Quick Tips

“You must renew your real estate license online via the Commission’s website from May 15-June 30^th.”

-A. Anderson, License Specialist

“Your renewal fee must be submitted online. The Commission does not accept checks.”

-A. Burn, License Specialist

“You can renew your license prior to completing your CE requirements.”

K. Crawford Heath, Assistant Director of Education & Licensing

“”Course completion certificates are for your personal records. It is the education provider’s responsibility to report your course completion to the Commission within 7 days. Please reach out to the provider if the credit has not posted to your record within 10 days.”

-A. Cox, Education Officer

“Please refer to your license number when emailing/calling the Commission with questions.  “

-B. Hollings, License Services Officer

Current Stats: Monthly Licensee Count as of April 1, 2025

Disciplinary Actions

KIMBERLY T GADDY BUTLER (HENDERSON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Gaddy Butler for a period of 6 months, effective April 18, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Gaddy Butler listed a residential property for sale and advertised that the lot size was .8 acres, when in fact it was only .25 acres.

AMARAINDER GOLI (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Goli for a period of 12 months, effective April 30, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a one-month active period upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Goli, while serving as the Broker-in-Charge of a commercial real estate firm’s Charlotte office, caused his brokerage commissions and reimbursement for brokerage expenses to be paid to Moghul Investments, LLC, an unlicensed firm. Goli, as owner and manager of Moghul Investments, LLC, caused Moghul Investments, LLC to engage in real estate brokerage activities and/or receive compensation for the same.

BRYON T GREINER (ASHEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Greiner, effective April 15, 2025. The Commission found that Greiner advertised a vacation rental property as having 6-bedrooms, which was above what was listed on the septic permit and the tax records. Greiner had previously been warned by the Commission about misrepresenting the number of bedrooms when advertising the same property. A review of Greiner’s vacation rental agreement for the property showed Greiner failed to include the required fair housing language and the broker’s license number.

DELLENE W MAYBIN (CHARLOTTE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Maybin, effective April 23, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Maybin violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Maybin neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

JASMIN S HAYNIE (WINSTON SALEM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Haynie for a period of 9 months, effective January 1, 2025. The Commission found that Haynie’s then Broker-in-Charge (hereinafter “BIC”) sent a commission payment in the form of an ACH payment transfer of $6,028.00 to Haynie that was meant to go to another agent in the firm. On or about April 5, 2023, the BIC realized the error and requested the commission payment back. Haynie had already spent the commission payment and was unable to repay the BIC. On September 14, 2023, Haynie pled guilty to felony larceny and was ordered to repay restitution in the amount of $6,048.00 by September 12, 2025. On January 20, 2024, which was more than 60 days after final judgment, Haynie reported her criminal conviction to the Commission.

KLUTTS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC. (CHARLOTTE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate firm license of Klutts Property Management Inc., effective April 23, 2025.  The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that the Firm violated provisions of Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. The Firm neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

ROBERT G JERNIGAN (HENDERSONVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Jernigan for a period of 12 months, effective April 1, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Jernigan was the designated broker-in-charge supervising an affiliated broker for the listing of a property. The firm advertised the property and classified the property’s construction type as an on-frame modular. After the buyer terminated the contract, the property was listed again as on-frame modular. Jernigan failed to ensure the advertising for the property was accurate.

BRADLEY S KIGER (WINSTON SALEM) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Kiger, effective April 23, 2025, with no right to reapply for one year. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Kiger violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Kiger neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

ROCHELLE S OGBURN (KANNAPOLIS) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ogburn for a period of 6 months, effective April 1, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Ogburn, acting as listing agent for a residential property, advertised the property as “this home has been fully remodeled; new roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical and plumbing.” After closing on the property, the buyer discovered the electrical was not up to code and paid to have the electrical service updated from 75 amps to 200 amps. Ogburn failed to verify permits and that licensed contractors performed renovations when they were required. Ogburn failed to ensure the advertising for the property was accurate.

ARLENE ROUSE (WINSTON SALEM) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Rouse effective March 31, 2025. The Commission found that Rouse was a listing agent of the subject property. Rouse received an inspection on the subject property that revealed structural issues that the subject property had cracks in the concrete foundation walls due to water penetration, cracking in the retaining wall and the deck was not properly attached to the house. Rouse failed to place the inspection report in her firm file. Rouse ordered a second inspection of the subject property. This inspection revealed loose porch railing, rotten posts on deck, retaining wall needed to be rebuilt, evidence of water intrusion in the basement, foundation walls showing moderate bowing, and cracking at the left side of the subject property. Prior to receiving the second inspection, Rouse terminated the listing without the knowledge or authority of her broker-in-charge and subsequently left the listing firm.

WILLIAM P SHEPPARD (MOORESVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Sheppard effective April 1, 2025. The Commission found that Sheppard was the listing agent of the subject property. Sheppard hired a professional measurement company who used a LiDAR laser system to measure and calculate square footage. Sheppard advertised in MLS the subject property contained 3,187 square feet of heated living area, including 960 square feet on the second floor. A potential buyer and their agent inquired about the square footage as it clearly appeared the square footage included an unfinished attic space. Once made aware of a suspected reporting issue, Sheppard called the measurement company to verify the measurements, but Sheppard failed to visit the subject property and verify the measurements himself. Sheppard failed to recognize the error and erroneously included the unfinished attic space in their measurements, which were advertised for square footage in the MLS listing.

MARIA R SORTO (HENDERSONVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Sorto for a period of 12 months, effective April 1, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Sorto listed a property and classified its construction type as an on-frame modular. After going under contract with a buyer, the buyer agent gave Sorto evidence that the property was a manufactured home.  Sorto then modified the property’s construction classification in the advertisement from on-frame modular to on-frame modular. Subsequently, the buyer terminated the contract. Sorto relisted the property and reverted to classifying the property as on-frame modular. Sorto failed to ensure the listing was accurate and to take reasonable steps to discover the property’s construction type, even after being presented with reasonable evidence by the buyer agent. Sorto failed to disclose the material facts presented by the buyer agent to the subsequent buyer.

TOWNS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC (ASHEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Towns Property Management Inc. effective April 15, 2025. The Commission found that the Firm advertised a vacation rental property as having 6-bedrooms, which was above what was listed on the septic permit and the tax records. The Firm had previously been warned by the Commission about misrepresenting the number of bedrooms when advertising the same property. A review of the Firm’s vacation rental agreement for the property showed the Firm failed to include the required fair housing language and the broker’s license number.

SAGE I TUTTLE (WINSTON SALEM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Tuttle for a period of 6 months, effective April 17, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Tuttle managed 28 six-month leases for one owner and failed to follow the Commission’s trust accounting rules in that he did not create, maintain, or retain records sufficient to identify the ownership of all funds belonging to others and did not deposit entrusted funds into a trust account within three banking days of receipt.

Commission Presentations

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at Century 21 Lawrie Lawrence and Century 21 Echelon on April 1^st.

Dee Bigelow, Information Officer, spoke at Winston Salem Association of REALTORS® Property Management Division on April 15^th.

Christy Evans, Consumer Protection Officer, spoke at Roanoke Valley Lake Gaston Board of REALTORS® on April 16^th.

Lyndi James, Auditor, spoke at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage on April 16^th.

May 2025 Presentations

*These presentations are subject to change due to the availability of Commission members and/or staff.*

Mel Black, Commission Member, and Kristen Fetter, Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs, will speak at Gaston Association of REALTORS® on May 7^th.

Bryan Boyd, Deputy Legal Counsel, will speak at Haystack Realty Group on May 7^th.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at Mark Spain Real Estate on May 7^th.  

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at 220 Agents on May 8^th.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at OWN Real Estate on May 15^th.

Reminder: Satisfy Your NC Broker Continuing Education Requirement Before the June 10 Deadline

As we approach the end of the 2024–2025 license year, it’s a great time to make sure you’ve satisfied your North Carolina broker continuing education (CE) requirements. Every year, thousands of brokers wait until the last minute—don’t be one of them!

What Are the CE Requirements?

In accordance with Rule 58A .1702, all North Carolina brokers must complete eight (8) hours of CE each license year to maintain an active license. These hours are broken down into:

• Four (4) hours of an Update course:
  • Brokers-in-Charge (BICs) and BIC-Eligible Brokers must take the Broker-In-Charge Update (BICUP) course.
  • All other brokers must take the General Update (GENUP) course.
• Four (4) hours of a NC Commission-approved elective course,

The deadline to complete CE for this license year is June 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.

How to Check Your CE Status

If you’re unsure whether you’ve completed your CE for the year:

1. Visit the Commission’s website: www.ncrec.gov
2. Click on Licensing, then select Licensee Login
3. After logging in, select “CE License Information”

There, you’ll see your current CE status. If the “Update Hours” or “Elective Hours” show a zero, you still need to complete that part of your requirement before the deadline.

How to Find and Register for CE Courses

To search for in-person or synchronous (live online) CE courses:

1. Go to www.ncrec.gov
2. Click on Education in the top menu
3. Select Search CE Course Schedules

You can filter results by course (number), provider, instructor, or location.

• Synchronous GENUP course number: 5925
• In-person GENUP course number: 9925
• Synchronous BICUP course number: 5825
• In-person BICUP course number: 8825

Update courses must be taken “live,” either in person or via synchronous instruction. Elective courses, however, are offered in multipleformats including self-paced online (asynchronous distance education).

To find self-paced elective providers:

1. Visit www.ncrec.gov
2. Click Education
3. Select List of Distance CE Providers

After Completing Your CE Courses

After you complete a CE course, the education provider is required to issue you a course completion certificate and report your completion to the Commission within seven (7) days.

It’s your responsibility to:

• Save your course completion certificate, and
• Verify your CE credit is posted to your license record

If your course hasn’t appeared within 10 days, contact the education provider promptly to ensure it’s submitted.

Don’t Forget to Renew Your License

You can renew your license online between May 15 and June 30, 2025. While CE does not need to be completed before you renew, it must be completed before June 10 to avoid your license status changing to inactive.

Reminder: How to Renew Your License

Have you renewed your license? If not, do you know how to renew your license? Link: https://youtu.be/Wgj_37zD93Q

Are you licensed in another state? Reminder: All Brokers Must Complete North Carolina approved CE

On July 1, 2023, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission repealed Rule 58A .1711 which exempted brokers licensed in another state from continuing education requirements in North Carolina.

Therefore, pursuant to Rule 58A .1702, all North Carolina brokers must complete eight credit hours of real estate continuing education each license year. The eight hours consist of:

• four credit hours of elective courses; and
• four credit hours of either the General Update Course or the Broker-in-Charge Update Course.

All brokers without BIC-Eligible status and provisional brokers must attend the four-hour General Update Course (GENUP) and all Brokers-in Charge and BIC Eligible Brokers must attend the Broker-in-Charge Update Course (BICUP). In addition, brokers must take an additional four-hour approved elective course. Brokers are required to complete eight credit hours of continuing education by June 10^th at 11:59 PM EST to remain eligible for active license status. This requirement begins upon the second renewal following initial licensure and upon each subsequent annual renewal.

NOTE: Out of state brokers MUST take the appropriate NC Update Course and a North Carolina elective course to renew their North Carolina real estate license on active status. These courses are available online as well as in person.

Fair Housing Symposium

Last month, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission kicked off Fair Housing Month by hosting a  collaborative Fair Housing Symposium in Durham at the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS®.  The sold-out Symposium featured presenters from the City of Durham Human Relations Division, the United States Attorney’s Office, Legal Aid of North Carolina Fair Housing Project, and the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Attendees were able to gain valuable knowledge on the more nuanced components of fair housing laws, such as domestic violence, source of income discrimination, reasonable accommodations, and the criminal and civil implications of violating fair housing laws.

Hearing about real cases from those responsible for investigating and prosecuting fair housing violations helped attendees understand the real-life impact of fair housing. Missed the April Fair Housing Symposium? No worries, there are two additional opportunities to attend so don’t miss out. Register on the Commission’s website today, https://www.ncrec.gov/FairHousing/Registration.

Residential Square Footage Guidelines

Since 1999, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission has produced and distributed the Residential Square Footage Guidelines (“Guidelines”).  The Guidelines booklet can be found on the Commission website under Publications and then Guides.

The Guidelines booklet explains how to measure residential properties, the definition of living area, and provides numerous examples of various types of residential buildings.  Brokers should follow the Guidelines any time they are measuring residential property.  Alternatively, brokers can instead use the standards from the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”). Brokers-in-charge should use the Guidelines as a training tool for their brokers.

Brokers are not required by the Real Estate License Law or Real Estate Commission rules to report the square footage of properties offered for sale or rent.  However, when brokers do report square footage, including in a multiple listing service, it is essential that it is accurate. There have been many disciplinary actions against brokers who failed to accurately report heated living area, which constitutes a misrepresentation under N.C.G.S. § 93A-6(a)(1).

What Counts

Living area (sometimes referred to as “heated living area” or “heated square footage”) is space that is intended for human occupancy and is:

• Heated by a conventional heating system or systems (forced air, radiant, solar, etc.) that are permanently installed in the dwelling — not a fireplace or portable heater — which generates heat sufficient to make the space suitable for year-round occupancy

• Finished, with walls, floors, and ceilings of materials generally accepted for interior construction (e.g., painted drywall/sheet rock or paneled walls, carpeted or hardwood flooring, etc.) and with a ceiling height of at least seven feet, except under beams, ducts, etc. where the height must be at least six feet four inches [Note: In rooms with sloped ceilings (e.g., finished attics, bonus rooms, etc.) you may also include as living area the portion of the room with a ceiling height of at least five feet if at least one-half of the finished area of the room has a ceiling height of at least seven feet.]

• Directly accessible from other living area (through a door or by a heated hallway or stairway)

What Doesn’t Count

• Areas that are not heated by a permanent heat source (fireplace does not count)
• Unpermitted areas – The square footage of unpermitted additions or improvements must be separately identified when making representations concerning square footage, and brokers must inform prospective buyers that there is no permit for the addition
• Rooms with a ceiling height under seven feet with two exceptions for areas under beams or ducts and areas with a sloped ceiling (see above for details)
• Rooms that are not accessible from other living area, as defined above
• Bay windows that do not reach the floor or are less than seven feet tall
• Chimney base if external to the building (chimney hearth does count)
• Mechanical rooms that are not located within the living area
• Decks, balconies, porches, garages and carports

Newly licensed brokers are taught how to measure a building using the Guidelines booklet in Postlicensing 301.  For those who need a refresher, there are several continuing education elective courses about measuring square footage.  Brokers can search for these courses on the Commission website.

Quick Tips

“You must renew your real estate license online via the Commission’s website from May 15-June 30^th.”

-A. Anderson, License Specialist

“Your renewal fee must be submitted online. The Commission does not accept checks.”

-A. Burn, License Specialist

“You can renew your license prior to completing your CE requirements.”

K. Crawford Heath, Assistant Director of Education & Licensing

“”Course completion certificates are for your personal records. It is the education provider’s responsibility to report your course completion to the Commission within 7 days. Please reach out to the provider if the credit has not posted to your record within 10 days.”

-A. Cox, Education Officer

“Please refer to your license number when emailing/calling the Commission with questions.  “

-B. Hollings, License Services Officer