Connecticut Nabs 115 Home Improvement Contractors
Working as an unregistered home improvement contractor is bad business -- and hiring one is a bad decision. That's the message sent by Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez, announcing the results of a 10-week sting operation that caught 115 home improvement contractors who had either failed to register with the Department of Consumer Protection, or who violated other requirements of the state's Home Improvement Act.

Builder takes lumps over townhome project
...the developer also decided to offer about 125 people full refunds on their Whitemarsh homes because of complaints that the builder did not notify them of a bridge and a park near their homes. A Stuart real estate agent announced plans Tuesday to file complaints with state and federal agencies against Lennar alleging shoddy building. And the Martin County Commission made the company pay the county to landscape Kanner Highway in front of the development.

A Model Remodel
Karen and her husband paid 40% of the cost up front (red flag number one) because the contractor said he needed money for materials. When she asked for receipts, bills and work orders for the subcontracted work, they never showed up (red flag number two). Then came calls from the concrete company demanding payment for a foundation that had been poured months earlier (big, fat red flag number three). Finally came a letter stating that the concrete firm was putting a lien on the house -- as is the right of subcontractors and suppliers who've not been paid, even if the customer has paid the general contractor for the work. "That sent me through the roof," says Karen.

NATIONAL HOME BUYERS COALITION (NHBC)
National Home Buyers Coalition (NHBC) is a nonpartisan membership organization designed to represent the needs of all residential homebuyers. NHBC is committed to offering services and facts that will empower homebuyers in the selection process in choosing quality shelter and ensuring environmental safeguards. NHBC will actively pursue legislation to ensure: habitable housing, homebuilding regulation, environmental safeguards, along with consumer protection and education.  Visit NHBC

Real estate broker accuses Lennar of doing shoddy work in Stuart
A real estate broker Tuesday accused Lennar Homes of shoddy workmanship at three homes in the Martin's Crossing subdivision on Kanner Highway, including roof and electrical problems he called potentially life-threatening...In addition, Morgan charged that stucco installed on the houses was too thin and probably would lead to moisture behind the walls and ultimately mold. "I'm here to ask, 'How in the world did these homes pass county inspection?'" Morgan said.

Garlic Creek - Overview 
The Unrestrained Power of Developers in Texas - Three sick people, 15 Dead Sheep, 10 More Not Expected To Live, 2 Sick Horses, radio active strontium and chemicals in Garlic Creek could make this seem worse than any civilized war. Homeowner Website

2 News Articles: Homebuilders Are Slammed by Downgrades - 
2nd Look: Homebuilder Shares
Shares of major homebuilding companies fell again on Tuesday in reaction to ratings downgrades, fears of higher interest rates and lower full-year outlooks for the cooling housing market. Shares of smaller homebuilders Standard Pacific Corp. and Technical Olympic USA Inc. fell to new 52-week lows on Tuesday, a day after a downbeat brokerage call on Standard Pacific and a bearish forecast issued by Technical Olympic.

State body footed $1,000 lunch bill
When it comes to questionable government spending, most of us have heard of the $600 toilet seat bought by the defense department a few years ago. Here's one from Austin that may top it - the $1,000 lunch… A recent audit by the Texas comptroller found in its first two years, the TRCC spent $573,000 on public relations, including more than $90,000 for a Washington based PR firm and another $483,000 for an Austin PR firm…  Records show that Burson-Marsteller charged the TRCC more than $1,000 to review a speech over lunch, $645 to write a letter to the editor of the Austin American Statesman, nearly $2,500 to write an op ed column for the Austin paper and $1,400 to write a speech for delivery in San Antonio.  Video: Byron Harris Reports: State body footed $1,000 lunch bill

Builder Builds Dream Homes Amid Shaky Past
Roger Pollock looks like a pillar of the community... While Buena Vista Custom Homes touts being named the fastest growing homebuilder in the nation by Builder Magazine in 2005, what the company is not touting is their owner's troubled history including drug arrests, assault charges and lawsuits.

Building exec pulls in $21.5 million bonus
Stuart Miller, boss of Miami home builder Lennar Corp., pulled in a $21.5 million bonus in 2005. Such kingly sums have become common for home-building executives. Running a big home-building company has been a ticket to riches for Lennar Corp. Chief Executive and President Stuart Miller. Miller pocketed a $21.5 million bonus last year, among the heftiest rewards given to any executive in any industry nationwide. The bonus accounted for about two-thirds of his overall compensation of $31.9 million. He received a $15.2 million bonus in 2004.