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Tech Corner: Summer Interns, Assistants, and Office Technology Access

Summer can bring increased activity for real estate offices. Offices may bring on interns, temporary assistants, or seasonal staff to help manage the summer season. While additional support can improve efficiency, it can also create technology and security risks if office systems are not properly managed.

Many real estate offices rely on shared digital tools such as customer relationship management platforms, transaction management systems, email accounts, shared drives, and electronic signature software. Providing quick access to these systems may seem convenient, but unrestricted or poorly monitored access can expose confidential consumer information.

Before granting access to any office technology, brokers-in-charge should review exactly what access is necessary for everyone’s role to conduct brokerage actively effectively and safely.  Also, shared usernames and passwords should never be used as a shortcut. Each user should have their own login credentials so activity can be tracked and monitored. Unique credentials also allow immediate removal of access when employment ends.

It is equally important to ensure that all devices and accounts are protected with strong passwords and, when available, multifactor authentication. Temporary workers should also receive clear guidance on cybersecurity best practices, including recognizing phishing emails, protecting confidential information, and avoiding unsecured public Wi-Fi.

Finally, offices should regularly review user access permissions, especially at the end of the summer season. Accounts that remain active after an intern or assistant departs can create unnecessary security vulnerabilities.

As technology continues to play a central role in real estate practice, careful management of digital access is part of professional responsibility. Taking a few simple precautions can help protect consumer information, maintain office security, and support compliance.

License Renewal

Link: https://youtu.be/5S3zcEr6P-s

Script: Have You Renewed Your Broker License Yet?

As a reminder, all North Carolina broker licenses must be renewed by June 30, 2026, to remain active. Under Rule 58A .0503, failure to renew your license will result in your license expiring, which may interrupt your ability to practice real estate.

What Do You Need to Know About Renewal?

The current renewal fee is $50.00. Brokers are encouraged to complete the renewal process early to avoid last-minute delays and ensure continued active status without interruption.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If your license is not renewed by June 30, 2026, it will expire in accordance with Commission rules. An expired license may require additional steps to reinstate, which can delay your ability to engage in brokerage activity.

Have You Taken a Moment to Renew?

Renewal is quick and can be completed online. Taking a few minutes now helps ensure your license remains active.

NOTE: Qualifying brokers MUST renew their individual licenses and the firm’s license as well. You can review the eBulletin article, Reminder: QBs Renew Your Individual and Firm Licenses, here.

Continuing Education

Do You Know What Your CE Requirements Are?

Under Rule 58A .1702, all North Carolina brokers must complete eight (8) hours of continuing education each license year to maintain an active license. Those hours are divided into:

Have You Checked Your CE Status Yet?

Have you confirmed that you completed your CE course requirements? If not, follow these steps to confirm now:

From there, you’ll see your current CE status. If either your Update Hours or Elective Hours shows a (0) zero, you must complete these courses BEFORE the deadline of June 10, 2026, to remain eligible for active license status.

NOTE: The Commission published an article entitled, Check your CE Record, on April 1, 2026. You can review the article here and CE video on YouTube. 

Do You Know Where to Find Available CE Courses?

If you still need to complete your CE, finding a course is easy and convenient:

You can search by course number, provider, instructor, or location.

Course Numbers

Update courses must be taken live (in person or synchronously online). Elective courses offer more flexibility, including self-paced online options.

To explore those self-paced options:

Have You Confirmed Your CE Has Been Reported?

After completing a course, your education provider is responsible for:

To stay on track, make sure you:

If your credit is not posted within 10 days to your license record, you will need to contact the education provider (EP) to ensure it was submitted.

Reminder: RENEW your License!

License renewal opened May 15 and runs through June 30, 2026. While CE does not have to be completed before you submit your renewal, CE must be finished by June 10 to avoid your license becoming inactive.

FAQs: License Renewal

Link: https://youtu.be/8PTTWVUwarw

Script: Do you have questions about the license renewal process? If so, the Commission has a 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 does not expire. 

You can access the FAQs here.

Link: https://www.ncrec.gov/Licensing/LicenseRenewalFaq

NOTE: All individual broker licenses, including limited nonresident commercial licenses, and firm licenses must be renewed by 11:59 pm on June 30, 2026.

Don’t Even Think About It!

As the 2025–2026 continuing education (CE) season moves toward its conclusion on June 10th, the Commission recognizes that brokers are balancing a busy spring housing market along with the demands of everyday life. During this time, it may be tempting to look for ways to delegate tasks or streamline responsibilities. However, brokers are strongly cautioned to personally complete all CE requirements.

The Commission is aware of third-party services advertising online that offer to “take and pass your real estate courses” on behalf of licensees. Don’t even think about responding to such ads! These offers are not permitted, and brokers should not engage with them under any circumstances. Further, disciplinary action may be taken against any licensee who allows another individual to attend, complete, or represent coursework in their place. Education Providers (EPs) and instructors are tasked with the responsibility to verify the identity of all students in Prelicensing, Postlicensing, and CE courses, whether delivered in person or virtually.

CE is designed with a clear purpose: to ensure brokers are equipped with the knowledge necessary to protect consumers in real estate transactions. Because of this, brokers are held responsible for possessing and implementing the information conveyed in these courses.

So…don’t even think about asking anyone else to “sit in” for you or providing false identification for any Commission-sanctioned coursework. Essentially, allowing someone else to complete coursework on your behalf, providing false identification, or misrepresenting attendance is a violation of License Law and Commission rules and may be treated as fraud, subject to disciplinary action by the Commission.

EPs are now asked to more actively verify the identification of all students and instances of non-compliance by the EP may be investigated. In summary, brokers must complete their own courses as intended—not only to remain in compliance, but also because the coursework is designed to provide meaningful, practical value to their professional practice.

So take the course…you will learn something!

Is this too good to be TRUE?

Have you ever been approached with a “perfect” listing opportunity that seemed to check all the boxes—quick sale, motivated seller, and minimal effort required?

Let’s say that you are contacted by an individual who has recently inherited their grandparents’ 100-acre family farm. The individual lives out of state, has no plans to return to North Carolina, and expresses a strong desire to sell the property quickly and entirely through electronic means, including closing. They also request that you do not contact neighboring property owners or place a “For Sale” sign on the land, citing concerns about upsetting long-standing family friends. Although you inform them that the absence of on-site marketing may limit exposure to the property, they further indicate they are willing to accept a below-market price in order to facilitate a fast sale.

While these circumstances may initially appear favorable, they should prompt careful scrutiny and appropriate verification procedures by a broker. As a broker, it is essential to confirm the identity of the seller and their legal authority to convey the property.

Reasonable steps include:

Additional safeguards may include sending the listing agreement via secure, trackable delivery to the owner’s address of record and promptly notifying your Broker-in-Charge of any concerns; contacting neighbors and family members to confirm the seller’s identity, and asking the seller questions about the property that a real owner would likely know better than a fraudulent one.

Situations that appear unusually advantageous or restrictive in nature warrant heightened due diligence. As always, brokers should remember that when a transaction seems “too good to be true,” it merits careful verification before proceeding.

Do You Know that Real Estate Appraisals Are Changing?

By:  Steve Fussell, Chief Consumer Protection Officer

                November 2, 2026, is the deadline for real estate appraisers to begin using a new appraisal form (UAD 3.6). Some lenders are already requiring the use of this new form. To complete the new form, it is possible that appraisers will contact listing agents more often than in the past to obtain information regarding properties.

                To educate licensees on this change, the Commission has included a section on appraisals in its 2026-2027 Mandatory Update Course that will be available in July 2026. We strongly encourage you to take the course as soon as possible.

                Other important points regarding appraisals:

  1. A lender hires an appraiser to determine the value of the property for which a buyer wants to borrow money so that, in the event of the buyer’s default on the loan, the lender will know how much it can reasonably expect to recover through foreclosure. Even though a lender will collect money from a buyer to pay for an appraisal, the lender orders the appraisal and is the appraiser’s client. Therefore, if a lender orders an appraisal, brokers should never refer to the appraisal as the “buyer’s appraisal.” You should refer to the appraisal as “the appraisal performed for the buyer’s lender.” Alternatively, if a buyer is paying cash for a property and decides to order an appraisal, then the buyer is the appraiser’s client and the appraisal would be the “buyer’s appraisal.”
  2. A broker may provide any information or documentation requested by an appraiser. However, Rule A .0120(c) prohibits a broker from influencing or attempting to influence an appraiser’s decision of value.
  3. Buyer agents should make a habit of (1) asking their buyer-clients to obtain copies of the appraisal reports from their lenders as soon as the reports are available and (2) carefully reviewing the reports and disclosing material information, such as square footage and other information that a reasonable buyer would want to know. If the square footage in the appraisal report differs from the advertised square footage in the MLS, then a buyer agent should look for “below grade” square footage in the appraisal report to see if it explains the difference.
  4. Buyers who pay cash for properties rarely order appraisals, because there is no requirement to do so. However, an appraisal can provide useful information to a buyer, such as square footage verification and other property information. NC Realtors Form 760 (Professional Services Disclosure and Election) includes “appraisal” in the list of services. Brokers who represent and/or assist buyers should explain the value of an appraisal so that buyers can make informed decisions rather than dismiss an appraisal just because it is not required.

Disciplinary Actions

JOEL BARBER (WILMINGTON)-The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Barber, effective May 20, 2026. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Barber violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Barber neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

ASHLEY GONZALEZ (RALEIGH)- The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate broker license of Gonzalez, effective May 20, 2026, with no right to reapply for 2 years. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Gonzalez violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Gonzalez neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

JDS RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC (FAYETTEVILLE)- The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate broker license of JDS Rentals & Property Management LLC, effective May 20, 2026, with no right to reapply for 2 years. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that JDS Rentals & Property Management LLC violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. JDS Rentals & Property Management LLC neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

KIRKPATRICK REALTY VACATION RENTALS LLC (ROBBINSVILLE)- Following a hearing, the Commission permanently revoked the license of Kirkpatrick Realty Vacation Rentals LLC, effective April 20, 2026. The Commission found that Kirkpatrick Realty engaged in property management and maintained trust funds and rental payments in a bank account that was not initially designated as a trust or escrow account.  The Commission also found that Kirkpatrick Realty failed to timely and properly disburse rental proceeds to owner-clients; improperly transferred trust funds between two separate trust accounts, including one that did not belong to Kirkpatrick Realty, making it difficult or impossible to trace the disposition of funds; and failed to maintain required trust account and transaction records, including individual ledgers, journals, monthly reconciliations, trial balances, and rental agreements.  Kirkpatrick Realty failed to provide supporting receipts for certain expenses as requested during the audit.  The trust account audit could not be completed due to insufficient records and the lack of an adequate audit trail. The audit revealed transactions inconsistent with the permitted use of a trust account, including transactions unrelated to the management or disbursement of client funds, as well as instances of insufficient funds, including at least one returned check.

ANGELICA KIRKPATRICK (ROBBINSVILLE)- Following a hearing, the Commission permanently revoked the license of Angelica Kirkpatrick, effective April 20, 2026. The Commission found that Kirkpatrick was the qualifying broker and broker-in-charge of her licensed firm, which engaged in property management activities and maintained  trust funds and rental payments in a bank account that was not initially designated as a trust or escrow account. Kirkpatrick failed to timely and properly disburse rental proceeds to owner-clients; improperly transferred trust funds between two separate trust accounts, including one that did not belong to the firm, making it difficult or impossible to trace the disposition of funds; and failed to maintain required trust account and transaction records, including individual ledgers, journals, monthly reconciliations, trial balances, and rental agreements. Kirkpatrick failed to provide supporting receipts for certain expenses requested during the audit, and the trust account audit could not be completed due to insufficient records and the lack of an adequate audit trail. The audit  revealed transactions inconsistent with the permitted use of a trust account, including transactions unrelated to the management or disbursement of client funds, as well as instances of insufficient funds, including at least one returned check. The Commission found that, as broker-in-charge, Kirkpatrick failed to maintain the firm’s trust account and related records, failed to retain and maintain records relating to transactions conducted by or on behalf of the firm, and failed to complete the Commission’s Basic Trust Account Procedures Course within 120 days of assuming responsibility for a trust account.

LAKE SHORE REALTY INC (SOUTHPORT)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Lake Shore Realty Inc., effective May 20, 2026. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Lake Shore Realty Inc. violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and the Commission Rules. Lake Shore Realty Inc. neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

AMANDA PARKER (FAYETTEVILLE)- The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate broker license of Parker, effective May 20, 2026, with no right to reapply for 2 years. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Parker violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Parker neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

DANA VINSON (WILSON)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Vinson for a period of 12 months, effective May 1, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Vinson was the listing agent for the subject property. The initial buyer under contract for the subject property terminated after a home inspection revealed several significant defects, including structural issues. Vinson failed to disclose these material facts to a subsequent potential buyer prior to the submission of an offer.

ROBERT WARNER III (SOUTHPORT)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Warner, effective May 20, 2026. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Warner violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Warner neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

Current Stats: Monthly Licensee Count as of April 1, 2026

Disciplinary Actions

ROBERT ATKINSON II (APEX)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Atkinson for a period of 12 months, effective April 15, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Atkinson advertised a property for sale that was owned by a provisional broker affiliated with his firm. He failed to have a written agreement with her to advertise the property and failed to supervise her conduct in selling the property.

CLARENCE BYNUM (CHARLOTTE)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Bynum for a period of 12 months, effective April 1, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Bynum listed vacant land on behalf of a person believed to be the seller but only verified the name on the deed to the property and contacted the purported seller by phone. The seller accepted an offer from a potential buyer. Bynum forwarded the seller’s wiring instructions, which he had received via text message, to the buyer’s agent, despite their informal nature. The buyer successfully executed a $7,000 wire transfer to the seller. Bynum later learned the seller was fraudulent. Bynum failed to take the reasonable steps required by a real estate broker to verify the seller’s identity and protect the public from fraudulent sellers.

CHATEAUX REALTY INC. (HILLSBOROUGH)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Chateaux Realty Inc., effective April 22, 2026. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Chateaux Realty Inc. violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Chateaux Realty Inc. neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

JORDAN COLVILLE (JACKSONVILLE)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Colville for a period of 9 months, effective April 17, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Colville listed a house for sale. The prospective buyers terminated their contract after an inspection revealed damage to several joists caused by wood-destroying fungi and a roof leak. The buyer’s agent told Colville about these issues, but Colville failed to disclose these material facts to two subsequent prospective buyers.

CHRISTOPHER DURFEE (CAMERON)- The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Durfee, effective April 22, 2026, with no right to reapply for 3 years. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Durfee violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Durfee neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

KRISTENA JOHNSON (CHARLOTTE)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Johnson for a period of 12 months, effective October 15, 2025. The Commission found that Johnson was the qualifying broker and designated broker-in-charge for Mason Karter & Co LLC (dba “Johnson Group Partners”). Johnson failed to inform the Commission that Johnson Group Partners was administratively dissolved in April 2023 and failed to renew the firm’s license before expiration in July 2023. As a result, Johnson became unaffiliated, and the firm’s license was canceled in August 2024. Despite being unaffiliated, Johnson continued to advertise real estate services in North Carolina through the unlicensed firm’s website and social media platforms. Johnson advertised two listings in North Carolina in 2024. Johnson was unresponsive to the Commission’s Letters of Inquiry.

ELLEN POSTLETHWAIT (RALEIGH)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Postlethwait, effective April 22, 2026. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Postlethwait, violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Postlethwait neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

MARY ROLFE (KITTY HAWK)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Rolfe for a period of 9 months, effective May 1, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Rolfe served as the listing agent in the subject transaction. Rolfe listed the subject property and advertised heated square footage, which improperly included the square footage of an unheated bonus room. Although Rolfe disclosed that the bonus room was unheated, Rolfe continued to advertise the subject property’s heated square footage, including the bonus room.

MICHELE SZABO (INDIAN LAND)- The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Szabo, effective April 22, 2026. The Commission dismissed, without prejudice, allegations that Szabo violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and the Commission Rules. Szabo neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

CHARLES WITCHER (TRINITY)- By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Witcher for a period of 2 years, effective April 15, 2026. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Witcher advertised a property for sale that had been “flipped” and failed to discover and disclose that the flipper performed the renovations without permits and without the required general contractor.