Exposing New Home Builders

Homeowner's Legislation;Senator Brian Weinstein

This is an e-mail I received from Washington State Senator Brian Weinstein concerning his proposed homeowner legislation. I believe it to be of great importance and would in turn like to share it with you:

"Dear Friends,
Homebuyers in this state do not have the right to hold a builder or contractor liable. This means Washingtonians have more rights when they buy a $25 toaster than when they purchase a home.

But you know this. You supported my Homeowners’ Bill of Rights last year which passed the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee but was never brought to the House Floor.

Since you've indicated in the past that you'd like to be updated on this issue, I'll briefly fill you in.  This year, I am proposing a much simpler measure that still holds homebuilders accountable for their work. Senate Bill 6385 gives consumers a cause of action in negligence against homebuilders that fail to exercise a reasonable duty of care in home construction or remodeling. The measure will encourage negligent contractors to adopt sound construction practices today or be held liable for their mistakes tomorrow.  There is also an identical "companion" bill, House Bill 2837 . 

I'm concerned that what happened last year could easily happen again. The Senate is committed to ensuring no one is put out of their home because of a builder’s negligence. But some legislators have not made the same commitment. If you want to see this legislation pass, please contact your representatives – tell them the stories you have told me.  You can e-mail them or call the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and operators will relay your message to your legislators.  I believe we have an obligation to make sure the dreams of homeownership are never turned into a nightmare.

Sincerely,

Brian Weinstein
State Senator
41st Legislative District"

I now challenge you to act!

If you or someone you care about has been affected by the homebuilding industries wanton disregard for their fellow Americans - their consumers, then Contact Your  Local Representatives today and urge support of this legislation for the people!

A House Divided part 1 & 2; Americans Rendered Helpless by New Home Building Industry – You or Your Family Could Be Next

Building new homes on top of unstable soil has become a common theme for developers and new home builders, “It’s just your house settling; that’s all. It’s completely normal.” How many times have we all heard that?

Let me say up front that you will be subjected to a 30 second commercial before going on to the intended video. There will also be an unrelated piece at the end of the video – sorry, but that’s CNN for ya.

A house divided part 1 2:40 updated Mon, September 10, 2007

The Bruderman family is living a nightmare as their house is literally sinking into the ground.

 A house divided part 2 4:45 updated Mon, September 10, 2007

New homes built on unstable soil are falling apart and owners have little recourse.

Are you outraged by what you just saw?

Do You want to do something about it?

Then do your part to demand accountablility of the new home building indurstry.

Resources for victimized Nevada homeowners:

Las Vegas Lemonade, HADD, HOBB, NewHomeBuildersNewsBlog, ExposingNewHomeBuilders

'Shelter In Place’; Developers Boost Profits with Risky, Experimental Tactic of Building Homes in Remote, High Fire Severity Zones Without Being Required to Provide Roads for Evacuation

I thought I had heard everything when Developers began lobbying city councils to build new homes in active flood basins simply because the land was considered “unbuildable” therefore cheap for the developer to acquire. Never mind your family’s safety, “We’re looking at record profits here boys! Do what it takes to bring the city council in line.” And bring them in line they did.

Now, San Diego developers in, CA. are lobbying to implement a ‘Shelter in Place’ policy “to build homes in remote, fire-prone areas where they shouldn't because of inadequate roads.”

What is Shelter in Place?

“Shelter-in-Place (SIP) is a strategy for protection against chemical, biological or radioactive contaminants released into the air (such as a chemical tanker spill). SIP was not intended for protection against fire. SIP has never been tested under actual wildland-urban interface wildfire conditions. It is experimental and not an accepted standard of fire protection.”

In other words, if a wildfire is coming, Police, Firemen, and Emergency Personnel would encourage citizens to stay in their shoddily built homes thereby avoiding an evacuation sure to fail due to the city relieving the developers of any responsibility to provide adequate infrastructure, to include emergency evacuation routes, knowing full well that the city is unable to provide these emergency services.

“‘Any development that has to rely on it [Shelter in Place] shouldn't be approved, because it would be a catastrophe," said Madelyn Buchalter, a vocal opponent of the proposed 2,700-home Stonegate project north of San Marcos.’” She and her husband Ira have set up a website at www.llcfire.com to oppose the ‘Shelter in Place’ proposals.

And why?

“It is apparent that developers in San Diego County have taken over the policy-making role of government. In fact, one look at the ‘technical review panel’ for the new wildfire protection policy reveals developers' consultants, ex-fire personnel now on developers' payrolls and developers themselves. Respected scientific, medical and public health organizations are conspicuously absent. The American Lung Association's position paper condemning Shelter-in-Place was totally ignored.’

The bottom line is all about GREED on the part of new home builders and developers at the expense of your family’s safety; don’t think for a moment that it is otherwise!

You should take action now to hold the new home building industry accountable or prepare for the shock and awe that awaits legions of new homeowners all around the county as shoddy new home builders shady schemes come to fruition at homeowner and taxpayer expense.