The Real Estate Commission at its December meeting approved the recommendations of its Interstate Brokerage Cooperation Advisory Committee to aggressively pursue reciprocal licensing arrangements with other states and study ways to expedite the processing of applications for nonresident real estate licenses.

The Commission also directed staff to explore the feasibility of issuing "temporary practice permits" to out-of-state licensees.

Representatives from commercial real estate brokerage organizations had requested the Commission's assistance in facilitating brokerage across state lines. Specifically, they asked the Commission to explore ways to enable real estate licensees in other states to transact commercial business in North Carolina through "partnering arrangements" with North Carolina licensees.

In response, the Commission formed the Interstate Brokerage Cooperation Advisory Committee and expanded the scope of its inquiry to also include residential transactions. The Commission charged the committee to identify any legal or other obstacles facing real estate licensees from other states who wish to engage in real estate brokerage in North Carolina; demonstrate how these obstacles affect North Carolina real estate consumers, licensees and others; and recommend ways to remove any obstacles without reducing protections afforded consumers.

The Commission gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following committee members: Jim Anthony (Raleigh), Randall Morrison (Sunset Beach), Ben Orme (Charlotte), Deidre Rogers (Mt. Airy), Assistant Attorney General Harriet F. Worley, and North Carolina Association of REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Director Stephanie Mansur. Commission Member Bill Lackey (Charlotte) represented the Commission on the advisory committee. Commission staff members Larry Outlaw, Miriam Baer and Legal Counsel Tom Miller served as staff advisors, and Executive Director Phillip Fisher facilitated the discussions.