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Disciplinary Actions

YECENIA BANEGAS (JOHNSTON COUNTY) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Banegas for a period of 2 years effective January 10, 2022. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. Banegas bought and renovated a residential property and relied on unlicensed contractors’ advice in failing to obtain necessary permits. Ms. Banegas listed the property without disclosing that she had not obtained permits or hired licensed professionals to do renovations including relocating a wall, and connecting an HVAC system to a room. Ms. Banegas also failed to discover and disclose serious termite damage in the crawlspace. The Commission noted that Ms. Banegas had refunded the buyer their fees and deposits after they terminated the contract.

DANIELLE SEANTE GADDY (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Gaddy for a period of 18 months effective January 1, 2021. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that, as qualifying broker/broker in charge of a firm, Ms. Gaddy failed to complete required annual continuing education (CE) which resulted in her license being “inactive” from October 8, 2020, through November 6, 2020 and the firm’s license being “inactive” from October 8, 2020, through October 29, 2020. Despite this, Ms. Gaddy continued to enter into agency agreements and represent clients in submitting offers to purchase. Ms. Gaddy failed to notify the Commission within ten (10) days of the firm being administratively dissolved by the NC Secretary of State. Ms. Gaddy has since had the firm reinstated. In a transaction where Ms. Gaddy acted as the listing agent, the Commission found that she showed the subject property, with her seller-client’s approval, to a potential buyer three days prior to marketing the property in the MLS. Ms. Gaddy also added the phrase “not the procuring cause” in the selling agent section of an offer to purchase contract submitted by the buyer’s agent. The property ultimately went under contract with a different buyer.

JOHN LIGHT (KILL DEVIL HILLS) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker license of Mr. Light for a period of 1 year effective December 15, 2021. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Light violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Light neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

GEBA RENEA MCDANIEL (WINSTON-SALEM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. McDaniel for a period of 2 years effective December 30, 2021. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. McDaniel was the broker-in-charge and qualifying broker of a property management firm which allowed an unlicensed broker, and his unlicensed firm, to conduct brokerage activities. Ms. McDaniel failed to notify the Commission within ten (10) days of her firm’s administrative dissolution by the NC Secretary of State. Ms. McDaniel’s management agreement with the property owner failed to contain all provisions as required by Commission rules. Ms. McDaniel, acting as a buyer agent, referred various clients to a credit repair/restoration company to assist with raising their credit rating and failed to disclose that this company was owned and run by her husband.

DEBORAH STALL PORTH (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Porth for a period of 2 years effective January 15, 2022. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. Porth was qualifying broker/broker in charge of a Firm, whose company policy was to run a background check on every prospective tenant 18 years of age and older. In 2019, the Firm leased a property to three adult brothers without collecting the listed tenant security deposit or prorated rent, and after obtaining a background check for only one applicant rather than each tenant. The “overall recommendation” in the background report was to DECLINE that applicant. The tenants were late with their rent or did not pay rent while they were living in the property, did not vacate when their lease expired in October 2020, and were evicted in January 2021 still owing rent. The Commission noted that Ms. Porth personally paid the owner the missing tenant security deposit funds. Ms. Porth also failed to timely account for or disburse a tenant security deposit to a tenant despite re-renting the property within three weeks of the tenant’s vacating, and failed to maintain trust account records in compliance with Commission rules.

When is the deadline for Continuing Education?

Do you know which CE courses you need to take? Did you know you can search for available CE courses on the Commission’s website?

CE Requirement

Rule 58A .1702 dictates that, to maintain an active license, a broker must take eight (8) hours of CE each year.

*A BIC or BIC-eligible Broker who takes the General Update course and an elective will maintain an Active license but will lose his/her BIC Eligible status and BIC designation.

Not sure which Update course you need to take?  Login to your license record on the Commission’s website to check your license status before registering for a course.

CE Course Search

CE Update and elective courses are offered in variety of formats.  Update courses are offered in person and via synchronous distance learning (aka, “live online” instruction using Zoom or similar technologies).  Elective courses are also offered via distance courses (self-paced online courses).

To search for in-person and “live-online” CE Update and elective courses:

  1. go to www.ncrec.gov;
  2. click on the Education menu;
  3. click on Search CE Course Schedules; and
  4. click on Search Providers.

To search for providers that offer self-paced, online CE elective courses:

  1. go to www.ncrec.gov;
  2. click on the Education menu; and
  3. click on List of Distance CE Providers.

For more information, contact the Education and Licensing Division at LS@ncrec.gov or 919.875.3700.

Current Stats: Monthly Licensee Count as of January 1, 2022

Employment Opportunities Available

Are you interested in joining the staff of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission? From time to time, employment opportunities become available. They are posted on the Commission’s website under the “About Us” tab.

We currently have opportunities available for the following positions:

Auditor – Audit trust account records of real estate brokers state-wide and investigate consumer complaints. Application deadline February 11, 2022.

Click here for more information.

Disciplinary Actions

YECENIA BANEGAS (JOHNSTON COUNTY) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Banegas for a period of 2 years effective January 10, 2022. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. Banegas bought and renovated a residential property and relied on unlicensed contractors’ advice in failing to obtain necessary permits. Ms. Banegas listed the property without disclosing that she had not obtained permits or hired licensed professionals to do renovations including relocating a wall, and connecting an HVAC system to a room. Ms. Banegas also failed to discover and disclose serious termite damage in the crawlspace. The Commission noted that Ms. Banegas had refunded the buyer their fees and deposits after they terminated the contract.

DANIELLE SEANTE GADDY (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Gaddy for a period of 18 months effective January 1, 2021. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that, as qualifying broker/broker in charge of a firm, Ms. Gaddy failed to complete required annual continuing education (CE) which resulted in her license being “inactive” from October 8, 2020, through November 6, 2020 and the firm’s license being “inactive” from October 8, 2020, through October 29, 2020. Despite this, Ms. Gaddy continued to enter into agency agreements and represent clients in submitting offers to purchase. Ms. Gaddy failed to notify the Commission within ten (10) days of the firm being administratively dissolved by the NC Secretary of State. Ms. Gaddy has since had the firm reinstated. In a transaction where Ms. Gaddy acted as the listing agent, the Commission found that she showed the subject property, with her seller-client’s approval, to a potential buyer three days prior to marketing the property in the MLS. Ms. Gaddy also added the phrase “not the procuring cause” in the selling agent section of an offer to purchase contract submitted by the buyer’s agent. The property ultimately went under contract with a different buyer.

JOHN LIGHT (KILL DEVIL HILLS) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker license of Mr. Light for a period of 1 year effective December 15, 2021. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Light violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Light neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

GEBA RENEA MCDANIEL (WINSTON-SALEM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. McDaniel for a period of 2 years effective December 30, 2021. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. McDaniel was the broker-in-charge and qualifying broker of a property management firm which allowed an unlicensed broker, and his unlicensed firm, to conduct brokerage activities. Ms. McDaniel failed to notify the Commission within ten (10) days of her firm’s administrative dissolution by the NC Secretary of State. Ms. McDaniel’s management agreement with the property owner failed to contain all provisions as required by Commission rules. Ms. McDaniel, acting as a buyer agent, referred various clients to a credit repair/restoration company to assist with raising their credit rating and failed to disclose that this company was owned and run by her husband.

DEBORAH STALL PORTH (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Porth for a period of 2 years effective January 15, 2022. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety. The Commission found that Ms. Porth was qualifying broker/broker in charge of a Firm, whose company policy was to run a background check on every prospective tenant 18 years of age and older. In 2019, the Firm leased a property to three adult brothers without collecting the listed tenant security deposit or prorated rent, and after obtaining a background check for only one applicant rather than each tenant. The “overall recommendation” in the background report was to DECLINE that applicant. The tenants were late with their rent or did not pay rent while they were living in the property, did not vacate when their lease expired in October 2020, and were evicted in January 2021 still owing rent. The Commission noted that Ms. Porth personally paid the owner the missing tenant security deposit funds. Ms. Porth also failed to timely account for or disburse a tenant security deposit to a tenant despite re-renting the property within three weeks of the tenant’s vacating, and failed to maintain trust account records in compliance with Commission rules.

Staff Appearances

Sheryl Graham, Consumer Protection Officer, spoke at the Greater Orange Chatham County Board of REALTORS meeting on January 12.

Nomination deadline for 2022 Outlaw Award is January 14

The Commission is soliciting nominations for the 2022 Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award until Friday, January 14, 2022.

Click here to download the nomination form, which includes detailed information about selection criteria and the nomination process.

Questions and nominations should be directed to outlawaward@ncrec.gov.

Current Stats: Monthly Licensee Count as of December 1, 2021

Did You Know? Education providers must publish a Policies and Procedures Disclosure (PPD)

Did you know that private education providers are required to publish a Policies and Procedures Disclosure, or PPD? Are you familiar with your provider’s PPD?

NCGS § 93A-34 and Commission Rule 58H .0204 require certified education providers to publish a PPD that includes:
– identifying data and publication date;
– name(s) of education provider(s) and its full-time officials and faculty;
– education provider’s policies and procedures relating to entrance requirements, registration, grades, student progress, attendance, student conduct and refund of tuition and fees;
– detailed schedule of tuition and fees;
– detailed course outline of all courses offered;
– the name and address of the Commission, along with a statement that any complaints concerning the education provider or its instructors should be directed to the Commission;
– a statement that the education provider shall not discriminate in its admissions policy or practice against any person on the basis of age, sex, race, color, national origin, familial status, handicap status, or religion;
– the education provider’s most recent annual License Examination Performance Record and the Annual Summary Report data as published by the Commission;
– the all-inclusive tuition and fees for each particular course;
– a written course cancellation and refund policy;
– a list of all course and reference materials required;
– the course completion requirements pursuant to Rule .0207 of this Section and 21 NCAC 58A .1705; and
– a signed certification acknowledging the student’s receipt of the Policies and Procedures Disclosure prior to payment of any portion of tuition or registration fee without the right to a full refund.

So why is it important to review a provider’s PPD before taking a class? To be sure you’re aware of all course policies and requirements.

Education providers must adhere to all Commission rules regarding course administration and delivery, but they are permitted to establish policies that are more restrictive than what the Commission requires. For example, the Commission regularly receives calls from brokers inquiring whether an education provider has the authority to require them to remain on camera while taking a course. The answer is yes. Commission rules dictate that education providers are responsible for verifying and recording student attendance in their courses, but the rules do not dictate the method by which education providers address this requirement.  Many providers require students to remain on camera during synchronous distance courses as a means of addressing the requirement. 

If you have specific questions about your education provider’s policies, contact your education provider.

For more information regarding the Commission’s education programs or rules, contact the Education & Licensing Division at 919.875.3700 or educ@ncrec.gov.

WWREA Disclosure Revised Effective January 1, 2022

The Commission’s Working with Real Estate Agents (WWREA) disclosure form and accompanying Q&A brochure have been revised effective January 1, 2022. 

The July 2021 Disclosure Form and Brochure stated that a broker must enter into a written buyer agency agreement “before preparing a written offer or communicating an oral offer.” Both the disclosure and brochure have been revised to match the language of Commission Rule A .0104(a) which requires that a broker representing a buyer enter into a written buyer agency agreement no later than the time one of the parties to the transaction makes an offer to purchase. 

A broker may continue to use any remaining copies of the July 2021 versions of the disclosure and brochure without penalty.

While the disclosure form and brochure were revised to more accurately reflect the language in the rule, Commission staff advises that the best practice is for a broker to have a signed buyer agency agreement before preparing a written offer. Commission staff have seen cases in which a broker sent both a buyer agency agreement and a written offer to purchase to a buyer at the same time, but only received back the offer signed by the buyer.  In a number of these cases, the broker then failed to comply with the rule by submitting the signed offer to the seller without having the signed buyer agency agreement.  A broker who does not have a written agency agreement at the time their buyer makes an offer has violated the rule and risks both disciplinary action and not receiving compensation for their services.

Questions about the disclosure form should be directed to Regulatory Affairs at regulatoryaffairs@ncrec.gov or 919-719-9180.