Troubled Calgary builder leaves Edmonton homebuyers with mortgages to pay on unfinished homes
CBC
Four people who bought houses in northeast Edmonton from the same Calgary builder more than a year ago say construction has stalled, leaving them responsible for mortgage payments on homes they can't live in.
A CBC News investigation has found more than a dozen stalled home builds in the Fraser and McConachie neighbourhoods, all linked to 3volution Homes Group.
Thirteen 3volution builds have had building permits cancelled by the City of Edmonton. Nine of the company's new builds in Edmonton have lost new-home warranty coverage.
Court documents show tradespeople in the Edmonton area are seeking more than $180,000 in damages from the builder for unpaid invoices related to 3volution houses. No statements of defence have been filed.
Two of the homebuyers have complained to the builder, to police, to lending banks and to the lawyer they worked with.
"It's been unreal what we've had to go through," said Olamide Omotosho, who has an unfinished property in the McConachie neighbourhood.
3volution's owner, Ifeanyi Daniels-Akunekwe, initially agreed to an interview but cancelled it and has not responded to follow-up requests or emailed questions.
The situation has become dire for four homebuyers, who told CBC they can't afford to pay rent and make mortgage payments at the same time.
Omotosho said his credit score has plunged after he missed mortgage payments for his framed but unfinished house.
He said he and his wife no longer want to move in.
"This has robbed me and my family of the joy you would ordinarily have looking forward to going to your new home," he said. "It cost me so much pain."
Like Omotosho, Godfrey Kineeh learned of 3volution through someone in his church community.
Kineeh said he met with multiple people from 3volution, including Daniels-Akunekwe, in 2020, and by early 2021, had purchased a property on 14th Street, in the Fraser neighbourhood.
More than two years have passed since he obtained a mortgage and the land title, but the house is only partially built.
There's stiff competition among prospective home buyers in the St. John's region because the number of listings are unusually low and demand is surging.
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