BETTY CAROLINA ALVARADO (MONROE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Alvarado, effective January 17, 2024. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Alvarado violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Alvarado neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
CAROLINA TRACE GATED PROPERTIES LLC (SANFORD) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm license for a period of 12 months, effective January 1, 2024. The Commission found that firm failed to adequately supervise an affiliated broker allowing him to conduct brokerage services during a period when his license was on active suspension.
JAMIE ELIZABETH CHRISTENSEN (FAIRVIEW) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Christensen for a period of 12 months, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Christensen listed a property for sale in Buncombe County, N.C. As a part of that listing, Christensen hired a vendor to create drawings of the subject property, as well as to its square footage. The vendor noted on the renderings that all measurements are approximate, and that actual measurements may vary. Despite this notice on the face of the drawing regarding its accuracy, Christensen failed to verify the square footage of the subject property prior to listing it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
ELLEN NORA DEESE (THOMASVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Deese for a period of 12 months, effective November 1, 2023, but stayed the suspension after 3 months upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Deese, acting as a buyer’s agent, found an unclothed semiconscious person in a home during a showing and ran out of the home with her buyers but did not contact anyone else until the following morning, when Deese left feedback to the listing agent on the showing site referencing finding a person “drunk” at the residence. The individual was, in fact, the seller who had suffered a medical emergency and was later found by his family, transported to the hospital, and nine days later passed away. Deese neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
BRANDY NICOLE KALISCH (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Kalisch, effective January 5, 2024. The Commission found that Kalisch failed to fully provide trust account records to a Commission auditor in a timely manner to sufficiently show the proper deposit and disbursement of funds into and from the trust accounts. Respondent provided records for February, March and September 2023 that showed substantial compliance with Commission rules.
DENISE II, INC (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded the firm effective January 5, 2024. The Commission found that the firm failed to fully provide trust account records to a Commission auditor in a timely manner to sufficiently show the proper deposit and disbursement of funds into and from the trust accounts.
VERRENDRA BABU GANNE (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ganne, effective January 1, 2024. The Commission found that Ganne entered into a property management agreement with the owners of the subject property. The tenants failed to pay rent for a 6-month period. Ganne failed to comply with the terms of the property management agreement to institute eviction proceedings, failed to follow the lawful requests of the client, and failed to properly protect and promote the client’s property.
EASTSIDE REALTY LLC (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded the firm, effective January 1, 2024. The Commission found that the firm entered into a property management agreement with the owners of the subject property. The tenants failed to pay rent for a six-month period. The firm failed to comply with the terms of the property management agreement to institute eviction proceedings, failed to follow the lawful requests of the client, and failed to properly protect and promote the client’s property.
BARRY FULTON (SOUTHPORT) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Fulton, effective December 14, 2023. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Fulton violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Fulton neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
KENNETH SCOTT HAWKINS (DURHAM) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Hawkins, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission found that Hawkins served as the listing agent for a property located in Raleigh, NC. Hawkins failed to properly review the listing agreement for the Subject Property, specifically with respect to ascertaining whether the sellers were current on all outstanding loans and not in default. Due to Hawkin’s failure to properly review the listing agreement, the sellers were unable to convey clear title at the time of closing, leading to the termination of the transaction.
RICHARD ARTHUR HUBBELL LINDAU (ASHEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Lindau for a period of 6 months, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Lindau acted as a buyer agent for clients who had made an offer to purchase on a property in Buncombe County, N.C. While the buyers were under contract, and prior to closing, the buyers received an appraisal report which revealed a discrepancy in the property’s square footage compared to what was listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Lindau failed to verify the square footage of the subject property prior to closing.
COSTELLO REAL ESTATE & INVESTMENTS TRIANGLE LLC (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm license for a period of 6 months, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that an affiliated broker of the firm routinely failed to adhere to agency requirements, specifically, providing and reviewing the working with Real Estate Agents and Disclose Form or to have a signed Buyer Agency Agreement in place prior to the broker submitting Offers to Purchas and Contract.
JAMES MATTHEW IVEY (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ivey for a period of 6 months, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that an affiliated broker under the supervision of Ivey routinely failed to adhere to agency requirements, specifically, providing and reviewing the working with Real Estate Agents and Disclose Form or to have a signed Buyer Agency Agreement in place prior to the broker submitting Offers to Purchas and Contract.
NADIA MANSAR (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mansar for a period of 12 months, effective January 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Mansar routinely failed to provide and review the Working with Real Estate Agents Disclosure Form or to have a signed Buyer Agency Agreement in place prior to submitting Offers to Purchase and Contract on behalf of clients.
KATHERINE ANNE JONES (JACKSONVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Jones for a period of 9 months, effective December 15, 2023, but stayed the suspension after 1 month upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Jones acted as a co-listing agent for the sale of certain property and advertised said property for sale as having a square footage in excess of that shown by a subsequent listing broker and appraiser. Jones failed to retain calculation documents used to determine square footage.
STEPHANIE DANETTE KING (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of King for a period of 12 months, effective January 1, 2024. The Commission found that King represented a buyer and submitted offers for two properties without informing the listing agents. After one offer was accepted, King continued to negotiate on the second property, which was also accepted. King lied to the listing agent for the first property and stated the buyer backed out due to a death in the family. The buyer closed on the second property and was sued by the first seller for the due diligence fee.
DAMION MARK PATTON (MORGANTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Patton for a period of 12 months, effective January 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Patton represented the buyer of real property in the subject transaction. The fully executed offer to purchase and contract stated that the buyer could order a home warranty not to exceed $650 and the seller would pay for it at closing. Patton failed to order the home warranty and submit the invoice to the closing attorney in order to collect the payment from the sellers at closing.