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

Commission Presentations

September 2025 Presentations

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at Compass on September 2^nd.

Dee Bigelow, Information Officer, spoke at Salisbury Rowan Board of REALTORS® on September 9^th.

Lyndi James, Auditor/Investigator, spoke at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage on September 9^th.

Diana Jasany, Communications Officer, spoke at the Coastal Plains Association of REALTORS® on September 9th.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, spoke at Orange Chatham Association of REALTORS® on September 11^th.

Miriam Baer, Executive Director, spoke at Longleaf Pine REALTORS® on September 16^th.

Michael Cowan, Consumer Protection Officer, Brian Heath, Consumer Protection Officer, and Beau Minnick, Consumer Protection Officer, spoke at Triangle Chapter of the National Association of Property Managers on September 18^th.

Lyndi James, Auditor/Investigator, spoke at Kingsly Realty on September 25^th.

October 2025 Presentations

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

Sharon Barnard, Auditor/Investigator, Leah Green, Consumer Protection Officer, Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, and Terri Taylor, Auditor/Investigator, will speak at Marti Hampton Inc. eXP Realty on October 1^st.

Charlie Moody, Deputy Legal Counsel, will speak at Orange Chatham Association of REALTORS® on October 7^th.

Kizzy Crawford Heath, Assistant Director of Education and Licensing, will speak at Platinum Realty Group on October 11^th.

Brian Heath, Consumer Protection Officer, will speak at Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of Property Managers on October 15^th.

Lyndi James, Auditor, will speak at Onslow County NC on October 15^th.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at Johnston County Association of REALTORS on October 21st.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at Bold Real Estate on October 28th.

Tech Corner: Using Chatbots & Automated Responses in Real Estate:

Using Chatbots & Automated Responses in Real Estate: Clients are expecting quick responses from a broker nowadays, sometimes within minutes. While no tool can replace the personal expertise of a licensed broker, chatbots and automated messaging systems can assist with simple tasks, ensuring that your clients or customers feel acknowledged and supported.

What is a Chatbot? A chatbot is a computer program powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that can simulate conversation with users. Chatbots are built into websites, social media platforms, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

Chatbots can:

• Answer common questions (ex, office hours, location, contact info).
  • Schedule showings or consultations through linked calendars.
  • Collect client information (e.g., name, contact details, and areas of interest).
  • Provide resources (e.g, links to forms, Commission information, and various guides).

If a chatbot seems too advanced or you are unsure of the technology, you could start with automatic email or text responses.

These other automated tools can:

• Immediately acknowledge receipt of the inquiry.
• Set expectations for response time.
• Share helpful information.

Benefits of Automated Response Systems:

• Improved client service: Client gets instantly acknowledged.
• Timesaving: Filters or any repetitive questions.
• Lead Capture: Ensure no inquiry is missed.
• Professional Image – Show you are tech-savvy and attentive.

Keep In Mind:

NOTE: Do not over-rely on or overuse these tools. These tools are best for FAQ’s and scheduling, not for constant communications.

• Compliance: Automated tools should not give legal, financial, or brokerage-specific guidance beyond what is permitted.
• Transparency: Ensure that your clients are aware of the automated system they are using.
• Tone: Messages should be professional, friendly, and align with your brand.

If you haven’t seen it yet, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission has its own Chatbot, Alfred. Alfred is available to answer any of your NCREC questions. Alfred was fed a variety of NCREC literature, like the License Law and Rules book, the North Carolina Real Estate Manual, and NCREC eBulletin articles. You can find Alfred at the bottom right-hand corner of our website, ncrec.gov.

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Video Link: https://youtu.be/PWDGL9NrgkQ

Did you know you can opt in to receive notifications about proposed or final rule changes? It’s a quick and easy process to subscribe to “rulemaking.”

Fair Housing

The Commission will host its third and final Fair Housing Symposium on October 30, 2025, at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and stay informed. Register now on the Commission’s website to reserve your spot.

Fair Housing

Explore the Commission’s New Fair Housing Webpage — A Must-Have Resource for Brokers and Consumers

The Commission has launched a newly updated fair housing webpage designed to support both real estate brokers and the public. This comprehensive resource reinforces the Commission’s commitment to cultivating a real estate environment free of discrimination, ensuring fair and equal access and opportunity in housing.

Whether you’re a broker seeking guidance on fair housing compliance and best practices or a consumer looking to understand your rights, the fair housing page offers information to fit your needs. It includes:

• educational materials on federal, state, and local fair housing laws,
• educational materials on fair housing rights and responsibilities,
• links to fair housing training and other helpful resources, and
• resources to file a fair housing complaint.

Visit the new fair housing page here.

Request a Program Presenter

Are you interested in having a Commission representative present at your next training meeting or brokerage event?

The N.C. Real Estate Commission may be available to provide a presenter to give an informative presentation tailored for real estate professionals and consumers.

These sessions run at least 30 minutes (including time for Q&A) and focus on topics of special interest to licensees and the public, with no fee or expenses charged.

To request a presenter, submit the online form available on the Commission’s website. Requests should be made at least 30 days before your event and include an alternate date when possible. The Commission will make every effort to accommodate your request, depending on staff availability.

Keep in mind that Commission staff cannot speak at prelicensing or continuing education courses, nor can they revisit the same organization within a 12-month period. Also, continuing education credit is not awarded for attending these presentations.

This is a great opportunity to bring timely updates and insights directly to your office—so plan ahead and invite the Commission to join your next meeting!

Save the Date: NCREC Educators Conference

Join the North Carolina Real Estate Commission at its Educators Conference on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

From Application to Licensure:  The Role of Character and Fitness Review

A critical step in the licensure of all real estate brokers is the assessment of an applicant’s character and fitness. The Commission must ensure that applicants possess the character and fitness necessary to protect the public interest and promote public confidence in the real estate brokerage business.

All broker, firm, and real estate instructor applications with an identified character and fitness issue will be referred to the Commission’s Regulatory Affairs Division for a comprehensive character and fitness review as the last step in the license application process. In its review, the Commission regularly focuses on three areas: criminal conduct, occupational license discipline, and financial responsibility.

Criminal Conduct

Criminal convictions are the most common reason that an application is flagged for character and fitness review. The Commission may deny an application based on criminal history only if the Commission finds that the applicant’s criminal history  is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of a licensed broker or the conviction is for a crime that is violent or sexual in nature. N.C.G.S. § 93B-8.1(b).

Occupational License Discipline

Applicants must disclose if they are licnesed as a real estate broker in another state, or hold any other occupational licnese. It is also the applicant’s duty to disclose any previous occupational license discipline and any pending investigation by an occupational licensing body. The applicant should also disclose any previous discipline by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Disciplinary action taken against their licnese may be considered as part of the character and fitness review.

Financial Responsibility

The duties and responsibilities of a licensed real estate broker include finding an appropriately priced property for a buyer-client, providing a buyer with information about financing, assisting a seller in pricing property for competitive sale, and receiving, holding and accounting for client funds. An applicant’s past and current financial responsibility helps the Commission determine whether an applicant will be able to fulfill their responsibilities with competence.  Applicants are required to disclose all judgments and liens filed against the applicant. Their own financial responsibility or lack thereof reflects on whether or not they will deal honestly and responsibly with their customers’ and clients’ financial matters related to real estate.

In each of the cases described above, the Commission considers all of the evidence presented by the applicant, including evidence of rehabilitation, restitution, and character letters in support of the applicant’s licensure. The Commission will weigh the level and seriousness of the character issue, the time that has passed, and the applicant’s age at the time to decide whether licensure is appropriate.

Fair Housing

Final Fair Housing Symposium in Wilmington — Don’t Miss Your Chance to Attend

Last month, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission held its second Collaborative Fair Housing Symposium in Charlotte at the Canopy REALTOR® Association. The sold-out event brought together expert presenters from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations, the United States Attorney’s Office, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project, and the Commission itself.

Participants explored the more complex components of fair housing law, including protections for survivors of domestic violence, source of income discrimination, reasonable accommodations, legal ramifications—both civil and criminal—of noncompliance, and best practices to ensure compliance. Firsthand accounts from investigators and prosecutors offered a compelling look into the real-world impact of fair housing enforcement.

Missed the August Symposium? There’s one final chance to attend. The Commission will host its third and final Fair Housing Symposium on October 30, 2025, at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and stay informed. Register now on the Commission’s website to reserve your spot.

https://www.ncrec.gov/FairHousing/Registration