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 19, 2025
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 3 licenses, ordered hearings in cases involving 9 licensees, left 3 cases pending, closed cases without action against 2 licensees, and denied the issuance of 1 license.
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 based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered: 12; total approved: 3; total approved with conditions: 3; continued: 3; total deferred 3.
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.
Education Town Hall: The Assistant Director of Education and Licensing reported on the February 25, 2025, Educators Town Hall. She noted that this was an informal conversation with the educators addressing their questions. Discussion topics included course rooster submittal punctuality, item writing workshops, proposed rulemaking, and the Update course. Ms. O’Connor was present for the Town Hall and noted that she appreciates the opportunity for engagement with education providers.
Spring Educators Conference: The Director of Education and Licensing reminded the members that the Spring Educators Conference is on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the McKimmon Center in Raliegh. He provided each Commission members with the conference program and reported that the 350-seat conference is sold out. He noted that it is the largest gathering of real estate instructors in the United States, exceeding REEA and ARELLO. Doors are open at 8:00 a.m. and the conference begins at 9:00 a.m. He commended the Education staff for the planning of the Educators Conference.
Financial Report: The Commission received and reviewed the monthly Financial Report presented by the Chief Financial Officer for the period ending February 28, 2025.
Appeals: The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that the NC Office of the Attorney General has filed a motion to dismiss the Shipman appeal. A hearing is scheduled for April 21 at 10:00 a.m.
Rulemaking Text: The Compliance Manager presented the draft rulemaking text noting that the proposed rulemaking schedule is an effective date of July 1, 2025. The Compliance Manager noted the public engagement was high with 19 comments and a Public Rulemaking Hearing at the February Commission meeting. The Commission took the following actions pertaining to rulemaking:
| 21 NCAC 58A .0106 – Delivery of Instruments | Upon a motion from Ms. O’Connor, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58A .0302 – License Application and Fee | Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58A .0502 – Firm Licensing | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58A .1801 – .1810 – Limited Nonresident Commercial Licensing | Following discussion of concerns raised in connection with the comments about the proposed changes, and the possible benefits of keeping the limited non-resident commercial broker license, upon a motion from Mr. Bell, the Commission voted not to proceed with elimination of the rules at this time. Mr. Lindsey will appoint a workgroup of Commission members to recommend possible modifications of the rule. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0204 – Policies and Procedures Disclosure | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0206 – Advertising and Recruitment Activities | Upon a motion from Mr. Ramseur, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0209 – Renewal and Expiration of Education Provider Certification | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0302 – Application and Criteria for Instructor Approval | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0416 – Renewal and Expiration of Course Approval | Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission accepted the proposed rule text for publication. |
BIC Span of Control: The Executive Director reviewed the BIC Span of Control Report outlining the recommendations of the Workgroup. Mr. Bell moved to accept all items but #3 in the Report. Upon a substitute motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission approved all items (#1-10) as set forth in the “Decisions column” on the BIC Span of Control spreadsheet contained within the Report. The Executive Director noted that she would include the action items in her June planning documents, namely the proposed project list.
Material Facts eBulletin Article: The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs reviewed the draft material facts article for the eBulletin. Mr. Ramseur suggested edits to paragraph four to more clearly explain that the buyer’s agent received a specific request for a quiet location from the buyer. Ms. O’Connor suggested clarification in paragraph 3 to disclose the property’s malfunctioning electrical system when that malfunction is readily apparent to a broker. Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission approved the material facts article to be published in the eBulletin with the changes discussed. Mr. Bell voted against the motion. Mr. Lindsey made a motion to add to the article a statement to the effect that brokers cannot decline receipt of an inspection report to avoid having knowledge of material facts about property’s condition. The motion failed with Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Beaty, Mr. Bell, and Ms. O’Connor supporting the motion.
Operational/Planning Study: Mr. Lindsey presented the Commission with the draft Operational/Planning Study RFP, and noted that the Administration Committee (Mr. Aceto, Mr. Bell, Ms. O’Connor) met the prior week and reviewed and approved it for presentation to the full Commission. Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission approved publishing the RFP for responses. Mr. Aceto commended the Executive Director on creating the RFP. Mr. Lindsey asked Commission members to let the Executive Director know of any companies that may be interested in bidding on the RFP. Mr. Ramseur does not believe that one company will be able to complete the entire RFP and suggests that if that is the case, then the RFP be broken down into smaller projects with separate bidding.
Appearances and Speeches: The Executive Director provided a report on recent speeches and reviewed the upcoming speeches and appearances by Commission members and staff.
Emerging Trends: Mr. Lindsey discussed the changing regulatory environment and directed Commission members to review the March 2025 ARELLO Boundaries newsletter.
Mr. Lindsey discussed the trend of bots acting as real estate agents.
The Executive Director noted that the US Department of Justice again weighed in on REALTORS® compensation arrangements.
Mr. Ramseur reported that the Director of Regulatory Affairs has been in talks with Certified to determine if the Commission can put the company’s services in place for brokers to verify consumers’ identity.
Report on License Numbers: As of March 1, 2025, there are 126,531 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers – 79,488
Active Provisional Brokers – 4,508
Brokers-in-Charge – 17,746
BIC Eligible Brokers – 6,711
Inactive Full Brokers – 17,571
Inactive Provisional Brokers – 7,059
Firms– 17,623
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers – 282
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, April 23, 2025, at the Doubletree by Hilton New Bern-Riverfront, Bradham Road, 100 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560, and is open to the public. It can be attended in-person or viewed via Zoom online video.
NCREC welcomes our newest Commission Member James Beaty Jr.
James Beaty Jr. was ceremonially sworn in by former Congressman G.K. Butterfield at our March 19th business meeting. Mr. Beaty is a former United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina. He previously served on the Commission from 1979-1981.
Seller’s Obligation to Disclose Latent Defects
This month’s eBulletin features an article that explains that the seller may be liable for failing to disclose latent or hidden defects, if they know there is a problem. The RPOADS (Residential Property and Owners’ Association and Disclosure Statement) released in 2024 contains clear language explaining this to sellers and brokers. Read more details in the article: https://bulletins.ncrec.gov/sellers-obligation-to-disclose-latent-defects-legal-liability-and-the-role-of-brokers/
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public, and you are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The meeting next month will be held in New Bern at the DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern – Riverfront, Bradham Room, 100 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
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 February 19, 2025
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 15 licenses, ordered 6 hearings in cases involving licensees, authorized injunctive relief involving 1 licensee, left 7 cases pending, and permanently revoked 1 license.
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 based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered:13; total approved: 4; total approved with conditions: 5; continued: 3; total deferred 1.
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.
Update Instructor Seminar: The Assistant Director of Education and Licensing provided a report on the Update Instructor Seminars (UIS) for the 2024-2025 license year to date and presented the 2025-2026 UIS proposed budget. Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission approved the 2025-2026 UIS budget.
Closed Session: The Commission voted to meet in closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S § 143-318.11(a)(2) to select the recipient of the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award. The recipient of the Award will be announced at the March 27, 2025, Spring Educators Conference.
Financial Report: The Commission received and reviewed the monthly Financial Report presented by the Chief Financial Officer for the period ending January 31, 2025.
FY2024-25 Income and Expense Projections: The Chief Financial Officer reviewed the adjusted FY2024-25 Income and Expense Projections, reflecting revised projections based on receipts and disbursements for the first half of the year.
Appeals: The Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that the NC Office of the Attorney General has filed a motion to dismiss the Shipman appeal. A hearing is scheduled in April.
BIC Span of Control: The Executive Director reviewed the BIC Span of Control report outlining the recommendations of the Workgroup and reminded the Commission that it had previously made decisions on Recommendations #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10 in the Report. After discussion and consideration, the Commission made decisions regarding Recommendations #6, 7, and 8 as shown in the following chart. The Commission will review its decisions as a whole at the March meeting.
| Education Required to Become a BIC [Task Force Recommendation #6] | Upon a motion from Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to increase the BIC Course from 12 to 30 hours. Upon a motion from Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to decrease the time to take the Course after designation from 120 days to 60 days. Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Black voted against the motion. Mr. Bell made a motion to include an end-of-course test as a requirement to become a BIC. The motion failed with Mr. Aceto, Mr. Alston, Mr. Beaty, Ms. O’Connor, and Mr. Ramseur voting against the motion. |
| Continuing Education for a BIC [Task Force Recommendation #7] | After discussion of the merits of increasing or changing the CE requirements for BICs, Mr. Alston moved not to make a change to the existing requirements. Following discussion of negative motions and whether a motion is needed to make no change, Mr. Alston withdrew the motion, and no further motions were made. |
| Existence of BIC Eligibility [Task Force Recommendation #8] | Upon a motion by Ms. O’Connor the Commission voted to maintain the BIC eligibility status. Mr. Ramseur voted against the motion. Upon a motion from Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to draft rules to require that to maintain BIC eligibility status, the BIC-eligible broker must take the BIC eligibility course every five years unless they have been designated BIC for at least one year out of the five, with the proviso that at the end of their service as a BIC, the five year period would begin anew. Mr. Aceto, Mr. Alston, Mr. Beaty, and Mr. Ramseur voted against the motion. |
Evaluation of Statement of Economic Interest: The Executive Director gave a brief overview of the Statement of Economic Interest for Commission Members. The Executive Director then read into the record of the Commission’s meeting the results of the Evaluation of the Statement of Economic Interest of Commission member Beaty by the North Carolina State Ethics Commission; namely, that the Ethics Commission did not find an actual conflict of interest or the likelihood of a conflict of interest. The Executive Director concluded that these Statements will be kept on file as required by law.
Operational/Planning Study: Mr. Lindsey reported that he and the Administration Committee, (Mr. Aceto, Mr. Bell, and Ms. O’Connor), would like to direct staff to solicit an RFP for an outside consultant to perform an operational/planning study. Mr. Ramseur suggested soliciting the proposal piecemeal if looking for experts in different areas. Mr. Black concurred with the proposal but suggested that the time period for review by the Administration Committee and the Commission be shortened such the Commission could review the RFP on March 5. The Executive Director requested that staff have the RFP ready for the March 19 meeting with the Administration Committee meeting prior thereto. The Commission concurred with that proposal.
Report on License Numbers: As of February 1, 2025, there are 125,944 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers –78,506
Active Provisional Brokers –4,945
Brokers-in-Charge –17,671
BIC Eligible Brokers –6,675
Inactive Full Brokers –17,616
Inactive Provisional Brokers –7,109
Firms–17,488
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers -280
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, March 19, 2025, at the North Carolina Real Estate Commission in Raleigh, NC and is open to the public. It can be viewed via Zoom online video.
How Medicaid Liens Affect Property
Medicaid, a federal program established in 1965, is managed individually by each state to provide healthcare coverage for individuals who do not qualify for welfare but still have incomes low enough that they cannot afford healthcare on their own. In North Carolina, the Medicaid program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If the recipient needs long-term care, like in a nursing home, Medicaid rules address use of the equity in the home to cover those expenses and recoup the costs from the homeowner. More information is available from the NC DHHS. Read this month’s eBulletin article for more information: https://bulletins.ncrec.gov/medicaid-liens-on-real-property/
Public Comment Period Closes March 17th, 2025, for Proposed Rule Changes
NCREC welcomed public comments on proposed changes to its rules at the Commission’s Business Meeting at High Point University on February 19, 2025. The Commission encourages licensees and other members of the public to submit comments online via our website at ncrec.gov through the end of the public comment period.
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public, and you are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The meeting next month is scheduled for March 18, 2025. The meeting will be held at the North Carolina Real Estate Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
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 January 15, 2025
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 5 licenses, accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of 1 license, accepted the voluntary surrender of 1 license, ordered hearings in cases involving 17 licensees, authorized injunctive relief involving 1 licensee, extended the time to satisfy conditions for 1 licensee, and closed 3 cases.
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 based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered: 13; total approved: 5; total approved with conditions: 3; continued: 4; postponed 1; total deferred 0.
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.
Spring Educators Conference: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that the Spring Educators Conference will be held on March 27, 2025, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The theme is “Raleighwood – How to be an Education Star.” The Director of Education and Licensing reviewed the conference schedule and noted that most of the presentations are limited to thirty minutes. Registration for the conference opened last week, and 100 seats have already been sold. The Director of Education and Licensing invited all Commission members to the conference. Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Aceto, Mr. Alston, Mr. Bell, Mr. Black, and Ms. O’Connor indicated that they would attend the conference. The Assistant Director of Education and Licensing stated that black tie and business attire are requested for the event.
2025 Education Town Halls: The Assistant Director of Education and Licensing reported that the quarterly 2025 Education Town Halls are scheduled for February 25, 2025, May 13, 2025, August 19, 2025, and November 6, 2025, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. She invited the Commission members to attend any and/or all the meetings.
DREI Summit: The Director of Education and Licensing noted that last week was the DREI Summit in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The Director of Education and Licensing commended the Education and Examination Officer for her work in planning the Summit. He also commended the Education and Examination Officer and the Assistant Director of Education and Licensing for their high-quality presentations at the conference. In addition, he noted that he was elected to a three-year term on the DREI Leadership Council.
Monthly Financial Report, Quarterly Investment, and Education & Recovery Fund Report: The Commission received the monthly Financial Report, Quarterly Investment Report, and Education & Recovery Fund Report presented by the Chief Financial Officer for the period ending December 31, 2024.
FY2024-25 Income and Expense Projections: The Executive Director reported that the Finance Committee is meeting Wednesday, January 22, 2025, to review the FY2024-25 Income and Expense Projections. The projections will be presented to the full Commission at the February meeting.
Appeals: The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that a motion for dismissal of the Shipman appeal has been filed by the NC Office of the Attorney General and that a hearing is yet to be scheduled on the motion.
BIC Span of Control: The Executive Director reviewed the BIC Span of Control report outlining the recommendations of the Workgroup and reminded the Commission that it had previously made decisions on Recommendations 1, 5, 9, & 10 in the Report. Following a discussion and consideration, the Commission made decisions on the following recommendations in the Report and deferred the discussion of Recommendations 6, 7, and 8 to a future meeting.
| Number of Offices & Requirement of Physical Space [Task Force Recommendation #2] | Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission directed staff to draft a rule that allows one BIC the ability to manage multiple offices in the same geographic area and to craft language to define an office. Mr. Bell voted against the motion. Upon a motion from Mr. Black, the Commission agreed to explore allowing flexibility to have multiple BICs at the same physical location. Mr. Alston and Ms. O’Connor voted against the motion. Mr. Ramseur was not present for the vote. |
| Limitations on the Number of Brokers Supervised [Task Force Recommendation #3] | The Commission determined not to impose a limit at this time on the number of brokers one BIC can supervise. |
| Lenth of Time Requirement to be a BIC [Task Force Recommendation #4] | Upon a motion by Mr. Alston, the Commission determined to keep the experience requirement for brokers in charge, and directed staff to explore a statutory change of the time frame to become a BIC from two years to three years in NCGS § 93A-4.2, and propose a tracking process to quantify experience and eliminate the 40-hour-a-week requirement. |
Rule A .0112(b) Request: The Executive Director reminded the Commission that the NC REALTORS® made a request that the Commission eliminate the prohibition against including commission provisions in the offer to purchase from Rule a .0112(b). Mr. Ramseur cautioned the other members from acting on this request without getting input from the US Department of Justice. Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission directed the Regulatory Affairs Committee to further investigate this matter and make a recommendation. Mr. Lindsey asked members to share any input on the subject with the members of the Regulatory Affairs committee (Mr. Black, Mr. Ramseur, and Ms. Sebti).
Interim Annual Report: At the request of Mr. Lindsey, the Executive Director reviewed with the Commission an interim update of the data included in the annual report to the State.
Project Summaries: The Executive Director reviewed the 2024-2025 Project Summaries noting projects that have been completed or extended since the December Commission meeting. She noted that the report now includes an additional column outlining the progress made on each project. Mr. Lindsey commended the Executive Director and the IT, RA, and E&L staff on all the work done in completing the projects and directed Commission members to reach out to the Executive Director with any questions they have about the projects.
Appearances and Speeches: The Executive Director provided a report on recent speeches and reviewed the upcoming speeches and appearances. Ms. O’Connor noted that she and Deputy Legal Counsel will present at Greensboro Allen Tate office on February 4. The Executive Director noted that Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Aceto, and herself will appear at the NC REALTORS® Leadership Meetings for a listening session on January 30 at 1:30 p.m.
Report on License Numbers: As of January 1, 2025, there are 125,311 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers – 78,506
Active Provisional Brokers – 4,719
Brokers-in-Charge – 17,615
BIC Eligible Brokers –6,600
Inactive Full Brokers – 17,573
Inactive Provisional Brokers – 6,840
Firms– 17,400
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers – 273
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, February 19, 2025, at High Point University, Congdon School of Health Sciences Building, Anne Kerr Ballroom, One N University Parkway, High Point, NC 27260, and is open to the public. It can be attended in-person or viewed via Zoom online video.
NCREC attends DREI Summit in Stone Mountain, GA
2025 is off to a busy start, with our Director and Assistant Director of Education & Licensing, Len Elder and Kizzy Crawford Heath, and Deborah Carpenter, Education and Examination Officer attending the DREI Summit last week in Georgia. Deb Carpenter planned and facilitated the conference, while Kizzy Crawford Heath presented on the Challenges of Mastering the GAPE Principles.
Square Footage Disclosures
Last month, the Commission addressed several cases during its meeting that involved material fact disclosure issues, especially misrepresentations on square footage. NCREC rules do not require square footage to be disclosed by brokers, however, if square footage is disclosed, brokers are responsible for making sure the disclosure is accurate. View this Square Footage Reminder video, and see the Residential Square Footage Guidelines for more information regarding square footage.
Public Comment Period Opens January 15th, 2025, for Proposed Rule Changes
This year’s proposed rule changes have been reviewed by the Commission and are opening for public comment beginning Wednesday, January 15th. The Commission Members would like to encourage licensees and other members of the public to submit comments online via our website, ncrec.gov, and/or to attend the public hearing on Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, in the Anne Kerr Walker Ballroom, Congdon School of Health Sciences Building, High Point University, One N University Pkwy, High Point, NC 27260. Please be aware that oral comments at the public hearing will be limited to three minutes.
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public, and you are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The meeting tomorrow is here at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
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 December 11, 2024
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 12 licenses, accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of 1 licensee, accepted the voluntary surrender of 2 licensees, ordered hearings in cases involving 7 licensees, reprimanded 1 licensee, approved the issuance of 1 real estate broker license, approved payment from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund in the amount of $45,000, revoked 1 license, and permanently revoked 2 licenses.
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 based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered: 15; total approved: 5; total approved with conditions: 3; continued: 4; total deferred 3.
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.
Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award Rubric: The Director of Education and Licensing presented the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award rubric. He noted that the guidelines and nomination instructions go out to educators, are posted on the website, and are distributed to brokers. The nominations will be open on January 6. Upon the motion of Ms. Mallette, the Commission added a “respect for the award criterion,” namely, “that the nominee should demonstrate an understanding of the award’s purpose, values, and prestige, acting in a way that aligns with the award’s intended meaning and not taking the nomination lightly; essentially, showing appreciation for the recognition and behaving in a manner that upholds the award’s reputation.”
Spring Educator’s Conference: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that the Spring Educator’s Conference will be held on March 27, 2025, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The theme is “Raleighwood – How to be an Education Star.” He noted that the Commission Chair typically welcomes attendees and sometimes makes additional remarks. The Executive Director traditionally provides a presentation including statistical information, and an overview of ongoing policy discussions at the Commission. The Director of Regulatory Affairs and the Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs will also present on regulatory affairs issues. Mr. Lindsey said he would be happy to participate and will discuss with the Director of Education and Licensing presentation ideas.
Community College Education Programs: The Director of Education and Licensing provided a report on the Community College Prelicensing Education Program. The Director of Education and Licensing noted that he and staff worked closely with Dr. Andrew Gardner, Associate Vice President of Workforce Strategies, to work on increasing awareness of careers in real estate and the online prelicensing course available to community colleges to offer to their students. He reported that in 2024, the number of community colleges offering the online prelicensing course increased from ten to thirteen. The Education staff have also participated in Community College career fairs to build the knowledge of real estate careers. The Director of Education and Licensing commended the Assistant Director of Education and Licensing, the Education Officer, and the Consumer Resource Officer on their work on the Community College education programs, and former Commission Chair Jeff Malarney for spearheading the online prelicensing course initiative.
REEA Conference/DREI Summit: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that the national Real Estate Educators Association (REEA) Conference/Distinguished Real Estate Instructor (DREI) Summit will be in Atlanta, Georgia from January 9-11, 2025. The Assistant Director of Education and Licensing, the Education and Examination Officer, and the Director of Education and Licensing will be attending this event.
Financial Report: The Commission received and reviewed the monthly Financial Report presented by the Chief Financial Officer for the period ending November 30, 2024.
Probable Cause Recommendations: The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs and the Commission attorneys presented the probable cause recommendations, followed by proposed settlements. Following a discussion of public and private use of property, the Commission suggested staff to write a Bulletin article about this aspect of disclosure of material facts and present the article to the Commission before it is published. Mr. Black commended deputy legal counsel on his presentation of Case D24-2994. The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs introduced the new receptionist for Regulatory Affairs.
Appeals: The Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that Ms. Joellen Shipman’s case is still pending. She reminded the Commission that Ms. Shipman failed to perfect her appeal in Superior Court. The NC Office of the Attorney General is handling that appeal and is filing a motion to dismiss.
Closed Session: Upon the motion of Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to meet in closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S § 143-318.11(a)(5) with the Executive Director, Chief Administrative Officer, and the Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs to discuss a legal matter. Upon a motion from Mr. Ramseur, the Commission came out of closed session.
Draft Rule Text: The Compliance Manager presented draft rule text on the rule topics presented during its October 2024 meeting with a proposed rulemaking schedule for an effective date of July 1, 2025, noting that this would require a vote from the Commission at its December 11, 2024, meeting. She noted that publication and comment period will begin on January 15, 2025, with a public hearing in High Point, NC on February 19, 2025. Public comments will be received until March 16, 2025, with potential rule adoption at the March 19, 2025, meeting. The Commission made the following decisions regarding the rule text:
| 21 NCAC 58A .0106 – Delivery of Instruments | Upon the motion of Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with paragraph (a) being two sentences: “(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this Rule, every broker shall deliver a copy of any written agency agreement, contract, offer, lease, rental agreement, option, or other related transaction document to their customer or client within three days of the broker’s receipt of the executed document. A broker shall also deliver a copy of said documents within three days of receipt of a request by the customer or client. |
| 21 NCAC 58A .0302 – License Application and Fee | Mr. Black moved to proceed with rulemaking but with the maximum time in the rule a broker is prohibited from reapplying as described in sections (d) and (e) being reduced from two years to six months. The motion failed with Mr. Aceto, Mr. Alston, Ms. Mallette, Ms. O’Connor, and Mr. Ramseur voting against the motion. Ms. Sebti abstained from the vote. Upon a motion from Mr. Ramsuer, the Commission approved the rule as written. Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Black voted against the motion. Ms. Sebti abstained from the vote. Mr. Bell was not present for either vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58A .0502 – Firm Licensing | Upon the motion of Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58A Section 1800 – .1810 | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0204 – Policies and Procedures Disclosure | Upon a motion from Mr. Black, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0206 – Advertising and Recruitment Activities | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0209 – Expiration and Renewal of Education Provider Certification | Upon the motion of Ms. O’Connor, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0302 – Application and Criteria for Instructor Approval | Upon a motion from Mr. Alston, the Commission voted to proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
| 21 NCAC 58H .0416 – Renewal and Expiration of Course Approval | Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission voted to approve the rule text proceed with rulemaking with the text presented. Mr. Bell was not present for the vote. |
Evaluation of Statement of Economic Interest: The Executive Director gave a brief overview of the Statement of Economic Interest for Commission Members. The Executive Director then read into the record of the Commission’s meeting the results of the Evaluation of the Statement of Economic Interest of Commission member Sebti by the North Carolina State Ethics Commission; namely, that the Ethics Commission did not find an actual conflict of interest but did find the potential for a conflict of interest, and that the potential conflict does not prohibit her service on the Commission. The Executive Director concluded that these Statements will be kept on file as required by law.
Report on License Numbers: As of December 1, 2024, there are 124,379 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers – 78,158
Active Provisional Brokers – 4,799
Brokers-in-Charge – 17,533
BIC Eligible Brokers – 6,588
Inactive Full Brokers – 17,326
Inactive Provisional Brokers – 6,545
Firms– 17,284
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers – 267
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, January 15, 2025, at the North Carolina Real Estate Commission in Raleigh, NC and is open to the public. It can be viewed via Zoom online video.
NCREC welcomes our 3 newest Commission Members in November and December
Melvin “Skip” Alston of Greensboro, and Patrick H. Bell of Raleigh were ceremonially sworn-in at the Commission’s Business Meeting on November 13, 2024. Melvin ‘Skip” Alston was sworn-in by Judge Lora Cubbage and Patrick H. Bell was sworn-in by Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. Farah Lisa Sebti of Charlotte was sworn-in at the Commission’s Business Meeting on December 11, 2024, by Judge Allegra Collins.
Fraudulent Sellers continue to increase
NCREC continues to receive calls from brokers and consumers about fraudulent sellers attempting to list homes for sale, and in some cases succeeding with the listing and even consummating the sale of the property. Many County Register of Deeds offices now offer a fraud alert or notification service that property owners can sign up for, so that they will be notified if documents are recorded against their property.
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public, and you are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The meeting next month is January 15th at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
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 November 13, 2024
Pending Cases: The Commission entered into consent agreements to suspend 6 licenses, accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of 3 licensees, accepted the voluntary surrender of 3 licensees, ordered hearings in cases involving 6 licensees, reprimanded 4 licensees, closed cases without action against 1 licensee, approved the issuance of 2 real estate broker license, approved payment from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund in the amount of $4,150, and left 12 cases pending.
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 based upon criminal background checks, information supplied by the applicant, and in-person interviews.
Total candidates considered: 10; total approved: 2; total approved with conditions: 3; continued: 5.
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.
2025-2026 General and BIC Update Course Topics: The Commission further discussed the possible topics for the 2025-26 General and BIC Update courses first presented bythe Director of Education and Licensing and the Assistant Director of Education and Licensing at the October Commission meeting. Mr. Lindsey asked that the Course materials include a reminder to BICs about the benefits of a Policies and Procedures manual and that BICs and firms can make rules stronger than Commission rules. Mr. Black commended the Education Staff on their work on the course topics. Upon a motion from Mr. Black, the Commission approved the 2025-26 General and BIC Update Course topics with the reminders suggested by Mr. Lindsey.
South Carolina Licensing Agreement: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that following the October Commission meeting, Chair Lindsey and the Chair of the South Carolina Real Estate Commission both signed the revised Licensing Agreement between North Carolina and South Carolina with the removal of all references to the words “reciprocity” and “reciprocal” in the title and throughout the Agreement.
Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that he will open nominations for the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award at the beginning of January and bring the nominations to the Education Committee in February. Mr. Lindsey asked Ms. Mallette to assist Mr. Black and Ms. O’Connor with the selection process. Ms. Mallette requested that the selection criteria be presented to the Commission at the December meeting.
NCREEA: The Director of Education and Licensing reported that NCREEA held their annual meeting virtually on November 12. He introduced Ms. Tracy Frazier and noted that she was named NCREEA’s Educator of the Year during the conference. The Commission congratulated Ms. Frazier.
Financial Report: The Commission received and reviewed the monthly Financial Report presented by the Chief Financial Officer for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Appeals: The Director of Regulatory Affairs reported that Ms. Joellen Shipman’s case is still pending. She reminded the Commission that Ms. Shipman failed to perfect her appeal in Superior Court. The NC Office of the Attorney General is handling that appeal and is filing a motion to dismiss.
BIC Span of Control Workgroup Recommendations: The Executive Director presented the BIC Span of Control report outlining the recommendations of the Workgroup. The Commission made the following decisions:
| Responsibility for Policies and Procedures [Task Force Recommendation #10] | Upon a motion from Mr. Black, the Commission agreed to move forward with considering amendments to Commission Rule A .0110 to require that firms have a written policies and procedures manual and that brokers-in-charge (BICs) be responsible for training, maintenance, and compliance with the manual, and in addition, to add a requirement for periodic review of the manual and to investigate the feasibility of requiring a BIC to certify their review of the manual in connection with the license renewal process. If this rule is to be adopted, the Commission would provide a framework for the manual that includes topics addressing matters that the Commission has the authority to enforce and cross-references to specific rules and statutes. Mr. Ramseur was not present for the vote. |
| Responsibility for Advertising [Task Force Recommendation #9] | Upon a motion from Ms. O’Connor, the Commission agreed to move forward with considering amendments to Commission Rule A .0110(g) to require an advertising policy in the firm’s policies and procedures manual, with each broker not on provisional status being responsible for their own advertising, the supervising BIC being responsible for training, education, and monitoring. BICs would still be responsible for provisional broker’s advertisements. Mr. Ramseur was not present for the vote. |
| Requirements for a Sole Proprietorship to have a BIC [Task Force Recommendation #1] | Upon a motion from Ms. Mallette, the Commission agreed to move forward with considering amendments to Rule A .0110 to exclude advertising as a trigger for becoming a BIC by deleting subsection (b)(2). The Commission noted that a sole proprietor could still choose to designate themselves as a BIC even if not required to do so by the Rule. Mr. Bell voted against the motion. Mr. Ramseur was not present for the vote. |
| Transaction Experience Requirement [Task Force Recommendation #5] | Upon a motion from Mr. Aceto, the Commission agreed to move forward with considering amendments to the law and/or rules to eliminate a transaction experience requirement. Mr. Bell voted against the motion. Ms. Mallette abstained. Mr. Ramseur was not present for the vote. |
Draft Rule Text: The Compliance Manager presented a memo outlining proposed text for possible rule changes as discussed by the Commission at its October 2024 meeting. She also presented a proposed schedule for the rulemaking process to provide for an effective date of July 1, 2024, noting that this would require a vote from the Commission at its December 2024 meeting. The Compliance Manager reviewed proposed text changes with the understanding that further discussion and deliberation will take place at the December meeting.
Appearances and Speeches: The Executive Director provided a report on recent speeches and reviewed the upcoming speeches and appearances. Mr. Lindsey noted that he and Mr. Aceto had a warm response from the NC REALTORS® and that their listening session was well received. He would have liked to have had a little more time, and he would like to determine whether there is an opportunity to present at the January Leadership meeting in Greensboro. Ms. O’Connor commended the Executive Director and the Director of Regulatory Affairs on their “You be the Judge” presentation. Mr. Alston asked that the city where presentations occur be added to the exhibit on upcoming meetings. Ms. Mallette asked that the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer’s presentations be added to the exhibit as well. Mr. Alston noted that care should be taken not to have too many members at an event in such a way that it could be construed as a meeting. Ms. Mallette would like more specificity about each event type on the exhibit.
Sewer Easement Request of Beazer Homes: The Executive Director presented a request from Beazer Homes for a temporary sewer easement through the Commission’s entrance down to the lower parking lot, and a permanent expansion of the existing sewer easement to accommodate a larger pipe. She noted that Beazer Homes is putting in a townhome project on St. Albans Driveand the City of Raleigh has told Beazer Homes that they must expand the sewer line in order to put the townhomes in. The Director of Regulatory Affairs stated that staff would like to have an appraiser come in and determine the value of granting the requested access. The Executive Director noted that Beazer Homes said that the project should take about thirty days, but that she believes it could take much longer depending upon weather and other factors. Mr. Bell stated that this easement is likely to happen whether it is with Beazer or later down the line by the City of Raleigh. Mr. Bell recommended that prior to the appraiser coming in, an engineer look at the easement. He recommended that the Commission work with Beazer. The Director of Regulatory Affairs stated that after the appraiser and engineer return their reports, the Commission can meet in closed session to discuss the project. The Chief Administrative Officer noted that Beazer was open to conducting the project when the Commission building was not in high use. Mr. Alston reminded the members that the Commission has the right to say no to the project. Mr. Lindsey asked to give staff general direction on ascertaining an engineer’s report and an appraisal and provide a timeline to the Commission. He would also like staff to consult with Mr. Bell and Mr. Ramseur on what the reports should say. Various members would like to know if Beazer Hones has any other options.
Report on License Numbers: As of November 1, 2024, there are 123,443 brokers and firms licensed by the Commission, as follows:
Active Full Brokers – 82,647
Active Provisional Brokers – 4,910
Brokers-in-Charge – 17,451
BIC Eligible Brokers – 6,608
Inactive Full Brokers – 23,360
Inactive Provisional Brokers – 6,262
Firms – 17,175
Limited Nonresident Commercial Brokers – 261
Next Commission Meeting: The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00am, December 11, 2024, at the North Carolina Real Estate Commission in Raleigh, NC and is open to the public. It can be viewed via Zoom online video.
High School and Community College Outreach
Last month, NCREC attended the Community College System Conference at the Convention Center in Raleigh, NC, and shared resources about careers in real estate. NCREC also attended Southeast Raleigh High School’s Career Expo, to talk to students about careers in real estate. View some of the resources here:
Opportunities with (and without) a Real Estate License
Are you interested in a career in real estate?
Careers in Real Estate: An Inside Look (video)
Do you know what being a fiduciary means?
It refers to being in a relationship of trust. Licensed brokers are in a relationship of trust when handling the property of others, and are required by the law of agency to put their clients’ interests above all others, including the broker’s own interests. Brokers must:
Read more about the duties of licensed brokers and other important information in the Consumer Guide to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public, and you are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The next meeting is tomorrow, November 13th at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.