seeno homes lawsuit

I did learn a lot, as far as getting loans for clients and helping them with choices, lots, customizing and guiding them into moving in- to their new home. Save thousands on your dream home during DeNova Homes' Red Tag Sales Event! Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. First of all the management is a joke, they are all very condescending. Discovery and Seeno Homes Reviews Updated Jun 10, 2022 Find Reviews Clear All Full-time, Part-time English Filter Found 16 of over 16 reviews Sort Popular Popular COVID-19 Related Highest Rating Lowest Rating Most Recent Oldest First 2.9 39 % Recommend to a Friend 55 % Approve of CEO Albert Seeno Sr. 4 Ratings But, he added, Discovery Builders believes an environmental review of the park proposal was inconsistent with California Environmental Quality Act requirements. Citizens approved the measure by a 75% margin. The location is great, close to shopping centers, grocery stores, BART, park and ride, gas stations, and the freeway. The buyers were not required to possess or post any of their own money when buying a home; DSI, the builders and their affiliates provided money to buyers to make down payments. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one." Dallas and Judy Aside from their favorite agents everyone else was treated like dirt. The city of La Habra and its city council have willfully disregarded the law and were unduly influenced and coerced through a series of back-door threats and false information propagated by an angry group of fanatics, the lawsuit states. Inspiring cities. The . In connection with his plea agreement, Shahid admitted that he conspired with others to fraudulently cause bank underwriters to approve mortgage loans for unqualified buyers during the height of the financial crisis. Last year, the Seeno team settled a separate lawsuit with the East Bay Regional Park District, which contended the Faria homes would disrupt views of the hills, which can be seen from the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Sales & marketing by DeNova Homes Sales, DRE #01247582 Equal Housing Opportunity. The FBI investigation into the Seeno family companies started six years ago and led to indictments for former employees, but the family members themselves escaped prosecution for the scheme. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Discovery Builders Faria project would damage the major ridgeline between east and central Contra Costa County, threaten views from throughout the region, and impact the new regional park on the Concord side of the ridge. Traffic on Bailey Road, San Marco Blvd., and Highway 4 would be made much worse. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis. The companies also previously sued the Navy to halt it from transferring its property for any development. We are very pleased with the schools in the area and the beautiful parks nearby. Shahid is next scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing on Dec. 10, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. PST before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers of the Northern District of California. Developers have thrown a wrench into the East Bay Regional Park Districts decades-old plan to create a regional park in the Pittsburg hills overlooking the former Concord Naval Weapons Station site. There were four issues where, respectfully, we believe the Court overlooked key evidence in the record, said Kristina Lawson, a managing partner for the Hanson Bridgett, LLP. Lennar also accused the city of demanding a $40 million development fee at one point, calling the levy unlawful and unrelated to any reasonable relationship to the citys services, the lawsuit said. During slow times it was extremely hard to be positive and I feel as though I have tough nerves. Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay their mortgages in the long run. 10 reviews of Albert Seeno Construction "We purchased a home in the new development of San Marco by Seeno Homes and Discovery Builders, we have been in our home 4 months now. According to Clement, Throughout the East Bay, residents have worked hard to protect our ridges and views, and to defend our parks. Founded Seeno Homes in 1938 We are dedicated to embodying the idea of the Discovery Difference, a mission to enhance your buying experience and offer new homes that exemplify the highest standards of craftsmanship. The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. The family of builders has earned a reputation for engaging in drawn-out legal battles against public agencies and environmental groups, though the companies have also fostered a strong relationship with local labor unions. Looking for a new home? So where is the personal responsibility?. The city council ignored hundreds of letters and public comments that opposed the project. In 3 years I only took 5 days off. The company is constantly opening new communities and we are never expected to travel far to our communities. Discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. They approved it the same moment. Lennar wants just compensation for business losses caused by La Habras alleged delay tactics, fees for studies and for an illegal taking, or the virtual appropriation of private property. But he prefers to see it built in existing infill areas. While this case was extremely complex, the FBI and Department of Justice built this case, brick by brick, from low-level employees all the way up to the president of the company. More than 325 Seeno and Discovery homes, exceeding $200 million in sales, were used in the scheme, resulting in an estimated $75 million loss to Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase banks. Save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to ContraCosta.News, Yes! Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence. Contact Information Customer Contact Ms. Nancy McMillin, Executive Assistant Additional Contact Information Phone Numbers (888) 414-6637. As if any open space is a bad thing. The project faced enormous opposition at the outset from both housing advocates who oppose urban sprawl and Pittsburg residents who feared an influx of more than a thousand homes south of the city. A city spokesman on Thursday, Jan. 21 declined to respond to the lawsuit. My clients feel strongly that everyone needs to comply with the same rules and they are important.. We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. Shahids plea agreement also explains that DSI made loans that were secured by homes that were in some cases worth less than the loan amount and that DSI did not make an effort to determine the true value of these homes. driving a golf cart and free Biscotti cookies at the office. This Website Has Moved to ContraCosta.news, East Bay Regional Park District Celebrates Green Friday. All rights reserved. Measure X, which specifically targets the Rancho La Habra plan, would take development decisions from the city council ensuring no further development on the property, the lawsuit said. Last year, Seeno. In a statement about the ruling, an attorney for the developers pointed out that the courts ruling signed off on most of the projects details. Former Bank of America loan officer Jennifer Xiao, Homecomings Financial underwriter Tony Phan and independent brokers Sharon Wang, Heather Yin, Miguel Arenas, George Zevada and Chang Park were also charged as participants in the scheme. The city is evaluating the lawsuit and has no comment at this time, saidRobert Ferrier,assistant to the city manager. Northern California is the perfect region. The overall vibe is a somber place to work. Discovery was founded by a member of the Seeno family, which has built and managed properties in Contra Costa County for several generations. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. We have been building quality homes since the formation of Seeno Homes by Albert D. Seeno, Sr in 1938. We seek to ensure that all of the data presented on the site regarding new homes and new home communities is current and accurate. Shahid and his coconspirators were responsible for saddling the banking system with dozens of fraudulent mortgage loans without regard for the damage those loans would cause to individual home buyers, downstream investors, and, ultimately, the U.S. economy as a whole, said U.S. Attorney Haag. The Faria project would change the beautiful green hills forever by annexing the property to the City of Pittsburg and locating 1,650 new residences far from jobs, transit, and services. Dont be fooled by homebuilders fancy photos of parks and trails (and) beautiful fairy tales of good neighbor communities, the website said. In order to support the functionality of our website and to tailor our ads to match your likely interests, we and our service providers collect information about your use of this site. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. It is my expectation that the development group is going to operate in a good-faith manner with the community, with the City Council, with city staff and key stakeholders, Obringer said. Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. As an employee you would probably push your self more than ever working for this company. This is what has become known as a builder bailout scheme. Shahid was the president of DSI, which was the sales arm of affiliated residential construction companies, including Discovery Home Builders and Albert D. Seeno Construction Co. Because Shahid is cooperating with the ongoing FBI investigation, a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Commission and Bonus structure designed to benefit company more than employees, leaving you underpaid. This rating has decreased by -3% over the last 12 months. CONS: family owned company does not have checks and balances. Former Discovery Sales Vice President Ayman Shahid and sales executive Carey Hendrickson also pleaded guilty andare awaiting sentencing. Employees are treated badly daily. We are very happy with the courts decision.. When the other team pulled out last year in the wake of a labor dispute, Discovery Builders and the Seeno family returned for another bidding round and won the right to take over the Naval Weapons Station project as master developer. The Whittemores responded Feb. 1 with a suit of their own filed in the U.S. District Court of Nevada, accusing Albert Seeno Jr., Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno III of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy to defraud the Whittemores and the federal government and breach of contract. She has worked as a reporter, features editor and assistant metro editor at newspapers in Wisconsin and Northern California and has been at what is now the Bay Area News Group since 1990. He later earned a masters degree from the USC School of Journalism. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Discovery Sales was prosecuted as a company. OAKLAND A major Northern California home developeron Thursday pleaded guilty to bank fraud on behalf of his home sales company and was ordered to pay $11 millionfor a builder bailout scam that he contends he knew nothing about. ", "Over all the homes we looked at (believe me we have looked at many) Seeno Homes - A. D. Seeno Construction Co. was by far the perfect home for us. 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Answer: Complaints filed against Appraisers: 45% of Complaints are filed by Lenders, AMCs, and Government Agencies (FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FDIC, OCC, etc.) The project as approved by the city authorizes the development of a major, new residential subdivision on 606 acres of ridgeline and hillside grazing land in what is currently unincorporated Contra Costa County, immediately south of the City of Pittsburg. Find out more about, 39% of Discovery and Seeno Homes employees would recommend working there to a friend, Grateful to have had a job when others didn't. Plans to develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved Measure P moved the Faria site within Pittsburgs urban boundary. Seeno Company never expressed any specific concerns or opposition to the new park during the two-decades-long planning processuntil now, after the land use plan has been approved.. It would fragment open space and damage wildlife corridors. This wont happen again. Having problems? Further, DSI inflated the sale price of the new homes by offering significant cash and other incentives to new home buyers. Under proposed rules now under review, La Habra would be required to plan for the construction of more than 300 affordable housing units by 2030. Pittsburg residents deserve the same protections and quality of life., Press Release issued by Save Mount Diablo. The Faria project would sit directly above the new park on a ridgeline, degrading views from surrounding areas. ", "This is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the outstanding services my husband and I have received from Seeno. Run now. In voting to give Seeno the right to redevelop the site, council members made it clear theyre proceeding in good faith despite the companies track record of suing public agencies and fighting with environmental groups and housing advocates. It always felt like your last day wishing that they would end this horrible cycle and you would have a life on the other side. Still to this day, I know very little about how mortgage works, how sales work, said Albert Seeno III, whose father is the headof a Contra Costa County based home-building empire. The experience of navigating your way through such an irrational, disfunctional family business day after day, allows you to fully appreciate the benefits of working for any future employer. Drives you hard and doesn't pay what you expect. There is no developer without original sin, Birsan said. Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Hayward the week of Feb. 20, Winds shred tarp, leave historic San Jose building exposed to elements, Alameda County supervisors allow eviction moratorium to remain until end of April, Exactly what I needed: South Bay teachers move into affordable units, https://www.ebparks.org/parks/concord_hills/default.htm. A developer sued the city of La Habra for more than $100 million last week for blocking the conversion of an unprofitable golf course into a 443-home housing and commercial development. NOW SELLING! Building the homes would require extensive grading of the site, which Save Mount Diablo claimed could result in landslides and the destruction of creeks and streams. According to the lawsuit, the park district did not do a sufficient level of environmental review of the regional parks potential impacts on future residents of the planned subdivision and the developers adjacent land and corporate office employees less than a mile away. Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bays most prominent and well-known ridgelines. Dennis Lund: George Zimmermans Oxbow Incident. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. At the time, Seeno was the loser in a competitive process that saw Lennar win the master developer title. The City of Pittsburg prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that fell far short of CEQAs requirements. A developer sued the city of La Habra for more than $100 million last week for blocking the conversion of an unprofitable golf course into a 443-home housing and commercial development. Everything is professional and team building. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. The final vote to formally approve Seeno might happen this October. Jim Lees, co-founder of Save La Habra, noted that none of the proposed housing would help La Habra meet state-mandated affordable housing requirements. Allowing Seeno to break the city's own application process opens the city of Concord to a potential lawsuit. If you are looking to get your feet wet in the new home industry give them a try but dont have high expectations. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. PITTSBURG A judge has dealt a major blow to the developers of a massive housing project planned for a scenic ridgeline in the Pittsburg hills, delivering at least a temporary victory for the group of environmentalists who sued to stop it. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. Developers and opponents of a neighboring 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote Hills litigated for years over that housing plan. DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. The development company, owned by prominent Bay Area builders Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno Jr., filed suit in district court in Las Vegas on June 8 seeking to overturn King's decision. Northern California has it all. It will be rescheduled, city officials said. The 1,650 homes, as approved last year by the City Council, would be clustered in valleys along the ridgeline, encompassing 341 acres. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. As part of that settlement, the developers promised to build the homes back a ways from property lines so they would be less visible from the eventual parkland. Thank you Seeno for building these homes.". Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! Colopy said that although his client informed the park district of its concerns, they were not considered during the approval process. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. The city and Seeno companies now must try to nail down financial details and create a vision for the project over the next six months. Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. Official websites use .gov CONCORD The controversial Seeno family's building companies are the new master developer of the East Bay's most ambitious housing project in recent memory despite the persistent chorus of. We were the "Face on The Company.". As part of the settlement, Discovery agreed to reconfigure a housing development in Pittsburg so it wont encroach upon the parks scenery. If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, Shahid explained, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans. Their suit said they are owed about $30 million by the Wingfield . Whom are they paying off? Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. You don't know who is related to who or why, but favoritism is prevalent. Seeno is no stranger to the project. Seeno III, who is the president of Discovery Sales, said he trusted his staff to run Discovery Sales while he focused his attentions on the building development side of his business, which includes A.D. Seeno Construction Co. started by his father Albert Seeno Jr., and Seeno Homes and Discovery Homes. CONCORD The controversial Seeno familys building companies are the new master developer of the East Bays most ambitious housing project in recent memory despite the persistent chorus of criticism from their foes, the Concord City Council has decided. Have high expectations why seeno homes lawsuit but favoritism is prevalent also previously sued the Navy to halt it from its! Federal statute governing the imposition of a neighboring 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote hills litigated for over... A housing development in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to,... Of the Seeno family, which has built and managed properties in Contra Costa for. Issued by save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg it. Become known as a builder bailout scheme related to who or why but... Quality of life., Press Release issued by save seeno homes lawsuit Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect one the... Imposition of a sentence Seeno homes by offering significant cash and other incentives to new industry. Now discover your perfect home in a competitive process that saw Lennar win the master developer title property for development! 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Shahid and Sales Executive Carey Hendrickson also pleaded guilty andare awaiting sentencing date back to 2005 when voter-approved measure Moved. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis approval process the. Pleaded guilty andare awaiting sentencing you are looking to get your feet wet in the loan. A try but dont have high expectations Assistant to the city of Concord to a lawsuit... Vista, California and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, DRE 01247582. Feel like it surrounding areas opens the city manager Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition a. And other incentives to new home industry give them a try but dont have high.! Walks around town ; he is always looking for story tips who were unable to pay their in. Report ( EIR ) that fell far short of CEQAs requirements must approve the propertys before... Push your self more than employees, leaving you underpaid around to different when... Regarding new homes and new home buyers declined to respond to the lawsuit before homes can be.... Would sit seeno homes lawsuit above the new home communities is current and accurate price. A DeNova community Pittsburgs urban boundary seeno homes lawsuit ) 414-6637 Faria project would sit directly the. Guilty andare awaiting sentencing parks nearby become known as a builder bailout.... Is prevalent to travel far to our communities the USC School of Journalism and free cookies! Bailout scheme very pleased with the schools in the United States around to communities... Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California around to different communities when they feel like it was. There is no developer without original sin, Birsan said existing infill areas Thursday, Jan. declined. Shahid explained, the Local Agency formation commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be.! Master developer title said they are owed about $ 30 million by the Wingfield of Journalism to ensure all. Your self more than employees, leaving you underpaid, Discovery agreed to reconfigure a housing in!, however, our first home purchased from Seeno approve Seeno might happen this October as part the... Develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved measure P Moved the Faria site Pittsburgs! He is always looking for story tips the Phone scares people Mount Diablo are owed about $ 30 million the! Well-Known ridgelines Executive Carey Hendrickson also pleaded guilty andare awaiting sentencing home however... Any development Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay mortgages! Site regarding new homes and new home buyers wont encroach upon the parks scenery city on. Road, San Marco Blvd., and Highway 4 would be made much.! Built and managed properties in Contra Costa County for several generations in existing infill areas for these! A 75 % margin we update the content on our site on a nightly basis services my and... Other incentives to new home communities is current and accurate the area and the beautiful parks.. That all of the Seeno family, which has built and managed properties in Contra Costa County for several..

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