Support HOBB - Become a Sustaining Member |
|
|
Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) Abolished
Knoweledge & Financial Responsibility Optional for Builders |
Tuesday, 15 February 2005 |
Homeowners storm Capitol
Janet Ahmad, president of HomeOwners for Better Building, said TRCC's Texas Star Builder Program is the main point of contention. The program allows builders to qualify as "star builders," demonstrating knowledge, experience and history of financial responsibility, Ahmad said. She said this must be made mandatory for builders instead of optional, as it is under the current system. |
Read more...
|
|
Tuesday, 15 February 2005 |
Home dispute panel criticized When Jordan Fogal and her husband purchased a new home in spring 2002, they never expected they'd be living in a tiny apartment two years later, stuck with a 30-year mortgage on a house that's falling apart. "My husband's 69 years old," said Fogal, of Houston, "but we're having to start our lives over like 20 year olds." |
Read more...
|
|
Texas Observer - Capitol Offenses |
Friday, 11 February 2005 |
The Agency that Bob Perry Built For nearly a decade, homebuilders had steadily eroded consumer rights in Texas: Buyers who moved into brand-new houses and found cracked foundations and leaky roofs had little recourse. Some couldnât file a lawsuit even if they wanted. They had signed housing contracts that forced them to resolve complaints through binding arbitration hearings notorious for favoring builders... Homebuilders are some of the stateâs heftiest contributors to political campaigns. Their interests so dominate the TRCC that the new agency is little more than a tool to help the industry win disputes against consumers...Since 2001, the industry has donated more than $8.9 million to candidates, parties, and political action committees, according to an analysis by the campaign watchdog group Campaigns for People. That includes $744,562 to Gov. Rick Perry...
|
Read more...
|
|
Homebuilder Money, Binding Arbitration & Using Docotors |
Sunday, 06 February 2005 |
Houston Chronicle Power tale: Mugging Dr. Welby By RICK CASEY A recent study showing that homebuilders have contributed $9 million to state officials in the past four years raised a simple question.What are they getting for their money? The Austin-based reform organization that conducted the study, Campaigns for People, accused legislators of responding by setting up the Texas Residential Construction Commission... Richard Weekley, a Houston real estate developer (and part owner of his brother's David Weekley Homes), wrote a letter to Gov. Perry... |
Read more...
|
|
Texas New Substandard Standards |
Wednesday, 26 January 2005 |
Houston Chronicle Getting it in writing Texas has put in place standards for home construction, but builders and consumer activists disagree on their fairness First it cracked. Then it buckled. Finally the kitchen tile in Debbie and Rick Gannaway's Katy home popped off the floor. But their builder, Houston-based Trendmaker Homes, won't fix it because their one-year warranty on workmanship and materials has expired. |
Read more...
|
|
Donor cash tilts state laws |
Wednesday, 26 January 2005 |
Star-Telegram Austin Bureau Watchdogs: Donor cash tilts state laws It's supposed to be the American dream, but owning a home can be a nightmare in Texas because builders have used millions in campaign cash to tilt state laws in their favor, a coalition of watchdog groups said Monday. At issue is a 2003 law that established the Texas Residential Construction Commission, strongly supported by home-building interests, which contributed some $9 million to state candidates and political entities between 2001 and 2004â¦
HOBB Commentary: Donât you just love the Texas Assoc. of Builders comments on TRCC? Isn't this like putting expensive lipstick on a pig. See the comments by Kristi Sutterfield , director of the Texas Association of Builders, attempting to defend the builderâs slaughter of home buyer protection and rights. Sutterfield said, â the law actually enhances homeowner protections by setting a uniform, state-imposed warranty... She also said the residential construction commission is resolving complaints quicklyâ¦â The homebuilding industry can continue to fool the people with shoddy building practices most of the time but not all of the people, no matter the shade of the lipstick on TRCC. Bad will be bad, no matter the cosmetic fix. |
Read more...
|
|
Big Money and Shoddy Construction |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Big Money and Shoddy Construction: Texas Home Buyers Left Out in the Cold Monday, January 24, 2005, Homeowners for Better Building and Campaigns for People held a press conference to release a report on homebuildersâ mammoth campaign contributions and the 2003 Texas Legislatureâs passage of laws that stripped homebuyers of most of their rights against homebuilders for shoddy construction.
See Report: http://www.cleanuptexaspolitics.com/images/Homeowners.doc |
|
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Dallas Morning News: Special Report Home buyers wary of agency Some consumer groups, others say TRCC doesn't aid consumers enough Since its creation in September 2003, unhappy homeowners and consumer groups have criticized the agency for doing little to help buyers, because it can't force builders to make repairs. And they say the agency's passage this month of new building standards allows for shoddy construction, not a guarantee of quality work... Consumer groups say the agency is biased toward the building industry because commissioners and most agency leaders have backgrounds in construction or real estate. They say builders have won their influence in the Legislature from both parties by blanketing them with political donations. |
Read more...
|
|
Highlights Monday from the Texas Legislature |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Associated Press: Highlights Monday from the Texas Legislature Homebuilders contributed at least $8.9 million the past four years to state leaders and legislators and along the way won passage in 2003 of a bill that diminishes homeowners' rights, two watchdog groups said Monday. |
Read more...
|
|
Just Who Is Watching Out For Texas Homeowners? |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
San Antonio Express-News Carlos Guerra: In Austin, Just Who Is Watching Out For Texas Homeowners? A study released Monday by a campaign finance reform group and three homeowner groups underscores why Texas' pay-to-play politics must be stopped. The damning report by Homeowners for Better Building, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Take Back Your Rights and Campaigns for People is appropriately titled: "Big Money and Shoddy Construction: Texas Homeowners Left Out In the Cold." |
Read more...
|
|
Homebuilders' campaign donations rapped |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
San Antonio Express-News: Homebuilders' campaign donations rapped AUSTIN â Advocates of campaign finance reform and homeowners' rights joined Monday to spotlight almost $9 million in campaign contributions from homebuilder interests over a nearly four-year period that included passage of a law the groups say hurt homebuyers.
|
Read more...
|
|
| << Start < Prev 21 22 Next > End >>
| Results 221 - 231 of 241 |
|
|