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

Proposed Rule Changes: Public Comment Period Now Open

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission is seeking public input on proposed amendments to Rules 21 NCAC 58A .0112, .0302, .0503, and .1803; 58G .0103; 58H .0101 and .0210; as well as the adoption of a new rule, 21 NCAC 58A .0513.

The public comment period will run from November 17, 2025, through January 16, 2026. The Commission will also hold a public hearing on December 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at its office located at 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Real estate brokers and members of the public are invited to review the proposed rule changes and provide feedback. Written comments may be submitted by email or mailed to the address below. Comments may also be convened orally, directly to the Commission, by attending the scheduled public hearing.

Melissa A. Vuotto

Rulemaking Coordinator

North Carolina Real Estate Commission

P.O. Box 17100

Raleigh, NC 27619

public.comment@ncrec.gov

Commission Presentations

November 2025 Presentations

Kizzy Crawford Heath, Assistant Director of Education and Licensing, spoke at Triangle Board of Realists on November 11^th.

Christy Evans, Consumer Protection Officer, spoke at Raleigh Realty Inc. on November 12^th.

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, and Michael Davis, Auditor, spoke at Bold Real Estate on November 12th.

Lyndi James, Auditor, spoke at Keller Williams Innovate on November 18^th.

December 2025 Presentations

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

Bruce Rinne, Information Officer, will speak at Urban Durham Realty on December 9^th.

Miriam Baer, Executive Director,  will speak at Jacksonville Board of REALTORS® on December 10^th.

Fair Housing Symposiums

The Commission sponsored three Fair Housing Symposiums in 2025 in Durham, Charlotte, and Wilmington.  While it’s common knowledge that the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing and housing-related transactions based on  race, color, sex , national origin, religion, disability, or familial status, these Symposiums dug deeper into issues of income discrimination and the disparate impact that certain policies can have on protected classes of people. 

For example, under the FHA, it is illegal to refuse to rent to someone who intends to pay their rent with lawful sources of income like housing assistance vouchers, subsidies, or other forms of public assistance.  This is an example of income discrimination, and all brokers should be aware of similar behavior. 

Some brokers may have policies in place that on their face do not appear discriminatory, but in practice and effect are.  An example of this is a landlord who requires all tenants to be employed full-time.  Her reason is to ensure that every tenant can pay their rent, but this policy essentially bars tenancy to certain disabled people, seniors, and/or veterans who have enough income, but are not employed full-time. 

North Carolina brokers should educate themselves to ensure they follow the fair housing laws to allow everyone access to housing.  For more information on fair housing and your responsibilities as a broker, click here: https://www.ncrec.gov/FHResources/AdditionalResources

CE Reminder

Video Link: https://youtu.be/wUQ6xFBGl_s

Script: Although brokers can take the Update course anytime between July 1 and June 10, the smart move is to take it early! Doing so keeps you current on the latest law and rule changes—so you are in compliance with License Law and Commission rules. Waiting until the spring could mean you’ve been practicing brokerage with outdated understanding of the law or rules for several months.  

Ready to find a class?
Visit www.ncrec.gov → click Education → choose Search CE Course Schedule.
You can search by course title, city, county, sponsor, instructor, or date range to find the class that fits your schedule.

Reasonable prudent brokers take their Update Courses early!  

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

As 2025 comes to an end, let’s review some of the hot topics of the last 12 months. 

NAR and the Legislature

In 2024, the hottest topic was the National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement that banned REALTORS® from offering buyer agents’ compensation on the MLS when listing homes for sale, and formalized the principle that buyer agents should negotiate their own pay and formalize it in a signed contract.  The North Carolina Legislature piggy-backed on this with the Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, which allows buyer agent compensation to a broker or firm, including the forfeiture of earnest money, to be included in a preprinted offer to purchase or sales contract.

Commission Rules currently prohibit this, so the Legislature has directed the Commission to revise Rule 21 NCAC 58A .0112 to allow it. 

Fraudulent Sellers

The Commission continues to see more and more complaints about fraudulent sellers- especially with vacant land.  Multiple brokers and firms were disciplined by the Commission in 2025 because they listed properties for sale without determining whether the person asking them to list it was the legitimate owner. Brokers must take reasonable steps to verify the identity of a seller prior to listing a property for sale, especially when the only contact from the “seller” is by text or email.  Many brokers use services like Forewarn to verify the identity of individuals, but other best practices, red flags to watch out for, and helpful resources can be found in the several published eBulletin articles listed here:

• Fake Seller / Fake Buyer Scam Alerts
• Be Aware of Scam Sellers
• Fake Seller / Fake Buyer Scam Alerts
• Preventing Seller Impersonation Fraud in Residential and Commercial Transactions
• THINK BEFORE YOU ACT

In September, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) announced the withdrawal of multiple FHEO guidance documents. FHEO guidance documents help housing providers, agencies, and the public understand their rights and responsibilities under existing housing laws and regulations by providing clarity on how to interpret and apply these laws. It is important to recognize that while guidance documents may shift, the underlying laws, such as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, remain unchanged. Housing providers, real estate professionals, and community partners must continue to uphold fair housing protections and ensure compliance with fair housing requirements in all housing and real estate transactions.

Highlighted below are some key takeaways to consider:

Service Animals and Reasonable Accommodations

• Individuals with disabilities continue to have the right to request reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act.
• Housing providers must grant accommodations that are reasonable, including service animals.
• Verification of medical documentation for non-obvious disabilities remains part of the process.

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

• HUD is no longer accepting cases based solely on gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Complaints involving sexual harassment (quid pro quo or hostile environment) remain valid.
• Charlotte, Durham, and Greensboro have local ordinances that provide additional protections.

Use of Criminal Records

• The North Carolina Human Relations Commission cannot investigate disparate impact claims, but housing providers must avoid discriminatory practices.
• A Supreme Court case from 2016 confirmed that the Fair Housing Act allows lawsuits based on policies or practices that disproportionately harm protected groups.

Source of Income Testing

• Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) partners may use federal funds to conduct source of income testing to identify discrimination.

Digital Advertising and Fair Housing

• Housing providers must ensure that advertising through digital platforms complies with the Fair Housing Act.
• Best practices include:
  • Using non-discriminatory language
  • Avoiding prohibited targeting
  • Training marketing teams on fair housing principles
  • Ensuring artificial intelligence tools are programmed to align with fair housing standards

Rulemaking

• The Commission has already revised rules related to education providers and instructors, firm licensing, and the delivery of documents.  Check out the revisions here: https://www.ncrec.gov/Pdfs/Rules/ApprovedRulesJuly2025.pdf
• In 2026 the Commission will be considering a small renewal fee increase, along with rules regarding brokers-in-charge and advertising.  The Commission wants to know your opinion on all proposed changes.  Sign up for updates and make your voice heard here:  https://www.ncrec.gov/Home/Subscribe
• Happy New Year to all of our licensees and educators from the Commission and its staff! 

Exploring Dual Approval Opportunities for CE Courses

The Commission has received interest from licensees who hold both a real estate broker license and a general contractor license regarding opportunities to receive CE credit with both Boards.

Education Providers are encouraged to consider developing courses that may be eligible for dual approval with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Courses that address topics of mutual relevance such as construction practices, project management, contracts, or regulatory compliance could provide valuable learning for both groups of licensees.

Providers who wish to pursue this opportunity should follow the existing course approval process for each Board. Information on the Real Estate Commission’s elective course approval process is available here.

Fair Housing

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and presented at the 2025 Collaborative Fair Housing Symposium series. Hosted in Durham on April 1st, Charlotte on August 18th, and Wilmington on October 30th, the three symposia welcomed professionals from across the state—each committed to advancing fair housing awareness and compliance. Your participation and attendance made the series a huge success.

Each event featured expert presenters from the North Carolina Human Relations Commission, local Human Relations offices, Wilmington Housing Authority, the United States Attorney’s Office, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project, and the Commission itself. Their collective expertise guided attendees through some of the most nuanced aspects of fair housing law.

Topics explored included:

• Protections for survivors of domestic violence
• Source of income discrimination
• Reasonable accommodations
• Civil and criminal ramifications of noncompliance
• Best practices to ensure compliance

Attendees also heard firsthand accounts from investigators and prosecutors, offering a compelling look into the real-world impact of fair housing enforcement. These stories underscored the importance of vigilance, knowledge, and accountability in upholding housing rights across North Carolina.

The Commission is deeply grateful to our presenters for sharing their time and insights, and to every attendee who contributed to the thoughtful dialogue and learning environment. Your engagement strengthens our collective commitment to fair housing.

We look forward to continuing this important work together.

Tech Corner: What to Avoid When Using AI Tools:

Technological evolutions like artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming part of everyday real estate practice. While this technology offers exciting new possibilities, it also introduces potential risks, especially when accuracy, compliance, and client trust are factored in.

Here are some important things that brokers should avoid when using artificial intelligence tools:

Relying on AI for facts or legal advice: AI-generated information isn’t always completely accurate. AI can confidently provide incorrect market data, use outdated rules, or mislead you on legal interpretations. Licensees should verify every fact before sharing it with clients or coworkers. You should never use AI as a substitute for guidance from the Commission, legal counsel, or official sources.

Letting AI Write Listing Descriptions Without Review: Descriptions written by AI may include language that violates Fair Housing Laws or misrepresents a property’s features. Review any generated text very carefully for accuracy, compliance, and tone before you publish it. AI saves time, but it is not beneficial if you aren’t reviewing its outputs.

Entering Confidential Client Information: Uploading client names, property addresses, or transaction details in AI tools can create privacy and data security issues. Many AI tools store input, potentially exposing sensitive information to others. Some AI tools are designed with privacy in mind and specifically avoid using user data. However. be aware of the tools you use and treat AI the same way you would treat email, do not share your confidential information.  

Ignoring Bias: AI tools learn more from online data, which can lead them to reflect existing social biases. Be alert to language or recommendations that could unintentionally exclude or favor certain groups. The responsibility for compliance with Fair Housing Laws always rests with the licensee, not the technology.

AI can be an effective tool for increasing efficiency and sparking creativity, but it must be used thoughtfully and carefully. Always review, verify, and apply professional judgment before relying on AI-generated content.

How Can I Verify a Broker’s License Status?

Did you know that you can verify a broker’s license status?

Before engaging in a real estate transaction, it’s important to verify that a broker’s license is active and in good standing. The Commission’s Licensee Database Search Tool makes this process quick and reliable. The information provided on the Commission’s website reflects accurate, real-time data about the license status of brokers and firms.

For step-by-step instructions, the article “How Do I Check the License Status of a Broker?” offers a detailed guide on using the Licensee Search tool. The license record database now displays both active and inactive license statuses. If a broker’s license is inactive, a note will appear at the top of their license record.

If you have questions or comments about a broker’s or firm’s license status, please email ls@ncrec.gov.