ConsumerAffairs.Com Homeowners News http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news_index/homeowners.html Homeowner scams, lawsuits, prosecutions, company info and warnings from ConsumerAffairs.Com en-us Copyright 2004 ConsumerAffairs.Com info@consumeraffairs.com (Truman Lewis) jhood@consumeraffairs.com (Jim Hood) http://backend.userland.com/rss Consumers Having Problems with Digital TV Converter Coupons http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/04/dtv_coupons.html Latest snag in government's attempt to move TV broadcasters to new frequency band. Home Warranties Not Always What They Seem http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/03/home_warranties.html Pre-existing conditions not covered, response time often lengthy. 23 Million TV Sets May Go Dark In DTV Switchover http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/dtv_switchover.html Midwest and West may be hardest hit. Don't Take Mattress 'Blowouts' Lying Down http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/mattress_warehouse.html Irate consumers lose sleep over problems with mattress discount chains. ACORN, Countrywide Tweak Subprime Relief Plan http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/acorn_countrywide.html Plan helps distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure. Feds Propose New Furniture Fire Rule http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/cpsc_fires.html Safety agency has been struggling with the proposal for years. Homeowners Associations Face More Regulation http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/va_hoa.html Virginia the latest to put HOAs under scrutiny. Retiring Boomers Flock to Rural Areas http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/boomer_retire.html Many move to quieter regions of their home state. Home Values Plunge At Record Rate http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/home_prices2.html Biggest drop since 1991; Miami leads price decreases. National Home Values Fall in Third Quarter http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/home_values.html Largest quarterly drop in 25 years; West Coast hardest hit. Fireman's Fund Offers 'Green' Policy http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/firemen_socal.html Wildfire victims get the chance to go green when they rebuild. Consumer Energy Costs Skyrocketing http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/cfa_energy.html Poll shows strong support for Congressional action. Existing Home Sales Crater In September http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/home_sales_september.html Sales plunged 8 percent as subprime meltdown worsened. Insurers Dumping Customers Along East Coast http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/hurricane_insurance.html Hurricane fears lead to rash of cancellations. September Foreclosures Double Year-Ago Levels http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/foreclosure_stats.html Defaults driven by higher payments on adjustable-rate loans. Noxious Tile Sealer Stayed on Home Depot Shelves http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/stand_seal.html At least two consumers died from inhaling Stand 'n Seal fumes. Winter Heating Costs Projected To Hit Record Highs http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/winter_heat.html Bush Administration urged to release funds to help low-income families. Biofuels Moving to the Suburbs http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/biofuels_home.html They're environmentally friendly but may be rather expensive. Consumers Warned about Killer Stoves http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/killer_stoves.html Newer stoves are lighter and can tip over, causing serious injury or death. May Home Sales Take A Dive http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/home_sales_may.html Sales of existing homes dropped to their lowest level in nearly four years. Manufacturer of Martha Stewart Tables Declares Bankruptcy http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/jra_bankrupt.html Companies slither away as consumer class action moves forward. Home Depot Sells Supply Unit As Home Construction Sags http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/home_depot_construction.html Ex-CEO Nardelli's pet project scuttled. Foreclosures Surge 90% In May http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/foreclosures.html California, Nevada, Colorado, among the hardest-hit states. Home Prices Fall Again, Sabotaging Recovery Hopes http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/home_prices_decline.html Prices may not return to previous levels til 2011, analyst warns. GE Tries to Get It Right in Latest Dishwasher Recall http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/ge_recall_lesson_learned.html But company could do more, Consumers Union argues. GAO: Consumers Still Held Hostage by Movers http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/gao_movers.html Congress protects big moving companies at expense of consumers. New Energy Standards May Reduce Washers' Cleaning Power http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/cr_washing_machines.html Top-loaders perform better but cost more, Consumer Reports finds. Builders, Contractors Hammer Consumer Sites http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/builders_suits.html Three builders sue consumers and the Web sites that post their comments. Massachusetts Warns Against Rising Mortgage Fraud http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/ma_mortgage_fraud.html Attorney general urges legislature to tighten regulations, require licensing of all loan originators. Buying a Home in Foreclosure: What You Need to Know http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/buying_foreclosure.html With foreclosures climbing, there is opportunity as well as tragedy. Seniors Bear Brunt Of Predatory Lending http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/seniors_predatory.html Seniors losing their homes to predatory refinance scams. H&R Block Sells Subprime Mortgage Unit http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/block_option_one.html Option One sold to hedge fund giant Cerberus. Consumer Nail Gun Injuries Spike http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/nail_guns.html More do-it-yourselfers winding up in emergency rooms on weekends, CDC finds. Realtors: Home Prices May Dip This Year http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/home_sales_dip.html First time since the Great Depression that U.S. home prices have declined. CPSC Ignores Kitchen Range Tip-Over Threat http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/cpsc_range_tipover.html Millions of poorly-designed ranges can tip over, causing severe injury or death. Home Price Growth Last Year was Slowest Since 1999 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/home_prices.html Sales off 11 percent in last quarter of 2006 from a year earlier. Illinois Probes Ameren's "All-Electric Home" Promotion http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/il_ameren.html Customers converted to all-electric power only to find the discount soon ended. Payback: State Farm Writes Off Mississippi http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/state_farm_ms.html Insurer walks away after losing Katrina-related lawsuits. Mortgage Crisis? Act Now to Avoid Foreclosure http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/arm_mortgage.html Steps you can take to avoid losing your home and ruining your credit. Home Values Sink in Fourth Quarter http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/home_values.html Slight dip is the first year-over-year decline in many years. Consumer Safety Agency In Limbo http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/cpsc_adrift.html White House fails to fill vacancy; remaining commissioners' powers expire. Michigan Realtors Open Listing Services to All http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/ftc_mi_realtors.html Realtors settle anti-trust charges brought by Federal Trade Commission. Judge Rules Against State Farm in Katrina Case http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/katrina_state_farm.html Judge rules company is liable for damage to home destroyed during hurricane. Jury deliberating damages. A First: Consumer Gets Restitution for Martha Stewart Table http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/martha_canada.html Sears Canada pays up but in the U.S., Kmart and Martha keep their purse zipped shut. Two Million Homeowners Facing Foreclosure http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/crl_foreclosures.html Report finds many minority homeowners in trouble because of subprime mortgages. More Homeowners Falling Behind On Mortgage Payments http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/mortgage_delinquencies.html Subprime and ARM mortgages most often in the delinquent column. Realtors See Only Slight Improvement In 2007 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/realtors_outlook.html New home sales likely to remain flat for much of next year. Home Prices Fall In Third Quarter http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/home_prices.html Recent home buyers see their equity shrink as sales of existing homes and condos fall nearly 13 percent. Rent-A-Center Pays $7 Million to Settle California Complaints http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/ca_rentacenter.html Nation's largest rent-to-own business promises to reform its business practices. 14 Years Late, Feds Agree to Require More Efficient Appliances http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/appliance_efficiency.html States had to sue the U.S. Energy Department to get it to follow Congress' directives. Internet Furniture Seller Slapped With Court Order http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/ncbuydirect.html North Carolina Furniture Buy Direct accused of collecting money but not shipping furniture. KB Home Executives Quit Over Stock Options http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/kb_home_stock.html Probe CEO may have to pay back $13 million in improperly granted stock options. California Class Action Throws Cold Water on Whirlpool http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/whirlpool_class_action.html Gas water heaters fail frequently; company does nothing to correct the problem. Fed Keeps Interest Rate Steady As Home Sales Fall http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/fed_rate.html Fed cites chilly housing market as sign inflation isn't imminent.