JOY AUTEN (BELMONT)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Auten, effective July 15, 2026. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Auten violated the provisions of the Real Estate License Law and the Commission Rules. Auten neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
KIMBERLY CONEN (CHAPEL HILL)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Conen for a period of 12 months, effective February 18, 2026.The Commission found that Conen scheduled a showing appointment for her buyer client at an occupied listing. On the day of the showing, Conen provided her client with the lockbox code for the property. The buyer used the lockbox code to gain entry to the property without Conen present.
CRAIG DAUGHERTY (CORNELIUS)- By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Daugherty effective July 31, 2026. The Commission found that Daugherty, as the Broker-in-Charge for Fathom Realty NC LLC, allowed the firm to advertise a property for sale without the written permission of the true owner of the property.
KAREN DEFELICE (CHARLOTTE)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of DeFelice for a period of 12 months, effective July 1, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that DeFelice acted as the listing agent for a property that was subject to a Homeowners Association (hereinafter “HOA”). During the transaction, the buyer’s agent inquired as to whether the HOA imposed any rental restrictions. DeFelice misrepresented that there were no rental restrictions. After the transaction closed, the buyer discovered that the HOA did, in fact, impose rental restrictions, including a cap. It was further determined that the HOA’s rental restrictions were readily accessible on the HOA’s website. DeFelice failed to make reasonable efforts to verify the accuracy of her representation regarding the existence of rental restrictions before making that representation.
FATHOM REALTY NC LLC (CARY)- By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Fathom Realty NC LLC, effective July 31, 2026. The Commission found that Fathom Realty NC LLC advertised a property for sale without the written permission of the true owner.
XUEYING LI (LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Li for a period of 24 months, effective June 1, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a two-month active period upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Li acted as a buyer agent on behalf of an investor entity of which she is the organizer and president. In multiple transactions, Li failed to deliver due diligence fees in a timely manner, terminated contracts based on inspections without paying the fees, and indicated on offer forms that Residential Property and Owners Association Disclosure Statements were not provided, although listing agents made them available on Multiple Listing Service sites to which Li had access. Li failed to use her name as listed on her broker license in documentation and advertising. Li failed to provide all requested documents upon request by Commission staff. Li paid the previously unpaid due diligence fees.
RAGHAVA NALAMADA (CARY)- Following a hearing, the Commission revoked Nalamada’s broker license, effective April 27, 2026, with no right to reapply for three years. The Commission found that, as a qualifying broker and broker-in-charge of RTP Properties NC, Inc., Nalamada commingled trust and operating funds, used trust funds for firm expenses, failed to designate trust accounts, failed to maintain required trust account records, monthly three-way reconciliations, and an adequate audit trail, and failed to properly account for client funds, resulting in trust account shortages exceeding $177,000. The Commission also found that, in approximately 55 of 57 sales transactions, Nalamada failed to timely execute buyer agency agreements and provide the Working With Real Estate Agents disclosure as required and failed to ensure the firm’s compliance with Commission trust account and agency requirements.
RTP PROPERTIES NC INC. (CARY)- Following a hearing, the Commission permanently revoked RTP Properties NC, Inc.’s firm license, effective May 1, 2026. The Commission found that RTP Properties NC, Inc. commingled trust and operating funds, used trust funds for firm expenses, failed to designate trust accounts, failed to maintain required trust account records, monthly three-way reconciliations, and an adequate audit trail, and failed to properly account for client funds, resulting in trust account shortages exceeding $177,000. The Commission also found that, in approximately 55 of 57 sales transactions, RTP Properties NC, Inc. failed to timely execute buyer agency agreements and provide the Working with Real Estate Agents disclosure as required.
PAMELA SABO (MARSHALL)- By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Sabo, effective July 31, 2026. The Commission found that Sabo was contacted by a fraudster who asked her to sell a parcel of vacant land on his behalf. Sabo failed to verify the fraudster’s identity and listed the property for sale for 2 days before discovering the scam, at which point the listing was removed.
JOHN SPRINGSTEED (CHARLOTTE)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Springsteed for a period of 24 months, effective December 17, 2025. The Commission found that Springsteed listed a property on behalf of his seller clients. During the course of representation, Springsteed submitted his own offers to purchase the property without advising his seller clients of the potential conflict of interest, their right to terminate the listing agreement, or their right to seek independent counsel from a private attorney or another licensed broker. Springsteed did not terminate the listing agreement despite his seller clients’ requests. While the sellers were under contract with another buyer, Springsteed disclosed confidential information about the terms of the pending contract with another potential buyer without the parties’ consent.
DENISE WILSON (HARRISBURG) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Wilson, effective July 31, 2026. The Commission found that Wilson was contacted by a fraudster who asked her to sell a vacant lot on his behalf. Wilson failed to conduct sufficient due diligence to determine whether the fraudster was the true owner of the property and to ascertain whether the fraudster had advertised the property for sale. The property went under contract and was sold.