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Subterranean termites could bite home builder
By TERESA BURNEY © St. Petersburg Times, published September 26, 1998 Two years ago, 14 owners of Lennar-built homes sued the companies after their nearly-new homes became infested with subterranean termites. The lawsuit claims Ace failed to properly treat the ground underneath the homes against the termites before their houses were built. Lennar guaranteed the work of the pest-control company, the suit says. A judge recently agreed to expand the list of plaintiffs from the original 14 to the 1,400 or more homeowners in Florida who bought Lennar homes that were supposed to have been pretreated by Ace. Even homeowners who have not had any termite problems have been included in the lawsuit because they may have problems in the future. Miami-based Lennar is vigorously defending itself in the lawsuit, but Ace, which filed for liquidation of its assets under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code shortly after the lawsuit was filed, is not, said Matthew J. Jowanna, who is representing the plaintiffs in the case. New Web site offers price insight to New Tampa, BrandonInterested in what houses are selling for in New Tampa or Brandon? The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors' new Web site shows average sales prices in a variety of areas in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. The site (www.tampaarearealtors.com) also has information about the number of houses sold and the average time on the market for various areas. Home shoppers can search for houses for sale and gather information about the area's industries, wages and attractions. HOMEBUYER U--Potential homebuyers can get everything from free credit reports to free child care at an expo sponsored by the Community Service Foundation Inc. from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Grace Lutheran Church, 1812--Highland Ave., Clearwater. The expo will feature seminars to answer the questions: Do I qualify for an assistance program? How much home can I afford? How do I qualify for a mortgage? Where do I start and how do I complete the home-buying transaction? There also will be exhibits by mortgage companies, real estate agents, credit bureaus, title agents, home inspectors, appraisers, affordable builders and non-profit agencies that operate down payment assistance programs. Registration is limited; call (727) 461-0618 before Oct. 15 for reservations. --The Tampa Bay Community Development Corp. is offering a free education class for home buyers from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 6 at Ross Norton Recreation Center, 1426 S Greenwood Ave., Clearwater. To register, call (727) 442-7075.--The Community Service Foundation is offering free home-buying classes from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 8 at the Greater Clearwater Association of Realtors, 1330 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Both classes are needed for home buyers to qualify for down payment and closing costs assistance programs. For information, call (727) 461-0618. --Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Florida Suncoast is offering a free new home buyer seminar from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills. Subjects include shopping for a home, qualifying for a mortgage, understanding your credit, closing on the loan and homeownership responsibilities. For information or reservations, call (813) 841-9074 in west Pasco or (352) 523-1100 in east Pasco.--Evening seminars for home buyers are offered from 7 to 9 on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 9306 U.S. 19, Port Richey, across from Gulf View Square Mall. The classes, sponsored by Kur-Lin Mortgage Services, will include information on home buyers assistance programs offered in Pasco County. For information, call (727) 847-5710. --A workshop covering prequalifying for a mortgage, choosing a real estate agent, evaluating credit and the basics of obtaining financing is offered by Allstate Mortgage & Loan from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays at 25400 U.S. 19 N, Suite 263, Clearwater. For information, call (800) 701-1186.--Century 21 Rainbow Realty Group and Atlantic Funding Inc. sponsor free "Take the Fear Out of Home Buying" seminars from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The dates will be scheduled on demand. Call Regina at (727) 738-1404 or Barbie at (727) 587-7820 for information. --Owners Equity Mortgage Corp. offers free workshops and seminars for applicants with down payment and credit problems from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. weekdays at 101 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. The classes, which are geared toward first-time home buyers with low to moderate incomes, will cover all phases of home buying. For information, call (727) 942-6406 or (727) 938-6583.--American Home Mortgage and First American Title offer "How to Buy Your First Home," which includes information on credit reports, qualifying for a mortgage and down payment assistance. Sessions are from 7 to 8 p.m. the second and last Tuesdays of each month. Call (813) 446-2911 for reservations and locations in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. --One-on-one prequalification workshops are offered at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Mortgage Loan Link, 8143 State Road 52, Hudson. Down payment, closing cost and credit problem assistance is available. For information or reservations, call Karen at (813) 869-7784 or Mari at (813) 869-9588.--Directors Mortgage of Clearwater offers free workshops Saturdays at its office at 2565 Countryside Blvd., Suite 1. Learn to structure an offer, negotiate the sale and save on closing costs. For information and reservations, call Barbara at (727) 725-5711. --Free workshops, presented by Buccaneer Mortgage and Brophy Real Estate in St. Petersburg and Seminole, are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the first and last Tuesdays of each month. For information or reservations, call (727) 898-2827 or (727) 522-6666.--A free workshop especially for those with down payment and credit problems is offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. The workshop is sponsored by AGA Mortgage Service and Realty Associates at its office at 11350 66th St. N, Suite 104, Largo. For information and reservations, call Mary Ann at (727) 541-3390 or Joe at (727) 531-1502.
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he owners of 1,400 or more homes that were built by Lennar Homes Inc. and pretreated against termites by Ace Professional Pest Control have been included in a class-action lawsuit against the two companies.
