Rep. Todd Smith's HB 2008
Bill Incorporates the Recommendations of Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) Report, January 23, 2006.

Fearing lawsuits, builders oppose bill
Nearly a decade after such a bill was first proposed, the state Senate on Thursday voted to require longer, better warranties on new homes, and to make it easier for the buyer to sue builders over defects. "Owning a home is a quintessential American dream, but for too many people, it has turned into a nightmare," said Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-Mercer Island. "It is only fair that manufacturers and sellers of homes have to stand behind their work."

Shoddy construction destroying Arizona dream homes
One family's dream home turns into a flooded mess and the Arizona registrar of contractors says its happening more often. At the peak of the valley's building boom two years ago, builders warned they had too few skilled workers building too many homes. Today some homeowners are seeing the result - in one case having to abandon their home.

Construction firm raid nets 8 arrests
Federal officials raided a Sierra Vista construction company on Friday and arrested the president and seven others on charges that they knowingly hired undocumented workers and conspired to obtain bogus work documents for employees. These are the first criminal charges lodged against an employer in Arizona as part of a national effort to crack down on employers responsible for the job magnet that draws undocumented workers to the U.S. Three others were charged in state court with supplying workers with counterfeit work documents, officials said.

Sarasoto County Control Growth Now
One path leads to gridlock, higher taxrs, polution and other problems caused by over overgrowth.  On Tursday, March 13, all voters in Sarasota County will have a chance to vote for better control of growth in the cities. A Charter amendment will be on the ballot. It provides that if a City annexes land, County land use rules apply unless the County and the City have a Joint Planning Agreement. Control Growth Now News

Rising Subprime Mortgage Defaults Add to Unsold Homes Inventory
Rising mortgage defaults by subprime borrowers may add more than 500,000 homes to a residential real estate market already beset by slumping prices, according to CreditSights Inc. In January, 4.09 million new and existing homes were offered for sale, down from 4.43 million in July 2006, the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Commerce Department said. New homes accounted for 536,000 of the January total, down from a record 573,000 in July.

Builder's incentives not enough to lure buyers in shaky market: analyst
New-home buyers facing an uncertain market and nervous about purchasing a house that might end up falling in value are demanding more incentives and price cuts from home builders.  As of September, about 77% of home builders were offering some sort of sales incentive in response to rising home inventories, compared with 58% a year earlier, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Part I of Herb's Story - Your pricey home may not be backed by a warranty
"Homebuyers in our state have little or no rights," says State Senator Brian Weinstein, D-Mercer Island. "If the home is defective, if there's structural problems, water damage, anything like that, they have no rights." "What we're doing is ensuring that the American dream of owning a home doesn't become a nightmare," Rep. Williams says in a news release. If approved and signed into law, builders in Washington state would be required to provide a minimum warranty...Those who support the bills to give home buyers better protection insist there is a problem. They point to a report from Criterium Engineers. The company inspects homes in 35 states, including Washington. Their 2006 Quality Survey says 17 percent of new homes have significant problems.

Problem Solvers: Your pricey home may not be backed by a warranty
It's the most expensive purchase you'll ever make. But builders in Washington are not required to back their work with a warranty. Now, some state lawmakers are trying to change that... Fill in with Exclusions - In most cases Builder Warranties Don't Cover - Non-load-bearing walls - Plaster or Flooring or sub-flooring - Brick, stucco, stone, or veneer - Any type of exterior siding roof shingles - Heating, cooling or ventilation -Plumbing, electrical or electrical - Appliances or fixtures, doors & cabinets - Paint or stain...RWC Warranty: "Failure to complete construction of the home or any portion of the home… is not considered a defect."  The homeowner agree to arbitrate any dispute and to pay for that arbitration.  You also agree to give up your right to sue the builder – that limits your options. Watch the Problem Solver Report

Federal Bureau of Investigation issues Press Release on Mortgage Fraud
Today the FBI and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) entered into an agreement to combat Mortgage Fraud. The FBI and the MBA will make available a Mortgage Fraud Warning Notice as a proactive means of educating consumers and mortgage-lending professionals of the penalties and consequences of this criminal activity.

Collateral damage remains after fall
SonRise Homes Inc. went from the largest builder based in Genesee County to a company in shambles. Its collapse has affected other businesses and home buyers, and left many looking for answers. Robin Hosler says the downfall of SonRise Homes has resulted in the worst 12 months of his life. Hosler bought a SonRise home in the Cross Creek subdivision in Burton in June. Since then, he's been living a nightmare as he watched the developer collapse, and subcontractors put liens on his home, all while he's struggled with his health and making two mortgage payments that exceed his monthly income.

New homes flawed, owners say
 Marilyn Olinger can give you a tour of her house, but it won't be the kind from a beaming new-home owner.
Instead of bragging about the space or crown molding, Olinger sees only flaws: a peeling porch roof, flaking stucco, chipped doors, bowed walls. The list is nearly 80 items long... It's a list Olinger feels shouldn't exist, considering that she dropped more than $330,000 for a new Palm Valley home in Goodyear.

FBI: Mortgage Fraud a Growing Problem
The number of mortgage fraud cases investigated by the FBI almost doubled the past three years, reflecting a problem that is "pervasive and growing," the bureau said Wednesday in its annual report on financial crimes. The bureau said its mortgage fraud cases increased from 436 in 2003 to 818 in 2006, and acknowledged that its case load likely represents a small piece of the problem.