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The position of Education Officer is currently available at the North Carolina Real Estate Commission office in Raleigh

      

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

The position of Education Officer is currently available with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission in Raleigh. A summary is outlined below.

Summary:
Designs and develops educational content for Commission programs, courses,  publications and the Commission’s website under the supervision and direction of the Director and Assistant Director of the Education & Licensing Division.

Employment Schedule:

Click here to apply.

Disciplinary Actions

ALL AMERICAN REALTY OF THE TREASURE COAST LLC (HAYESVILLE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate firm license of All American Realty of the Treasure Coast LLC, effective May 21, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that the Firm violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. The Firm neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

DAVID HUNT CHURCH (CHARLOTTE) – Following a hearing, the Commission suspended the broker license of Church for a period of six months, effective April 30, 2025. The Commission found that Church was the builder, seller, and listing agent on a newly-constructed home. Church advertised the property contained 1,200 square feet of heated living area. An appraiser for a potential buyer measured the property and found it contained only 1,093 square feet. Church maintained that he personally measured the property and that he did not err in his square footage calculation, even though three independent appraisers’ measurements indicated the square footage to be more than 9% less than what Church advertised.  The Commission found Church misrepresented the heated square footage for the property in advertising and failed to update the MLS to reflect the correct square footage. 

JOY L COTTO (MOORESVILLE) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Cotto, effective May 21, 2025, with no right to reapply for two years. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Cotto violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Cotto neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

RACHEL A DUNNAVANT (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Dunnavant effective May 21, 2025. The Commission found that as listing agent for a seller of residential property, Dunnavant hired a vendor to measure the property’s heated square footage. Dunnavant misrepresented the heated square footage in her advertisement by mistakenly using the vendor’s combined above-grade number as the measurement of one floor in the three-floor property. The bank’s 2020 appraisal valued the property at above the purchase price but noted a lower heated square footage than the advertisement. The buyer discovered the error in 2024 when a new measurement was taken when they were selling the property.

NANCY J JOHNSON (HAYESVILLE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Johnson, effective May 21, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Johnson violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Johnson neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

DALE E LOFTIS (ROCK HILL) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Loftis for a period of 12 months, effective May 1, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that a provisional broker under Loftis’s supervision failed to remind her buyer-client on the day of closing to call the closing attorney for wiring instruction, as previously conveyed to the buyer-client by the provisional broker and as indicated in the attorney’s initial instructions. Instead, the provisional broker advised her client to pay closing costs based upon instructions in an email to the buyer-client allegedly from the closing attorney.  The email was in fact fraudulent.  Loftis failed to properly supervise the provisional broker in a manner to ensure the provisional broker performed services in compliance with License Law and Commission rules.

SARAH KATHERINE LOFTIS (ROCK HILL) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Loftis for a period of 12 months, effective May 1, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Loftis, acting as buyer-agent, failed to advise her buyer-client on the day of closing to call the closing attorney for wiring instruction as previously conveyed to buyer-client by Loftis and as indicated in the attorney’s initial instructions. Instead, Loftis advised her client to pay closing costs based upon instructions the buyer-client received in an email allegedly from the closing attorney.  The email was in fact fraudulent.

NEAL J MORTENSEN II (WILMINGTON) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Mortensen, effective May 21, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mortensen violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Mortensen neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

MATTHEW JAMES SARVER (CORNELIUS) – Following a hearing, the Commission reprimanded Sarver effective April 24, 2025. The Commission found that Sarver was the listing agent of a home and received a text from a prospective buyer’s agent stating “radon came back at 14.8. At least the seller got free money to fix it.” Sarver communicated this message back to his seller-clients and they planned to install a radon mitigation system.  Sarver relisted the property and failed to disclose the potential high levels of radon to prospective buyers, including another buyer who went under contract to purchase the property prior to the installation of a radon mitigation system.

Commission Presentations

May 2025 Presentations

Patrick H. Bell, Commission Member, Mel Black, Commission Member, and Kristen Fetter, Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs, spoke at Gaston Association of REALTORS® on May 7th.  

Bryan Boyd, Deputy Legal Counsel, spoke at Haystack Realty Group on May 7th.  

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at Mark Spain Real Estate on May 7th.   

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at 220 Agents on May 8th.  

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at OWN Real Estate on May 15th.  

June 2025 Presentations 

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

Lyndi James, Auditor, will speak at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage June 10th.  

Mel Black, Commission Member, and Janet Thoren, Director of Regulatory Affairs, will speak at Cleveland County Association of REALTORS® on June 11th.  

James Beaty, Commission Member, and Kristen Fetter, Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs, will speak at the Winston-Salem Association of REALTORS® on June 17th. 

Dillian Hecht, Associate Legal Counsel II, will speak at Allen Tate Glenwood on June 24th.  

Fair Housing

June is National Homeownership Month, a time to recognize the value of owning a home and the opportunities it creates for financial stability, personal growth, and stronger communities. Originally launched in 1995 by President Bill Clinton as a week-long initiative, it was expanded into a month-long observance by President George W. Bush in 2002. 

While we celebrate the benefits of homeownership, it’s equally important to acknowledge that this goal has not always been accessible to everyone. Fair housing policies are essential to ensuring that individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability, have an equal opportunity to become homeowners without facing discrimination. 

National Homeownership Month is a powerful reminder that owning a home should not be a privilege for a few but a possibility for all. Promoting fair housing means turning the dream of homeownership into a reality attainable for all. 

Artificial Intelligence Legal and Ethical Considerations

Video Link: https://youtu.be/5aay7DlDQTY

Artificial Intelligence is a powerful tool in real estate and everyday life offering brokers, firms, educators, and consumers ways to analyze market data, automate communications, and simplify transactions. However, with the growing use of AI comes legal and ethical responsibilities that real estate professionals must understand.  

Fair Housing Compliance: Artificial intelligence tools can unintentionally cause harm with algorithm bias. For example, algorithms may limit the visibility of property listings to specific demographics based on historical data or online patterns. This could violate the Fair Housing Act, as well as state laws, if certain protected classes are excluded. The National Fair Housing Alliance is addressing this issue and working to eliminate bias in algorithmic based systems used in housing and financial services. NFHA’s Tech Equity Initiative is working to outline ethical standards for responsible tech and advance effective policies for regulating AI tools in the tech field. Brokers are ultimately responsible for ensuring their marketing and outreach practices align with Fair Housing Laws, regardless of tools used.  

Privacy: Some AI platforms rely on personal data, location history, finances, and other protected information. Brokers using AI-generated property valuations, chatbots, or targeted ad tools should be transparent with clients about how their technology works and what data is needed. 

Transparency: Clients and customers have a right to know how decisions are being made, especially when it involves automated programs.  

Over-Reliance: Artificial intelligence should enhance workplace duties and tasks, not replace it. While automation is helpful, you should not rely on the technology and always make sure to review any automated output.  

Stay Informed: As AI technologies evolve It is important to stay informed about their use and potential implications. You should do your research on third-party tools, understand the data inputs and outputs, and ensure that these systems align with North Carolina License Law and Commission Rules.  

Artificial Intelligence offers some efficient tools to modernize and simplify real estate in North Carolina, but its use must be approached with caution and ethical standards. Intelligence offers some efficient tools to modernize and simplify real estate in North Carolina, but its use must be approached with caution and ethical standards.

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

This article was republished from the May 2025 eBulletin.

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: 

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 
  1. Click on Licensing, then select Licensee Login 
  1. 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 
  1. Click on Education in the top menu 
  1. Select Search CE Course Schedules 

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

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

To find self-paced elective providers: 

  1. Visit www.ncrec.gov 
  1. Click Education 
  1. 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: 

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. 

Case Study: Trust Money

FACTS:  A broker collected $2,000 in rent for a property they managed for a landlord-client.  Instead of depositing the rent in a trust account, the broker deposited the check into their personal account and then wrote a check to the landlord-client from the personal account.   

ISSUE:  Did the broker fulfill their duties under License Law and Commission rules? 

ANALYSIS:  No, the broker did not fulfill their duties.  N.C.G.S. § 93A-6(a)(12) states that the Commission has power to suspend or revoke at any time a license issued under the provisions of this Chapter, or to reprimand or censure any licensee, if, following a hearing, the Commission adjudges the licensee to be guilty of: 

(12) Commingling the money or other property of his or her principals with his or her own or failure to maintain and deposit in a trust or escrow account in a bank as provided by subsection (g) of this section all money received by him or her as a real estate licensee acting in that capacity, or an escrow agent, or the custodian or manager of the funds of another person or entity which relate to or concern that person’s or entity’s interest or investment in real property, provided, these accounts shall not bear interest unless the principals authorize in writing the deposit be made in an interest bearing account and also provide for the disbursement of the interest accrued.  

Commingling is defined as the illegal practice by a real estate broker of maintaining personal or business funds in the same account with trust funds held for others. The $2,000 rent check received by the broker was deposited in the broker’s personal account.  Therefore, the broker commingled their personal funds with money belonging to another person (in this case, the landlord-client) in violation of N.C.G.S. § 93A-6(a)(12). 

The broker has also violated Commission Rule 58A. 0116 which states: 

All monies received by a broker acting in his or her fiduciary capacity (hereinafter “trust money”) shall be deposited in a trust or escrow account as defined in Rule .0117(b) of this Section no later than three banking days following the broker’s receipt of such monies. 

The broker deposited the rent check in their personal account and not a trust or escrow account as required by the Rule. 

To avoid these violations, brokers must deposit all monies received from others into a trust or escrow account.  In a sales transaction, trust monies include earnest money deposits, money for maintenance, repairs, or inspections, buyer funds for closing, seller proceeds from closing, and a security deposit or rent for early/late possession of the property. 

In a rental transaction, trust monies include tenant security deposits, rent, and application fees, as well as funds held by the broker to pay for repairs to the owner’s property.

Once trust monies are deposited into a trust or escrow account, a check can be written from the account to the appropriate party. 

Brokers-in-charge should ensure that all affiliated brokers are familiar with Commission Rule 58A. 0116, including the 3-day requirements for deposits. 

RESOURCES:

N.C.G.S. § 93A-6(a)(12)

Commission Rule:  58A .0116

Articles: “Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes to Make Trust Account Management Trouble Free”

Reminder: License Renewal Frequently Asked Questions Page

Do you have questions about the license renewal process? If so, the Commission has published a new License Renewal FAQ page on its website! This page is designed to provide you with clear guidance on how to renew your license and answer some of your most frequently asked questions.  

Whether you are an affiliated broker, broker-in-charge, or qualifying broker managing a firm, these FAQs are here to ensure your license remains current and not expired. 

Key Information You’ll Find: 

  1. When to Renew: Mark your calendars! The renewal period starts at midnight on May 15 and ends at 11:59pm on June 30 annually. 
  1. How to Renew: Simply visit our homepage at www.ncrec.gov and follow the prompts: 
  1. Continuing Education: You can renew your license even if your CE courses haven’t been completed by June 10. Remember, your license must be renewed by June 30 to avoid having an expired license on July 1. 
  1. Renewal Fee: The renewal fee is $45.00 and can be paid securely online via Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or PayPal. 
  1. Confirmation: Receive a printable confirmation upon completion of your renewal process. 
  1. Payment Methods: Online renewal is mandatory. We do not accept checks, cash, or credit card payments over the phone or in person at our office. 
  1. Digital Pocket Card: Download your new digital pocket card immediately after renewal. You may also print it for your convenience. 
  1. Expiration Consequences: If you miss the June 30 deadline, your license will be expired on July 1.  In order to reinstate your license, you must visit our “Reinstate your License” page for reinstatement procedures. 
  1. BIC Eligible Status: Failure to renew your license on time will terminate your BIC Eligible status. Brokers must ensure they renew prior to June 30th to maintain their BIC Eligible status.  
  1. Need Help? Contact our License Specialists at ls@ncrec.gov for any renewal inquiries. We’re here to assist you! 

Video Link: https://youtu.be/6hFeaDjsRio

Question Corner

Question: I would like to terminate my affiliation with the BIC of my brokerage. Which form do I need to submit to the Commission?

Answer: If a broker wishes to terminate their affiliation with a firm or sole proprietorship, they must submit the Request to Terminate Your Affiliation with a Firm or Sole Proprietorship, Form 2.22. The Commission will process the form within 3-5 business days and brokers will be emailed a Notice of License Record Change acknowledging the requested change. If brokers do not receive a Notice within 30 days, they will need to contact the Commission and inquire about the status of their form submission.  

Question: What happens if a BIC submits a Request to Terminate Your Affiliation with a Firm or Sole Proprietorship, Form 2.22?

Answer: Before a BIC submits a Request to Terminate Your Affiliation with a Firm or Sole Proprietorship, Form 2.22, they should consider that the submission will affect all licensees currently under their supervision at the office. Provisional brokers will be placed on inactive status and “full” brokers will remain on active status at their home addresses but will no longer be affiliated with the firm or sole proprietorship.  

To prevent this, the new BIC should submit a new properly completed Request for BIC Eligible Status and/or Broker-in-Charge Designation (REC 2.25) PRIOR to the outgoing BIC submitting the Request to Terminate Your Affiliation with a Firm or Sole Proprietorship, Form 2.22.  

Brokers are confusing two forms: the Request to Terminate Your Affiliation with a Firm or Sole Proprietorship (Form 2.22) and the Request to Remove Licensee From Broker Supervision (Form 2.13). Form 2.22 is used by an individual broker to terminate their own affiliation with a firm or sole proprietorship and Form 2.13 is used by a BIC to remove a full or provisional broker from being affiliated with that BIC.  

NOTE: It is imperative for brokers to understand that prior to submitting a form, they are certifying the accuracy of the information. Therefore, the Commission may use the submission of inaccurate information as evidence against a broker in a disciplinary action.

Quick Tips

If you do not see a CE course completion on your own CE record when you log in as yourself within 7 business days of course completion, call your school and tell them to report it to the NCREC immediately.

T. Royals, Senior License Specialist

Did you know that the Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (RELINC) booklet is required reading for new Broker applicants? Find it under Licensing/Applicants”

A. Allison, License Specialist

When creating an account within the NCREC Training Portal, please remember to remove NA before entering your license number. Don’t forget to enter your license number.

A. Conyers, Logistics and Program Manager

Please remember to renew both your Broker’s License and Firm’s License if you have one and there are separate Links.

S. Debnam, License Specialist