Why should you ignore the opposition's arguments and Vote FOR the Homeowners' Bill of Rights? My wife and I had talked about building a new home for several years. 2005 was the year we decided we would do it. We contracted with Engle who emphasized (or implied) quality.

Buying this Engle house has left my family shaken and much poorer from the experience. We are stuck in this defective house and we hope our story can help prevent others from sharing our nightmare. I hope you never see the pain in your wife's face when the truth is discovered.

We found many defects; dangerous natural gas leaks, structural problems, leaky air conditioner ducts, mold, large holes in outside walls (bugs!), rain water poured out from inside walls, even electrocution hazards and carbon monoxide.

The builder was made aware of serious problems and did nothing about them. When the builder told us of other neighbors who also had many problems they described them as "too picky" or a pain in the butt. All we expected is what we paid for and what we were promised. We had to spend $20,000 on experts to prove our concerns were real while Engle Homes used the best attorneys to evade responsibility or prove us wrong. Our conscience will not allow us to pass these problems on to an unsuspecting buyer, all we can do is warn you.

We thought we had a warranty but our warranty doesn't work for anyone but the builder. There is no accountability.

I hope that you, your family or your grandchildren will experience the American dream of owning their own home. Two and a half years later we still have an unfixed lemon. Please vote YES to protect your family and others.

Support Homeowners Bill of Rights--Arizona Needs a Unionized Construction Industry

I hear opponents to Prop. 201 say that this will lead Arizona towards having a unionized construction industry. I say what's wrong with that! Arizona's construction industry should be all union, and if it takes an initiative to accomplish this, so be it.

Our Arizona Legislature and Governor have let us down by not pushing for more laws that promote increased collective bargaining and union organizing. As we speak, the federal government is on the verge of passing the Free Choice Act, a needed measure that would eliminate secret ballots in order to make it easier for workers to form unions. The same proactive steps need to be taken here in Arizona, and Prop. 201 is a good first step.

So I say to the Sheet Metal International Association and AFL-CIO: Thank You! Every Arizona worker is in your debt. Hopefully with your continued efforts, we will be able to push for new laws and initiatives that improve the workers plight and punish the business class for everything they have taken from us.

Please support Unions by voting for Prop. 201

As a longtime supporter of the Sheet Metal Union and the AFL-CIO, I wholeheartedly endorse their efforts to pass Prop. 201. It's about time that the unions start stepping up and putting more pressure on the construction industry to unionize.

Prop. 201 does a couple of things to help increase their membership. First, it limits the choices on what subcontractors consumers can use, improving the odds that union only labor will be used. Secondly, it sets up several new rules, regulations, and requirements that builders must meet, several of which that will surely hamper their ability to operate without union labor.

The only unfortunate thing about this initiative is that it took money from an out of state group to finally put the construction industry in its place. Thankfully with the housing market the way it is, this is the perfect time to push for laws that will tip the balance of power towards union shops. I just hope we don't blow this opportunity.

I ask every Arizonan that cares about the unions in this state to join me in voting yes on Prop. 201.

Gain leverage over Home Builders by Supporting Prop. 201

Every Arizonan needs to support Prop. 201, a quality initiative that will help increase the leverage prospective buyers and current home owners have when dealing with home builders.

Moving here from California, I couldn't believe there wasn't any laws in place that I could use to pressure builders into offering me a better price or more upgrades on my home. Fortunately, Prop. 201 opens the litigation statutes up to prospective buyers as well, so now I can contact my attorney if I believe a builder isn't offering me a fair price.

Another good provision in Prop. 201 is that it prohibits a home buyer from agreeing to any form of mediation or arbitration process with a builder, meaning every dispute has to be settled in court. It's a great way to stick it to builders, especially since this initiative prohibits home builders from recovering court costs.

With unfair laws such as allowing arbitration, letting builders collect court cost if they win, and prohibiting prospective buyers from filing lawsuits against builders, it's clear that Arizona's home building statutes need an upgrade. That is why I support Prop. 201, and I hope every voter joins me in doing so.

Help increase litigation payouts by supporting Prop. 201

Coming from a family of trial lawyers, I was thrilled to see the Sheet Metal Union put Prop. 201 on the ballot. If you don't know, under current law if you sue a builder for an alleged construction defect and the claim turns out to be frivolous, the builder is eligible to recover reasonable attorney fees as awarded by the court. The problem with this provision is that it discourages large scale class action lawsuits against builders, which are needed to intimidate them into settling out of court.

But now with Prop. 201, home builders will no longer be eligible to recover court costs, meaning attorneys will be able to file as many lawsuits as they want with no fear of actually having to pay for the litigation. The result is that buffer claims, a much needed component to help expand the size and scope of construction defect lawsuits, can be included as a way to increase settlement payouts.

Some people try to give trial attorneys a bad name, but using the court process is a legitimate and smart way to make money. I believe that the legal process needs to utilized to its fullest extent, and that is why come November, please support Prop. 201.

The Homeowners Bill of Rights is based on the notion that if you buy a house and it turns out to be poorly built you should be able to do something about it. It is based on the notion that consumers should get what they pay for and that sellers should be held accountable for the quality of their product. It is based on the notion that transparency and full disclosure is a consumer right.

For too long, too many Arizona homeowners have watched their American dream of home ownership turn into a nightmare. Attempts to get construction defects repaired have resulted in months and often years of denial and delay on the part of builders and sellers. Sellers have been able to hide behind confusing legal jargon and requirements that prevent ordinary consumers from being able to get their concerns addressed. Instead of sellers backing their product, buyers are threatened with having to pay the attorney's fees and court costs of the very ones who sold them a defective product in the first place.

Shelter is a basic human need; it is not an option. In a place like Arizona, with its extreme weather, quality is essential and defects need to be addressed in a timely way. People who spend their hard earned, life savings in the purchase of shelter deserve a reasonable course of action if their purchase turns out to be problematic.

The Homeowners' Bill of Rights uses ordinary, non-technical language that anyone can understand. It requires that sellers do the same in their dealings with purchasers. Should Arizona consumers settle for anything less?

Vote for Justice. Vote Yes on Prop 201

The Air Conditioning Excellence Coalition ( www.acecoalition.org/) is a group of industry minded professionals who volunteer their time and effort to promote issues of quality, training and energy conservation. In hundreds of free inspections to new homeowners we routinely see serious multiple construction defects.

There are thousands of cases across Arizona where homebuyers are complaining about the construction of their new homes including faulty electrical wiring, bad plumbing, and foundational problems. This initiative overturns a law passed in 2002 supported by homebuilders, contractors and pro-industry lobbyists to limit construction-related lawsuits regarding shoddy construction. This law simply gives people the right to do something about it.

Opponents of this measure claim it would make houses unaffordable but warranties do not control the sales price of new houses; supply and demand sets prices. We need to do everything we can to protect the value of our homes. We need to protect our home value by protecting against faulty construction. Why are some homebuilders often antagonistic to third party inspectors even those who are non-profit?

Buying a new home is a huge investment. It is only fair to ask homebuilders to stand by the quality of their homes and provide a warranty to the buyers of new homes. A 10-year warranty is reasonable since most people are taking out a 30-year mortgage. It also fully supports the common sense principle that builders and contractors should stand behind their products and be held accountable if they build a shoddy or substandard product.

There is no reason why homebuilders should oppose providing a warranty on homes unless they are trying to cut corners or use defective materials. Others seek to make it a union or non-union issue: this initiative would only reward contractors who did quality work regardless of union status.

Vote YES!

The Arizona Advocacy Network supports the Homeowners' Bill of Rights and urges voters to support it because it will ensure that home buyers and home owners have a stronger position in disputes with home builders, including a ten year warranty on new homes, the right to choose contractors for repair work, and the right to sue homebuilders for deceptive sales practices and construction defects without the threat of having to pay builders' attorney fees and expert witness fees.

In 2002 the home building industry secured legislation that radically changed the rights of home buyers in favor of builders. This initiative levels the playing field.

New home buyers should have a reasonable expectation that the construction on their home is sound and the house is safe for their families. Proposition 201 will protect home buyers from the worst actors in the home building industry and hold the builders accountable for the quality of their work.

The Arizona Advocacy Network promotes social, economic, racial and environmental justice by educating voters on ballot measures and by advocating for consumer protection and preservation of a civil justice system in which average people can be assured of fairness in dealing with corporate and business interests. We urge you to Vote Yes on Proposition 201.

Homeowners' Bill of Rights

Arizona homeowners are entitled to live and raise their families in quality-built homes that will last for generations. PROP 201 holds contractors accountable and protects homeowners against substandard construction practices.

Many contractors emphasize profitability over quality, seeking to reduce construction costs and increase profits while selling homes at top dollar. As a result, vast tracts of homes suffer from construction defects caused by substandard construction practices. The owners of these homes are left with the grim reality of pursuing a potentially cost prohibitive lawsuit or facing substantial repair costs and unreasonable maintenance burdens on nearly new homes. Builders should be held accountable for the quality of their construction.

Current laws "protecting" homeowners were created by builders, to protect builders. These laws set unreasonable burdens, expose homeowners to substantial costs, and effectively prohibit many homeowners from holding their builders accountable for shoddy construction. Arizona's citizens, not builders, should create the laws that protect the home buying public.

PROP 201 levels the playing field between homeowners and large corporate homebuilders. PROP 201 eliminates many of the current burdens that protect homebuilders. Should a builder refuse to correct substandard construction, the proposition requires the builder to pay a successful homeowners' attorneys' fees and costs should a legal action be required. At the same time, PROP 201 eliminates a homeowners potential liability for paying the builders' substantial attorneys' fees should the builder use its financial strength to spend the homeowner into submission. Prop 201 also extends the period of time from 8 years to 10 years within which a homeowner can hold their builder accountable for faulty construction.

Homeowners have always paid for quality homes, now is the time to hold homebuilders responsible for providing quality homes that will last for generations to come.

Dear Arizona Voter,

The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans urges your support of Prop 201, the Homeowners Bill of Rights initiative. Over the past several years, Arizona has seen an influx of new residents and the homebuilder industry has met the demand and benefited from that growth. Yet, ever since the laws were changed in 2002, homebuyers have seen their rights as new homeowners decrease. Too often, new homeowners experience questionable sales tactics, "bait and switch" standard versus custom features, and upon move-in, dozens of construction defects.

No more is this present than in the senior retirement communities in Arizona. Retirees purchase their "dream" home in these master planned retirement communities and find their dreams turning into nightmares. Seniors encounter construction defects that they may not be able to fix themselves due to health conditions or being on a fixed income. When seeking repairs from the builder, they are met with hostility and are forced to seek rectification through the legal process, all at the expense of their hard-earned retirement income.

By voting yes on Prop 201 the Homeowner's Bill of Rights initiative, we remove the advantage the Legislature gave the homebuilding companies, and allow home buyers a fair hearing on a level playing field.

One of the largest investments a working family will make is their home. Many hard working Arizonans scrimp and save for years in order to have their piece of the American Dream for their families. These dreams can quickly be shattered by the realization of faulty construction and defects and no real process to remedy the situation.

As families move into these homes there are too many times their dreams become a nightmare. Foundations start to crack, shoddy roofs bring leaks which turn to mold and faulty wiring makes the simple flip of a light switch a potential hazard. These homeowners do everything possible to correct the problems. They make calls, fill out paperwork and experience a never ending maze of bureaucracy in their attempts to have a livable home for their family. Time and time again the Homebuilders fail to meet their responsibilities for their faulty construction and defects.

In 2002, lobbyists for the Homebuilders convinced the Arizona Legislature to pass legislation, to radically change the rights of homeowners in favor of the Homebuilders. It stripped out most of the basic consumer protections that should be part of every purchase made by working families.

This initiative when passed will restore the rights of these families to have their concerns and complaints responded to in a timely manner and to have the repairs done on their homes by reputable contractors. It will put an end to deceptive sales tactics and require the Homebuilders to be forthright with information needed by working families when making their decision to purchase.

The Homeowners Bill of Rights will reverse this trend and it will put in place safeguards to protect a homeowner's investment.

Vote YES on Prop 201 to protect the American Dream.

Vote YES on the Homeowner Bill of Rights.

Although the title of this proposition says homeowners "bill" of rights, the only " bill" you will see is an increase in your legal "bills" if this passes. The title is misleading and affords homeowners fewer rights than the laws that are currently in place in Arizona.

In 2003, I successfully sponsored the "Notice to Cure" legislation. It was a good law then and it is a good law now. The goal was to resolve disputes quickly so people could get on with their lives. The law is working well.

Prior to its passage, most construction defect claims ended up in court where builders and homeowners spent years and thousands of dollars trying to figure out who was at fault.

Under the "Notice to Cure" law, a fair and reasonable process was established. The homeowner notifies the builder that there is a defect and the builder has ninety days to fix the problem. In addition, there is an alternative mediation process that homeowners can take advantage of to reach quick settlements without going to court. This saves time and money.

With Proposition 201, these provisions are gone. Litigation is the only option. To makes matters even worse, they eliminate the "Loser Pays Court Fees" statutes. Without that statute, lawyers are encouraged to go to court. Everyone loses except the attorneys.

The "Notice to Cure" statute is good public policy. Consumer satisfaction is at an all time high while attorney payouts are at an all time low. More importantly, people can get on with their lives and enjoy their new homes.

Don't let out- of -state groups tear down solid Arizona laws. Vote "no" on proposition 201.

Members of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona pride themselves in taking care of their homebuyers. Last year, members of the Association were at the top of the JD Powers ratings for customer satisfaction. We want to keep it that way!

Prop. 201 will prevent homebuilders from working with their customers to resolve problems. Instead of having the ability to repair items or arbitrate any disputes, homebuyers will be forced to go to court. This proposed "litigation only" solution to problem solving does nothing more than line the pockets of trial attorneys and delay homeowners from getting problems addressed.

Over the last ten years, the State Legislature has enacted a fair and reasonable process for homebuyers and homebuilders to resolve disputes. Prop. 201 throws out existing law and forces the wishes of an out-of-state trial attorney and his union supporters upon all homebuyers in Arizona.

The only people who win in Prop. 201 are the lawyers! Let's keep the homebuyers and homebuilders working together to keep housing affordable. VOTE "NO" ON Prop. 201.

Arizona Chamber Urges NO Vote on Prop 201

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposes Prop 201, an unnecessary initiative that will encourage litigation and increase costs for both consumers and home builders. Current law already provides a process for home owners and home builders to resolve construction related disputes prior to filing any lawsuits. These laws have been in place for years and have resulted in increased consumer satisfaction, reduced litigation costs, and lower insurance premiums for home builders and homeowners alike.

Prop 201 turns this reasonable process on its head by making two fundamental distortions to this law. First, Prop 201 will prohibit builders from being awarded attorney fees even if they are the prevailing party in a lawsuit. Arizona has had a long standing legal practice of "loser pays" when it comes to construction defect claims, especially because it encourages builders to quickly resolve disputes and discourages trial attorneys from filing frivolous claims. By dismantling loser pays, innocent builders will have little protection under the law and emboldened litigators will have little incentive to keep costs down.

The second distortion made by Prop 201 is that it prohibits home buyers from entering into alternative dispute and resolution agreements with home builders. Eliminating this crucial alternative for resolving disagreements out of court can only mean one thing: the proponents of this initiative want you to settle disputes in court. The Arizona Chamber has always been a strong proponent in the freedom to contract, especially when it comes to discouraging lawsuits.

The proponents of this initiative will try to argue that Prop 201 is good for consumers. Don't be deceived. Prop 201 is a boon for trial lawyers, and does little to aid home buyers or the construction industry. Come November, Vote NO on Prop 201.

Arguments "Against" Homeowner Bill of Rights

ICSC prides itself on promoting good public policy in that State of Arizona.

Prop 201 should not be adopted by the voters for the following reasons.

• It creates a fictitious problem that will only benefit contingency fee lawyers.
• This is a misguided effort by the unions to change Arizona's Right to Work status and to unionize the construction industry.
• It will cause an increase in the cost of liability insurance for the entire construction industry.
• The current system is working. This will only force sellers and buyers into the courtroom.
• Prohibits sellers or builders from collecting attorneys fees if they are the prevailing party, even if the case if frivolous.
• It will negatively impact our economy and new home buyers by increasing the cost of housing. The current problems with housing affordability in Arizona will drastically increase.
• Prevents the freedom to contract for the sale of new homes by prohibiting parties from agreeing to resolve their disputes through mediation.

We have always had concerns whenever a process is created that requires people to go to court to resolve their disputes. We are also concerned anytime a union sponsored initiative is attempting to increase the cost of construction, as this bill clearly does. This revision to the current law is unnecessary because the current law is working. There is already a precise process enforced by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors under which a buyer can request repairs.

For these reasons, and many more, we encourage the voters to reject Prop 201

WESTMARC urges a NO VOTE on Proposition 201!

WESTMARC is a regional coalition of business, government, and education that advocates for good public policy. As a partnership between business and government, it is paramount that we thoroughly consider public policy issues and work collaboratively toward public policy that is good for our West Valley region and our state.

WESTMARC has thoroughly reviewed Proposition 201 and believes that the Homeowners' Bill of Rights will not be beneficial to our West Valley region or our state.

WESTMARC believes that:

• home warranties of 1-2 years are appropriate in the industry, but that 10 years is far too long;
• that the homebuilding industry should initiate warranties prior to legislative mandate;
• that 10-year warranties would significantly increase the cost of Arizona's housing at a time when the housing market is suffering;
• that the dramatic increases in housing prices would slow Arizona's economic rebound and stifle the West Valley's impending growth;
• although this Initiative originated in Arizona it is wholly funded by a single out-of-state organization; and
• the law of unintended consequences will prevail for many years to come.

WESTMARC believes that this Initiative is bad for Arizona's economy.

Therefore, we encourage you to join WESTMARC in opposing the Homeowners' Bill of Rights and urge you to vote NO on Proposition 201!

Buying a new home is often the most important purchase in a person or family's life. An important part of this process is the ability for the homebuyer and homebuilder to work together when issues arise. It is important to members of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association that we are able to work closely with our homebuyers to resolve any issues in a fast and efficient manner. Prop. 201 wants to change all that! Homebuyers and homebuilders will no longer be able to have their own agreements to resolve disputes. The out-of-state trial attorney who drafted this Prop 201 wants to mandate that the only way to resolve disputes is by going to court!

And he doesn't stop there! He also has given "prospective buyers" the right to sue. So now people who don't even own a home can sue a homebuilder. The cost of these frivolous lawsuits will be passed on to everyone hoping to buy a new home. This will significantly raise the cost of housing and hurt Arizona's already struggling economy.

Arizona has a fair and equitable Opportunity to Repair Process that allows homeowners to get their problems fixed within 90 days. If parties fail to come to an agreement, homeowners can then pursuit litigation. Join us in voting "NO" on Prop. 201 so Arizona homeowners and homebuilders can continue to resolve issues so that homeowners WIN and only the lawyers lose!

We can all agree that any Arizona contractor or homebuilder that builds or sells a home with construction deficiencies should repair the home according to all applicable building codes and professional workmanship standards. In fact, that is what current Arizona law requires. Arizona law implies a warranty of workmanship and habitability in every home construction contract and currently provides a process for resolving legitimate home construction issues within 90 days. If the homeowner and builder cannot agree, the homeowner may pursue litigation on a "loser pays" basis for attorneys' fees. In addition, homeowners may file a complaint with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, which may arrange for an inspection of the home and order the builder to correct any deficient work or make restitution for it. All of the foregoing provides a fair, even-handed approach to resolving disputes between homeowners and contractors in a reasonable manner.

Unfortunately, the proponents of PROP 201 do not seem to be interested in fairness or reasonability. Among other things, the proposition would eliminate the time-tested "loser pays" system of awarding attorney fees, thus passing on the cost of frivolous lawsuits to every consumer who buys a new home. It would prohibit homeowners and builders from agreeing to less-costly, alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration. It would prevent the builder from even having the opportunity to make any necessary repairs. Perhaps most importantly, it would impose significantly expanded liability on Arizona homebuilders that could drive many small companies out of business. PROP 201 is unnecessary and potentially disastrous for the citizens and homeowners of Arizona. I urge you to vote NO.

VOTE NO ON PROP 201

I think Arizona is full of bright and optimistic people. It is too bad that the out of state drafters of Prop 201 do not.

These unknown drafters PROHIBIT any adult or parties from agreeing to resolve any disagreements on the sale of home, condo, or townhome through any other process but theirs. Do they not trust us or is that how they work in their state? The right for an adult to agree to ANY terms in contract on how to resolve differences should be protected.

What will we be left with? A mandated legal process that consumers have to go through... whether we like it or not. We will have to go to court, pay big attorney fees, and wait years for judges, lawyers, and insurance companies to make decisions that we have no control over.

Ask the drafters why I am not smart enough to make my own decisions when I have a problem? I am sure when I go to court under this mandated process some day, I will be facing one of the drafters across the table while he waits, like all plaintiff lawyers do, for a big paycheck.

Send these unknown out of state drafters a message and vote NO on Prop 201.

VOTE NO ON PRO 201

Prop 201 should be rejected by the voters of Arizona.

I have been in Arizona for years and every election I see a bunch of complicated proposals from various special interest groups that are out for their own good, not ours. Prop 201 is another one of those proposals.

Prop 201 is over four pages of legal changes to how plaintiffs and defendants will be treated in court when they have disputes over homes and "improvements on real property". This proposal will be read by few and understood only by the out of state attorney's who drafted it.

In addition, Prop 201 has never received a public hearing or an outside legal review and was drafted in secret.

Why does Arizona seem to be the lab rat for all the experiments of out of state interests?

Do not take a chance on Prop 201. Vote no.

PROP 201 JUST GOES TOO FAR!

I believe in a fair legal system that allows all parties equal access to justice. I do not believe in a legal process that gives the balance of power to lawyers or to one party in a dispute.

Prop 201 creates an unfair system were lawyers win and homeowners get stuck waiting years for simple repairs to be made on their house. We have an existing process that requires builders to fix repairs for consumers in 90 days, or give them cash compensation. This is a quick and efficient way for people to get their problems fixed when a builder is being a problem. And if the builder does not fix the problem, then home owners can sue them.

Prop 201 guts this 90 day process. It creates a system so plaintiffs' attorneys will tell their clients to go to court so that these attorneys get paid. Why would we create a complicated legal system just so attorneys can get paid and homeowners unknowingly wait years for the courts to decide whether they get their problems fixed? Why not keep with our existing system for make repairs?

VOTE AGAINST PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS. VOTE NO ON PROP 201.

Despite what the misleading name of Proposition 201 suggests, Arizona homeowners already have a strong `Bill of Rights' within Arizona law.

Since 1931, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) has promoted quality construction by Arizona contractors through a licensing and regulatory system designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. The ROC is a `90/10' agency that sends 10 percent of the license fees it collects to the State General Fund to help balance our budget.

The self-funded ROC, the Homeowners' Watchdog, costs our homeowners and taxpayers nothing - unlike the expensive attorneys' fees guaranteed by Proposition 201.

In July 1981, the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund for Homeowners was established for the purpose of reimbursing homeowners for improper workmanship by residential licensed contractors.

The ROC has broad powers to fine, suspend or revoke a contractor's license for poor workmanship standards and even provides a venue for homeowners to file complaints against a contractor. Moreover, the Recovery Fund ensures homeowners can collect their rightful damages.

You see, homeowners do have rights, but the trial lawyers don't want you to realize it.

For over 50 years, the Arizona Contractors Association has provided corporate, political and civic leadership in the Arizona construction industry for the benefit of our companies, employees and communities. We're strictly a state non-profit association whose membership consists of residential and commercial general contractors, subcontractors of various trades, material suppliers, developers, architects and engineers.

We urge voters to reject Proposition 201 and not be tricked by slick and dishonest marketing appeals in its favor.

Proposition 201 will increase costly litigation and make homeownership harder for more Arizonans.

Protect and Defend the Rights Homeowners Have Now.

Stay Out of Court, Where Only Attorneys Win!

Vote "NO" on Proposition 201

The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona are opposed to the Homeowners Bill of Rights Initiative. This initiative will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a house while we are in a housing and financial crisis. Today we have Fire Fighters who cannot afford to live in the city they work for; this initiative will make this problem worst.

We respectfully ask that you vote NO.

Thank you,

Proposition 201 - The Frivolous Lawsuit Initiative

Proposition 201 will not benefit homeowners, but rather is a gift to unscrupulous lawyers. By providing an incentive for frivolous lawsuits, Prop. 201 will decrease current home values and reduce affordable housing in Arizona.

Prop. 201's frivolous defect claims, additional attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and related union costs will increase the price of new homes while devaluing the price of current homes. Furthermore, the new price increases won't go to the builder's bottom line but instead to the unions and lawyers who drove up the costs.

Prop. 201 seeks to prohibit "reasonable alternative dispute resolution" which eliminates the homeowner's ability to arbitrate. Once arbitration is abolished, reckless attorneys can, for example, claim a variety of home defects (devaluing the home), settle with the builders, and cover their legal fees. This leaves Arizona homeowners with the misfortune of having to disclose hundreds of the "alleged" defects when trying to sell their home.

In this economic downturn, the last thing we need is to further hurt the housing market while directing more money to unions and unscrupulous lawyers. Vote No on Prop. 201.