By Carrie D. Worthington, Publications Officer
When you access the North Carolina Real Estate Commission's web site at www.ncrec.state.nc.us, you see a state map with the Commission's seal in the center - identifying the Commission's "home page." Underneath, as a pledge to consumers, is the Commission's Mission Statement, "To protect the public interest in real estate brokerage transactions." In separate icons below the Statement, you'll find the complete text of the Mission and general information about the Real Estate Commission and staff.
A scroll bar offers timely information. Currently, it's a reminder of the $5 late filing fee, plus the $35 renewal fee, for a total of $40 to late-renew a license. And speaking of license renewal, you now have the option of renewing your real estate license online by selecting the "Licensees Only" icon. [See Bulletin Volume 31, Number 1, Spring 2000.]
The "Licensee Only" icon also allows you to update certain information (residence address, fax number, e-mail address) in your licensee record and to check your continuing education credits. (Please allow 24 - 48 hours for the Commission's records to reflect your renewal and any record changes.)
By choosing the "Licensee Data" icon, consumers as well as licensees may inquire about active real estate brokers, salespersons and firms in North Carolina. You may search for a licensee in a particular county by choosing from a list of counties or by "clicking" on the county in a state map provided in the database.
Under the "Schedules" icon, you'll find continuing education course schedules and sponsors, schedules for examinations as well as exam reviews, and online course registration.
You can also get online registration forms by clicking on the "Forms" icon. (Attention brokers-in-charge: Please be aware that you can use your credit card and register online for the Broker-in-Charge Course.) Other forms available under this icon include Residential Property Disclosure statements, Disclosure to Buyer from Seller's Agent or Subagent, order forms, and various forms for updating licensee records.
As explained with the "Forms" and "Schedules" icons, the home page allows you to access certain information from more than one database. For example, the Real Estate License Law, Commission Rules, Trust Account Guidelines and Fair Housing Act are available in Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina under "Licensing" or they can be accessed from their respective icons.
Other Commission publications, including "Questions and Answers" brochures and all volumes of the Real Estate Bulletin are available under icons on the home page.
The Commission's newest publication, the North Carolina Real Estate Manual, can be ordered online by clicking on the "Manual" icon.
The home page also offers links to the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and the North Carolina Association of REALTORS&#reg; (NCAR). Other links are added as needed.
The Commission's web site is updated periodically to ensure that it remains "user friendly" and that real estate licensees as well as consumers are kept informed, in a timely manner, about matters of interest and concern to the real estate industry in North Carolina.