June 22, 2001 $10
million suit claims damage to homes from mold in Patterson
By MICHAEL MELLO BEE STAFF WRITER ÝÝÝPATTERSON -- Eighty-six residents
are suing KBHomes, alleging that shoddy construction left homes
susceptible to water seepage and mold contamination......The lawsuit is
being drafted one year after Heartland Ranch homeowners complained to the
City Council that repairs already had dragged on for two years or more.
NOTE: Yet another example for the need of a lemon law.
June 7, 2001 KBHomes
Homeowners Take Complaints to Former HUD Secretary, Henry Cisneros. "According
to Seaman, the company is not currently under investigation in relation
to to this group of homeowner's concerns. " See Related Story:
June 1, 2001 Soggy-subdivision
probe digs into approval data By Adolfo Pesquera
Express-News Business Writer KB Home's troubled Northampton
development has become the target of a federal investigation amid allegations
that the developer-homebuilder may have falsified information to obtain
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approval.
May 26, 2001 KBHomes
in the news again. Eyewitness News Wants to Know. You can see the
video clip concerning a KB Honeowner in San Antonio, TX. The owner asked
to invoke a Lemon Law and requested his home to be bought back. KB's
statement said the situation has been resolved. Was the home bought back
or repaired? We will find out. [Requires Real Media.]
April 22, 2001 Eroding trust. New home buyers vent frustrations at
builder [KBHOMES]
By Ian McCannThe Dallas Morning News. "One of the
biggest problems, homeowners said, is poor customer service."
WFAA CH 8 News Dallas: KBHomes Homeowners take their complaints to the
Frisco City council. The Proposed Texas Home Lemon Law is mentioned. You
can view the news on April 16 and April 17at:
April 17, 2001 Quote of the day: "Any time we get a complaint
or work order from a home we address it in a timely fashion," said
David Christian, with K-B Home." Homeowners
Accuse Builder of Shoddy Work Reporter: Brett
Shipp
Feb 12, 2001 Added to the Kaufman Page: Prospective Homebuyers,
Protesters Mix At Grand Opening Kaufman
& Broad Subdivision Scene Of Homeowner Protest (KSAT-TV San Antonio,
TX
"Along with prospective buyers for the newly built houses in the city's
South Side, protesters arrived to air dissatisfactions with their own Kaufman
& Broad homes located elsewhere in the city. Homeowners from the Northhampton
subdivision in the city's Northeast Side have filed complaints with
the builder, alleging shoddy workmanship. "
Jan 18, 2001: Posted to the the Kaufman and Broad (KB Homes) page:
"Los
Angeles-based Kaufman and Broad announced Wednesday it is changing its
name to KB Homes.
We think itís great that our company has established
such trust and familiarity with our customers that they recognize
us by this shorter, friendlier name," company Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer Bruce Karatz said recently. "The name KB Home is a warm way
to reflect what we offer." Warmly reflect on the Kaufman
Page.
Jan 12, 2001: Posted to the Mold and
Kaufman
& Broad Page: Mold
Forces Families Out Of Homes. Families Demand Answers From Home Builders
The Flanigans were among a group of about a dozen residents of a Kaufman
& Broad housing tract in Dixon who picketed a company sales office
Sunday on Christine Drive in Vacaville. They all expressed deep concerns
about moisture penetration on the foundations of their Dixon homes that
has led, they say, to family illnesses and damage to their $200,000-plus
structures.
Dec 22, 2000 Posted
AnotherNorth
Hampton Subdivision draft buyout!. See Kaufman
and Broad looks at buying out homeowners for background information.
"K
& B will purchase your home for your original purchase price and the
value of the improvements listed below....."
Oct 29, 2000
North Hampton Subdivision pickets.
See Kaufman
and Broad looks at buying out homeowners for background information.
Oct 26, 2000
American
Homebuyers Protection Act. Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. Prohibits
a person engaged in the construction of new homes from: (1) requiring a
home purchaser to enter into a mandatory arbitration agreement as a condition
precedent to entering into a purchase contract; and (2) offering a home
purchaser a contract which includes a mandatory arbitration agreement unless
such agreement is a separate agreement.
Oct 26, 2000
Added to Builders in the NewsAC
placement fuels hot fight [San Antonio, TX] By David Anthony
Richelieu Express-News Staff Writer. The City Council is expected to resolve
a dispute today over whether the stacking of air conditioning units over
electric hot water heaters should be allowed to continue in new homes and
apartments.
"....the city has a moral obligation to change a potentially dangerous
practice, adding that it was only a matter of time before a water heater
short circuit would trigger a larger fire and put people's lives at risk."
Press Release HomeOwners for Better Building.
Oct 18, 2000 Added to Builders in the News
Federal Trade Commission, June 1991: KAUFMAN
AND BROAD HOME CORPORATION AGREES TO SETTLE FTC CHARGES BY PAYING A $595,000
CIVIL PENALTY "The Federal Trade Commission announced today that Kaufman
and Broad Home Corporation (K&BHC) of Los Angeles, a homebuilder, has
agreed to settle charges that it violated a 1979 FTC order by failing to
make warranty repairs in a timely manner."
Nov 30, 2000:
Added to Builders in the NewsHome
Builder [Kaufman and Broad] Loses Age Discrimination Suit
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer. Home-building giant Kaufman and Broad
has been ordered to pay $2.4 million in damages and legal fees to
two veteran real estate agents who were ruled to be victims of age discrimination.
(Lost via arbitration clause in employment contracts)
Oct 18, 2000Added to Builders in the News
Federal Trade Commission, June 1991: KAUFMAN
AND BROAD HOME CORPORATION AGREES TO SETTLE FTC CHARGES BY PAYING A $595,000
CIVIL PENALTY "The Federal Trade Commission announced today that Kaufman
and Broad Home Corporation (K&BHC) of Los Angeles, a homebuilder, has
agreed to settle charges that it violated a 1979 FTC order by failing to
make warranty repairs in a timely manner."
Sept 2, 2000Added to Builders in the NewsKaufman
and Broad looks at buying out homeowners. By Daryl Bell Express-News
Staff Writer "Kaufman and Broad, a primary builder in the Northampton Homes
subdivision, has been busy trying to negotiate buyouts with several
homeowners."
Aug 26, 2000Added to Builders in the NewsSalas
says builder failed to ensure stable subsoil By Daryl Bell Express-News
Staff Writer In a letter sent to residents of Northampton Homes, San Antonio
City Councilman Mario Salas questions why Kaufman and Broad, builders
of the controversial subdivision, developed an area with unstable soil.
Aug 5, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsCisneros
coming back to S.A. By Elizabeth Allen and Jeanne Russell Express-News
Staff Writers Henry Cisneros is returning to San Antonio to build homes,
not rebuild a political career.... Cisneros' firm, American CityVista,
will enter a growing market for urban reinvestment. He plans to use some
of the money he earned while president of the Univision television network
to help launch a joint venture with Kaufman and Broad Home Corp.
to build homes in Southwestern cities.
Aug 1, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsNortheast:
Live Oak Council approves subdivision plan By Chuck McCollough Express-News
Staff Writer LIVE OAK ó In a vote that left a number of residents shaking
their heads in disagreement, the City Council on July 25 approved a compromise
measure for a 650-unit housing complex in the Woodcrest subdivision here.
On a 3-1 vote with Councilman Tom Kusek dissenting, the council approved
a middle-ground solution that will allow Kaufman & Broad homebuilders
to finish developing the Woodcrest subdivision off of Toepperwein Road.
Aug 1, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsBuilder
to help in Northampton By Daryl Bell Express-News Staff Writer The
builder of a subdivision that residents say is plagued with flawed homes
assured 150 homeowners Tuesday that the problems will be corrected.
The promise from Kaufman and Broad to residents of the Northampton
Homes subdivision came during a two-hour meeting that drew protests from
many homeowners after the meeting site was switched at the last minute.
July 26, 2000
Added to Builders in the NewsBexar
Met, developer's firm disput Northampton seepage.By Daryl Bell Express-News
Staff Writer An official with Integrated Testing and Engineering Company
disputed a Bexar Metropolitan Water District analysis of water seeping
from the ground in Northampton Homes. Steve Frost, vice president project
geologist for InTEC, the San Antonio firm commissioned by developer
Kaufman & Broad, said water readings taken in several locations
in the subdivision reveal traces of chlorine.
July 24, 2000
Added to Builders in the NewsSource
of seepage unclear By Daryl Bell Express-News Staff Writer On another
front, Janet Ahmad of Home Owners for Better Building, said Northampton
homeowners will hold a strategy meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at Maranatha
Baptist Church, 5814 Rittiman Plaza. And in a related development,
Aaron Seaman, director of local government affairs for Kaufman &
Broad, said that a site for meeting with Northampton Homes residents
has been secured. The meeting will be held Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. in the
cafeteria on the gray campus of Judson High School, 9695 Schaeffer Road
in Converse.
July 15, 2000
Added to Builders in the NewsNorthampton
report says no further study needed By Daryl Bell Express-News Staff
Writer A revised report on the Northampton Homes subdivision completed
by the city of San Antonio Public Works Department Environmental Services
Division does not recommend a Phase II study be done on he controversial
property.
July 15, 2000
Added to Builders in the NewsReported
dumps anger buyers. Wilbur Riley thought he was building a dream house
when he decided to move into the Northampton Homes subdivision two
years ago.Now, his dream has become a nightmare .Riley, who said he began
experiencing problems with his home two weeks after he moved
in, recently discovered his dwelling is located near what is said to be
three former illegal dumping sites.
Mar 11, 2000
Added to Builders in the News:
Builder
loses $11.7 million as result of trading scandal LAS VEGAS SUN
Kaufman and Broad Home Corp., the largest homebuilder in Nevada,
said today its earnings for the quarter ending today will be reduced
an estimated $11.7 million, or 24 cents per share, because of what it called
employee misconduct.
Mar 11, 2000
Added to Builders in the News:
Builders
sued by homewners LAS VEGAS SUN Northgate Homeowners Association Inc.
sued Kaufman and Broad of Nevada and Las Vegas Paving Corp., alleging
defects in its Northgate single-family homes at 4828 Mentor Drive off U.S.
95 at Craig in Las Vegas.
