GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
SESSION LAW 2011-217
HOUSE BILL 386
AN ACT to modernize the north carolina real estate license law.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 93A-2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-2. Definitions and exceptions.
…
(a1) The term broker-in-charge
within the meaning of this Chapter means a real estate broker who has been
designated as the broker having responsibility for the supervision of real
estate salespersonsbrokers on provisional status engaged in real
estate brokerage at a particular real estate office and for other
administrative and supervisory duties as the Commission shall prescribe by
rule.
…
(c) The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to and do not include:
(1) Any person, partnership,
corporation, limited liability company, association, or other business entity who,that,
as owner or lessor, shall perform any of the acts aforesaid with reference to
property owned or leased by them, where the acts are performed in the regular
course of or as incident to the management of that property and the investment
therein.
(2) Any person acting as an attorney-in-fact under a duly executed power of attorney from the owner authorizing the final consummation of performance of any contract for the sale, lease or exchange of real estate.
(3) The acts or
services of an attorney-at-law.Acts or services performed by an attorney
who is an active member of the North Carolina State Bar if the acts and
services constitute the practice of law under Chapter 84 of the General
Statutes.
(4) Any person, while acting as a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, guardian, administrator or executor or any person acting under order of any court.
(5) Any person, while acting as a trustee under a written trust agreement, deed of trust or will, or that person's regular salaried employees. The trust agreement, deed of trust, or will must specifically identify the trustee, the beneficiary, the corpus of trust, and the trustee's authority over the corpus.
(6) Any salaried person employed by a licensed real estate broker, for and on behalf of the owner of any real estate or the improvements thereon, which the licensed broker has contracted to manage for the owner, if the salaried employee's employment is limited to: exhibiting units on the real estate to prospective tenants; providing the prospective tenants with information about the lease of the units; accepting applications for lease of the units; completing and executing preprinted form leases; and accepting security deposits and rental payments for the units only when the deposits and rental payments are made payable to the owner or the broker employed by the owner. The salaried employee shall not negotiate the amount of security deposits or rental payments and shall not negotiate leases or any rental agreements on behalf of the owner or broker. However, in a vacation rental transaction as defined by G.S. 42A-4(3), the employee may offer a prospective tenant a rental price and term from a schedule setting forth prices and terms and the conditions and limitations under which they may be offered. The schedule shall be written and provided by the employee's employing broker with the written authority of the landlord.
(7) Any individual owner who personally leases or sells the owner's own property.
(8) Any housing
authority organized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 157 of the
General Statutes and any regular salaried employees of the housing authority
when performing acts authorized in this Chapter as to any property owned or
leased by the housing authority.with regard to the sale or lease of
property owned by the housing authority or the subletting of property which the
housing authority holds as tenant. This exception shall not apply to any
person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or
other business entity that contracts with a housing authority to sell or manage
property owned or leased by the housing authority."
SECTION 2. G.S. 93A-3(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e) The Commission
shall be entitled to the services of the Attorney General of North Carolina, in
connection with the affairs of the Commission or may on approval of the Attorney
General, employ an attorney to assist or represent it in the enforcement of
this Chapter, as to specific matters, but the fee paid for such service shall
be approved by the Attorney General. Commission, and may, with the
approval of the Attorney General, employ attorneys to represent the Commission
or assist it in the enforcement of this Chapter. The Commission may prefer
a complaint for violation of this Chapter before any court of competent
jurisdiction, and it may take the necessary legal steps through the proper
legal offices of the State to enforce the provisions of this Chapter and
collect the penalties provided therein."
SECTION 3. G.S. 93A-4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-4. Applications for licenses; fees; qualifications; examinations; privilege licenses; renewal or reinstatement of license; power to enforce provisions.
…
(a1) Each person who is issued
a real estate broker license on or after April 1, 2006, shall initially be
classified as a provisional broker and shall, within three years following
initial licensure, satisfactorily complete, at a school approved by the
Commission, a postlicensing education program consisting of 90 hours of
classroom instruction in subjects determined by the Commission or shall possess
real estate education or experience in real estate transactions which the
Commission shall find equivalent to the education program. The Commission may,
by rule, establish a schedule for completion of the prescribed postlicensing
education that requires provisional brokers to complete portions of the 90-hour
postlicensing education program in less than three years, and provisional
brokers must comply with this schedule in order to be entitled to actively
engage in real estate brokerage. Upon completion of the postlicensing education
program, the provisional status of the broker's license shall be terminated.
When a provisional broker fails to complete all 90 hours of required
postlicensing education within three years following
initial licensure, the broker's license shall be cancelled, and the
Commission may, in its discretion, require the person whose license was
cancelled to satisfy the postlicensing education program and the requirements
for original licensure prescribed in this Chapter as a condition of license
reinstatement, including the examination requirements and the license
reinstatement fee prescribed by subsection (c) of this section.placed on
inactive status. The broker's license shall not be returned to active status
until he or she has satisfied such requirements as the Commission may by rule
require. Every license cancelled after April 1, 2009, because the licensee
failed to complete postlicensing education shall be reinstated on inactive
status until such time as the licensee satisfies the requirements for returning
to active status as the Commission may by rule require.
…
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, any person who submits an application to the Commission in proper manner for a license as real estate broker shall be required to take an examination. The examination may be administered orally, by computer, or by any other method the Commission deems appropriate. The Commission may require the applicant to pay the Commission or a provider contracted by the Commission the actual cost of the examination and its administration. The cost of the examination and its administration shall be in addition to any other fees the applicant is required to pay under subsection (a) of this section. The examination shall determine the applicant's qualifications with due regard to the paramount interests of the public as to the applicant's competency. A person who fails the license examination shall be entitled to know the result and score. A person who passes the exam shall be notified only that the person passed the examination. Whether a person passed or failed the examination shall be a matter of public record; however, the scores for license examinations shall not be considered public records. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the rights granted to any person under G.S. 93B-8.
An applicant for licensure under this Chapter shall satisfy
the Commission that he or she possesses the competency, honesty, truthfulness,
integrity, and general moral charactergood moral character, and
general fitness, including mental and emotional fitness, necessary to
protect the public interest and promote public confidence in the real estate
brokerage business. The Commission may investigate the moral character and
fitness, including the mental and emotional fitness, of each applicant for
licensure and as the applicant's character and fitness may generally
relate to the real estate brokerage business, the public interest, and the
public's confidence in the real estate brokerage business. The Commission may
also require an applicant to provide the Commission with a criminal record
report. All applicants shall obtain criminal record reports from one or more
reporting services designated by the Commission to provide criminal record
reports. Applicants are required to pay the designated reporting service for
the cost of these reports. Criminal record reports, credit reports, and
reports relating to an applicant's mental and emotional fitness obtained in
connection with the application process shall not be considered public records under
Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. If the results of any required
competency examination and investigation of the applicant's moral character and
fitness shall be satisfactory to the Commission, then the Commission shall
issue to the applicant a license, authorizing the applicant to act as a real
estate broker in the State of North Carolina, upon the payment of any privilege
taxes now required by law or that may hereafter be required by law.
Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-38(c), in a contested case commenced upon the request of a party applying for licensure regarding the question of the moral character or fitness of the applicant, if notice has been reasonably attempted, but cannot be given to the applicant personally or by certified mail in accordance with G.S. 150B-38(c), the notice of hearing shall be deemed given to the applicant when a copy of the notice is deposited in an official depository of the United States Postal Service addressed to the applicant at the latest mailing address provided by the applicant to the Commission or by any other means reasonably designed to achieve actual notice to the applicant."
SECTION 4. G.S. 93A-4.1(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) The Commission
may adopt any reasonable rules not inconsistent with this Chapter to
give purpose and effect to the continuing education requirement, including
rules that govern:
(1) The content and subject matter of continuing education courses.
(2) The curriculum of courses required.
(3) The criteria, standards, and procedures for the approval of courses, course sponsors, and course instructors.
(4) The methods of instruction.
(5) The computation of course credit.
(6) The ability to carry forward course credit from one year to another.
(7) The deferral of
continuing education for brokers and salespersons not engaged in
brokerage.
(8) The waiver of or variance from the continuing education requirement for hardship or other reasons.
(9) The procedures for compliance and sanctions for noncompliance."
SECTION 5. G.S. 93A-5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-5.
Register of applicants; roster of brokers; financial report to Secretary of
State. applicants and roster of brokers.
(a) The Executive Director of the Commission shall keep a register of all applicants for license, showing for each the date of application, name, place of residence, and whether the license was granted or refused. Said register shall be prima facie evidence of all matters recorded therein.
(b) The Executive Director of the Commission shall also keep a current roster showing the names and places of business of all licensed real estate brokers, which roster shall be kept on file in the office of the Commission and be open to public inspection.
(c) On or before
the first day of September of each year, the Commission shall file with the
Secretary of State a copy of the roster of real estate brokers holding
certificates of license, and at the same time shall also file with the
Secretary of State a report containing a complete statement of receipts and
disbursements of the Commission for the preceding fiscal year ending June 30
attested by the affidavit of the Executive Director of the Commission.The
Commission shall file reports annually as required by G.S. 93B-2."
SECTION 6. G.S. 93A-6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-6. Disciplinary action by Commission.
(a) The Commission has power to take disciplinary action. Upon its own initiative, or on the complaint of any person, the Commission may investigate the actions of any person or entity licensed under this Chapter, or any other person or entity who shall assume to act in such capacity. If the Commission finds probable cause that a licensee has violated any of the provisions of this Chapter, the Commission may hold a hearing on the allegations of misconduct.
The Commission has power to suspend or revoke at any time a license issued under the provisions of this Chapter, or to reprimand or censure any licensee, if, following a hearing, the Commission adjudges the licensee to be guilty of:
(1) Making any willful or negligent misrepresentation or any willful or negligent omission of material fact.
(2) Making any false promises of a character likely to influence, persuade, or induce.
(3) Pursuing a course of misrepresentation or making of false promises through agents, advertising or otherwise.
(4) Acting for more than one party in a transaction without the knowledge of all parties for whom he or she acts.
(5) Accepting a
commission or valuable consideration as a real estate salespersonbroker
on provisional status for the performance of any of the acts specified in
this Article or Article 4 of this Chapter, from any person except his or her
broker-in-charge or licensed broker by whom he or she is employed.
(6) Representing or attempting to represent a real estate broker other than the broker by whom he or she is engaged or associated, without the express knowledge and consent of the broker with whom he or she is associated.
(7) Failing, within a reasonable time, to account for or to remit any monies coming into his or her possession which belong to others.
(8) Being unworthy or incompetent to act as a real estate broker in a manner as to endanger the interest of the public.
(9) Paying a commission or valuable consideration to any person for acts or services performed in violation of this Chapter.
(10) Any other conduct which constitutes improper, fraudulent or dishonest dealing.
(11) Performing or undertaking to perform any legal service, as set forth in G.S. 84-2.1, or any other acts constituting the practice of law.
(12) Commingling the money or
other property of his or her principals with his or her own or failure to
maintain and deposit in a trust or escrow account in an insured bank or
savings and loan association in North Carolinaa bank as provided by
subsection (g) of this section all money received by him or her as a real
estate licensee acting in that capacity, or an escrow agent, or the custodian
or manager of the funds of another person or entity which relate to or concern
that person's or entity's interest or investment in real property, provided,
these accounts shall not bear interest unless the principals authorize in
writing the deposit be made in an interest bearing account and also provide for
the disbursement of the interest accrued.
(13) Failing to deliver, within a reasonable time, a completed copy of any purchase agreement or offer to buy and sell real estate to the buyer and to the seller.
(14) Failing, at the time the
a sales transaction is consummated, to deliver to the seller in
every real estate transaction, a complete detailed closing statement showing
all of the receipts and disbursements handled by him or her for the seller or
failing to deliver to the buyer a complete statement showing all money received
in the transaction from the buyer and how and for what it was disbursed.the
broker's client a detailed and accurate closing statement showing the receipt
and disbursement of all monies relating to the transaction about which the
broker knows or reasonably should know. If a closing statement is prepared by
an attorney or lawful settlement agent, a broker may rely on the delivery of
that statement, but the broker must review the statement for accuracy and
notify all parties to the closing of any errors.
(15) Violating any rule or
regulation promulgatedadopted by the Commission.
The Executive Director shall transmit a certified copy of
all final orders of the Commission suspending or revoking licenses issued under
this Chapter to the clerk of superior court of the county in which the licensee
maintains his or her principal place of business. The clerk shall enter these
orders upon the judgment docket of the county.
(b) Following a
hearing, theThe Commission shall also have power tomay
suspend or revoke any license issued under the provisions of this Chapter or to
reprimand or censure any licensee when:
(1) The licensee has obtained a license by false or fraudulent representation;
(2) The licensee has
been convicted or has entered a plea of guilty or no contest upon which final
judgment is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State, or any
other state, of the criminal offenses of: embezzlement, obtaining money
under false pretense, fraud, forgery, conspiracy to defraud,any
misdemeanor or felony that involves false swearing, misrepresentation, deceit,
extortion, theft, bribery, embezzlement, false pretenses, fraud, forgery,
larceny, misappropriation of funds or property, perjury, or any other
offense showing professional unfitness or involving moral turpitude
which would reasonably affect the licensee's performance in the real estate
business;
(3) The licensee has violated any of the provisions of G.S. 93A-6(a) when selling, leasing, or buying the licensee's own property;
(4) The broker's unlicensed employee, who is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter under G.S. 93A-2(c)(6), has committed, in the regular course of business, any act which, if committed by the broker, would constitute a violation of G.S. 93A-6(a) for which the broker could be disciplined; or
(5) The licensee,
who is also a State-licensed or State-certified real estate appraiser pursuant
to Chapter 93E of the General Statutes, has violated any provisions of Chapter
93E of the General Statutes and has been reprimanded or has had an appraiser
license or certificate suspended or revoked by the Appraisal Board.The licensee,
who is also licensed as an appraiser, attorney, home inspector, mortgage
broker, general contractor, or member of another licensed profession or
occupation, has been disciplined for an offense under any law involving fraud,
theft, misrepresentation, breach of trust or fiduciary responsibility, or
willful or negligent malpractice.
(c) The Commission
may appear in its own name in superior court in actions for injunctive relief
to prevent any person from violating the provisions of this Chapter or rules promulgated
adopted by the Commission. The superior court shall have the power
to grant these injunctions even if criminal prosecution has been or may be
instituted as a result of the violations, or whether the person is a licensee
of the Commission.
(d) Each broker shall maintain complete records showing the deposit, maintenance, and withdrawal of money or other property owned by the broker's principals or held in escrow or in trust for the broker's principals. The Commission may inspect these records periodically, without prior notice and may also inspect these records whenever the Commission determines that they are pertinent to an investigation of any specific complaint against a licensee.
(e) When a person
or entity licensed under this Chapter is accused of any act, omission, or
misconduct which would subject the licensee to disciplinary action, the
licensee, with the consent and approval of the Commission, may surrender the
license and all the rights and privileges pertaining to it for a period of time
established by the Commission. A person or entity who surrenders a license
shall not thereafter be eligible for or submit any application for licensure as
a real estate broker or salesperson during the period of license
surrender.
(f) In any contested case in which the Commission takes disciplinary action authorized by any provision of this Chapter, the Commission may also impose reasonable conditions, restrictions, and limitations upon the license, registration, or approval issued to the disciplined person or entity. In any contested case concerning an application for licensure, time share project registration, or school, sponsor, instructor, or course approval, the Commission may impose reasonable conditions, restrictions, and limitations on any license, registration, or approval it may issue as a part of its final decision.
(g) A broker's trust or escrow account shall be a demand deposit account in a federally insured depository institution lawfully doing business in this State which agrees to make its records of the broker's account available for inspection by the Commission's representatives.
(h) The Executive Director shall transmit a certified copy of all final orders of the Commission suspending or revoking licenses issued under this Chapter to the clerk of superior court of the county in which the licensee maintains his or her principal place of business. The clerk shall enter the order upon the judgment docket of the county."
SECTION 7. G.S. 93A-6.1(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) The Commission shall
be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 53B of the General Statutes with
regard to subpoenas issued to compel the production of a licensee's trust
account records held by any financial institution. Notwithstanding that
exemption, the Commission shall serve, pursuant to G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4(j) of
the N.C. Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail to the licensee's last
known address, a copy of the subpoena and notice that the subpoena has been
served upon the financial institution. Service of the subpoena and notice on
the licensee shall be made within 10 days following service of the subpoena on
the financial institution holding the trust account records.Notwithstanding
the exemption, whenever the Commission issues a subpoena under this subsection,
the Commission shall send a copy to the licensee at his or her address of
record by regular mail."
SECTION 8. G.S. 93A-9(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-9.
Licensing nonresidents.foreign brokers.
(a) An applicant
from another state, which offers licensing privileges to residents of North
Carolina, may be licensed by conforming to all the provisions of this Chapter
and, in the discretion of the Commission, such other terms and conditions as
are required of North Carolina residents applying for license in such other
state; provided that the Commission may exempt from the examination prescribed
in G.S. 93A-4 a broker or salesperson duly licensed in another state if a
similar exemption is extended to licensed brokers from North Carolina. A
license applicant who has been a resident of North Carolina for not more than
90 days may be considered by the Commission as a nonresident for the purposes
of this subsection.The Commission may issue a broker license to an applicant
licensed in a foreign jurisdiction who has satisfied the requirements for
licensure set out in G.S. 93A-4 or such other requirements as the
Commission in its discretion may by rule require."
SECTION 9. G.S. 93A-11(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) Notwithstanding
the provisions of G.S. 97-21 or any other provision of law, a real estate
broker may include in the governing contract with a real estate salesperson broker
on provisional status whose nonemployee status is recognized pursuant to
section 3508 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 3508, an
agreement for the salespersonbroker on provisional status to
reimburse the broker for the cost of covering that salesperson broker
on provisional status under the broker's workers' compensation coverage of
the broker's business."
SECTION 10. G.S. 93A-16 reads as rewritten:
"Article 2.
"Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund.
"§ 93A-16. Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund created; payment to fund; management.
(a) There is hereby
created a special fund to be known as the "Real Estate Education and Recovery
Fund" which shall be set aside and maintained by the North Carolina Real
Estate Commission. The fund shall be used in the manner provided under this
Article for the payment of unsatisfied judgments where the aggrieved person has
suffered a direct monetary loss by reason of certain acts committed by any
real estate salesperson licensed before April 1, 2006, or byany real estate
broker. The Commission may also expend money from the fund to create books
and other publications, courses, forms, seminars, and other programs and
materials to educate licensees and the public in real estate subjects. However,
the Commission shall make no expenditures from the fund for educational purposes
if the expenditure will reduce the balance of the fund to an amount less than
two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).
(b) On September 1,
1979, the Commission shall transfer the sum of one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) from its expense reserve fund to the Real Estate Education and Recovery
Fund. Thereafter, the Commission may transfer to the Real Estate Education
and Recovery Fund additional sums of money from whatever funds the
Commission may have, provided that, if on December 31 of any year the amount
remaining in the fund is less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), the
Commission may determine that each person or entity licensed under this
Chapter, when renewing a license, shall pay in addition to the license renewal
fee, a fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per broker and five dollars
($5.00) per salesperson as shall be determined by the Commission for the
purpose of replenishing the fund.
(c) The Commission shall invest and reinvest the monies in the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund in the same manner as provided by law for the investment of funds by the clerk of superior court. The proceeds from such investments shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
(d) The Commission
shall have the authority to adopt reasonable rules and procedures not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article, to provide for the orderly,
fair and efficient administration and payment of monies held in the Real Estate
Education and Recovery Fund."
SECTION 11. G.S. 93A-17 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-17. Grounds for payment; notice and application to Commission.
(a) An aggrieved
person who has suffered a direct monetary loss by reason of the conversion of
trust funds by a real estate salesperson licensed before April 1, 2006, or
by any licensed real estate broker shall be eligible to recover, subject to
the limitations of this Article, the amount of trust funds converted and which
is otherwise unrecoverable provided that:
(1) The act or acts of conversion which form the basis of the claim for recovery occurred on or after September 1, 1979;
(2) The aggrieved
person has sued the real estate broker or salesperson in a court of
competent jurisdiction and has filed with the Commission written notice of such
lawsuit within 60 days after its commencement unless the claim against the Real
Estate Education and Recovery Fund is for an amount less than three
thousand dollars ($3,000), excluding attorneys attorneys' fees,
in which case the notice may be filed within 60 days after the termination of
all judicial proceedings including appeals;
(3) The aggrieved
person has obtained final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction against
the real estate broker or salesperson on grounds of conversion of trust funds
arising out of a transaction which occurred when such broker or salesperson was
licensed and acting in a capacity for which a license is required; and
(4) Execution of the judgment has been attempted and has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part.
Upon the termination of all judicial proceedings including
appeals, and for a period of one year thereafter, a person eligible for
recovery may file a verified application with the Commission for payment out of
the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund of the amount remaining
unpaid upon the judgment which represents the actual and direct loss sustained
by reason of conversion of trust funds. A copy of the judgment and return of
execution shall be attached to the application and filed with the Commission.
The applicant shall serve upon the judgment debtor a copy of the application
and shall file with the Commission an affidavit or certificate of such service.
(b) For the
purposes of this Article, the term "trust funds" shall include all earnest
money deposits, down payments, sales proceeds, tenant security deposits,
undisbursed rents and other such monies which belong to another or others and
are held by a real estate broker or salesperson acting in that capacity.
Trust funds shall also include all time share purchase monies which are
required to be held in trust by G.S. 93A-45(c) during the time they are,
in fact, so held. Trust funds shall not include, however, any funds held by an
independent escrow agent under G.S. 93A-42 or any funds which the court
may find to be subject to an implied, constructive or resulting trust.
(c) For the
purposes of this Article, the terms "licensee",
"broker", and "salesperson""licensee" and
"broker" shall include only individual persons licensed under
this Chapter as brokers or individual persons who were licensed under this
Chapter as salespersons prior to April 1, 2006.brokers. The terms "licensee",
"broker", and "salesperson""licensee" and
"broker" shall not include a time share developer, time share
project, independent escrow agent, corporation or other entity licensed under
this Chapter."
SECTION 12. G.S. 93A-18(8) reads as rewritten:
"(8) Knows of no assets of the judgment debtor and has attempted collection from all other persons who may be liable for the transaction for which the aggrieved person seeks payment from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund if there be any such other persons."
SECTION 13. G.S. 93A-20 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-20. Order directing payment out of fund; compromise of claims.
Applications for payment from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund shall be heard and decided by a majority of the members of the Commission. If, after a hearing, the Commission finds the claim should be paid from the fund, the Commission shall enter an order requiring payment from the fund of whatever sum the Commission shall find to be payable upon the claim in accordance with the limitations contained in this Article.
Subject to Commission approval, a claim based upon the application of an aggrieved person may be compromised; however, the Commission shall not be bound in any way by any compromise or stipulation of the judgment debtor. If a claim appears to be otherwise meritorious, the Commission may waive procedural defects in the application for payment."
SECTION 14. G.S. 93A-21 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-21. Limitations; pro rata distribution; attorney fees.
(a) Payments from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund shall be subject to the following limitations:
(1) The right to
recovery under this Article shall be forever barred unless application is made
within one year after termination of all proceedings including appeals, in
connection with the judgment;judgment.
(2) The fund shall
not be liable for more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) per transaction regardless of the number of
persons aggrieved or parcels of real estate involved in such transaction;
andtransaction.
(3) The liability
of Payment from the fund shall not exceed in the aggregate twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000) for any one licensee within a single calendar year,
and in no event shall it exceed in the aggregate fifty thousand dollars
($50,000)seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) for any one
licensee.
(4) The fund shall not be liable for payment of any judgment awards of consequential damages, multiple or punitive damages, civil penalties, incidental damages, special damages, interest, costs of court or action or other similar awards.
(b) If the maximum liability of the fund is insufficient to pay in full the valid claims of all aggrieved persons whose claims relate to the same transaction or to the same licensee, the amount for which the fund is liable shall be distributed among the claimants in a ratio that their respective claims bear to the total of such valid claims or in such manner as the Commission, in its discretion, deems equitable. Upon petition of counsel for the Commission, the Commission may require all claimants and prospective claimants to be joined in one proceeding to the end that the respective rights of all such claimants to the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund may be equitably resolved. A person who files an application for payment after the maximum liability of the fund for the licensee or transaction has been exhausted shall not be entitled to payment and may not seek judicial review of the Commission's award of payment to any party except upon a showing that the Commission abused its discretion.
(c) In the event an
aggrieved person is entitled to payment from the fund in an amount of one
thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less,which is equal to or less
than the maximum amount of money which may be awarded in small claims court
under G.S. 7A-210, the Commission may allow such person to recover
from the fund reasonable attorney's fees incurred in effecting such recovery.
Reimbursement for attorney's fees shall be limited to those fees incurred in
effecting recovery from the fund and shall not include any fee incurred in
obtaining judgment against the licensee."
SECTION 15. G.S. 93A-22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-22. Repayment to fund; automatic suspension of license.
Should the Commission pay from the Real Estate Education
and Recovery Fund any amount in settlement of a claim or toward
satisfaction of a judgment against a licensed real estate broker or
salesperson,broker, any license issued to the broker or
salesperson shall be automatically suspended upon the effective date of the
order authorizing payment from the fund. No such broker or salesperson shall
be granted a reinstatement until the fund has been repaid in full, including
interest at the legal rate as provided for in G.S. 24-1."
SECTION 16. G.S. 93A-23 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-23. Subrogation of rights.
When the Commission has paid from the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund any sum to the judgment creditor, the Commission shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the judgment creditor to the extent of the amount so paid and the judgment creditor shall assign all right, title, and interest in the judgment to the extent of the amount so paid to the Commission and any amount and interest so recovered by the Commission on the judgment shall be deposited in the Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund."
SECTION 17. G.S. 93A-25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-25. Persons ineligible to recover from fund.
No real estate broker or real estate salesperson who
suffers the loss of any commission from any transaction in which he or she was
acting in the capacity of a real estate broker or real estate salesperson shall
be entitled to make application for payment from the Real Estate Education
and Recovery Fund for the loss."
SECTION 18. G.S. 93A-35(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Licenses shall be
renewable annually on July 1, provided that a renewal application accompanied
by the appropriate renewal fees has been filed not later than June 1 in the
form and manner prescribed by the Commission, and provided further that the
applicant and school are found to be in compliance with the standards
established for issuance of an original license. The Commission may by rule set
nonrefundable renewal fees not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars
($125.00) for each school location and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each
real estate salesperson or broker prelicensing and postlicensing course."
SECTION 19. G.S. 93A-41(9) reads as rewritten:
"(9) "Time share"
means a right to occupy a unit or any of several units during five or more
separated time periods over a period of at least five years, including renewal
options, whether or not coupled with a freehold estate or an estate for years
in a time share project or a specified portion thereof, including, but not
limited to,of a time share project. "Time share" shall also
include a vacation license, prepaid hotel reservation, club membership,
limited partnership, vacation bond, or a plan or system where the right to use a
time share unit or units for periods of time is awarded or apportioned on
the basis of points, vouchers, split, divided, or floating use;use,
even if on a competitive basis with other purchasers;".
SECTION 20. G.S. 93A-42 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-42. Time shares deemed real estate.
(a) A time share which in whole or in part burdens or pertains to real property in this State is deemed to be an interest in real estate, and shall be governed by the law of this State relating to real estate.
(b) A purchaser of a time share which burdens or pertains to real property located in the State may in accordance with G.S. 47-18 register the time share instrument by which the purchaser acquired the interest and upon such registration shall be entitled to the protection provided by Chapter 47 of the General Statutes for the recordation of other real property instruments. A time share instrument transferring or encumbering a time share shall not be rejected for recordation because of the nature or duration of that estate, provided all other requirements necessary to make an instrument recordable are complied with. An instrument concerning a time share which burdens or pertains to no real property located in this State shall not be recorded in the office of the register of deeds in any county in this State.
(c) The developer shall record or cause to be recorded a time share instrument:
(1) Not less than six days nor more than 45 days following the execution of the contract of sale by the purchaser; or
(2) Not later than 180 days following the execution of the contract of sale by the purchaser, provided that all payments made by the purchaser shall be placed by the developer with an independent escrow agent upon the expiration of the 10-day escrow period provided by G.S. 93A-45(c).
(d) The independent escrow agent provided by G.S. 93A-42(c)(2) shall deposit and maintain the purchaser's payments in an insured trust or escrow account in a bank or savings and loan association located in this State. The trust or escrow account may be interest-bearing and the interest earned shall belong to the developer, if agreed upon in writing by the purchaser; provided, however, if the time share instrument is not recorded within the time periods specified in this section, then the interest earned shall belong to the purchaser. The independent escrow agent shall return all payments to the purchaser at the expiration of 180 days following the execution of the contract of sale by the purchaser, unless prior to that time the time share instrument has been recorded. However, if prior to the expiration of 180 days following the execution of the contract of sale, the developer and the purchaser provide their written consent to the independent escrow agent, the developer's obligation to record the time share instrument and the escrow period may be extended for an additional period of 120 days. Upon recordation of the time share instrument, the independent escrow agent shall pay the purchaser's funds to the developer. Upon request by the Commission, the independent escrow agent shall promptly make available to the Commission inspection of records of money held by the independent escrow agent.
(e) In no event shall the developer be required to record a time share instrument if the purchaser is in default of the purchaser's obligations.
(f) Recordation under the provisions of this section of the time share instrument shall constitute delivery of that instrument from the developer to the purchaser."
SECTION 21. G.S. 93A-53 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A-53. Register of applicants; roster of registrants; registered projects; financial report to Secretary of State.
(a) The Executive Director of the Commission shall keep a register of all applicants for certificates of registration, showing for each the date of application, name, business address, and whether the certificate was granted or refused.
(b) The Executive Director of the Commission shall also keep a current roster showing the name and address of all time share projects registered with the Commission. The roster shall be kept on file in the office of the Commission and be open to public inspection.
(c) On or before
the first day of September of each year, the Commission shall file with the
Secretary of State a copy of the roster of time share projects registered with
the Commission and a report containing a complete statement of income received
by the Commission in connection with the registration of time share projects
for the preceding fiscal year ending June 30th attested by the affidavit of the
Executive Director of the Commission. The report shall be made a part of those
annual reports required under the provisions of G.S. 93A-5.The
Commission shall include a copy of the roster of time share projects current on
the preceding June 30 and a statement of the income received by the Commission
in connection with the registration of time share projects during the fiscal
year ending on June 30 with the report required by G.S. 93B-2."
SECTION 22. G.S. 93A-54(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Commission has power to take disciplinary action. Upon its own motion, or on the verified complaint of any person, the Commission may investigate the actions of any time share salesperson, developer, or project broker of a time share project registered under this Article, or any other person or entity who shall assume to act in such capacity. If the Commission finds probable cause that a time share salesperson, developer, or project broker has violated any of the provisions of this Article, the Commission may hold a hearing on the allegations of misconduct.
The Commission has the power to suspend or revoke at any time a real estate license issued to a time share salesperson or project broker, or a certificate of registration of a time share project issued to a developer; or to reprimand or censure such salesperson, developer, or project broker; or to fine such developer in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation of this Article, if, after a hearing, the Commission adjudges either the salesperson, developer, or project broker to be guilty of:
…
(9) Failing to
deposit and maintain in a trust or escrow account in an insured bank or
savings and loan association in North Carolinabroker's trust or escrow
account as defined by G.S. 93A-6(g) all money received from others in
a time share transaction as may be required in G.S. 93A-45 of this Article
or failing to place with an independent escrow agent the funds of a time share
purchaser when required by G.S. 93A-42(c);
…."
SECTION 23. The Real Estate Commission shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 3 and 8 of this act when this act becomes law.
SECTION 24. Sections 23 and 24 of this act are effective when this act becomes law. The remainder of this act becomes effective January 1, 2012.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 15th day of June, 2011.
s/ Walter H. Dalton
President of the Senate
s/ Thom Tillis
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Beverly E. Perdue
Governor
Approved 12:18 p.m. this 23rd day of June, 2011