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A lawsuit involving developers who built homes in two Cameron County colonias has ended with them agreeing to pay fines and get the houses up to code.

According to a final judgment, Guadalupe Perez and his wife Petra Perez agreed to bring all residential lots sold or leased in El Jardin subdivision into compliance.

The couple also agreed to refund $155,860 to property buyers in the Magic Valley subdivision.

Until the homes in El Jardin are up to code, the Perezes are prohibited from subdividing, selling, advertising and executing any new leases in the subdivision.

According to a lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Perezes sold the properties without water and sewer connections or the required bond for installation.

The couple agreed to pay Texas $54,000 in civil penalties and more than $57,000 in investigative costs.

“Border-area developers must comply with state colonias-prevention laws by providing basic water and wastewater services to residential lot purchasers,” said Attorney General Greg Abbott. “The Attorney General’s Office will continue working with local officials to enforce colonias-prevention laws. We are committed to protecting border residents by investigating housing developments that fail to comply with Texas law.”