I am a Realtor in San Antonio, TX

I saw the latest show today where they rehabbed a home off Babcock, and ran into a dozen unforseen problems. Originally they planned a 15k budget and a ghetto rehab. Then, came the leaks, extra appliances, new bathtub, sink, fixtures, etc.,etc.

And then at the end of show they pretend that they only went 2k over budget? LMAO... give me a break. They easily went 15k over budget. This show has lost credibility.

I agree with you 100%.

I live here in San Antonio and when I first heard that Flip was here, I was extremely excited. The very first show was so embarrassing that it made me gringe to now know they were here. Frankly, it doesn't have anything to do with them being Mexican/American or Latino or whatever "type" you want to say. It has to do with their methods. Shoddy, covering up, some illegal, and more. As much as I dislike their segments, I do watch each one. Not because I like them, but so I can try to identify where the houses are. Some of their other behaviors are just appalling. For example, because of a snake problem at their new house, he "rescues" a cat from an adoption agency and proceeds to dump the cat out of the transport cage into the woodsy back acreage so it could fend for itself and earn a living by killing snakes. Snickering and laughing at how the cat was immediately going to work, he is too dumb to see how the poor house cat was terrified and attempting to find shelter. I can't believe that some animal organization didn't jump on him over this!!!

I, too, would like to know more information about his brother separating from Armondo. It would be nice to think that he came to his senses and is perhaps doing decent work having distanced himself from the Armondo family. I'm also interested in hearing more about the truth of their business dealings.

I have heard that there is a new team for next season based in Austin, TX. I think they are called Extreme Homes but I can't find any hard details about them. Do you think they are just made up for the show? Like actors? I found them looking for investors in Austin Craigslist. There seems to some type of controversy surrounding them and a previous employer that is supposed to air on TV. I think Fox News 7. Has anyone else heard anything like that?

I think most of the hostility towards the Montelongo's is racially motivated. Hate to see these"greaseballs" doing well, huh? Well, get over it. They're hardworking, intelligent hispanics, and that's a slap in your predjudice faces. He's not trying to hide anything. In the Cat House episode, he clearly is seen explaining the previous condition of the home to some potential buys at the open house.

After my husband and I watched last night's show (8-25-07), I can totally agree with the Texas Realtor's response. Armando and company deserve to have "the worst reputation here in the city." We were appalled at the young hotshot's disregard for the health and safety laws involved in his attempting to rehab a house that should have been condemned long before this by whatever housing and public health and sanitation authorities might there be in the San Antonio, Texas area. He seems to be so full of himself for such a young age. This episode along with some earlier ones just go t o prove how little he knows and how much he should be avoided if looking at homes in that area.

Bravo to his brother, David Montelongo, for having a conscience and the ethical decency to refuse to participate what-so-ever with rehabbing this rotten dwelling.

We have a pretty extensive background with remodeling and home construction, as well as code requirements and inspections. This fool, Armando, should have kissed his well-deserved losses off immediately after he entered the dwelling and saw its condition. T here is absolutely no way to make this particular structure safe-health wise- by flipping it, or painting and coverering-up or simply hiding it's previous condition. We won't even discuss some of the code violations that he violated. The diseases associated with cats, rats, and cockroaches in conditions such as this are serious. Does the term, "the plague", ring a bell? And slopping paint over the filthy stains in the pool? I would bet anyone that it peeled immediately.

If you want to disregard this, then Armando and his own family should move in there and live in this dwelling for a minimum of one year and see how the hotshot likes it. This young guy is short on experience, code knowledge, and ethics-what a fool.

If there are not laws in effect down there requiring contractors to disclose such conditions to potential buyers than they are seriously needed to protect them from all of his hiding the unhealthy conditions from potential buyers.

People in the San Antonio area should avoid him and any business that he is associated with. Also, where are your producers? This show needs someone who has extensive knowledge of home construction and housing and health codes so that episodes like this do not happen any more.

I am new to the site. The Texas Team.. Amondo needs to chill out. What happened to him+ David? I may have missed any info. BUt all the new shows just refer to Amondo+ his wife. Aftre the "Cat house" episode which showe dagain 8-25-07, I did not see any mention to David after that. I hope Amondo knows that what goes around,. comes around.

I have to admit that I too am not a fan of Armondo, however his antics do make him entertaining, and that is what A&E's goal is in the end.
I applaud their efforts to include and appeal to a broad spectrum of people, but I do think they could have chosen more professional and ethical people to feature.
Last, in response to the comment regarding being unable to find out what the Montelongos own in the public records...If the Montelongos know anything they should know how to buy in a land trust. If that is true then the majority of their properties would never be in their name. A land trust provides privacy ( so that your average Joe searching online can't find out what you own) and limits liablity.