Real Estate Central

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Texas Association
of Builders (TAB) today released the following statement in response to the
Texas Sunset Commission staff report on the Texas Residential Construction
Commission (TRCC). The following quote can be attributed to Ron Connally,
Amarillo home builder and TAB First Vice President:

“Today the Sunset Commission staff released a short-sighted
recommendation that would harm consumers by returning Texas to the
uncertainty of unregulated home builders and the complete absence of
consumer protections, including mandatory written warranties and clear
building and performance standards.

“The Texas Association of Builders is disappointed that the Sunset
Commission staff has recommended throwing the residential construction
industry in this state back to a time when there was no regulation at all
of the industry with no corresponding ability to prevent bad actors from
continuing to harm Texas consumers.

“Without the TRCC’s dispute resolution process, homeowners with
construction defects that are currently being resolved in an expedient and
cost-effective manner will be left with nowhere to turn but time consuming
and expensive litigation.

“In 2003 and again in 2007, the Legislature recognized the need to
regulate home builders and remodelers and authorized the TRCC as an
efficient alternative to resolve construction defects. With the additional
resources and powers vested in the agency by the Legislature last session,
the agency has begun to implement significant and meaningful changes which,
contrary to Sunset staff’s conclusions, do protect Texas homeowners. We
fully support the ongoing improvement in both the dispute resolution
process and the oversight of our industry.

“The Texas Association of Builders looks forward to continuing our work
with the members of the Sunset Commission during the review process and the
entire Texas Legislature next session to explore any necessary changes to
the TRCC to further enhance the positive effects consumers and builders
have enjoyed since the agency’s creation.

“Pulling the plug on the consumers’ most readily accessible and
cost-effective path to resolution is anything but constructive.”

ABOUT TAB: Founded in 1946, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) is
an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and has 33 local
home builders associations across Texas. Representing over 500,000 jobs and
more than $35 billion in the Texas economy, the state and local
associations play a crucial role in providing housing for Texans. With
nearly 13,000 members, TAB is the third largest home builders association
in the nation.

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[Via Real Estate Newswire]