On May 2, 2008, our local newspaper
(Record Courier) printed the names of every entity who had failed to pay
their property taxes in Douglas County, Nevada. It included the various developments
owned by Syncon Homes. They haven't paid the property taxes on
their developments since their last tax
payment was made in October 2007. These projects include,
Monterra, The Springs, and La Costa where they refused to pay the third
and fourth quarter property tax installments due in December 2007 and
March 2008.
These are the same property taxes
that you have to pay. These are the same property taxes that we have to
pay. These are the same taxes that allows our government to pave
the roads, fund the schools, replace the street lights, pay for fire and
sheriff services, improve community welfare, and simply create an
environment that everyone can be proud to call home. The
government will be
unable to meet their obligations if each and every one of us, especially
large landowners like Syncon Homes, don't do their part.
Why is this
important to Syncon homeowners and prospective homebuyers?
First, it questions the economic health of the
neighborhoods where Syncon is selling houses. It brings into
question the future welfare of the neighborhoods where their homebuyers
bought into their residential concepts.
It should be noted that Syncon
has paid the property taxes on their corporate office building.
They have also kept their property taxes current on any undeveloped
lands they own that are not within their residential developments,
along with any personal holdings.
It appears that they are keeping
their undeveloped holdings healthy. It's at the expense of their
commitment to those neighborhoods where they have sold some properties
and where the residents are depending on Syncon to fulfill their
obligations.
Second, it brings to mind
questions of Syncon's willingness and ability to fulfill any
obligations. If they refuse to pay their government
mandated taxes, how do
their customers rate? Will Syncon remain willing to meet the warranty
obligations they incur with each sale? We're not sure, but we think the answer is
becoming quite clear to us in light of the evidence presented throughout this
website.
Overall, it's a bad
thing. For all the grand words they laud on their website,
including their claim that they make "every effort to be
conscientious citizens in all of our communities," they've proven
that their statements are nothing but LIES.
As evidence, here's copies of the
appropriate sections from the Record
Courier Legal Notice. We've removed any non-Syncon Homes
properties. It's public information.
Syncon Developments
in Arrears
Conclusion
In the end, we come back to our observations
of Syncon Homes' actions. Because of the decisions made by the corporate officers,
Syncon Homes has refused to meet their obligations to the government and community by
failing to pay the taxes on the properties they own in their La Costa,
Monterra and The Springs tracts of homes. It does not make them
"conscientious citizens."
If Syncon Homes refuses to meet
their obligations to the government, how do you think they view their obligations
to their homebuyers? We think the answer is obvious. They're
still paying their way on their undeveloped land holdings, corporate
properties, and personal holdings, but they have walked away on their
partially developed communities. It
appears that they view their obligations to their neighborhoods and
homeowners as last on the list since the property taxes on their
neighborhoods was the first thing they abandoned.
Personally, we would be ashamed
if we were any of the officers who made the decision to not pay their
property taxes. We would be ashamed of turning our backs on
the community that accommodated our developments and the people
who bought into their neighborhoods. Then again, shame is
nothing new for Syncon's officers. They have other things to be
ashamed of, as evidenced on our "Who
is Syncon" page.
So, is this the kind of community
where you'd want to buy your home? Is this the kind of developer
you'd trust to meet their obligations to you? Is this the kind of
corporate entity you'd like to call your neighbor? Is this the
place where you want to gamble with your investment money? We really can't tell you. These are the
questions only you can answer, but we think the right answer is obvious.
* UPDATE
*
We'll keep doing a spot check
on their property tax status every week or so and post the
updates. The newest findings will be posted at the top of this
Update Section.
06/20/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
06/01/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/28/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/26/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/22/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/16/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/14/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still
refused to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their
residential properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/09/08
- A spot check of Syncon residential properties listed on the County of
Douglas, Treasurer's website, confirms that Syncon has still refused
to pay
the 3rd and 4th quarter property taxes
on their residential
properties and vacant lots in their subdivisions.
05/09/08
- Could this be the reason Syncon Homes has turned their backs on their
homeowners, by refusing to pay the property taxes in their residential
neighborhoods, but has kept the property taxes on their vacant land
outside their residential developments current? They are trying
to sell some of it to the Federal Government for use as a post office.
One of the entities involving Syncon
Homes' corporate officers, is known as
Northwest Nevada, LLC. According to the Record-Courier, the "vacant
land at 1786 Monte Vista Ave., southwest corner of Muller Parkway at
Monte Vista, (was) submitted by Kelle Sampson of Nevada Northwest LLC"
for consideration by the US Postal Service. Click
Here for the article.
We wonder if there will be any
public comment period before the purchase is made, especially if there
is any development component to the transaction. Perhaps we'll
look into it.
05/02/08
- The Record-Courier posted the names of people and entities that have
refused to pay their property taxes in Douglas County. It included
Syncon Homes' residential developments.
