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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Director of Regulatory Affairs Sworn in as ARELLO® President
We congratulate Janet Thoren, the Director of Regulatory Affairs, for being sworn in as President of ARELLO® during their national conference last month in Chicago.
NCREC ARELLO® award
ARELLO® awards are national honors given to states across the country for cutting edge initiatives in the real estate regulatory industry. This year we received the ARELLO® EDUCATION AWARD – Prelicensing Education, for our groundbreaking Item Writing Workshops, where Commission staff and approved real estate instructors participated in creating test items for the licensing exam.
You are invited!
The monthly Real Estate Commission meetings are always open to the public. You are invited to attend in person or online via Zoom. The meeting tomorrow, October 16th is in Duck at The Sanderling, Partridge Room, 1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
Commission Member Jeff Malarney and Director of Education & Licensing Len Elder Address Inaugural Legal Exchange
This month, Immediate Past Chair Jeff Malarney served as a panelist alongside other industry experts for a discussion about AI in real estate at both the inaugural ARELLO Legal Exchange, and ARELLO’s Q3 Webinar. The panel, moderated by Director of Education and Licensing Len Elder, addressed the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in the real estate industry.
Do you have questions about filing a complaint?
Consumers and brokers often have questions about the complaint process and what to expect. NCREC has created 3 new videos that explain how to file a complaint and the investigations process. View this video playlist Navigating Complaints on our YouTube channel.
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 September 18th in Rocky Mount at the Doubletree Rocky Mount (Doubletree Ballroom), 651 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
Director of Education and Licensing, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer attend National Fair Housing Conference
Len Elder, the Director of Education and Licensing and Minerva Mims, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, attended the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) Conference in Washington, DC this month. The conference theme was “Housing Equity Now: Building an Inclusive and Just Future.” The NFHA works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities through its education and outreach, member services, public policy, advocacy, housing and community development, tech equity, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs.
Dangers of Unpermitted Spaces in a Property
A broker’s failure to disclose that a property has an unpermitted space is a common complaint received at the Commission. It is important that consumers understand the dangers of unpermitted spaces in a property, and why an inspection and corrective action is recommended for your protection. Watch this video, Dangers of Unpermitted Space, to learn about possible fire and flood hazards if construction work in a property is not properly permitted.
To learn more about the types of projects in a home that require permits, contact your local municipality’s planning and development office for details. We strongly recommend that you become knowledgeable on the risks associated with purchasing a property without the appropriate permits.
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 August 14th at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
Why is renewal important to consumers?
Licensed real estate brokers and firms who do not renew their licenses by June 30th , will have expired licenses on July 1st. This means that they are no longer licensed to practice real estate and must cease all brokerage activities immediately. So, if a consumer has an agency agreement with a firm that goes inactive, the agency agreement will no longer be enforceable, as the broker can no longer represent the consumer.
NCREC releases, “Careers in Real Estate: An Inside Look”
As a part of an initiative to reach consumers with information about real estate related careers and how to get started with obtaining a real estate license, NCREC created this video. “Careers in Real Estate: An Inside Look”. Viewers will receive an inside look at several real estate and related career opportunities, from home inspectors and attorneys to appraisers and property managers. Visit our YouTube channel to watch this video and many other new resources that have been created for consumers and 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 next meeting is July 17th at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.
Fair Housing Highlight
The Commission’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Consumer Resource Officer attended Fair Housing events in Gastonia and Charlotte in April. The events highlighted the needs of vulnerable populations such as the homeless, elderly people, single parents, youth aging out of the foster care system, disabled veterans, and other citizens. Data was provided highlighting the gap between the percentage of people in the US who have at least one disability versus the amount of housing accessible for disabled people. The following federal, state, and local resources were shared with attendees:
| Legal Aid Fair Housing Project (housing discrimination) | Legal Aid Housing (evictions, fair housing, foreclosures, housing discrimination, etc.) |
| Continuum of Care (established by HUD) (homelessness assistance) | United Way (housing, general assistance) |
| GLCImpact.com (homelessness) | NC211.org (emergency housing assistance, basic needs referral service of the United Way of NC) |
| John Chafee Grant (youth aging out of foster care) | Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher (public rental assistance) |
| NCHFA Housing Partnership (funding supportive housing, accessibility modifications) | HUD-VASH Vouchers (housing assistance for veterans) |
It’s Renewal Time
Brokers must renew their licenses between May 15th-June 30th of every year in North Carolina. This license renewal requirement applies to all brokers (i.e., provisional, full, QBs, and BIC Eligible). QBs must renew their firm licenses between May 15th and June 30th. Remember, brokers do not have to complete CE before renewing their license. Review this eBulletin article for more details.
Are you interested in getting a real estate license? Watch this YouTube video, Overview of the Licensing Process, for steps to get started.
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 May 22nd at the Commission building, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC. A Zoom link will be available at ncrec.gov on the day of the meeting.