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Disciplinary Actions

JAMES RAY HALL JR (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Hall for a period of 12 months, effective February 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Hall, acting as a co-listing agent, paid for renovations and additions to a listed property and advertised it as connected to city sewer.  Following closing, the buyer learned that the property was not connected to city sewer. Hall failed to verify that a permit was obtained for the renovations and additions to the property and failed to disclose the lack of permits to the buyer.

WILLIAM M. LITTLE (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Little for a period of 12 months, effective February 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Little, acting as broker-in-charge, failed to maintain required property management records, had an overage in the security deposit account, and failed to timely provide documentation upon request by the Commission.

LITTLE & YOUNG, INC. (FAYETTEVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm license for a period of 12 months, effective February 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that the firm failed to maintain proper property management records, had an overage in the security deposit account, and failed to timely provide documentation regarding HOA management upon request by the Commission.

BRYCE HOWARD SMITH (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Smith for a period of 2 months, effective March 1, 2024. The Commission found that Smith, acting as Qualifying Broker of Charlotte Homes & Rentals, LLC, allowed the continuation of brokerage services from July 1, 2022 to May 2, 2023, without an active and designated Broker-in-Charge.

CHARLOTTE HOMES & RENTALS LLC (CHARLOTTE) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the firm license for a period of 5 years, effective March 1, 2024. The Commission found that the firm continued to operate and conduct brokerage services throughout a 10-month period from July 1, 2022 to May 2, 2023, without an active broker-in-charge.

STEVEN ROBERT SPENCER (WAKE FOREST) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Spencer for a period of 24 months, effective March 1, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Spencer, acting as broker-in-charge, failed to respond to Letters of Inquiry in a timely manner and failed to adequately ensure proper advertising. Spencer oversaw a transaction in which the property was advertised as containing 3 bedrooms despite the septic permit only allowing for 2 bedrooms.

MOISES C. MIRANDA (GASTONIA) – By consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Miranda for a period of 12 months, effective March 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Miranda listed a home that went under contract and the home inspection uncovered various issues. Following the termination of that transaction, Miranda relisted the property but failed to disclose the material facts learned during the first transaction.

MARGARET A. SOPHIE (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Sophie, effective March 20, 2024. The Commission found that Sophie failed to inquire further about certain disclosures by her seller-client on the RPOADS form, leading to her failure to discover and disclose material facts about the road maintenance of the subject property. Consequently, the buyer discovered after closing that they have responsibility for repairs, a fact that was well-known by all owners on the road, including the seller.

TRAVIS REYNOLDS HUDSON (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Hudson, effective March 20, 2024. The Commission found that Hudson, acting as buyer’s agent, failed to advise his buyer-client on the relevance of certain responses on an  RPOADS private street disclosure question and otherwise failed to discover and disclose the buyer’s responsibility for road maintenance of the subject property prior to closing.

AUTUMNE VAUGHAN BENNETT (CARY) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Bennett, effective March 20, 2024. The Commission found that Bennett, acting as broker-in-charge for a listing agent, failed to adequately supervise her broker-affiliate regarding material fact disclosure of road maintenance responsibilities of the subject property. Consequently, the listing agent failed to discover and disclose material information related to a seller-client’s responses on the RPOADS form and the buyer discovered after closing that they are responsible for repairs, a fact that was well-known by all owners on the road, including the seller.

CLIO MADELEINE CARROLL (ABERDEEN) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Carroll for a period of 6 months, effective March 20, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Carroll was the listing agent for a transaction in which a buyer’s agent submitted an offer on behalf of their buyer-clients that included an escalation clause. Carroll communicated to the buyer’s agent that another offer had been received and delivered a copy of the other offer to the buyer’s agent without first receiving permission from the other buyer. Carroll acknowledged her failure to obtain permission before disclosing the other offer.

MARK EZIO CARLTON (WILMINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Carlton for a period of 12 months, effective March 15, 2024. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety and placed Carlton on probation through March 15, 2025, upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Carlton failed to notice and disclose to his buyer client that there was a discrepancy in which a septic system was noted on the RPOADS form but the property was advertised as having city sewer in the MLS. The discrepancy was later discovered by a broker affiliated with Carlton’s firm who advised the buyer to have a septic inspection completed prior to completion of the closing. Carlton paid for the inspection, after which the buyer closed the transaction.

TRITORI REALTY GROUP INC. (RALEIGH) – By Consent, the Tritori Realty Group voluntarily surrendered its firm license with no right to reapply for a period of two (2) years, effective March 13, 2024. Tritori Realty Group Inc. neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

SCOTT O. MCDONALD (WEAVERVILLE) – By Consent, McDonald voluntarily surrendered his broker license with no right to reapply for a period of two (2) years, effective March 13, 2024. McDonald neither admitted nor denied misconduct.

Rolling out the Revised RPOADS!

At its March 2024 meeting, the Commission approved the revised RPOADs form for use beginning July 1, 2024.  If you haven’t seen it yet, click here to take a look. The format is different, but many of the questions are the same. In addition, more detailed questions have been added addressing flooding and related issues. Other questions were revised, deleted or added.  The form is longer, largely due to the many requests the Commission received to increase the font size. 

The first page contains updated instructions for owners, buyers, and broker.  Familiarize yourself with the revised instructions and form.  Brokers are required to inform their clients/customers about their rights and duties related to the Disclosure, so it’s important that you know and understand them yourself. 

The law (N.C.G.S. 47E) requires residential property owners to complete the Disclosure Statement and provide it to the buyer prior to any offer to purchase. If the owner fails to do so, a buyer may be able to cancel any contract.  There are limited exemptions for completing the form, such as new home construction that has never been occupied. 

Owners are required to answer every question by selecting Yes (Y), No (N), No Representation (NR), or Not Applicable (NA).  Owners may choose to make no representation for all or some of the questions on the form. Some characteristics or features simply may not apply to a particular property; these (and only these) now have a “NA” option. If an owner selects NA, it means the property does not contain a particular item or feature. 

It is important for licensees to remember that the disclosures made in the Disclosure Statement are those of the owner(s), not the listing broker.  A broker’s duty to disclose is separate from that of the owner.  If you represent the owners, and they choose to make no representations, be sure you advise them that you are still obligated to disclose any material facts about the property to potential buyers. 

If an owner selects Y or N, the owner is only required to disclose information about which they have actual knowledge. If they answer Y to any question, they should provide an explanation of the issue, or they can attach a report from an attorney, engineer, contractor, pest control operator, or other expert or public agency describing it.

If an owner selects N, the owner is indicating they have no actual knowledge of the matter, including any problem. If the owner selects N and the owner knows there is a problem or that the owner’s answer is not correct, the owner may be liable for making an intentional misstatement.  A broker representing an owner should be sure their client understands this. 

Owners are not required to disclose any of the material facts that have a NR option, even if they have knowledge of them. However, licensees should be aware that an owner’s failure to disclose hidden defects may result in civil liability for the owner. If an owner selects NR, it could mean that the owner (1) has knowledge of an issue and chooses not to disclose it; or (2) simply does not know.  If you are representing a buyer, be sure you explain this to the buyer when you review the Disclosure with them.  Simply sending them the Disclosure is not sufficient.  Instead, review it with them, and advise them to get their own inspections to determine any defects that aren’t revealed in the Disclosure.  The Disclosure is not a warranty of any kind, and no Disclosure is a substitute for a thorough home inspection.  Remember, many defects are hidden, and the owner may not have discovered them yet.  Also, let your buyer clients know that the Disclosure only applies to dwellings (structures intended for human habitation) so detached sheds, garages, etc. need to be inspected as well.

All brokers, owners and buyers should keep signed copies of the Disclosure for their records.  If the listing broker or owner discovers something about the property after the Disclosure has been completed or given to the buyer, the Disclosure must be updated and any buyer, or prospective buyer, should be immediately informed. 

Finally, remember that brokers cannot complete the form for the owner, but they must advise the owner to answer all questions on the form, even if it is with NR.  A broker selling property they own must complete the form unless exempt, and they can still select NR.  However, selecting NR does not relieve them from their duty as a broker to disclose material facts they know or should reasonably know about the property.  Therefore, if you are selling your own property, as a broker, you MUST make disclosures, either using the form or separately.

If you list a property prior to July 1, 2024, you do not need to have your owners create a new disclosure using the revised form.  You can use the new form if you want to try it out; however, the current one is just fine.  If you have to update the form, beginning July 1, you must use the revised one.  For any listings taken on or after July 1, use the revised form only. 

Remember, communication with your clients about everything is always key.  If you represent the owners, explain the form to them, make sure it is completed and provided, and updated as necessary.  Don’t take the owners’ word for things without verifying before you advertise features.  Make your own reasonable investigation and required disclosures. Disclosures are best made in writing so you can demonstrate you made them if there is ever any question.  If you represent a buyer, explain the Disclosure, go through it with them, be sure every question is answered, and explain the importance of getting their own thorough inspections.  Following up with an email documenting your discussions with your clients will help if there is ever any question. Look for issues when you visit the property, and follow up with your buyers’ expressed specific needs to be sure the property is suitable for them.  These additional steps may take you a little time on the front end, but can save you a lot of time down the road.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: April is National Fair Housing Month

The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing transactions against people in a protected class. Protected classes include race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status. The housing transactions that are covered are the renting or buying of a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other related activities. 

In addition to the federal Fair Housing Act most states, including North Carolina, have a state Fair Housing Act.

To learn more about your rights under the Fair Housing Act or how you can attend some Fair Housing events, review the list below.

Public Vs. Agent – Only Remarks: What’s the Deal?

As a listing agent, you spend lots of time entering information into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  This could actually take several hours and it’s important that you double check the information to ensure accuracy.  After all, you don’t want to misrepresent the listing.  Once you have finished entering all the data, the MLS contains two sections for adding text about the property –  the public section and the agent-only section.

Now it’s time for the creative part… the public remarks section.  If creativity comes easy to you, the public remarks section will flow naturally.  Some brokers like to identify the special features or describe the property in a way that allows the buyers to visualize themselves living there. Brokers who struggle with creativity may also simply state the basic facts about the property; both of these approaches are acceptable, so long as the information provided is accurate.

Have you ever wondered exactly what type of information should be entered into the agent-only section of the MLS?  Let’s break it down.  The information entered is private information provided by the listing agent to potential buyer agents.  This information may include facts about the showing instructions such as, “Sellers work night shifts so no showings in the AM” or “Please allow time for sellers to remove two unfriendly dogs” or even, “Sellers would prefer a six week closing.”  The remarks in this particular section are disclosed to other agents, not to the public. 

What happens when a material fact is discovered about a property that needs to be disclosed and the seller is unwilling to disclose it in the Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement (RPOADS)? Listing agents are still required to disclose material facts they know about the property, even if the seller indicates “No Representation” on the disclosure form.  Some listing agents make these disclosures in the public remarks section of the MLS.  After all, the point of discovering and disclosing material facts is to put the public (not just other brokers) on notice in order for them to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to submit an offer. 

For example, let’s say your listing has gone under contract and the buyer’s inspector has discovered a deteriorated joist in the crawl space.  The buyer terminates and the property is back on active status.  Obviously, the RPOADS is the most appropriate place to disclose material facts.  However, agents occasionally have sellers who are unwilling to update the disclosure.  If this is the case, the listing agent may choose to make their required disclosure in the public section of the MLS.  Brokers showing listings should always review this section and provide any disclosures to potential buyers.  Additionally, a prudent listing agent will notify a potential buyer in writing and prior to offer submission by sending an email of disclosure to the buyer agent or, directly to the buyer if they are not represented. This is especially important when the buyer agent is not a member of the MLS.

Remember, the agent-only section is for providing important information to other brokers and not for disclosing material facts.

The North Carolina Real Estate Educators Conference

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission was pleased to host its 2024 Spring Educators Conference on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The theme of the conference was NCREC Education Superhero Comicon.

The registration for the conference was limited to 300 participants. Len Elder, Director of Education and Licensing and Kizzy Crawford Heath, Assistant Director of Education and Licensing, opened the conference. Jeff Malarney, Commission Chair, welcomed all of the attendees.

The day-long event featured the following presentations by Commission Staff members. 

The conference concluded with the presentation of the 2024 Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award to Bill Gallagher by Commission Chair Malarney. The Commission established the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award in 2016 to honor the Commission’s late former Director of Education and Licensing Division. This year’s recipient of the Larry A. Outlaw Award, Bill Gallagher, demonstrated ongoing excellence in outstanding contributions to real estate education in North Carolina. The Commission thanks North Carolina’s real estate education community for its continued interest and support, and congratulates Bill Gallagher on his award.

Simplified Continuing Education to Increase Professional Competence

Pursuant to Rule 58A. 1702, North Carolina brokers must complete eight credit hours of real estate continuing education each license year. The eight hours consist of:

All brokers without BIC-Eligible status and provisional brokers must attend the General Update Course and all Brokers-in Charge and BIC Eligible Brokers must attend the Broker-in-Charge Update Course. A broker is required to complete eight credit hours of continuing education by June 10th at 11:59 PM EST. This requirement begins upon the second renewal following initial licensure and upon each subsequent annual renewal.

In the past, Rule 58A .1708 permitted brokers to request equivalent credit for a course that was not approved by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission by submitting a $50 fee, course outline and completion certificate. On July 1, 2023, the availability of equivalent credit was removed for all brokers, except an instructor who either authored or taught a course. Therefore, there is no equivalent credit offered for a course that is not currently approved by NCREC.  A broker who previously submitted courses for equivalent continuing education credit should take the required Update course and an approved North Carolina elective prior to the June 10th deadline.

Rule 58A .1708 was changed to ensure that all North Carolina brokers are required to take North Carolina approved courses. The change also eliminates the need for brokers to pay additional fees, especially when courses were not approved for equivalent credit.

Rule 58A .1711 previously exempted brokers who were licensed in another state from the continuing education requirements in North Carolina. On July 1, 2023, the Commission repealed that rule. All brokers licensed in North Carolina must meet the same eight hour continuing education requirement. The prevalence of online courses means that this is no longer an unreasonable burden for licensees living outside North Carolina.

These rule changes were intended to make things simpler for brokers and to assure that all brokers in North Carolina obtain the same education regarding North Carolina rules, statutes and information to ensure the competence of brokers practicing in the state. If you have questions about the status of your continuing education, you can login and check your continuing education record on the Commission’s website.

Agent Safety is a Priority!

In the busy world of real estate, where brokers are constantly meeting new clients and showcasing properties, safety is of the utmost importance. While most interactions with clients are positive and exciting, it is essential for real estate brokers to be proactive in protecting themselves against potential threats. Whether meeting clients for a property viewing or hosting an open house, here are some tips for real estate brokers to stay safe:

  1. Meet in a Safe Environment: If you’re meeting with a client for the first time, it is safest to meet somewhere familiar and safe. You can meet at your firm’s office, a busy public place, or with another broker alongside you.
  2. Inform Colleagues or Supervisors: You should always let someone know about your appointments and location, especially when you’re meeting new clients or visiting unfamiliar places. You should also share details like the client’s name, contact information, and the location of the meeting.
  3. Trust Your Instincts: As a real estate broker, your intuition is a valuable tool. If something doesn’t feel right or makes you uncomfortable during an interaction with a client or customer, trust your instincts and proceed with caution. It is better to be cautious than to ignore any red flags.
  4. Use Technology: Use technology to help keep yourself safe such as applications that share your location in real time with trusted contacts or activate emergency alerts if you feel you are in danger.

5. Pre-Plan Escape Routes: Familiarize yourself with the layout of properties you’re showcasing and identify potential escape routes in case of emergency.

6. Stay Informed About Local Safety Risks: Keep up to date about crime trends in the areas you are doing business. Knowledge of potential harm helps you to be proactive and avoid dangerous situations.

7. Create Safety Guidelines: When hosting open houses, create safety guidelines such as requiring visitors to sign in, limiting access to certain areas of the property, and having a colleague or security present.

You can go to ncrec.gov to find the Safety Guide under Publications. This guide includes more helpful information to keep you safe and prepared in the event of a dangerous situation.

Reminder: Complete your Continuing Education Today!

Have you taken your CE courses for the 2023-2024 license year? Do you know which courses you need to take?

The CE deadline is June 10, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST and brokers must ensure they complete their continuing education requirements to maintain an active real estate license.

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 their BIC Eligible status and BIC designation.

Not sure which Update course you need to take? Log into your license record here 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, visit the Commission’s website at www.ncrec.gov.

Reminder: Instructor Development Credit

After the successful conclusion of the 2024 Spring Educators Conference, a number of Commission-approved instructors earned their six hours of education needed to renew their instructor approval. However, there are still a number of educators who need to satisfy the real estate instructor educational program required by Commission Rule 58H .0306.

A common misconception is that the Spring Educators Conference is the only way to fulfill this requirement, but there are actually a number of other choices available to educators. If you are a Commission-approved instructor who still needs to complete their instructor development credit, review our Guidelines for Instructional Educational Requirement (Form REC 3.78). This form is located on the Commission’s website under Forms. This document contains a list of several options instructors can use to complete the necessary education.

Once an educator has completed their six hours of instructor development training, they can then renew their approval by completing the renewal application in the Instructor Dashboard, once it becomes available on May 15th. If you have any questions regarding the requirements to renew your instructor approval, please go to the Commission’s website at www.ncrec.gov.

Guess What? We have a Video for THAT!

Have you been asked how to become a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina? Well, the next time someone asks you, inform them about our NEW informational videos on real estate licensing. These videos are posted on the NCREC YouTube channel and also in Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina (RELINC) booklet. Spread the word!

1 – Overview of the Licensing Process (3:18)

2 – Real Estate Licensing Requirements (5:04) 

3 – Basic Info about the NC License Examination (4:17)

4 – Scheduling an Exam with Pearson VUE (3:56)  

5- Testing with Pearson Vue (3:17)