My testimony to TRCC February 7, 2007

Duane Waddell, Director
Texas Residential Construction Commission
3311 East 14th Street, Suite 200
Austin, Texas 78711
SUBJECT: Juliet Homes Agreed OrderPresented to TRCC Board of Directors: February 7, 2007

Dear TRCC Director Duane Waddell:

As a victim of Tremont and Juliet Homes, I cannot support the agreed order submitted to your state agency. I’m here to oppose the settlement presented by Juliet Homes, LP (registration #8006) and Bernard Jr., primary designated agent
(registration #27983) to the TRCC Board of Directors today. Juliet Homes, L.P. a homebuilder in Houston, Texas also markets homes for homebuilder Tremont Homes, yet does not disclose or advertise to the buyer who is the actual builder.

Juliet and Tremont Homes and their related entities continue to play a shell game of corporations. When I purchased a defective condominium from Juliet Homes, Juliet Homes refused to repair the shoddy construction on the basis they were only a marketing company for Tremont Homes and Tremont Towers. Juliet Homes currently has an “Unsatisfactory” rating with Houston’s Better Business Bureau. I lost my good credit, my home, and my dreams of home ownership because of Juliet Homes scrupulous business practices. They did everything they could to sell me a home, even if it was knowingly defective. Because Juliet Homes also participated in loan fraud, they remain under state and federal investigations. Juliet Homes and its related entities were instrumental in forging documents closing documents, overvaluin g the sale, and falsely inflating my income at my closing. These companies and agents have not quit playing the games of hiding under corporate shells. While Juliet Homes agrees to settle with TRCC today and ask for forgiveness, the pattern of bad behavior has not stopped. The individuals involved with my purchase included Bernard Kane, Jr., Doug Brown, Jorge Casimiro, and Norman Chapa., a convicted felon. These same individuals continue to build in Texas under the companies Tremont Homes and Juliet Homes. Juliet Homes continues to market and sell hundreds of homes registered under other builders, or not registered at all. Juliethomes.com new home listings do not match TRCC’s records.

On 1/11/07, I found 25 Juliet Homes unregistered and 54 registered under Tremont Homes with TRCC. I recently filed 79 complaints with TRCC against Juliet Homes and are currently under investigationJuliet Homes has deceived the real estate community and other buyers. For example, on 1/26/07, a local realtor listed Juliet Homes model home for sale on Houston Association of Realtors website at the address 1706 Aden Drive, 77003. According to TRCC open records, 1706 Aden Drive, 77003 is registered under Tremont Homes. The realtor and seller believed Juliet Homes as the builder and did not change the listing. Why was it registered under Tremont Homes with TRCC?The confusion of a marketing company and a homebuilder needs to be much clearer. Until Juliet Homes has been fully investigated by TRCC, a vote on the proposed agreed order today should not be considered. In the meantime, TRCC should implement new rules and regulations for marketing companies representing homebuilders, such as:
1. Marketing Websites. If a marketing company is representing a builder, it must be disclosed on all marketing material, including websites. At the bottom of each webpage the registered builder name and number must be displayed, for example “Juliet Homes is an authorized marketing company for Tremont Homes, registered builder #7401, Houston, TX.”
2. Marketing Material. All letterhead and marketing material must also display the registered builder name and number.

Since the Juliet Homes investigation remains open, the agreed order vote should be postponed. New TRCC rules and regulations on marketing companies representing homebuilders should be considered. I would be happy to answer any questions and appreciate any comments on this matter.Thank you for considering my position on this issue.Sincerely,Heather Mickelson Hmickelson2003@yahoo.com253-468-6378 cell phone