One of the further-along Romm homes in The Cameron at Grey Oaks. (Jonathan Spiers)
A local builder facing lawsuits for multiple stalled and foreclosed houses in a western Henrico neighborhood says the properties are being picked up and will be finished by other builders.
William Romm, who started the houses under his company Romm Custom Homes, said last week that two of the four homes he left unfinished in The Cameron at Grey Oaks neighborhood near Wyndham were purchased by other builders in a foreclosure auction Nov. 9. He said the other two homes would likewise be sold in the coming weeks and completed by other builders.
The unfinished homes were the result of what Romm previously called “a financial setback” last year. He said in June that the setback required him to pull from his personal funds to finish some homes, but the four in The Cameron at Grey Oaks remained abandoned–prompting lawsuits from three sets of disgruntled homebuyers.
Those lawsuits remained open as of Tuesday, two weeks after the two homes were sold at auction. Local attorney Stephen Wood, who served as substitute trustee for at least three of the properties, declined to comment about the sales or identify which properties sold. He said two of the four properties were pulled from the auction.
A mix of under-construction homes and others completed and occupied make up The Cameron at Grey Oaks. (Jonathan Spiers)
Three of the properties scheduled for sale were 12020 and 12054 Cameron Creek Road and 2026 Grey Oaks Park Lane. A notice posted in September on the house at 12054 Cameron Creek Road by the Henrico building and inspections department declared the structure unsafe and its occupancy or use prohibited.
Romm declined to identify the builders who picked up the two homes without their permission. He said the two other homes would likewise be sold soon and all of the homes would be finished by the other builders.
“The parties that bought the houses at foreclosure are finishing the houses for the customers,” Romm said last week.
Romm did not want to be quoted further for this story but said the process has turned out as good as he could have hoped. He said all of the houses will be picked up and finished and the owners are all going to get their houses.
Meanwhile, Romm is moving forward with another company, Millstone Builders, which he said is focused on remodels and commercial work and not new home construction. He said the company is one of many he has formed over the years.
As for Romm Custom Homes, he said that entity’s business license has expired and he doesn’t plan to renew, focusing instead on remodeling work he’s picked up.
Romm declined to discuss the financial setback he attributes to the stalled homes on the record. Henrico Circuit Court filings show that Romm and his wife divorced in April.
Romm isn’t the only one who was set back financially. The three homebuyers suing him are seeking nearly $250,000 in damages collectively, or for completion of their homes.
Mandar Deshpande, who with his wife Anjali filed suit against Romm in May, said he is still owed money from Romm for down payments and change orders and is therefore keeping their suit open. He said their property was foreclosed and picked up by Richmond-based Bradford Custom Homes.
The Deshpandes’ unfinished home at 5813 Cameron Creek Terrace. (Jonathan Spiers)
Deshpande said they have also endured costs of bringing the lawsuit, which stated the couple purchased their property for $621,500 and paid two sets of down payments totaling $62,150, as well as additional payments for three change orders totaling $13,406. It sought an order requiring Romm to complete the home in accordance with the contract, or a judgment against the company for damages totaling $150,000 plus other costs.
“We’ve spent so much money in order to proceed with the lawsuit, so I’m trying to work out a deal with the new builder,” Deshpande said. “We decided to fight the lawsuit independently and just give my family the dream house they want.
“I’m still going to pursue the lawsuit. I need to get my money back,” he said. “It’s too much money for the lawyers. I would rather save my money just to put into the house.”
The Deshpandes are represented by attorney Cheri Hodhes Warren of Glen Allen-based law firm WarrenLaw P.C. Romm had been represented by Kelly Bundy of Hirschler Fleischer, but a recent court filing shows that Bundy has requested to withdraw as counsel due to Romm not responding to phone calls and emails.
The Cameron at Grey Oaks is one of multiple neighborhoods that make up the broader Grey Oaks community, comprising more than 100 acres between Nuckols, Pouncey Tract and Shade Grove roads. The Cameron at Grey Oaks is managed by Richmond Real Estate Associates Ltd., a real estate arm of developer Windsor Enterprises, which is part of a group of developers behind the overall Grey Oaks development.
Richmond Real Estate Associates’ website described The Cameron at Grey Oaks as consisting of custom homes starting in the low $500,000s.
Windsor Enterprises is moving forward with plans for another subdivision nearby, Shady Grove Hills, as well as an addition to the Grey Oaks neighborhood. It is partnering with Stafford-based V Moss Development LLC on Shady Grove Hills, which is proposed for about 40 home lots.
One of the further-along Romm homes in The Cameron at Grey Oaks. (Jonathan Spiers)
A local builder facing lawsuits for multiple stalled and foreclosed houses in a western Henrico neighborhood says the properties are being picked up and will be finished by other builders.
William Romm, who started the houses under his company Romm Custom Homes, said last week that two of the four homes he left unfinished in The Cameron at Grey Oaks neighborhood near Wyndham were purchased by other builders in a foreclosure auction Nov. 9. He said the other two homes would likewise be sold in the coming weeks and completed by other builders.
The unfinished homes were the result of what Romm previously called “a financial setback” last year. He said in June that the setback required him to pull from his personal funds to finish some homes, but the four in The Cameron at Grey Oaks remained abandoned–prompting lawsuits from three sets of disgruntled homebuyers.
Those lawsuits remained open as of Tuesday, two weeks after the two homes were sold at auction. Local attorney Stephen Wood, who served as substitute trustee for at least three of the properties, declined to comment about the sales or identify which properties sold. He said two of the four properties were pulled from the auction.
A mix of under-construction homes and others completed and occupied make up The Cameron at Grey Oaks. (Jonathan Spiers)
Three of the properties scheduled for sale were 12020 and 12054 Cameron Creek Road and 2026 Grey Oaks Park Lane. A notice posted in September on the house at 12054 Cameron Creek Road by the Henrico building and inspections department declared the structure unsafe and its occupancy or use prohibited.
Romm declined to identify the builders who picked up the two homes without their permission. He said the two other homes would likewise be sold soon and all of the homes would be finished by the other builders.
“The parties that bought the houses at foreclosure are finishing the houses for the customers,” Romm said last week.
Romm did not want to be quoted further for this story but said the process has turned out as good as he could have hoped. He said all of the houses will be picked up and finished and the owners are all going to get their houses.
Meanwhile, Romm is moving forward with another company, Millstone Builders, which he said is focused on remodels and commercial work and not new home construction. He said the company is one of many he has formed over the years.
As for Romm Custom Homes, he said that entity’s business license has expired and he doesn’t plan to renew, focusing instead on remodeling work he’s picked up.
Romm declined to discuss the financial setback he attributes to the stalled homes on the record. Henrico Circuit Court filings show that Romm and his wife divorced in April.
Romm isn’t the only one who was set back financially. The three homebuyers suing him are seeking nearly $250,000 in damages collectively, or for completion of their homes.
Mandar Deshpande, who with his wife Anjali filed suit against Romm in May, said he is still owed money from Romm for down payments and change orders and is therefore keeping their suit open. He said their property was foreclosed and picked up by Richmond-based Bradford Custom Homes.
The Deshpandes’ unfinished home at 5813 Cameron Creek Terrace. (Jonathan Spiers)
Deshpande said they have also endured costs of bringing the lawsuit, which stated the couple purchased their property for $621,500 and paid two sets of down payments totaling $62,150, as well as additional payments for three change orders totaling $13,406. It sought an order requiring Romm to complete the home in accordance with the contract, or a judgment against the company for damages totaling $150,000 plus other costs.
“We’ve spent so much money in order to proceed with the lawsuit, so I’m trying to work out a deal with the new builder,” Deshpande said. “We decided to fight the lawsuit independently and just give my family the dream house they want.
“I’m still going to pursue the lawsuit. I need to get my money back,” he said. “It’s too much money for the lawyers. I would rather save my money just to put into the house.”
The Deshpandes are represented by attorney Cheri Hodhes Warren of Glen Allen-based law firm WarrenLaw P.C. Romm had been represented by Kelly Bundy of Hirschler Fleischer, but a recent court filing shows that Bundy has requested to withdraw as counsel due to Romm not responding to phone calls and emails.
The Cameron at Grey Oaks is one of multiple neighborhoods that make up the broader Grey Oaks community, comprising more than 100 acres between Nuckols, Pouncey Tract and Shade Grove roads. The Cameron at Grey Oaks is managed by Richmond Real Estate Associates Ltd., a real estate arm of developer Windsor Enterprises, which is part of a group of developers behind the overall Grey Oaks development.
Richmond Real Estate Associates’ website described The Cameron at Grey Oaks as consisting of custom homes starting in the low $500,000s.
Windsor Enterprises is moving forward with plans for another subdivision nearby, Shady Grove Hills, as well as an addition to the Grey Oaks neighborhood. It is partnering with Stafford-based V Moss Development LLC on Shady Grove Hills, which is proposed for about 40 home lots.