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Dec 12, 2000:  Posted in Centex in the News: Conservationists Target Largest US Home
Builder  By Danielle Knight  WASHINGTON, Mar 30 (IPS) - Environmental activists in more than 30 cities across the United States, are planning to protest next week against Centex Homes, the nation's largest home builder, unless the construction company details a plan to stop using wood
products from ancient forests worldwide. 

Dec 12, 2000:  Posted in Centex in the News: One of America's largest housing developers will pay a black couple $71,000 to settle a complaint accusing the firm of refusing  to sell the couple a San Francisco Bay area home, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo announced today. 

 Cuomo said that Centex Homes, a division of Centex Real Estate Corporation, agreed in an enforcement agreement with HUD to settle a  housing discrimination complaint filed with HUD in 1997 by Oakland, CA residents Sylvia Myles and Bruce Soublet. Centex admits no  wrongdoing in the settlement. 

Dec 10, 2000:  Posted in Centex in the News: Home buyers await court ruling on general vs. express warranties  By DAVID KOENIG Associated Press. "Centex says it is doing buyers a favor by requiring them to sign the express warranty. It argues that the state's so-called implied warranty, with terms such as "habitability" and "workmanship," is so vague that it leads to disputes between buyers and builders. "

Dec 8, 2000:  Posted in Centex in the News: Owners, Builder Clash Over Waived Implied Warranty "If Centex wins this case, then the buyer of a toaster oven, a VCR or a microwave will have more legal rights to seek repairs than the  uyer of a brand spanking new home," says Janet Ahmad of San Antonio, president of Homeowners for Better Builders. 

Dec 4, 2000:  Posted to Builders in the News (Centex) Texas court ponders implied  warranties for new homes By Bruce Hight American-Statesman Staff Thursday, November 30, 2000 "Substituting a contract with an "express warranty" of the builder's responsibilities and waiving any implied warranty benefits consumers as well as builders, a lawyer representing Centex Homes, Samara Kline of Dallas, told the state's high court in oral arguments Wednesday. " YEA. RIGHT. HOBB WILL POST DETAILS OF CENTEX'S WARRANTY PROGRAM, RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY PROGRAM.

Nov 23, 1999: "Court gives win to home buyers". The San Antonio Express News "When homeowners in Pembroke Forest found they were having foundation problems, they contacted the company out of Pennsylvania that warrantees their homes. According to their lawyer, Brian Woods, the insurance company covers foundation problems only when its engineer agrees coverage is warranted. In this case, he didn't."

Angry Fawn Ridge homeowners picket builder By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH St. Petersburg Times, published July 10, 1998. CITRUS PARK -- Hell hath no fury like a home buyer who's mad at his builder. A group of Fawn Ridge residents and supporters who feel they were knowingly misled by Dallas-based home builder Centex Homes are on a picket campaign targeting different Centex developments each week. 

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 News Kaufman 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 News Salas 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 News Cisneros 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 News Northeast: 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 News Builder 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 News Bexar 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 News Source 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 News Northampton 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 News Reported 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.

May 10, 2001 Worker: City knew of dump in ë94 Georgetown, Kentucky News-Graphic News  By KEVIN HALL. "Woody and Wanda Vestís soil had a count of 465 parts per million, Woody Vest said. Some in the neighborhood had levels approaching 7,000, he said. The accepted level for human safety is 50 parts per million, said Matt Hackathorn, Kentucky Division of Waste Management spokesperson."

April 29, 2001 Boston Globe: Luxury by Design, Quality by Chance. A 4 part series concerning the building industry. "The Spotlight Team also found that substandard home construction is a growing national problem, and that many national home building firms have taken advantage of a lack of government oversight. "

DAY ONE
Home builder leaves trail of bitter buyers
Problems undermine Hopkinton subdivision
Cost-saving practices a hit with Wall Street

Web-only
It would be less expensive ... to start over'
For both sides, a long-running nightmare
A seventh-grade shop project gone wrong'
They simply cannot do the job'

DAY TWO
Questionable sales practices 

DAY THREE
Sub-par materials used 

DAY FOUR
A national surge in buyer complaints 
 

• Stuck with crumbling home, owners sue  Published in the Courier News on November 18, 2000  By LARRY HIGGS  Staff Writer  "A family's dream home has quickly become their nightmare -- now they're suing the township and the home builder."
• More flaws turn up in home  By LARRY HIGGS  Staff Writer   Published in the Courier News on December 27, 2000   BRANCHBURG -- State inspectors have found another violation that township building officials missed when they checked the home of a family who sued because other construction flaws were overlooked. 
• Family, code department are battling  By LARRY HIGGS  Staff Writer  Published in the Courier News on April 8, 2001   BRANCHBURG -- A family is involved in a classic "Catch-22" situation with the township Building Department. But it could cost them a $100 a day fine. 

Owners get extension to repair defective home  By LARRY HIGGS  Staff Writer   Published in the Courier News on April 26, 2001   BRANCHBURG-- The Crosby family has received some help from the state in the ongoing saga of their defect-riddled home.
April 04, 2001 "Homebuilders call for housing stimulus package" San Antonio Express News. April 4, 2001. "We make no representation, express or implied, regarding members's qualifications of the quality of their products and services....." (concerning the members of the San Antonio Builders Association.

Mar 2, 2001 Posted to Builders in the News: Building firm paid $225,000 owed by DiFrancesco  BY DUNSTAN McNICHOL AND JENNIFER GOLSON STAR-LEDGER STAFF "In addition, the New Jersey Builders Association, whose members include Hovnanian, spent $360,000 lobbying lawmakers on 75 separate pieces of legislation in the Senate and Assembly last year, according to reports filed yesterday. It was the second most expensive lobbying effort by any single group last year."

Mar 2, 2001 Posted to Builders in the News: Builder Aided DiFrancesco in Land Deal By DAVID M. HALBFINGER New York Times.  TRENTON, Feb. 28 ó Five years ago, one of New Jersey's largest home builders provided $225,000 to Donald T. DiFrancesco, the State Senate president, to pay off an outstanding legal judgment, court records show. Mr. DiFrancesco, who also became acting governor of New Jersey a month ago, has never repaid the money and says he does not think it is his responsibility to do so.

Nov 2, 2000 San Antonio Express News agrees ith HOBB: Editorial: National Electric Code must be city's code, too. "The council should adopt the national standard. This is an area where its uniqueness makes San Antonio's leadership look dangerously complacent. " (See related story for background: AC placement fuels hot fight

Oct 26, 2000 Added to Builders in the News AC 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, 2000Added to Builders in the News Group questions electrical code By David Anthony Richelieu Express-News Staff Writer.

July 26, 2000 Welcome to Outraged Homeowners Of Texas! Outraged Homeowners of Texas(OHOT)is a non-profit organization promoting change to Texas Law concerning the licensing and bonding of home contractors. OHOT has no fees or dues. The primary purpose of OHOT is to unite homeowners to lobby for a change in current Texas laws. Thank You OHOT for joining us in this battle! See their CH 13 report "Houston homeowners gang together for change"

June 20, 2000 Added to Builders in the News Head of construction board fired  By Steve Patterson  Times-Union staff writer 

June 20, 2000 Added to Builders in the News Legislature to consider licensing requirements for Ga. home builders  By Walter C. Jones  Staff Writer Online Athens. "The Home Builders Association of Georgia isn't thrilled with the  idea, but it's not opposing it either. Association officials see it as something their customers want, especially those moving from states that already license residential contractors."

May 17, 2000 Added to Builders in the News "The Dream House" by Brad Tyer of The Houston Press. You may say to yourself, this is not my beautiful house. And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here? -- Talking Heads 

April 8, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsState suit may broaden law on home contractors Friday, April 07, 2000 By SHERYL HARRIS PLAIN DEALER REPORTER "The Ohio Attorney Generalís Office yesterday filed a suit against a home improvement contractor that could change the way courts deal with contractors who have previously been sued by disgruntled customers."

Mar 19, 2000 Added to Builders in the News "Coping with Shotty Builders"  by RICH HOOD - The Kansas City Star "For years the scales have been tilted against Missourians or Kansans who were unhappy with the results of home remodeling or with shoddy work on homes they had built. A pattern of irresponsible and sleazy workmanship on new homes led to the creation of a nonprofit grass-roots organization, Homeowners Against Defective Dwellings five years ago. Even though it is underfunded, HADD has bravely dueled with homebuilders and related organizations over warranties that were sometimes virtually useless for homeowners. 

Mar 15, 2000 Added to Builders in the News a link to the Texas Residential Construction Liability Act.  A similiar act was passed in California. "This chapter applies to any action to recover damages resulting from a construction defect, except a claim for personal injury, survival, or wrongful death or for damage to goods.  To the extent of conflict between this chapter and any other law, including the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code), this chapter prevails."

Mar 14, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsNightmare Dream Home. In 1998, he and his family moved into a new house built by U.S. Home Corp.  in the Hunter's Green subdivision of Tampa.  According to Preslar, they had no hot water downstairs for almost three months. One bedroom had no air-conditioning ducts. The kitchen floor  molded. The foundation cracked. Wallpaper turned black. Soffits turned green. The carpet frayed. The banister fell down. Kitchen lights dropped from the ceiling. Including sidebars:

Hidden flaws By COLLINS CONNER © St. Petersburg Times, published March 12, 2000 In looking at new home construction, the St. Petersburg Times found plenty of evidence that work had deteriorated. Some defects are easy to see. But industry insiders described commonplace problems that are difficult to detect or that occur during phases of construction that are virtually unexamined. These flaws affect a home's strength, wind resistance, durability or efficiency. 

Riding on its reputation Suarez Housing sells the nuts and bolts of construction quality and, according to a Times poll of Tampa Bay area buyers, it delivers on its promises.

Industry regulation lacking. Jack and Ruth Dunn of Hernando County learn there is little recourse when a home is constructed improperly.

Home buyers say quality fell through the cracks. Buying a new home was exactly what a couple wanted to do. But when they moved into their $100,000 house, they didn't get exactly what they were looking for.

So many new homes, so few skilled workers. Ask builders about construction defects and they will point to the labor shortage as the cause. "It's the No. 1 problem across the nation," said Ron Coppenbarger of Jacksonville, who spearheads the worker recruitment effort of the Florida Home Builders Association.

U.S. Home: Survey by Times is not accurate. A U.S. Home Corp. customer-satisfaction survey proves that a scientific poll conducted by the St. Petersburg Times is inaccurate, according to Gene Lanton, president of the builder's Central Florida division.

Dec 13 1999 Lawsuits filed, homeowners wait Inspection process failed to help By CRIS BARRISH Staff reporter 12/12/99 On a frigid day in January 1998, Jesse and Luise Giambrone entered their new house in Lea Eara Farms in Summit to conduct a "walk-through,'' checking for defects before settlement. [Multiple Builders, Inspectors]

Dec 11 1999 Consumer Group Helps Citizen Control Legal Pest California Homeowner Battles Terminix Over Web Site WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A homeowner who lost thousands of dollars because of a home inspection she found shoddy has a First Amendment right to post her story -- and the complaints of other homeowners -- on the World Wide Web, Public Citizen said in court documents filed this week.

Dec 6 1999 Masonite Siding Fails on Many FB Homes Activist's Website Helps Homeowners Make Claims. Fort Bend Star.  Thousands of homes in the Houston area have Masonite hardboard siding that takes on water,  swells, molds and falls apart. Many a Fort Bend homeowner knows this but what they may not  know is "there's been a settlement on the table for two years now. If you know about it and if you  apply for it...," said John Cobarruvias.

Dec 5, 1999: MOLD: A Health Alert. USA Weekend. Included in this report:

• Stachybotrys atra
• How common are these molds
• Why new homes are moldier 
• How to protect your home from unhealthful molds 

Dec 5, 1999: Added to Builders in the News: Proposal for more work visas gaining ground with INS critic By Dave Harmon American-Statesman Staff. But the only idea that seems to be gaining momentum is an expanded guest worker program, which would let employers hire foreign workers through a temporary visa. "There's a lot of talk about that, and I think we need to look at something like that very seriously," said U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio. "I think we've got to figure out a way to deal with hat demand for labor."

Dec 3, 1999: Added to Builders in the News: Homeowner Disgust: Mad as Hell and Not Going to Take it Any More Reality Times. "What does a group of angry homeowners do when they feel they have  received shoddily built homes for their lifetime investments? Do they picket the builders' sales offices? Take their impassioned pleas to the press? Sue the builder for repairs and damages? Sometime they do, and sometimes they do even more. "

Dec 1, 1999: Builder News with tidbits such as "Ryland Reports 3Q Gains; Moving HQ to Southern CA" (Conejo Valley in Southern California)

Nov 16, 1999: SPECIAL REPORT: It could happen here.  Although Hurricane Andrew exposed the vulnerability of gable roofs, many homes outside South Florida still don't meet wind-load standards. By COLLINS CONNER St. Petersburg Times, published June 27, 1999. (Homebuilders referenced: Ryland Homes, US Homes, Lennar, Holiday Builders, Hoyt Homes, Winward Homes, Pulte Homes, Richard Van Orden Homes, Cozy Homes Inc. , Mitch Underwood Homes.) Including sidbars or:

The Long Lonely Fight
Insurance companies will still pay
Repairs can cost thousands
What you can do about your own house
The Experts
How the Times study was done
Letter from Lennar Homes
Summary of engineer, builder responses.

Oct 07, 1999: Inspection building Inspections. Looking the other way  -- Web posted 7/26/98 In every kind of neighborhood, in fancy houses and tiny condos, homeowners are losing money because a city agency that was  supposed to protect them from poor construction failed to do its job by looking the other way. (A special by Jacksonville.com)

Oct 07, 1999: Looking the other way By John Dunbar and Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writers. Story last updated at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 1998 Charlotte Isaac is afraid her home is a ticking time bomb. When the $87,000 house was built two years ago, it failed every structural inspection required by law. Everything flunked - the concrete slab under the  house, the wood framing holding it together, the insulation wrapped around it.

Oct 07, 1999: City fails homeowners  Home inspectors missing 40%  Story last updated at 11:26 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 1998 By John Dunbar and Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writers. At least four out of 10 homes built recently in Jacksonville have not been fully inspected by city officials responsible for assuring proper construction, an analysis of records by the Times-Union shows.

Oct 07, 1999: Building inspector retires   Leaves same day review begins By John Dunbar and Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writers Story last updated at 11:16 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 1998 Claude Bagwell, Jacksonville's chief building and zoning inspector under four mayors, retired unexpectedly yesterday after 28 years of service to the city.

Oct 07, 1999: HomeOwners for Better Building was Featured in a 4 part series on KENS-TV San Antonio from Sept 20- Sept 23, 1999 concerning lack of building permits. Visit their archives.

• Part 1: ACCESS DENIED Sept 20
• Part 2:BUILDING PERMITS Sept 21
• Part 3: INSPECTION QUESTIONS Sept 22
• Part 4: PROTECTING YOURSELF Sept 23

Dec 6, 1998 Homebuyer Beware! The Charlotte Observer
A 6 part Series published Dec. 6-11, 1998 in the Charlotte Observer concerning all aspects of the building industry including results of surveys of homeowners, contact information, and much much more. A must read!

Aug 29, 1999 Read the fine print  The Herald Tribune. 
A detailed article concerning the abuse of binding arbitration by the homebuilding industry. Has links to the Homeowners for Better Building and comments from Janet Ahmad. 

July 27, 1999 Inspecting Building Inspections The Florida Times Union Special Section
"In every kind of neighborhood, in facny houses and tiny condos, homeowners are losing money because a city agency that was supposed to protect them from poor construciton failed to its job by looking the other way."

June 6, 1998 An Inspectors Obligation. The Hearld Tribune
"Sarasota Countys top building official told us that news coverage and editorials about flawed inspections have fosterd "hysteria and panic" amoun the buyers of new homes. Paul Radauskas, director of the countys construciotn and property Standads Department, linened media scrutiny of his department to a "witch hunt" He said previously that he'd defend my people to the death, expressing trust and confidecne in their performaance.

Aug 30. 1997 County Inspections: A blind eye Crusade wakes county up. the Herald Tribune
"Homeowner Earl Niemoth says his garage ceiling was ruined by water pouring from and air conditioner that was improperlay installed by a contractor who did not follow the county code."

Nov 1, 1999 Did the Earth Move for You,Too? 
Homeowners, builders and legislators are heaving over the Front Range's swelling soils problem. By Alan Prendergast.In 1993, John and Patty Duffy purchased their Highlands Ranch funhouse from Writer Homes for $234,000 and moved into it with their two sons. Within months the new home began to shift, pop, buckle and heave. The Douglas County assessor's office now  says that the property is worth only $99,303.

Minutes of adjoured regular meeting of the city council/redevelopment agency Corona, Califormia August 19, 1998. Planning Director Deanna Elliano presented an updated memorandum to inform the Council of the progress made to resolve the issues at the August 13, 1998 meeting with Ryland Homes and the Homeowners Association (HOA). Ms. Elliano summarized the report by noting that there are three major issues within the tracts.

Minutes of an adjourned regular meeting of the city council (Corona Ranch Workshop) Corona California August 3, 1998. Workshop re corona ranch / ryland homes development  staff to work with ryland homes & residents to set a repair time frame.

Corona ranch homeowners win repair timetable about 70 people attended a  city  council meeting at which the builders were lambasted for grading and drainage problems. Published on 08/04/98 Sharon Hormell The Press-Enterprise CORONA Homeowners verbally battered the builder of their new subdivision Monday at a workshop called by the Corona City Council, but they left with a timetable for fixing flawed slopes, fencing and drainage. (fee required)

From the Corona City Council Minutes: Ryland homes is to deposit into an interest bearing account for the benefit of ryland homes with the city's finance director $50,000 for each of the 20 remaining lots as they close, if they close, and if all the problems are resolved, ryland will receive those funds back with the interest accrued; that a disclosure statement is to be drafted by the city attorney and concurred with by ryland homes by no later than 5:00 p.m., august 20, 1998, ensuring that new property owners are not waiving their rights but acknowledging that they are informed of the existing problems before signing their final documents on the purchase of their home; that the city manager was directed to instruct staff to re-evaluate the soils reports and any other reports submitted by the consulting engineers with a report to the council setting out their findings; and that staff is to commence the process for calling the bonds

Ryland homes gets deadline for repairs Published on 03/04/99 Sharon Hormell The Press-Enterprise CORONA When the Corona Ranch Properties Homeowners Association speaks, the Corona City Council acts. (fee required)

City may fix tract drainage  because ryland homes missed deadlines, corona may tap a $1 million company  deposit to finish the work, officials say.  Published on 04/16/99 Sharon Hormell The Press-Enterprise CORONA, Ca. When a builder missed two deadlines to fix drainage problems in a Corona Ranch subdivision, the City Council decided to take over the repairs and tap the company's $1 million deposit to pay the cost. (fee required)

Oct 12, 1999 Ryland Homeowners Take Note!
This site is  dedicated to helping ryland homeowners resolve their construction defects especially defective windows, siding, HOW, and OSB. It is the most comprehensive site on the net for ryland homeowners. 

 Oct 1998 Closing Costs by Brad Tyer of The Houston Press.
A detailed account of the website above. "He also possesses -- or possessed, anyhow -- an instinct to trust, as when he told his wife, in earlier house-shopping  days, that "there's no way the third-largest homebuilder in the country is going to screw us." He was talking then about Columbia, Maryland-based Ryland Homes,  which stands today as the nation's fifth-largest homebuilder, and he remembers his  comment with the self-effacing rue of the poker player who couldn't identify the sucker at the table, and only much later realized that this meant he was it. "

Oct 1998 Home Unsweeet Home by Brad Tyer The Dallas Observer
Disgruntled homeowners take to the Web to battle a giant homebuilder over complaints of shoddy workmanship.

July 1999 Homeowners hit the roof
Town orders Ryland Homes to cease building after reviewing reports of substandard work  By MICHAEL BEACHUM Staff writer  FLOWER MOUND -- Residents of a subdivision built by Ryland Homes say their new houses have been left with  shoddy construction work the company is choosing to ignore.

Nov 16, 1999: SPECIAL REPORT: It could happen here.  Although Hurricane Andrew exposed the vulnerability of gable roofs, many homes outside South Florida still don't meet wind-load standards. By COLLINS CONNER St. Petersburg Times, published June 27, 1999. (Homebuilders referenced: Ryland Homes, US Homes, Lennar, Holiday Builders, Hoyt Homes, Winward Homes, Pulte Homes, Richard Van Orden Homes, Cozy Homes Inc. , Mitch Underwood Homes.) Including sidbars or:

The Long Lonely Fight
Insurance companies will still pay
Repairs can cost thousands
What you can do about your own house
The Experts
How the Times study was done
Letter from Lennar Homes
Summary of engineer, builder responses.

Mar 2, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: DEVELOPER CLEARED OF CHARGES. Essentially ending one of the largest state investigations ever of a Florida home builder, an administrative judge has ruled state officials failed to prove wide-reaching charges of negligence against a politically prominent Panhandle builder. The ruling exonerated Edwin Henry, a former president of the 14,000-member Florida Home Builders Association whom the Department of Business and Professional Regulation spent more than $650,000 investigating.

June 17, 1999 Fraud inquiry dropped Case focused on home builder
By Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writer. A state licensing agency yesterday abandoned fraud charges against a leader of Florida's home-building industry, saying it lacked evidence to support far-reaching accusations of shoddy construction.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation also has agreed to dismiss three other cases against Edwin Henry, president of the 14,000-member Florida Home Builders Association. (See a customers website about Henry Homes.)

May 16, 1999 Senator's new roof prompted inquiry 
TALLAHASSEE - A state investigator says Sen. W. D. Childers contacted regulators about a pending fraud case. A North Florida roofing company owner says in a deposition obtained by The Tampa Tribune that she provided a new roof for a state senator but was paid by a company owned by Edwin Henry, head of the state home builders' association. 

Brenda Hillyer, owner of the now-defunct Gulf Coast Roofing company, said she was paid about $3,000 in 1993 by Henry Company Homes Inc. after she re-roofed a house owned by Sen. W. D. Childers, R-Pensacola. 

May 15, 1999 Builder fought state regulations
By MARGARET TALEV of The Tampa Tribune. TALLAHASSEE - If Edwin Henry's fight has changed how the state regulates builders, that's good, his lawyer says. Edwin Henry, the Pensacola builder who found himself at the center of a controversial  investigation into complaints of shoddy construction, made it his cause to force restraint on what he sees as unfair and excessive state regulation of home builders.

February 21, 1999 Builders battle on 2 fronts Panhandle firm accused of shoddy work
By Steve Patterson Times-Union staff writer. The political leader of Florida's vast home-building industry has become the target of one of the largest state investigations in years into charges of shoddy construction.

The two-year examination of houses built by Edwin Henry, president of the 14,000-member Florida Home Builders Association, has been punctuated by defamation lawsuits, a separate criminal investigation, and accusations that people on all sides of the case were lying, reckless and incompetent. (See a customers website about Henry Homes.)

Hidden flaws By COLLINS CONNER © St. Petersburg Times, published March 12, 2000 In looking at new home construction, the St. Petersburg Times found plenty of evidence that work had deteriorated. Some defects are easy to see. But industry insiders described commonplace problems that are difficult to detect or that occur during phases of construction that are virtually unexamined. These flaws affect a home's strength, wind resistance, durability or efficiency. 

Riding on its reputation Suarez Housing sells the nuts and bolts of construction quality and, according to a Times poll of Tampa Bay area buyers, it delivers on its promises.

Industry regulation lacking. Jack and Ruth Dunn of Hernando County learn there is little recourse when a home is constructed improperly.

Home buyers say quality fell through the cracks. Buying a new home was exactly what a couple wanted to do. But when they moved into their $100,000 house, they didn't get exactly what they were looking for.

So many new homes, so few skilled workers. Ask builders about construction defects and they will point to the labor shortage as the cause. "It's the No. 1 problem across the nation," said Ron Coppenbarger of Jacksonville, who spearheads the worker recruitment effort of the Florida Home Builders Association.

U.S. Home: Survey by Times is not accurate. A U.S. Home Corp. customer-satisfaction survey proves that a scientific poll conducted by the St. Petersburg Times is inaccurate, according to Gene Lanton, president of the builder's Central Florida division.

Feb 26, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: Supreme Court 2000: Torts. Arbitration clauses need not bar suits. Patricia Seifert and her husband, Ernest, contracted with U.S. Home to build a house. The purchase and sale contract said that if any dispute arose, it would be settled by mediation ó in which a referee tries to work out a deal acceptable to both parties ó or, if that failed, binding arbitration, in which one or more arbitrators decides on a solution. After the Seiferts moved in, the air- conditioning system sucked into the home deadly carbon monoxide emissions from the coupleís car, which had been left running in the garage. Ernest Seifert died, and his wife sued in 1996, contending her husbandís death was a result of U.S. Homeís negligence.

Feb 18, 2000 Houston homebuilder acquired.
Florida company agrees to pay $476 million for U.S. Home. Miami-based Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) has finalized the terms for its $476 million purchase of Houston-based U.S. Home Corp. (NYSE: UH) in a deal that will create one of the largest homebuilding firms in the country.

Oct 28, 1999 Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
When the housing boom hit Longmont, city inspectors missed a few steps. By Alan Prendergast of the Denver Westward. "Mistakes get made, but this house is one big mistake from the mud plate up,"  says James Mayrath. "I should have seen a lot of this stuff, but I wasn't really  looking." 

Aug 29, 1999 Read the fine print 
When Timothy Blevins ordered the  construction of a new home in Manatee County three years ago, he inadvertently gave up his right to sue, regardless of how the house turned out. The Herald Tribune. A detailed article concerning the abuse of binding arbitration by the homebuilding industry. Has links to the Homeowners for Better Building and comments from Janet Ahmad.  08/29/99

U.S. Home to buy back four Turtle Rock homes 
Rainwater was leaking into cracks in the homeowners' stucco walls, resulting in mold growth. (July 7)

County cements stucco standards
 Sarasota County has tightened its rules for how contractors apply stucco over framework after examining defective walls on two-story houses built by U.S. Home at Turtle Rock. (Aug. 26) 

Builder agrees to repair houses
U.S. Home will correct the building code violations in Turtle Rock homes. (July 8) 

Builder settles another case
Garry Royle holds up a section of a wall of his Turtle Rock home. Royle had his walls cut open to look for construction defects, exposing major building code violations by U.S. Home. (June 24)

Building inspector loses job over U.S. Homes violations
The Sarasota County building inspector who approved construction on several defect-ridden U.S. Homes was fired Friday. 

Contractor leaves job at U.S. Home
The U.S. Home Corp. contractor who signed building permits for leaky homes in Turtle Rock subdivision no longer works for the county's largest homebuilder. (Mar. 10) 

Family's frustrations pile up
Sarasota County officials tried unsuccessfully to inspect John and Beth Cottillion's home in the Turtle Rock subdivision of Palmer Ranch -- U.S. Home's first attempt at repairing one of its homes. (Nov. 11)

U.S. Home problems go beyond Sarasota, investigation shows 

Sept 23, 1999: Hog Wild. Joining the race to replace Pete Frusetta in the 28th  Assembly District is a man who could make the Cowboy in  the Capitol look, well, normal. J.J. Vogel, the whistleblower  in the Hollister housing scandal who lists his party affiliation  as a staunch "declined to state," says he's driving his Harley   into the ring. 

Builder of homes targeted in suits Hollister residents cite alleged defects
BY LARRY SLONAKER Mercury News Staff Writer Published Friday, September 17, 1999, in the San Jose Mercury News. As the target of yet more litigation filed against builders by disgruntled home buyers in Hollister, building giant Kaufman and Broad Home Corp. says the residents first should have asked for repairs under their warranty.

Sept 23, 1999: South Valley homeowners sue Developers say many problems exaggerated. BY JULIA PRODIS SULEK Mercury News Staff Writer. Mold grows in windows. Cracks in stucco spread like spider webs. Tiny volcanoes erupt  in concrete slabs. And when doors slam, walls shake. These are not ancient, abandoned buildings.  These are at least 300 of Hollister's new homes.

OSHA Region 5 - For Release Tuesday, June 15, 1999  U.S. Labor Department Fines Pulte Homes $37,750 For Child Labor and Federal Workplace Safety Violations Following Injury Of Thirteen-Year-Old At Twinsburg, OH, Construction Site.   Two agencies of the U.S. Department of Labor have fined Pulte Homes of Ohio, Solon, Ohio, a total of $37,750 following injuries sustained on May 18 by a 13-year-old Middlefield youth who was working at a Twinsburg, Ohio, construction site, the Department announced today.

Feb 1, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: "Damages awarded to owners of faulty home By JOHN MARTELLARO - The Kansas City Star Date: 01/25/00 22:30 An arbitrator has awarded $100,000 in damages to a Lee's Summit couple from the builder of their five-year-old home, citing numerous defects in construction. " [Pulte Homes]

Feb 5, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: New Home Nightmares: Exclusive Investigation. "Have you fallen victim to the Nightmares of  dealing with New Home Problems? Did you see the investigative report on the Fox 21 Ten O'Clock News, Friday night, February 4th?.  If not, you can see the feature in it's entirety right here on fox21.com. Watch the video as Fox 21 Reporter Tami Birckner interviews new home buyers, whose life-long dreams  of home ownership suddenly turned into nightmares. Did this happen to you? Could you have avoided these nightmares? " Includes interview of Pulte Homes and Jim Blackstone of www.blackstoneversuspulte.com. (no longer active.)

Aug 19, 2000Added to Builders in the News Home horrors Hidden problems with family's dream house prompt investigation By KARL SCHWEIZER Herald Writer  TULALIP -- Theresia Rieman fell in love with the beachfront house on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. It was spacious, had a big yard, and was affordable to the single mom, who had scrambled for years to make a life for herself and her son.

Aug 19, 2000Added to Builders in the News HUD investigating contractor for discrimination violations By PAUL WENSKE - The Kansas City Star Date: 08/18/00 22:15. Dale Gray, a spokeswoman for the local HUD office in Kansas City, Kan., confirmed that her office was investigating homeowner complaints against Jeff Miller Enterprises Inc. 

May 9, 2000 Added to Builders in the News "House of Cards" by the Dallas Observer. "Pastor Morris Turner sells dream homes that are just that----DREAMS."

Mar 9, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: Built-in misery  Construction problems leave cracks in a Jeffco couple's dream By Lori Tobias  Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer In 1994, Pam and Bill Kelker moved into their dream house, a custom-built, two-story stucco with a commanding view of the Denver skyline. Six years later, they're living every homeowner's nightmare. Rainwater is seeping into their 3,000-square-foot showcase home in Jefferson County, leaving the infrastracture moldy, mildewed and potentially weakened. [Mark Cucarola, owner of Midwestern Homes of Colorado]

Mar 7, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: Homeowners win settlement  lawyer says By Tanya Flanagan Review-Journal. Homeowners living in a North Las Vegas subdivision won a $16.2 million settlement Monday against developers who built their homes on expansive and corrosive soil, an attorney said. Attorney Scott Canepa said the case was one of "utter failure" by developers Rhodes Design and Development, HBR and Halco Inc. to treat the soil before building the homes in the Casa Linda development at Simmons Street and Alexander Road. 

Mar 11, 2000 Added to Builders in the News: Changing the law on new-home defects By Lisa Snedeker LAS VEGAS SUN When Vickie Fort purchased her dream home in 1992, little did she realize she would find herself embroiled in a six-year nightmare. [Horizon Communities]

Mar 11, 2000 Added to Builders in the NewsHome builder on hot seat  Ahlstrom faces loss of license By Diana Sahagun   <diana@lasvegassun.com> LAS VEGAS SUN The president of Falcon Homes faces a  disciplinary hearing Tuesday before the Nevada State Contractors Board in  the case of a North Las Vegas homeowner who for seven years has doggedly  pursued claims of shoddy workmanship.