JAYNE A. ANDERSON (OCEAN ISLE BEACH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Anderson for a period of 12 months, effective June 10, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Anderson listed a vacant lot for sale in Brunswick County and had in her possession a copy of the Soil Evaluation that showed the lot did not perc. Anderson noted in the MLS that there was a Soil Evaluation but failed to attach the results or disclose that the lot did not perc.
JEFFREY S. BEISER (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Beiser for a period of 12 months, effective June 6, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that, acting as broker-in-charge of a sole proprietorship, Beiser listed a residential property for sale which went under contract with a buyer. Following their home inspection, the buyer terminated the contract and Beiser received a copy of the home inspection report via email. Beiser failed to open or forward the home inspection report to his seller-client. Beiser re-listed the subject property, which went under contract with a second buyer who also had a home inspection performed. This buyer’s home inspection report noted the same issues with the subject property as the previous home inspection report. The subsequent buyer terminated during the due diligence period. Beiser then re-listed the subject property with an updated disclosure form reflecting the home inspection findings and a copy of the inspection report was added to the listing.
KARMEN K. BODGE (ELIZABETH CITY) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Bodge, effective June 1, 2023. The Commission found that Bodge was the Director of New Agent Training for a firm during the subject transaction. Bodge became aware that the transaction was an all-cash transaction with a provisional broker acting as dual agent. Bodge failed to adequately supervise the provisional broker regarding a proof-of-funds letter submitted by the buyers that was not reliable.
JASON T. CHURCHMAN (WILMINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Churchman for a period of 12 months, effective June 10, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Churchman represented a buyer purchasing a vacant lot. The listing agent advertised that the lot could be developed and represented that there was county water and sewer available on the street, but that the utilities ended at the house to the right of the subject property. Churchman failed to pursue further information from the Listing Agent or county about the perc test or the availability of the water and sewer prior to the buyer going under contract or closing.
ERIC M. CORNELISON (HIGH POINT) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Cornelison for a period of 6 months, effective June 15, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Cornelison, acting as broker-in-charge, supervised a provisional broker who submitted an offer containing confusing language regarding the conveyance of a refrigerator, resulting in a later dispute. Cornelison assisted in negotiating a payment from the listing agent to the buyer but failed to adequately supervise the provisional broker during the transaction, leading to the provisional broker accepting a cash payment from the listing agent which she delivered to her buyer-client without informing the lender or closing attorney.
URIAH L. DORTCH (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Dortch for a period of 6 months, effective June 15, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Dortch listed property he had under construction with a listing broker. The property was advertised as having city water. Dortch had started construction of a well after being informed that city water was not available. Dortch failed to disclose to the listing agent that the subject property would utilize a private well. After the property went under contract, the buyers learned that the property would be served by a well. Dortch offered to terminate and refund all deposits but the buyers chose to close.
KENNETH R. EDWARDS, JR. (ROCKINGHAM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Edwards for a period of 12 months, effective June 1, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Edwards represented the buyers of the subject property and failed to disclose the possibility of a 4-lane bypass planned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation that could affect the subject property.
JOHN K. GRAYSON (SOUTHPORT) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Grayson for a period of 12 months, but stayed the suspension following a 6 month active suspension. The Commission found that Grayson advertised and leased properties managed by Property Management Services, Inc. through Discovernchomes.com. Grayson failed to affiliate with the firm and to obtain written agency agreements with owners. Beginning in 2018 and into early 2019, Grayson advertised and leased one such property to a tenant on a month-to-month basis. Grayson failed to inform the owners that the property had been rented for March 2019. When the owners notified Grayson of their intention to use the unit during the month of March, Grayson attempted but failed to relocate the tenant to another unit. Grayson then tried to force the tenant to vacate the property by misrepresenting to security personnel and others that the tenant was trespassing and did not have a lease.
JOSHUA T. GREENWALD (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Greenwald for a period of 12 months, effective June 6, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Greenwald listed a residential property for sale, which contained multiple units, that was being advertised as income producing property. The property owner requested that Greenwald not allow showings to take place and to not inform the tenants of the sale until contract formation, so as not to disturb their quiet enjoyment. For this reason, Greenwald failed to measure the subject property or have it professionally measured, instead relying on the rent rolls of the current property management company. Greenwald advertised the subject property as having 3,352 square feet of living area. The property went under contract with a buyer whose appraisal showed the subject property as having 2,872 square feet, a difference of 480 square feet or a 15.4% difference. When presented with this information, Greenwald immediately corrected his listing to reflect the correct square footage. The buyer then terminated the contract when he and the seller could not agree on a price change to the contract.
ADRIENNE H. HAGERMAN (GREENSBORO) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Hagerman for a period of 6 months, effective June 15, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Hagerman, as a provisional broker representing a buyer client, submitted an offer that contained confusing language regarding the conveyance of a refrigerator, resulting in a later dispute. Hagerman negotiated a payment from the listing agent for the removed refrigerator. Hagerman accepted a cash payment from the listing agent and failed to deliver the cash to her broker-in-charge, but instead immediately delivered the cash to her buyer client. Hagerman failed to inform the lender or closing attorney about the negotiated payment prior to closing.
KATHERINE R. HICKMAN (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Hickman effective June 6, 2023. The Commission found that Hickman acted as the agent for the buyer in the purchase of residential real property. During this transaction, a number of material issues with the subject property were discovered through various inspections. The seller and buyer agreed to a reduced price without any repairs being made prior to closing. The new owner then made some cosmetic updates to the subject property’s interior, but otherwise did not address other material issues. Hickman then listed the subject property and failed to disclose the outstanding material issues. The subject property went under contract two separate times with both buyers terminating during the due diligence period when their respective home inspections discovered similar material issues with the subject property. The Commission notes that both buyers have been refunded their respective due diligence fees and expenses, and the property was removed from the sales market.
TAMARA L. HILL (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Hill effective June 15, 2023. The Commission found that Hill acted as the buyer’s agent for the purchase of a property and received a home inspection report that noted material issues with a deck and electrical system. Months after the purchase, the buyers informed the Hill they had carried out a variety of improvements to the property and Hill believed this included addressing the issues noted in the inspection report. Hill later acted as a listing agent for the sale of the same property but failed to disclose the issues found earlier or to .confirm that repairs had been made. The buyers’ inspection report noted the same problems with the deck and electrical system and was almost identical to the 2020 inspection. The parties agreed to a price reduction and the buyer closed on the subject property.
BALA K. KAMUJU (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Kumuju for a period of 12 months, effective June 1, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Kumuju, as broker-in-charge of a licensed firm, was unaware that a broker associated with his firm conducted brokerage during a time when her license was on inactive status for failing to complete continuing education. Kumuju failed to renew his firm’s license and it was expired for 10 days before being renewed. Kumuju recreated and backdated 5 of 10 agency agreements provided to the Commission as he could not locate originals.
KRIS & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm broker license for a period of 12 months, effective June 1, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that the Firm was unaware that a broker associated with the Firm was conducting brokerage during a time when her license was on inactive status for failing to complete continuing education. The Firm failed to renew its license and was expired for 10 days before renewing. The Firm’s broker-in-charge recreated and backdated 5 of 10 agency agreements provided to the Commission as it did not have originals.
LAKE WYLIE MARKET CENTER LLC (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded the firm effective June 15, 2023. The Commission found that the Firm represented an out of state buyer purchasing property sight-unseen. The Firm, through its affiliated broker, failed to ensure that the buyer agency agreement included accurate dates and was completed prior to a transaction closing. The Firm has instituted additional policies and procedures for reviewing document compliance.
JOHN M. LEES (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Lees for a period of 6 months, effective June 15, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Lees acted as the listing agent on behalf of a licensed seller for the sale of a home under construction. Lees advertised that the property would have city water and a septic system although the seller had started construction of a well and had been informed that city water was not available. After the property went under contract, the buyers learned that the property would be served by a well. The seller offered to terminate and refund all deposits but the buyers chose to close.
BRUCE W. MOYER (CHARLOTTE) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate education approvals of Moyer effective June 14, 2023. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Moyer violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Moyer neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
CARLOS OROZCO (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Orozco for a period of 18 months, effective June 6, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a 3 month active suspension period. Orozco is also prohibited from acting as, or becoming broker-in-charge eligible for a period of 5 years. The Commission found that Orozco represented a buyer in a residential purchase transaction for a property that was advertised as a 4-bedroom home. A few days after going under contract, the listing agent emailed Orozco a copy of the septic permit, which only allowed for a 2-bedroom home. Orozco failed to inform his buyer-client of the septic information. Orozco’s buyer-client closed on the subject property and then hired Orozco to list the subject property for sale a few months later. Orozco at this time advertised the subject property as a 4-bedroom home, despite being in possession of the 2-bedroom septic permit, and failed to disclose this material issue at the time one offer was made on the subject property.
DAVID OWENS (TARBORO) – Following a hearing, the Commission revoked the broker license of Owens effective June 13th, 2023, with no right to reapply for reinstatement for a period of two years. The Commission found that Owens was convicted of Felony Death by Motor Vehicle, as well as Driving While Impaired and was sentenced to 55-78 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
JORDAN E. STEPANSKY (WAYNESVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Stepansky for a period of 12 months, effective June 15, 2023. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Stepansky represented buyer-clients in a residential transaction and failed to thoroughly review the seller-provided home inspection report and discuss it with the buyer-clients. Stepansky failed to discuss incorporating the cost of a UV filter for the well into the sales price with the buyer-clients prior to discussing it with the lender and preparing a contract amendment form. Stepansky failed to discover a square footage discrepancy of 16%.