Bulletin Search
Disciplinary Actions
PATRICIA FRITZINGER (GOLDSBORO) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. Fritzinger effective September 14, 2021. The Commission found that Ms. Fritzinger acted as the listing agent for residential property. After a buyer terminated their contract to purchase, they shared their home inspection report with Ms. Fritzinger. The owner of the property addressed some, but not all, of the material issues noted on the inspection report. Ms. Fritzinger failed to advise the owner to update the property disclosure form to include items that were not repaired and failed to otherwise disclose the non-repaired items to subsequent buyers prior to offers being made. Ms. Fritzinger did provide the home inspection reports to the subsequent buyers during their due diligence period.
JAMES GARLAND HARRIS III (ROXBORO) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Harris III for a period of 30 Days effective September 10, 2021. The Commission found that Mr. Harris III used an Instagram account that was tied to his real estate business, to comment on an Instagram post unrelated to real estate. Mr. Harris III’s comment was inappropriate and not professional in nature. He has since deleted his comment to the post.
PHILLIP M PRICE (GREENSBORO) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker license of Mr. Price effective September 8, 2021. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Price violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Price neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
ODELL WILLIAMSON JR (DURHAM) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Williamson Jr for a period of 36 months effective January 31, 2020. The Commission found that Mr. Williamson Jr acted as the listing agent in a residential purchase transaction. Mr. Williamson Jr failed to provide and review a Working with Real Estate Agents brochure with an unrepresented buyer at first substantial contact. Mr. Williamson Jr acknowledged on the purchase contract that he received the $6,000 due diligence fee from the buyer, however he failed to deliver this check to his seller client. Instead, the check was made out to an unlicensed person who cashed the check, keeping 1/3 of the fee for himself, remitting 1/3 to the seller, and disbursing the remainder to Mr. Williamson Jr. The buyer also entered into a lease, which listed Mr. Williamson Jr’s company as the agent, although rent payments were made to an unlicensed person who never remitted rent proceeds to the seller.
License Status: How do I check the license status of a broker?
Have you ever wondered if a broker’s license status was inactive? Did you know that you can check the license status of a broker on the Commission’s website?
To determine the license status of a broker:
- go to www.ncrec.gov;
- click on Licensing;
- click on Brokers;
- enter the License Number, Name, City, or County of the broker; and
- click on Search.
The license record database on the Commission’s website now displays all brokers with an active and inactive license status. If a broker’s license is inactive, a note will be displayed at the top of their license record.
As stated, per Rule 58A .0504(a), a broker who has an inactive license status shall not engage in any activity requiring a real estate license.
See Commission Rule 58A .0504(a) for a full explanation of active and inactive license status. For more information regarding a broker’s license status, contact the Commission’s Education and Licensing Division at LS@ncrec.gov or 919.875.3700.
Disciplinary Actions
JOY LORI STEIN (MURPHY) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the broker license of Ms. Stein effective August 16, 2021. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Ms. Stein violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Ms. Stein neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
Did You Know: Fair Housing Resources
Did you know the Commission has published a new Fair Housing resource page on its website? Brokers and consumers can utilize this page as a tool to access more information regarding state and federal fair housing laws.
To access the Fair Housing Page:
- go to www.ncrec.gov;
- click on Resources; and
- click on Fair Housing.
For more information regarding the Commission’s website resources, contact the Commission at info@ncrec.gov or 919.875.3700.
Staff Appearances
Dee Bigelow, Information Officer, spoke at the Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Meeting on August 11.
Miriam Baer, Executive Director, spoke at the Compass Real Estate – North Carolina Sales Meeting on August 17.
Sheryl Graham, Consumer Protection Officer, spoke at the REMax Master Key Meeting on August 31.
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 the following positions:
- Course Review Officer – Application Deadline: September 2, 2021
- OnBase Developer – Application Deadline: September 8, 2021
- Associate Legal Counsel I – Application Deadline: September 13, 2021
- Associate Legal Counsel II – Application Deadline: September 13, 2021
Click here for more information.
HUD and FHFA Announce Collaboration to Advance Fair Housing and Fair Lending Enforcement
On August 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) entered into a first-of-its-kind collaborative agreement regarding fair housing and fair lending coordination. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the two agencies will focus on enhancing their enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, and their oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) strengthens both agencies’ ability to enforce fair housing and fair lending requirements, by promoting information sharing, coordination on investigations, compliance reviews, and the ongoing monitoring of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The agencies anticipate that the MOU will lead to stronger oversight that will help advance vigorous fair housing enforcement that can begin to redress our nation’s history of discriminatory housing practices.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $7.2 trillion in funding for the U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions. Additional information is available at www.FHFA.gov.
Wendell Bullard Elected Chair and Mel Black Elected Vice Chair
Executive Director Miriam Baer announced that Wendell Bullard of Durham has been elected as Chair and Mel Black of Raleigh as Vice Chair of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Their terms will begin on August 1, 2021.
Wendell Bullard was appointed to the Commission by Governor Cooper in 2018. Licensed in 1994, he is Managing Broker at Bullard Properties, LLC, in Durham. He has experience in commercial brokerage, land, and residential sales. Bullard is a past President of the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS® and the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® and is a past REALTOR® of the Year in both organizations. He also served as a NAR® Director and REALTOR® Party Liaison for Community Engagement.
Mr. Bullard is also an original founding member of several charter schools in North Carolina. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from North Carolina Central University and is a United States Air Force Security Specialists veteran.
Mel Black was appointed to the Commission by Governor Cooper in 2019. As a real estate and appraisal educator, Mr. Black develops and delivers real estate curriculum for the Colibri Group. As an attorney in private practice with Everett Gaskins Hancock, LLP, he focuses on administrative law and occupational licensing. Mr. Black is a third-generation broker and second-generation appraiser in North Carolina. He has been licensed as a broker since 1988 and certified as an appraiser since 1991.
Mr. Black is the former Executive Director of the North Carolina Appraisal Board and former Education and Examination Officer with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
He has been elected to multiple national positions, including president of the Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials, member of The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council and its State Regulator Advisory Group, and member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation. For his service to North Carolina, Mr. Black was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Mr. Black was named Educator of the Year by the North Carolina Real Estate Educators Association and received the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Real Estate Education Award from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
He holds a Juris Doctorate from the North Carolina Central University School of Law, an Educational Specialist degree from Appalachian State University, a Masters of Education from Winthrop College, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the State of New York. Mr. Black and his children, Andrew and Mari, are based in Raleigh.