Charlotte homebuilder has real estate license revoked after WBTV investigation
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) — A Charlotte homebuilder has had his real estate license revoked after a WBTV investigation uncovered a series of financial troubles that cost his clients thousands of dollars. The builder had so many liens on his homes that he often couldn’t sell the properties, according to testimony and filings with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
His former clients now want the state to step in and take away his building permit as well.
Since the first WBTV story in January, the walls have continued to close in on City View Terraces and owner Chris Bradshaw. Bradshaw faces new lawsuits, new foreclosures and new investigations, according to court records and confirmation from state agencies.
One of Bradshaw’s clients says he’s known for nearly a year that City View is facing growing problems.
If you live in Charlotte, you’ve probably passed Matt Brooks’ house on your way to Noda or Optimist Park, but technically it’s not his house yet.
“We were told it would be a 30-day shutdown,” Brooks said.
“How many days ago was that?” asked a WBTV reporter.
“Almost exactly 11 months ago,” Brooks said.
Brooks was buying a house built by City View Terraces, whose legal name according to public records is actually R-Cubed Charlotte Investment Group. The company is owned by Chris Bradshaw, who was both a real estate agent and a general contractor.
As WBTV previously reported, dozens of liens and judgments have been filed against Bradshaw and R-Cubed over the past three years.
“Oh, that was awful. He had so many privileges,” real estate attorney Ralph McMillian said. Frankly, I had no idea we would close that loan at all.
Ralp McMillian represented a client who went through almost the same situation as Brooks and struggled to close the house.
“It was a stack of liens from a few projects that had actually come to this property and that’s when we started to find out that it was going to be a while before this property could close because of the title,” Brooks said.
The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has begun investigating this issue, and records from their case show that many Bradshaw clients have had the same experience. Bradshaw accepted a settlement offer that revoked his license on April 1. He is allowed to reapply in five years, but must obtain board approval.
Since our last report, new lawsuits have been filed against R-Cubed directly related to the property that Brooks is still trying to purchase.
In a lawsuit, Carter Lumber claims R-Cubed failed to pay nearly $1 million in labor and material bills.
In another lawsuit, lender Bradshaw borrowed money to build Brook’s property claims, R-cubed failed to repay the loan of more than $480,000.
WBTV contacted Bradshaw and his attorneys for comment on our findings, but there was no response.
After WBTV’s latest report, Bradshaw’s attorney claimed that WBTV’s reporting did more harm than good and was inaccurate, but he did not specify which information was incorrect.
With Bradshaw’s blessing, Brooks has decided to move into the North Davidson house even though he is unable to close it yet.
“It’s not my house, although I look around and see all my stuff. But you know, any day it could be like, OK, I need to figure out what’s next,” Brooks said.
While Bradshaw’s real estate license has been revoked, the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors said it is still investigating. Currently, his license is invalid because he did not renew it on March 1.
“I just hope the GC board acts quickly and stops things like this. Not just with Chris, but with anyone,” Brooks said.
Bradshaw was able to successfully sell some of the homes he built on Greenleaf Ave after they were threatened with foreclosure. Temporarily Julia Maulden’s properties were also out of foreclosure, but they have since been noticed.
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