Complain about a product or service

KB Home

Mandi of Houston TX (04/07/09)
My husband and I decided we were going to buy a KB Home because of the great price they advertised and the beautiful model home we looked at. We went into the office, chose our lot, signed some papers and were told we needed to do our design appointment before anything could be started and if we cancelled before this time we would receive our earnest money back 2000! We went to the design center and realized everything was an upgrade, down to the brick! We hadnt even finished with standard upgrades and we were already up 35,000! Obviously we knew we were getting screwed and we couldnt afford the house anymore so we cancelled. Now they wont give my money back!

KB Homes said I dont have a valid reason to get my money back. What? Nothing was ever even started on the house and we were never even approved for the loan. 1000 of the earnest money was only because we were using an outside lender. I have been fighting with them or trying to fight with them for 2 months now and no one will return my phone calls. They suck you in with false advertisement, then steal your money when you realize you cant afford it. I wont give up, I will get my money back, even if it takes me picketing in front of their sales office.

Deborah of Mentone, CA March 24, 2009

Deborah of Mentone CA (03/24/09)
I purchased the first home sold in Silver Springs II in Mentone, CA this past July (2008). I specifically requested the smallest home, was shown the plots display in the sales office, and was told the smallest home built would be 2263 SQFT. I recently found out they are splitting my community in two (Silver Springs III) and selling houses that are 1400 SQFT. According to San Bernardino County Permits and Planning, they have always had this ability, but never disclosed this change.

This will reduce the value of my home -- just purchased this past July -- by around 50,000.

Kericia of Fort Worth, TX March 21, 2009

Kericia of Fort Worth TX (03/21/09)
This letter will serve as notice that the home I purchased from KB Kracker Box Home on September 30, 2003, has numerous construction defects, some of which may be major that have not been corrected under the terms of the contract or the requirements of the FTC Consent Order.

I am a 100% Disabled Veteran that served my country 3 years in the United States Army and 12 years in the Army Reserve. I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I used my VA Benefits along with the Texas Veterans Land Board (TVLB) to purchase a new KB Home on September 30, 2003. Also, I am on a fixed income.

Bruce Karatz, the past CEO/President of KB Home resigned in disgrace and shame for back dating stock security. Recently, Karatz agreed to a settlement with the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) that included a relatively small inconsequential fine of 6.7 million in compensation and interest to KB Home and a 480,000.00 penalty to the U.S. Treasury which is a slap in the face of all KB Home shareholders and KB Home owners left with broken down defective homes.

Also, to add insult to injury, prior to Karatz's resignation he was awarded 245 million golden parachute and since he was fined to repay 6.7 million, therefore, KB Home has more than enough funds available for me to enter into a Buy Back Agreement within the next 30 days.

Enough is enough, my mother and I have been deprived of the full enjoyment of my home, which has left us both emotionally and financially drained. We will no longer be subjected to further discomfort or paying for mistakes that were not of our making but that of KB Home. On May 29, 2008, I filed a Notice of Protest with the Tarrant Appraisal Review Board. My original market value of my home was 172,200.00; my market value has been reduced by 72,200.00 and my current market value is 100,000.00. Nevertheless, my pay off amount on my home is 158,877.32 and this leaves me hanging upside down in my mortgage payments.

Since our economy has eroded we as home owners and consumers are going to hold all CEO's and President's of the big Corporations accountable for their deceitful actions. It is my desire to testify before our United States Congress in Washington, DC in reference to the substandard building of all KB Homes and third party inspectors allowing home owners to move into homes that can not stand for 1 year without the seams coming apart.

Association of Veteran Women, Inc. (AOVW, Inc.) believes that women understand women and are better at assisting one another, therefore, we are dedicated to providing healing, hope and support for tomorrow to active duty women, veteran women and disabled veteran women. AOVW, Inc. will provide an opportunity for women who have not been given a chance to speak up, speak out and speak on various issues for women who has served and are serving in the United States armed forces in defense of our beautiful country.

AOVW, Inc. will organize speaking engagements and round table discussions with local, state and federal government which we will discuss VA Home Buying Benefits, Home Owners, Home Builders, binding arbitration, Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) and any other home buying topics via Internet, newspaper, radio and television to make sure our issues are publicly known.

In reference to articles on the internet, former KB Home CEO Bruce Karatz indicted on fraud charges linked to stock option backdating Karatz, 63, faces up to 415 years in prison if convicted on all charges. These reckless actions are a combination of arrogance, ignorance and greed (AIG); and he has been caught like the cat that swallowed the canary and deer caught in head lights.

Tiffany of Alameda, CA March 20, 2009

Tiffany of Alameda CA (03/20/09)
We purchase the new home with KB on december 2008 the house is not ready to move in until july 2009. My husband just lost a job we notify KB. KB division manager contact us after I sent a lot email out to all KB department to as for help, he said my husband have 21 days to look for job or eles we lost the deposit, It on the contract I should know about it. I don't think KB treat us fair, Maybe I don't speak english well that why he does't care because I can't do anything, I can't do anything further. I need some help from attorneys to advise what can I do next.

Darlene of San Antonio, TX March 8, 2009

Darlene of San Antonio TX (03/08/09)
We purchased our home in San Antonio. We were told this was a upscale community. It all started when we decided to use K.B.refered Countrywide loan. The person there let our paper work sit on her desk for weeks (this delay cost us a higher morgage rate). Got that done the day after we closed our water pipe came apart between floors. Flooding out the down stairs. Called K.B. told them I wanted them to gut the areas that got wet. Not knowing there is a home lemon law. They could have bought back my home at that time. When I showed up to see how much work was done. I came into my house to find large blowers on the sheet rock.

I went to the construction trailer and insested they pull the sheet rock down. At that time I started taking pictures. This also delayed our being able to move in. We lived here for about 5 month when it was brought to our attention, that the green belt behind us is a flood plan. K.B. takes pride in that dry creek. They have a model of it and is selling it as a nature trail. K.B don't you know your suppose to stay away from dry creeks in case there is flooding up stream. A few months later K.B. started to build new model homes. They look nothing like our community. They changed our name (again not informing us) They waited a few week then put a sign out starting in the low 90's. This is a joke. We paid over 200,000.00 for our home.

We called a meeting and one of K.B. advisors was asked when did they know that they where going to change the community? His response was about 6 months ago. Isn't that illegal? Don't they have to disclose when they are going to change the make-up of the community. K.B. just keeps lying. Through the months and getting to know our neighbors many of us have construction defects. I took a corner of my foundation off with my hands. Nail pops, cracks going up the bricks and the foundation. We have lots of cracks through out the house.There is even a home that was built about 2 years ago. They found out (because mud and other stuff) came out of the sinks and tolets. They never installed a sewer pipe from the home to the road.

Pure neglect hiring labor that really has no experience. K.B. has a pattern of doing this. Building the larger nicer homes, then bringing in much smaller homes and riding on our equity. We already lost 40,000.00 because of K.B. bringing in the smaller cheaper homes. You would think our home value has gone down because of the economy. Not true our area has had a 2 1/2% growth.

K.B. has not taken any action to rebuild the community back to the way they had sold to us. We want K.B. to BUY BACK OUR HOMES. Texas needs to have laws and regulations the home builder needs to follow. As we are learning. Home builders can build with any stander they want. There are no laws on the books. So they just keep getting away with taking advantage off home buyers who just want a nice home. Not one that is falling down in as little as a year time.

Kericia of Arlington, TX March 6, 2009

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