What We've Done

“It wasn’t until Des Moines Citizens for Community Improvement started tracking customers’ complaints and working on behalf of many of the firm’s (Wolford Group) disgruntled customers that the attorney general’s office was able to take action”.

-- Attorney General Tom Miller

• In February 2006, Rod Wolford Sr., former owner of the now bankrupt Wolford Group, was convicted of 17 counts of theft and securities fraud. His son and partner, Rod Wolford Jr., pled guilty to two felony charges of theft and one for securities fraud in 2005. READ MORE
  
  
• Smith Properties owner, Steven R. Smith, committed to resolve grievances of current customers and revise his business practices to benefit future customers after meeting with CCI in April 2004. In addition, Smith agreed to educate potential buyers about the home and contract terms they are considering and provide them with more time to obtain traditional financing.
  
  
• In November 2003, after meeting with CCI members, Fannie Mae agreed to assist Wolford Group victims by funding a Contract Housing Counselor, preventing foreclosure on loans owned by Fannie Mae, and utilizing the Fannie Mae/CCI Anti-Predatory Loan product to finance Wolford Group “home buyers” and keep them in their homes.
  
  
• In August 2003, as a direct result of our organizing, the Iowa Attorney General filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against the Wolford Group, Inc., alleging the company “engaged in deception, fraud and misrepresentation in their advertisements, representations and practices.” In September, the company was forced into bankruptcy due to lack of assets.
  
  
• CCI helped win unanimous approval for a new real estate contract sales ordinance in the City of Des Moines in 2002. Under the new ordinance, all houses sold on contract must be inspected by a City approved inspector and sellers are required to provide buyers with a copy of the city inspection 14 days before they sign a contract. This provides the borrower time to have an attorney review the contract, have a contractor look at the property, and/or have the form translated if they do not read English. Click here for more on the city ordinance.