Texas Attorney General Abbott sues TaxMasters

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has filed a deceptive trade practices act lawsuit claiming that Houston-based TaxMasters Inc. offered distressed taxpayers in Texas and other states help through a nationwide advertising and marketing campaign. According to the suit papers, the company charged fees, but often did not complete work until deadlines passed, forcing taxpayers to be penalized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Read the whole story here: Abbott sues TaxMasters CEO | Southeast Texas Record

Brian Collister's Report on HOA Foreclosures

WOAI Reporter Brian Collister recently investigated HOA Foreclosures. Here's a link to his report.

Homeowner Wins Court Battle Over Piling-On of HOA Attorneys' Fees and other "Costs"

Watch Brian Mylar's report about a San Antonio homeowner who stood up to unreasonable attorneys' fees charged by the Hidden Forest HOA in its efforts to collect $400 in association dues.

The Expreess News also ran this story about the Court victory.

I believe it's a sad commentary on our system of justice when a homeowner's victory against his HOA is newsworthy...

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To Be Enforceable, Agreements to Buy and Sell Real Estate Must Be Written

Many times family members, friends or even complete strangers enter into verbal agreements to sell real estate. Whether this is done to preserve informality, further the "trust me" relationship, or simply to save money on attorneys' fees or recording costs, it is a BAD IDEA.

A Texas law known as the "Statute of Frauds" requires agreements to purchase or sell real estate to be WRITTEN. Otherwise, such agreements are unenforceable.

The Texas Statute of Frauds -- every state has one -- is located at Chapter 26 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. It provides that a promise, agreement for the sale of real estate is not enforceable unless the promise or agreement, or a memorandum of it, is

(1) in writing; and

(2) signed by the person to be charged with the promise or agreement or by someone lawfully authorized to sign for him.

Frequently, disagreements arise over the terms of oral real estate sales contracts. When these disagreements rise to the level of legal disputes, both parties often end-up losing because the Statute of Frauds generally prevents Court enforcement of non-written agreements to buy or sell real estate.

If you are buying or selling real estate in Texas, you should consult a knowledgeable lawyer, and know that the transactional fees spent up-front could save you many times that amount later.

RLWPC to Assist Hampton Hills Condominiums HOA in Re-Building Efforts

Last December a fire devastated a building within the Hampton Hills Condos located in North central San Antonio. The HOA Board has asked Trey Wilson to assist in their efforts to re-build. We look forward to this challenge, and to ensuring that the destroyed units are replaced in a timely, legal and orderly fashion.

Outraged homeowners detail HOA fines, foreclosure threats to Austin lawmakers | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Texas Southwest

Outraged homeowners detail HOA fines, foreclosure threats to Austin lawmakers -- From the Denton Record-Chronicle

In an effort to promote Texas legislation reigning-in Homeowners Associations, outraged homeowners told a House panel on Monday that they've been threatened with huge fines and possible foreclosure for what they described as minor infractions of association rules.

Outraged homeowners detail HOA fines, foreclosure threats to Austin lawmakers | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Texas Southwest