Clerical Error Shows $500 Sale in County Records
Owners and buyers should check that recorded deed prices match their actual closing documents.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Residential
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A campaign for North Carolina state Sen. Lisa Barnes revived a claim that opponent James Gailliard bought a mansion from his church for $500. Property tax records show a clerical error in the deed's excise tax, and an independent audit says the 2017 sale was approved at $400,000 fair market value.
Why it matters
For homeowners, the case shows how a single clerical error in deed excise tax can make a sale price appear wildly off in public records, and how a home's recorded value can rise sharply over a few years. County property valuations now list the 7.1-acre Nash County property at $1.3 million, more than $670,000 higher since 2023, which affects how buyers and neighbors read local records.
The 8,600-square-foot home sits on 7.1 acres and is valued by the county at $1.3 million. The 2017 sale was audited at $400,000, while the erroneous recorded price was $500, and the record was corrected in 2022.
The players
Lisa Barnes
Nash County Republican and state senator running for reelection, whose campaign revived the claim about the house.
James Gailliard
Former state representative and senior pastor of Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount, who bought the home in 2017 and released an ad rebutting the accusation.
Word Tabernacle Church
Rocky Mount congregation of roughly 2,000 members that sold the 8,600-square-foot home and 7.1 acres to Gailliard.
The details
Property tax records list the initial sale at $500 and make it appear that Gailliard bought the house from himself for $400,000. The $500 figure came from a clerical error in the excise tax on the original deed. Gailliard told Business North Carolina that Word Tabernacle originally planned to renovate the home as part of a headquarters complex before changing its plans. The 2022 correction reflects the $400,000 sale approved by the church board.
Timeline
2011: Church bought the property for $1.4 million, according to tax records.
December 2004: Gailliard moved to North Carolina from Philadelphia.
2017: Church sold Gailliard the 8,600-square-foot home.
2018: An independent audit approved the $400,000 sale value.
2022: The deed error was corrected to reflect the $400,000 sale.
The Home Front
County records now carry a $1.3 million valuation on this property, roughly 670,000 dollars higher since 2023, reflecting rising assessments in the area. The episode shows how a single deed-level error can persist in public property records until an audit or correction catches it.
If you are checking a home's recorded sale history, compare the county deed and tax record against the sale documents you hold. Ask your county register of deeds or a licensed real estate attorney to review any recorded price that looks inconsistent with the actual transaction.
The takeaway
Recorded prices in county property files can contain clerical errors that change how a sale looks to the public, so the audit trail matters. Keep copies of your closing documents and deed so you can confirm the recorded figures if a question ever arises.
Further reading
For more on how property records and sales are tracked, explore Residential coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News&Observer.
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