More than 50 would-be homeowners across 22 states say their log-cabin dreams have splintered after paying tens of thousands of dollars for pre-cut kits from a Charlotte-area seller, only to watch the business quietly shut down and go dark. Lawyers overseeing the company’s wind-down are warning that there is so little money left that any repayment will likely be only a sliver of what customers put in. Some families say their wires and checks cleared as recently as December 2025, leaving them scrambling to salvage projects that were supposed to become year-round homes.
How Customers Learned the Company Was Gone
As reported by the Charlotte Observer, customers told reporters they paid between about $14,500 and more than $25,000 for kits the company marketed online and in classifieds. The company, which was doing business as American Log Homes and Cabins, filed articles of dissolution in mid-January, and callers who reached the firm this year got a recorded message saying it had “permanently closed” and would not issue refunds. Those messages, the Observer found, started surfacing after customers began comparing notes in Facebook groups and complaint portals when their deliveries never showed up.
Owner Surrenders Real-Estate License
Records from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission show the commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of Michele Szabo's broker license effective April 22, 2026. The bulletin notes the surrender was accepted and allegations were dismissed without prejudice, and that Szabo neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
Complaints Stack Up on Review Sites
The Better Business Bureau lists dozens of complaints and customer reviews saying the business is unresponsive or out of business. Many entries on the BBB complaint pages were marked “unpursuable” after the bureau said it could not locate the company, and reviewers described wiring large sums and later finding the firm's website and phone disconnected.
Claims Process: What Customers Are Being Told
The Charlotte law firm Grier, Wright & Martinez, which was retained to handle the company's winding down, mailed claim forms to former customers and asked people to submit documentation for possible repayment, the Charlotte Observer reports. Attorney Anna Gorman told claimants the firm expected more than $1.8 million in reimbursement requests but that the company had “very little in assets” and that distributions, if any, “will be pennies on the dollar.” The notice says any claims disbursements would be made in June after the claims deadline.
Legal Options on the Table for Buyers
Buyers who paid deposits are being advised to preserve contracts, payment records and any communications, and to contact their banks or credit-card companies about possible disputes. The North Carolina Department of Justice accepts consumer complaints online, and the Real Estate Commission maintains records on license actions for consumers to review, according to the department and the commission. Those seeking further recourse may want to consult a consumer or contract attorney to evaluate next steps.
