TERESA A BROOKS (BURLINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Brooks for a period of 3 months, effective September 9, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that in December 2021, Brooks, acting as broker-in-charge, approved a new listing for a provisional broker. The provisional broker knew the property was partially destroyed by fire, and the owner performed renovations without obtaining permits. The provisional broker disclosed the unpermitted work in the MLS but failed to disclose the fire. A buyer went under contract and their home inspection revealed issues. The buyer shared the inspection report with the provisional broker and subsequently terminated the contract due to the issues. The provisional broker relisted the property but failed to disclose the material facts found in the home inspection report. A second buyer discovered no certificate of occupancy had been obtained for the property. Brooks failed to supervise the provisional broker during the transaction to ensure compliance with the License Law and Commission rules and failed to review advertisements for accuracy and compliance.
BURLINGTON MARKET CENTER LLC (BURLINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm license for a period of 3 months, effective September 9, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that the Firm listed a property for sale and had knowledge of, but failed to disclose, a fire or subsequent renovations performed by the owner without proper permitting. The lack of permits was originally disclosed in the MLS, but not the fire. The first buyer went under contract and obtained a home inspection which revealed numerous issues. The buyer shared the inspection report with the firm but subsequently terminated the contract due to the issues. The firm relisted the subject property but failed to disclose the materials facts found by the home inspection to a subsequent buyer.
KAREN B CLEGHORN (BANNER ELK) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Cleghorn for a period of 12 months, effective October 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Cleghorn, acting as a listing agent, had a property go under contract with five different prospective buyers before it was ultimately sold. Cleghorn was informed by the agent for Buyer 3 that the contract was terminated due to multiple issues identified in an inspection report which recommended further investigation by an engineer. This report was provided to Cleghorn. The seller made several repairs to the subject property but did not make any structural repairs and thereafter stated in the RPOADS that they were not aware of any material issues or defects in the subject property. Cleghorn advertised that the property “was inspected recently and everything that came up has been corrected and an engineer signed off on everything.” A subsequent inspection revealed material defects in the property, some of which were previously identified in the inspection report for Buyer 3. Buyer 4 terminated the contract but refused to provide a copy of their inspection report to Cleghorn. The property was relisted ‘as is’ with updated disclosure statements from the Seller and was sold to Buyer 5. Cleghorn negligently failed to fully investigate or independently verify the extent of all repairs undertaken by the Seller after the termination of contract by Buyer 3 and before relisting the property.
LEONARD N EUDY (SALISBURY) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Eudy, effective October 16, 2024. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Eudy violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Eudy denied any misconduct.
ZYGMUNT C GROMADZKI (RALEIGH) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Gromadzki, effective October 15, 2024. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Gromadzki violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Gromadzki neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
JAMES DUANE HOLLAND (BURLINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Holland for a period of 3 months, effective September 9, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Holland represented a buyer who purchased a property. During the due diligence period, the listing agent discovered there was no certificate of occupancy for the subject property and disclosed this to Holland. Holland notified his buyer that the property did not have a current certificate of occupancy but failed to fully disclose the importance of the issue. The buyer has been unable to obtain a certificate of occupancy.
TAMMY LYNN IDLER (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Idler for a period of 12 months, effective October 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a 1 month active period upon certain conditions. The Commission found that in 2022, Idler represented the seller of a property but failed to disclose that work done on the property was not properly permitted by the seller and that a general contractor did not conduct the renovations as required by law.
GILBERT JENKINS, JR. (EURE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Jenkins Jr. effective October 31, 2024. The Commission found that Jenkins Jr. represented a buyer in purchasing a property but failed to fully explain to his client the problems with the property having unpermitted heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
STELLA ANN MAYO (FAIRFIELD) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Mayo, effective September 30, 2024. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mayo violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Mayo neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
STEPHEN GRANT NILSON (GREENVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Nilson effective October 31, 2024. The Commission found that Nilson represented the seller of a property but failed to disclose in advertising that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that was installed by a licensed contractor was unpermitted.
EMILY COBB RUSSELL (BURLINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Russell for a period of 3 months, effective September 9, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Russell listed a property for sale and was made aware that it had been partially destroyed by a fire and the owner performed renovations without obtaining permits. Russell disclosed the lack of permits in the MLS but failed to make any inquiry as to the extent of damage or repairs. A buyer went under contract and obtained a home inspection, which revealed numerous issues. The buyer shared the inspection report with Russell, and subsequently terminated the contract due to the issues. Russell relisted the property and advertised that all requested repairs were made but failed to disclose the material facts found in the home inspection report to a subsequent buyer. The Commission noted that during the due diligence period, Russell learned there was no certificate of occupancy for the subject property and disclosed this to the buyer agent.
CHARLES JOHNATHAN ALAN SHORT (ASHEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Short for a period of 6 months, effective October 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Short was the qualifying broker and broker-in-charge of CJ & Jess Real Estate Group Inc. Short listed a property and on the Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement the seller indicated “No Representation” with regards to the water source. Short’s employee inserted the listing information into the Multiple Listing Service to be advertised and mistakenly identified the property as being on city water and city sewer. Short failed to verify the accuracy of the advertisement. A buyer purchased the property and later discovered it was on a septic system.
MCKAY MARQUIS STEIN (CAROLINA BEACH) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Stein for a period of 6 months, effective October 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon the condition that Stein is prohibited from acting as or being designated as a broker-in-charge for a period of 1 year. The Commission found that Stein timely reported a guilty plea conviction for Misdemeanor Assault on a Government Official. The conviction stemmed from an incident where, while intoxicated, Stein spat on or at an officer investigating a situation. Pursuant to his conviction, Stein was sentenced to a 1 year term of probation with conditions, including no alcohol consumption or possession.
STELLAR BEACH REALTY & RENTALS LLC (OCEAN ISLE BEACH) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate firm license, effective October 16, 2024. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that the Firm violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. The Firm neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
SANDRA STEUER (JACKSONVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Steuer effective October 1, 2024. The Commission found that Steuer was broker-in-charge of a licensed real estate firm and maintained a trust account. Steuer failed to complete the basic trust accounting course as required. An audit of the trust account revealed a number of issues, including failure to designate the account as “trust” or “escrow,” incomplete property ledgers, and the lack of a journal. There was no clear audit trail or bank reconciliations. In two separate transactions, Steuer, while broker-in-charge, improperly acted as a designated dual agent with a provisional broker under her supervision acting as a designated dual agent for the other party.
GARETH BRYAN WILKINSON (ASHEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Wilkinson for a period of 12 months, effective October 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Wilkinson acted as a dual agent in a land transaction and knew the seller wished to retain a 0.53-acre parcel of the land. Wilkinson failed to ensure that the contract or deed excluded the 0.53-acre parcel as the seller had requested and the seller was unable to retain the parcel as planned. In addition, Wilkinson obtained the signature of one of the two buyers on the Working with Real Estate Agents disclosure (“WWREA”) and submitted an offer for the property for both buyers on the same day. Wilkinson did not mark any of the agency types on the WWREA, and Wilkinson did not obtain the signature of the second buyer on the WWREAD until after submission of the offer.
MICHAEL ROBERT WILSON (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Wilson effective October 1, 2024. The Commission found that in 2022, Wilson represented a buyer but failed to notify his client that a general contractor was required by law to perform renovations to the property exceeding $40,000 and failed to verify that the proper permits had been obtained for the renovations.
DOMINIQUE NICHOLE WILFONG ZAMORA (JACKSONVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Zamora for a period of 18 months, effective July 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a 3-month active period upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Zamora was the listing agent for the subject property. Previously, Zamora acted as the buyer’s agent for the same property where it was disclosed to her that the first floor of the property flooded during Hurricane Florence. Zamora failed to disclose the previous flooding to the buyer prior to closing.