comments from Hondo

Hondo has left a new comment on your post "Silver Spring Transit Center": 

I lived in Sun City Hilton Head from 2008 to 2013. My stucco house was built in 2005. I started to address the cracks in the stucco in 2011 having an infrared study done by a resident in Sun City. It passed the initial home inspection. The first year was ok but with sections on the border of failure. In 2012 the test revealed a failure and Pulte had to replace one side. The problem here is that they did not change the location of the expansion joints around the windows and set up another failure in the future and the other sides were headed for failure. Pulte did not charge me anything because they want to mitigate the class action suit but there is no guarantee that they will continue to fix stucco problems free of charge. Infrared test costs are paid by the homeowner and have to be done once a year or once every two years at a cost of @ $200. Furthermore, I had cracks in the foundation, and the overall quality of the house for being built in 2005 was poor. The HVAC system and roof were going to need replacement earlier than one would expect. I had cracked tiles and window leaks. All things that you would think I would have seen or read about in the home inspection when I bought the house. But you get caught up with the allure of Sun City and a house on a lagoon that you put the practical side on the back burner. The major reason I moved back north was that I felt that within 10 years I would be spending a chunk of my retirement savings to maintain a house that was fairly new.
Plus, Sun City was not the best fit for me. Politically, it is tea party conservative and I felt I was living in a large nursing home at times because there is a large segment of the population who have owned there for twenty years and are now in their 80s. Also the expense of having three golf courses would increase the POA at some point. This is just my opinion and I also felt that a large segment of the residents felt self-entitled. I worked for the management company there in a customer service position for 5 years which added to my perception. I guess the bottom line is that I am highly suspect over the construction quality of all the homes built there (even the new section) and would recommend that perspective buyers look at the overall fit of moving into a large, and aging senior community. 

retired

When I was working, I was a civil engineer. 
I was also a consumer, and I paid taxes.

Now that I'm retired, I'm a taxpayer and a consumer, 
who just happens to be a civil engineer.


http://silverspringtransitcenter.blogspot.com/
update, 8/31/14:
http://pileofsteamingbs.blogspot.com/2014/08/controlling-silver-spring-transit.html
http://peretiredwhistleblower.blogspot.com/
http://customertalk.blogspot.com/


Here is a recent exchange on my other Pulte blog:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3052466448585769837&postID=4402949646143873349

the truth about Pulte Homes

I started this blog in 2007 when I discovered that Pulte Homes was putting out false information about the nails that they substituted for hurricane clips in the house that I owned, and THOUSANDS of other houses, at Sun City Hilton Head in Okatie, SC. (SCHH is located near the coast where the SC building code requires that houses be capable of withstanding a 130 mph wind gust from a hurricane.)

In late 2011 we put our Pulte house at SCHH on the market; it finally sold in mid-2013. We are now part of a VERY large group: FORMER owners of Pulte homes.

Unfortunately, Pulte Homes, or Pulte Group, or whatever they're calling themselves these days, isn't the only bad builder; and, unfortunately, shoddy construction isn't limited to private construction. Check out http://silverspringtransitcenter.blogspot.com/ . Not only is government failing to protect us from shoddy construction in the houses that we buy; but also, government is taking OUR money (taxes) and using it to fund shoddy public works' projects.



Back to 2007...

 

http://pulte-homes.pissedconsumer.com/stay-away-from-pulte-homes-20130201380901.html

http://www.ocala.com/article/20121129/ARTICLES/121129676?p=1

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/turning_on_the_heat_homeowners.html

http://jacksonvillerealestatemarket.com/new-legal-snags-for-pulte-homes/

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/14/2134568/judge-lawyers-in-stucco-suit-can.html

http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423

http://www.ksat.com/news/Fairhaven-homeowners-upset-with-conditions-of-houses/-/478452/15482956/-/yws39gz/-/index.html

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/03/06/20120306sun-city-grand-pulte-home-defects-arbitration.html

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/money/consumer/alerts/water-leaks-spread-mold-through-valley-homes-built-by-pulte

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=125997

Pulte Homes' propaganda team pushes shoddy houses

...........Pulte Homes' propaganda team pushes Pulte's shoddy houses
................................while feeding at the Pulte trough
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in a nutshell

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Take it from someone who knows construction, and who made the mistake of entering into a contract with Pulte to build a new house. * 

You don't want to sign a sales contract for a new house with Pulte Homes. 

Pulte builds shoddy houses and treats their customers poorly. Pulte Homes is dishonest, reckless, and arrogant.



* The sales contract, which includes a binding arbitration clause, is based on a lot selected by the purchaser and a house "description". Detailed construction plans are NOT made available by Pulte to the purchaser--ONLY a "sales-type" description of the house and schematic "floor plans".  The house that Pulte built for me (under contract) was different from the model home.



http://pultegeist.com/forum/83-trust.html.
http://www.kens5.com/home/Problems-with-Pulte-What-SA-residents-can-learn-from-companys-history-83208397.html

Pulte Homes' mantra

When problems occur with Pulte Homes' houses (they do regularly), Pulte Homes always says: "Pulte Homes is fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality."


Really?


If that’s the case, then why did Pulte Homes deliberately build thousands of houses with unreinforced concrete foundations on expansive soils in Arizona in the early 2000s, and then do the same thing in Texas years later, leaving customers in Arizona and Texas to deal with devastating consequences of failed foundations? Why did Pulte Homes deliberately substitute nails for hurricane clips in thousands of houses in coastal South Carolina? Why did Pulte Homes install defective stucco in thousands of houses at the same location?

There are widespread problems with Pulte Homes' houses at many other locations. Pulte Homes’ mantra is always the same: "Pulte Homes is fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality."


Dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes

shame

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Pulte Wall of Shame
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..........................a public service announcement
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Pulte roof truss connection

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This is how Pulte Homes connects roof trusses at Sun City Hilton Head, SC. The SC building code requires that houses at SCHH be capable of withstanding a 130 mph hurricane.

In articles by The Island Packet (eg,  http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423 ):

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· Pulte installed hurricane clips at these connections BEFORE 2004 and AFTER 2007

· TWO THIRDS of the truss-to-truss connections in houses built between 2004 and 2007 that The Island Packet inspected had either one nail or NO nails or the substitute two nails were short, driven in split wood, or missed their target COMPLETELY

· Beaufort County, SC issued occupancy permits for houses here with KNOWN and documented, but uncorrected, defects

· In 2007 2,749 houses at SCHH built between 2004 and 2007 were re-inspected and repairs were made to 668 of them

· In 2009 The Island Packet reported that roof truss connections in BRAND NEW HOUSES here CONTINUE to be defective

· Dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes CONTINUES their SOP to “DENY, DENY, DENY” (see Rasmussen article, pg 12A, The Island Packet, 4/28/20 and http://peretired.blogspot.com/2010/04/kewpie.html )

SCHH roof design does NOT meet SC building code:
http://www.structural101.com/Valley-Trusses-Sun-City-SC.html

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Pulte stucco

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also see:

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/14/2134568/judge-lawyers-in-stucco-suit-can.html

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/06/04/1262516/faulty-stucco-blamed-for-rash.html#ixzz0rlHvOXlf
and
http://www.suncityblufftonhomedefectclaims.com/index.asp
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stucco

.For 8 YEARS there was nothing apparently wrong with the stucco on this house. Then, this happened--SUDDENLY!
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Don't buy a Pulte/Del Webb house!

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/14/2134568/judge-lawyers-in-stucco-suit-can.html

Pulte floors

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Pulte (leaking) roof

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spalled & cracked concrete at the front door (SHODDY)

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Pulte lagoons (stormwater management ponds)

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Pulte retaining wall

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Pulte brand

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Do you think that this is an isolated case?

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Spend a half hour on the web.
To start, Google "Pulte complaints".

Then, go from there.

Check out websites like:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/pulte-homes-a35116.htmlwww.ripoffreport.com/
http://poorlybuiltbypulte.net/
http://www.justanotherlemon.com/CCFL/pulte.htm
and MANY, MANY more.

It could be VERY important to YOU, if you're looking to buy a house.
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Caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware.

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Pulte Homes vs. Somerset Run NJ

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/turning_on_the_heat_homeowners.html

It's happening all over the country with Pulte Homes--deny, deny, deny & delay, delay, delay.

In a deposition for a stucco defects lawsuit, a Pulte manager told attorneys that half of the people at age-restricted Sun City Hilton Head, SC would be dead before the matter was settled.

Pulte Homes--Lemon Builder.
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Georgia

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http://www.wsbtv.com/news/29198299/detail.html

"...arrogant..."

"...they (Pulte) didn't care..."

"...beyond dumb..."

"...absolute disregard for people's rights..."

WATCH THE VIDEO

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and...

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http://pulte-homes.pissedconsumer.com/pulte-mismanagement-and-shoddy-construction-20111007266595.html

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ANOTHER Pulte Homes' dissatisfied customer!

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South Orange, New Jersey

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/homeowners-seek-damages-from-defective-design-and-breach-of-warranties-2011-08-08?reflink=MW_news_stmp


"SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., Aug. 8, 2011 The Manors at South Mountain HOA, Inc. ("HOA") representing 62 luxury town houses in the New York City suburb of South Orange New Jersey, today filed a lawsuit against one of America's largest home builders Pulte Group, Inc. The suit, which seeks damages for substantial defects resulting from Pulte's inferior and negligent design and construction, also names Pulte Homes of NJ and other yet to be specified firms and individuals.

Specific claims in the complaint include a number of unsafe conditions relating to the former quarry. Other claims include, but are not limited to, landscaping issues, safety issues, roof defects, roadway defects, sidewalk defects, grading issues and general construction issues.

Miller stated that the homeowners, contrary to what was promised during the sales process and in Pulte's marketing brochures, have found that Pulte cut corners and engaged in shoddy workmanship in delivering a product designed to appeal to buyers of homes in one of the most competitive high-end real estate markets."

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Ashburn, VA

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Potomac Green
a Pulte/ Del Webb retirement community
Ashburn, VA
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WATCH THE VIDEO.

http://bcove.me/m3ui9eun


http://leesburg.wusa9.com/content/warranty-war-has-homeowners-stuck-limbo
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Texas

..http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Fairness-for-Fairhaven-Now/129303310517696?sk=photos

"Here is our deck. Because the house was shifting so much (5 inches lower in the back of the house than the front of the house) When you stepped onto our deck you felt like you were going to fall right over the railing..."

"When Pulte came out to inspect they wouldnt step foot on our deck (safety hazard). They immediately put supports underneath it however we had to live with it that way for over a year before they'd even come out!!"

http://www.ksat.com/news/defenders/Angry-Schertz-homeowners-decry-lack-of-progress/-/478436/10161026/-/14q6g6uz/-/index.html

http://www.ripoffreport.com/builders-contractors/pulte-homes/pulte-homes-broken-foundation-fa03b.htm
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http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Homes-flaws-on-display-3038494.phpom/news/local_news/article/Homes-flaws-on-display-3038494.php
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http://www.ksat.com/news/Unhappy-homeowners-angry-with-home-builder/-/478452/6195604/-/14xcwgr/-/index.html

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Pulte-faces-new-wall-cracks-in-Schertz-2401188.php
http://www.kens5.com/home/related/Homeowners-demanding-a-buy-back-Schertz-residents-pack-city-hall-meeting-132593703.html

http://www.ksat.com/news/Pulte-Homes-criticized-for-response-to-sinking-homes/-/478452/4826080/-/152uv9r/-/index.html
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Cary, NC

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http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/story/3697205/

read the story; WATCH THE VIDEO.
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Arizona

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFOES7xAP3Y&feature=fvsr

WATCH THE VIDEO.
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http://www.azag.gov/press_releases/aug/2010/Press%20Release%20-Pulte%209-%202010.html

Kudos to the Office of Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard for protecting the rights of Arizona citizens. The Arizona AG's Office investigated Pulte’s pre-qualification practices, earnest money deposit policies and Spanish-language marketing efforts and determined that Pulte violated Arizona’s consumer protection law. As a result, Pulte Home Corporation and Pulte Mortgage, LLC (collectively “Pulte”) agreed to a $1,181,400 settlement with Arizona. The settlement includes:

• Refund $81,400 to 10 Arizona consumers who the Attorney General alleged wrongly forfeited their earnest money deposits after canceling their purchase agreements.
• Pay $200,000 into an escrow account which will fund any new, legitimate claims for earnest money deposit refunds that are filed with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office within 12 months of the settlement.
• Pay $500,000 to the Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to fund the Attorney General’s consumer protection, education and outreach programs.
• Pay $100,000 to fund the publication and dissemination of Spanish-language educational materials.
• Pay $300,000 as reimbursement of the Attorney General’s costs and investigative expenses.

Congratulations, Arizona! We need more states like YOU!
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Tuscon

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http://www.kvoa.com/news/homeowners-in-sahuarita-having-problems-with-homes/

WATCH THE VIDEO
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Franklin Township, New Jersey

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more shoddy work from Pulte, the Master Builder.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/somerset_franklin_homeowners_a.html

‎"Last year, a complaint about poor craftsmanship led the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to reprimand the company and put it on probation for one year."

"If Pulte was allowed to leave those requested changes unaddressed, Lupo said, Franklin Township has yet to see the documents allowing that.

We’re not calling anyone liars or accusing anyone of anything," Lupo said. "We just want to get the paperwork."


Read the comments.

Update: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/more_than_100_franklin_townshi.html

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Gateway, Florida

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http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/bristol.html

"A class action lawsuit is pending against Bristol Parc. The homes were built by Pulte Homes in Gateway Florida in the late 1990s. The suit claims that shoddy construction practices lead to water infiltratin into the homes through windows and elsewhere. The resulting massive infestations of mold has caused some homeowners to have to leave their houses. The suit also claims that Lee County home inspectors should have been able to identify the manufacturing errors in the homes."
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Yuma, Arizona

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http://www.yumasun.com/news/pulte-63024-home-company.html
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Phoenix, Arizona

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http://www.kasdansimonds.com/about/news_article01.php
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Stucco lawsuits, Nevada

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http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2008/10/13/news/iq_24385054.txt
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Anthem, Arizona

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Judge releases 322 homeowners from class-action plumbing lawsuit
Sun City MacDonald Ranch duplex owners settled for $11.6 million in 2007 Richard Brian

(photo) This faulty Ipex water pipe fitting was taken from a Pulte home in Anthem. The corroded fittings can cause declining water pressure and leaks.

By Jeff Pope
Mon, Dec 15, 2008 (2:33 p.m.)

A District Court judge has agreed to release 322 owners of duplexes in Sun City MacDonald Ranch from a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit regarding faulty plumbing.

The owners had been part of a separate construction defect lawsuit that settled in 2007 in which developer Del Webb Communities Inc., and its 34 subcontractors, paid more than $11.6 million.

read more and check out the photo at http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/15/judge-releases-322-homeowners-class-action-plumbin/
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shabby customer treatment

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http://pulte-homes.pissedconsumer.com/pulte-controlled-ca-board-shifting-expenses-to-homeowners-20111014268094.html

PULTE CONTROLLED CA BOARD SHIFTING EXPENSES TO HOMEOWNERS

Pulte Homes Complaint

"Sun City Texas is a wonderful retirement community currently operated by the homebuilder Pulte. Since Pulte bought DelWebb and took over operation and development of the community, residents have uncovered a number of accounting errors by Pulte which has resulted in cost that were owed by the developer being assumed by the Home Owners Association (HOA) and then passed by the HOA to the residents as association dues. This reduces Pultes operating costs even when the situation is discovered and then partially or wholly resolved thru negotiation while increasing the cost to each resident. Several very detailed analysis have been done by those residents with finacial backgrounds. Never the less despite the past, the trend of shifting costs to the residents continues."
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dishonest

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http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2012/03/pulte-sued-by-town-over-development.html


http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/Builder-Subcontractor-Pay-Probe-Widens-Pulte-Fights-Subpeona-143960796.html.
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another lawsuit, SCHH

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http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/566725.html
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what about the kids?

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In January 2010 a 20 ft. high retaining wall collapsed in the Hills of Rivermist community in San Antonio. TX. Google "Hills of Rivermist retaining wall failure" for stories and photos.
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.What about the children? Are they traumatized by what's happened? I can only imagine what goes through the mind of a small child when something like this happens. the HUGE wall failure (I find the photos shocking, and I'm 64 years old!). the trauma of being moved out of your house, away from your bedroom, your toys, your friends, and all that makes you feel safe and secure. Seeing parents worry...
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Shoddy construction.
Inept government inspection.
HUGE physical damage.
But, that's not all.
There's HUGE emotional damage too.
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Visit United Home Owners of Rivermist on Facebook, and pray for the homeowners and for their children.

Photographs of the collapsed retaining wall: http://www.hobb.org/content/view/3290/1/.
For stories google "Rivermist wall".

shabby treatment

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/business/06gret.html

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Extreme Screw-over is Pulte's answer to TV's Extreme Makeover
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Pulte Pig and their DISGRACEFUL army!

On the same day that the article above appeared in the NY Times, this “Tweet” appeared on Twitter.com: .
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“Quality mortgage company”???
PLEASE!!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

It’s bad enough that dishonest, reckless, and arrogant Pulte Homes preys on people, but they have a disgraceful ARMY who prey on people for them:
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Sales agents, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, mortgage brokers, stock brokers, etc.
Partners in crime. BOTTOM FEEDERS!

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WAKE UP, PEOPLE!

Don’t do business with Pulte Homes or with the bottom feeders that spread Pulte's propaganda for them.

Put them ALL out of business!
Do it for yourselves. Do it for your children and grandchildren. Do it for your neighbors, and their children and grandchildren. Do it for them:


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BOYCOTT PULTE GROUP & THEIR SUPPORTERS!


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environment

http://epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/pultehomes-infosht.html

On June 11, 2008, the United States lodged a settlement between the United States, Pulte Homes, and the States of Maryland, Tennessee, Colorado, and Nevada, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Pulte Homes was ranked the third largest home builder in the country in 2006 and the fourth largest builder in 2007 in terms of home closings and revenues.

EPA conducted inspections and gathered information for Pulte Homes construction sites located throughout the country.

The types and severity of alleged violations vary for each site but generally include:

• discharge of polluted storm water to storm sewers or waterways without obtaining an NPDES permit;
  
• failure to develop an adequate Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for minimizing the amount of sediment and other pollutants in storm water runoff from the sites;

• failure to install or implement appropriate storm water controls or best management practices (BMPs) required by the SWPPP (for example: silt fences were not installed in all required areas; BMPs to prevent sediment from entering storm drains were not installed; no BMPs were installed at construction entrances to prevent offsite trackout of dirt; concrete washout basins were not installed to prevent concrete from flowing into storm drains; portable toilets were located directly on top of storm drain inlets without BMPs to prevent spills from entering the storm drain);
• incorrect installation of BMPs (for example: silt fences were not properly trenched in; sediment ponds were not completed prior to commencing site grading);
• failure to keep BMPs in effective operating condition (for example: silt fences and storm drain inlet protections were full of sediment and no longer effective; silt fences had fallen down or had holes; construction entrances needed additional rock);

• failure to adequately or routinely inspect BMPs to ensure proper operation and maintenance.
  Pulte Homes has agreed to a settlement with the United States and the States of Maryland, Tennessee, Colorado, and Nevada, and the Commonwealth of Virginia to resolve these alleged violations.

Under this settlement, Pulte Homes will pay a civil penalty of $877,000, implement a Supplemental Environmental Project costing a minimum of $608,000, and implement a management and reporting system designed to provide increased oversight of on-the-ground operations and ensure greater compliance with the storm water requirements.
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