participate with ongoing investigations being conducted by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Taylor Police Department.

The basic message was to send any and all documentation of correspondence with Pete Stucky, owner of Affiliates LLC and First Home, to the TRCC. Criminal investigators are especially interested in homeowner’s closing paperwork because of signed affidavits indicating that all contractors had been paid.

More than 150 lien claims, totaling $426,612, have been filed by unpaid contractors on homes built by Pete Stucky. As much as $410,000 in additional liens could potentially be filed, Pastor Bill Gravel Jr., president of the Sonterra HOA said.

Waddill and the audience set a loose deadline for Friday to get all paperwork to the TRCC, hoping to accelerate the complaint process.

On hand at the meeting were investigators from Taylor PD and the sheriff’s department as well as lawyers representing the Sonterra Homeowners Assoiciation, the Sonterra Municipal Utility District and TRCC. Gravel led the meeting, making sure it did not deteriorate into attacks on Stucky.

Gravel shared some of the more sordid stories surrounding homes built by Stucky, including one involving Karen Carter, a wheelchair-bound woman who purchased a house from First Home in Jarrell. Carter bought her home under the condition that her doorways would be widened for her wheelchair.

However, after purchasing the home, she was told altering her doorways would void her warranty.

“When I first met Karen, she was crying because she had tried to stand up twice before she crawled into her bathroom,” Gravel said.

As the meeting went on, several homeowners shared their woes with TRCC Executive Director Waddill. Stories of cracked walls, faulty foundations, unstable fences and bad sodding pervaded the questions.

Waddill urged all homeowners to make necessary repairs. If the TRCC finds in their favor, money spent on renovations will be reimbursed, he said.

“We want you to make your house as livable as possible,” Waddill said.

Stucky did not attend the meeting, though his legal representation was present.

Affiliates LLC intends to file bankruptcy in the coming weeks, Stucky’s lawyer Bruce Burleson said, which could lead to several unpaid contractors being left out to dry until the house is resold.

Waddill said bankruptcy judges tend to pay off homeowners first in these circumstances.

The possibility of repairs not being reimbursed irked several attendees after being shown an aerial photos of Stucky’s ranch in Florence. The multi-acre facility contains a private horse racing track, a large home, stables, a barn, a mock up of an old western town and a five-car garage.

“He could sell one of those horses and pay off a bunch of bills,” a homeowner wishing to remain unidentified said.

Burleson characterized the collapse of First Home and Alliance LLC as a consequence of Mallard Park developer Kallison abruptly stopping all transactions with Stucky. Stucky had arranged to build on lots prior to purchasing the land from Kallison. He had built more than 100 homes when Kallison suddenly stopped signing over the land, leaving homes built by Stucky unpaid for.

“It caused a domino effect that led to us not being able to pay suppliers,” Burleson said.

Taylor homeowner Amantha Saverse said her house had about six inches of rebar sticking out of the side of the foundation. She had reservations about purchasing the home after it was built in less than 30 days, but the $100 move-in price tag was too good to balk at.

“I had a bad feeling from the start,” Saverse said. “It was too good to be true.”

Dan Gattis Jr., who represents Sonterra HOA and Sonterra MUD, said there are several ongoing lawsuits between Stucky and Sonterra.

“It’s literally the biggest mess I’ve ever seen,” Gattis said.
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