The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently declared the Endangered Species Act broken and in need of repair.

The tendency to litigate against builders, developers and trade contractors for even minor repairs has risen to such a level that state legislatures have been taking action.

With impact fees as high as $60,000 in some parts of the country, moderately priced homes with fees passed on by builders are increasingly out of reach for targeted buyers.

Ryland Homes is offering to buy back homes for the original selling price from residents of its Lexington Manner subdivision in Butler Country, Ohio, after hazardous lead levels were discovered in yards earlier this year.

Public outdoor spaces usually come in two packages: the public park and the greenbelt with walkway/activity pathway.

That water and/or sewer main running near the property you want to buy is often a blessing, but trouble could lurk there, too, says Tom Stephani, a builder in Crystal Lake, Ill.

With 23,000 homes on 11,000 acres, Centennial in northeast Los Angeles County will be far bigger than any community where most builders will ever buy lots, let alone plan.

Eighteen months ago, former stock trader turned real estate broker Brian Hickey opened an Internet-based service from which builders can get targeted listings of old homes that sellers are willing to unload as tear-downs in affluent, infill neighborhoo..

So breathtaking in scope is a draft growth plan for the western half of Riverside County, Calif., that some environmental activists previously opposed to any growth are working with builders and local officials to hammer out a deal.