The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-11-27
NATIONAL EDITORIAL
I0A7 * ASSOCIATION
l5ffVDE# WerEo1
The c.. is Battle Again
ESTABLISHED 1907

n group OF 1)llllSS u. l.. ) anu tllSH "li'iliN' i"'N
been having Il bad time with their newly purchased
homes. They have not accepted the situation lying
down, and are trying to do something about It, put re-
suits have SO far not been forthcomnlg' according to
information we have received.
Their latest move is q letter to the authorities in
Washington, ID. G., citing the facts of the case and
asking an investigation.
The letter is signed by 23 veterans and their wives
living in the Calhoun Lane subdivision and states their
case as completely as possible. 1t points out that the
veterans bought the homes because they could find no
place to live. The transaction was carried out through
a Billings bank. 1t was necessary to meet certain credit
requirements. Mortgages on the homes were financed
by an 80 per cent FILA. mortgage and a 20 per cent
VA. mortgage and taxes were said to be about 500 per
year, increasing somewhat if the subdivision became a
part of the city of Billings.
Price of the houses was IS. 900 and the veterans
were given to understand that this included all improve
ments, including streets. sewer and water, and that no
taxes were outstanding. The ability Of the purchaser to
pay was thoroughly investigated, it was stated. with
payments set at Ssh to 500 per month depending on
the unpaid balance.
We quote the remainder of the letter: On or
about Sept. 5, 1917, some time after the last home
was contracted for, we were informed indirectly that a
special Improvement tax assessment OF 1888 per home
had been levied against this subdivision, same to be
paid over a period Of 10 years at SIX per cent interest.
We Immediately contacted the bank requesting their
reason for not possessing this information and were
told it was news to them. The bank is withholding
SIS monthly in a trust fund to cover our taxes, which
HOW dIlOUulI " pAoO yearly.
'This was then taken to the VIEW, American
Legion, American Vets and Yellowstone Trades Union,
which formed a committee to investigate. At once it
was disclosed that though none of the homes were
completed, the FILA. had made the final approval Of
these loans. 1t was also disclosed that faulty materials
had been used, and in checking we find that three (3)
inspections were required and were to have been made
by the F. H. a. To our knowledge, no inspection has
been made of these homes, which are still not COM
pleted."
The % veterans and their wives concluded by say
ing that an appeal to the state FILA. office had
brought virtually no result and asking a complete in
vestigation.
A recent magazine article informed us that many
another veteran has been victimized in the nation in re-
gard to homes. The article said a good many factors
entered into the various cases where home purchasers
in the last year or so failed to get their moneys worth
Dishonesty was fragrant in some instances, it was
stated, but in other cases haste and carelessness on the
part of both purchaser and builder were to blame.
There aren't enough homes to go 'round-that is
obvious. The tax situation which faces the Billings
group is affecting other groups throughout the countr!
as are homes built in undesirable locations and of in
ferior materials. Agencies which guaranteed loans OF
homes like these all too frequently did not inspect an(
otherwise investigate properly, it was pointed out.
We're glad the Billings G.. is are putting up
battle, though it seems a shame that they should be
forced to do so. We hope they get somewhere. Ever
if they don't, they have made it much easier for Other
prospective home purchasers to get a better deal.