Rep. Julia C. Howard said there was "nothing weird" about a real estate deal she brokered with lobbyist Don Beason.
In 2002, the Mocksville Republican was the real estate agent for then Rep. Theresa Esposito, who wanted to sell her Bishops Ridge condominium in Raleigh because of her impending retirement.
Howard said she has worked with several other legislators, including giving advice on deals that she isn't directly involved in. She later helped sell Esposito's home in Winston-Salem as well.
"That's my business," she said. "It's what I do in real life."
She said she listed the property and talked with several interested buyers, including a few lawmakers, before Beason made an offer.
Howard confirmed that she was a dual agent for both buyer and seller, earning a 6 percent commission, or $8,550, on the $142,500 sale.
"There's nothing weird here," she said. "The whole thing was very above-board."
Comments
Re: Howard: 'Nothing weird' on sale
August 15, 2007 - 5:10pm — MeckDeckRyan -- Keep looking for weird. It is absolutely there. Real estate deals are the way this bunch rewarded loyalty. I was told that one former legislator explained his stance this way, "I can't do that, Jim Black bought me my house."