Key reports, issues, and decisions of interest to licensees and/or the public are reported here from the most recent Commission meeting:
Commission Meeting of March 13, 2024
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 14 licenses, accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of 2 licenses, ordered hearings in cases involving 18 licensees, left cases pending involving 6 licensees, and closed cases without action against 5 licensees.
License Applications Involving Character Issues: License applicants who have character issues such as prior criminal convictions or disciplinary actions by another licensing board are separately considered by the Commission. Decisions are made based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered: 18; total approved: 5; total approved with conditions: 6; continued: 5; and deferred: 2.
License Examination Results: If you are interested in reviewing the most recent statistics and pass rates regarding the North Carolina broker license examination, click here License Examination Results
Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement (RPOADS): The Compliance Manager reviewed the revised RPOADS, noting that it included the suggested changes requested by the Commission at the February business meeting by the Commission members. Upon a motion of Mr. Ramseur, the Commission approved the RPOADS with the following changes:
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Future Legislation to Fine Licensees: The Executive Director and Director of Regulatory Affairs reviewed two spreadsheets developed by staff on the authority to fine currently held by (1) real estate authorities in other states and (2) licensing boards in North Carolina. Mr. Malarney asked the Regulatory Affairs Committee to review and report back to the full Commission. The Executive Director will work with the Director of Regulatory Affairs to schedule a Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting.
BIC Span of Control Workgroup Update: Mr. Lindsey reported that the BIC Span of Control Workgroup has met five times, starting in October of 2023. The workgroup has reviewed many issues relating to brokers-in-charge and is currently working through the ten issues raised by the BIC Span of Control focus groups. Once the Workgroup reaches conclusions on any changes it would like to see in the rules, the Workgroup will make suggestions to the full Commission; if the full Commission agrees, staff will start the rule-making process, which includes initial drafts, publication for public comment, and a period of consideration, among other things, before a final decision is made. Mr. Ramseur asked that the group look at the current role of technology and social media advertising with the current responsibilities of the BIC.
Proposed Changes to Occupational Licensing Boards’ Authority: The Director of Regulatory Affairs reported the General Statutes Commission responsible for making technical changes to the statutes is considering removing the term “moral turpitude” from the Commission’s section of the statutes, among other statutes and presented a draft of the proposed changes.
MV Realty v. NCREC: The Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that the MV Realty v. NCREC case was dismissed in the Federal Bankruptcy Court.
Examination Provider Transition Report: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that exam administration has successfully been transferred to Pearson VUE. Candidates started taking the license examination with Pearson VUE on March 1, 2024, at 68 testing centers across the state of North Carolina. The Director of Education and Licensing noted that the Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (RELINC) publication has been updated and revamped and a new series of AI videos has been developed for those seeking a real estate license. First-time test takers since the beginning of March are performing at or better than they did with the previous examination provider.
Spring Educators Conference: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that the Spring Educators Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the McKimmon Center on North Carolina State University’s campus. There are 344 people registered. Over the last two years, the Spring Educators Conference has become the largest gathering of educators in the state.
Agreement with South Carolina: The Executive Director reported that South Carolina requested a written memorandum of the licensing requirements for licensees from South Carolina and that she signed an agreement outlining the requirements already required by North Carolina law and rules. The agreement is revocable at any time.
Report on License Numbers: As of March 1, 2024, there are 127,794 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers – 84,959
Active Provisional Brokers – 5,079
Brokers-in-Charge – 18,164
BIC Eligible Brokers – 6,299
Inactive Full Brokers – 25,077
Inactive Provisional Brokers – 5,079
Firms – 17,494
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers – 264
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in the Commission’s office in Raleigh and is open to the public. It can be viewed via Zoom online video.