And What the North Carolina Real Estate Commission Is Doing About It
Would you hand over your largest asset to someone who isn’t even licensed?
That’s exactly what many homeowners do when they accept a “cash offer” from someone who turns out not to be a real buyer at all.
These individuals are often called “wholesalers.” They don’t plan to buy your house themselves. Instead, they put your home under contract and then sell that contract to another investor for a profit. The problem is that most wholesalers aren’t licensed or regulated in North Carolina, and until recently, there was very little oversight to protect sellers.
The NCREC Has Addressed Wholesaling
The North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) has clarified that many common wholesaling activities are actually brokerage activities, which means they require a real estate license under state law.
That includes:
• Marketing or advertising a property that you don’t yet own
• Soliciting buyers or investors
• Negotiating or assigning contracts to third parties
If someone is doing these things without a real estate license, it’s considered unlicensed brokerage activity—a violation of North Carolina real estate law.
New Homeowner Protections Effective October 1, 2025
To protect homeowners, North Carolina enacted a new law requiring:
• A 30-day right to cancel any residential wholesale contract
• Specific disclosures within the contract explaining that the buyer may not actually intend to purchase the property
Failure to comply is now considered an unfair or deceptive trade practice, which can have serious legal consequences for unlicensed wholesalers.
What This Means for Homeowners
If you receive a “cash offer,” ask one simple question: “Are you a licensed real estate professional in North Carolina?”
A legitimate buyer will be transparent about their licensing and ability to close. Many wholesalers, however, operate without oversight—leaving homeowners vulnerable to broken contracts, delays, and hidden fees.
At JMS Home Buyers, we combine the speed and simplicity of a cash sale with the integrity and accountability of a licensed professional right here in the Ballantyne–Charlotte area. As a licensed real estate agent in both North Carolina and South Carolina, I clearly disclose when JMS Home Buyers is acting as the direct buyer of a property versus when I am serving as a licensed agent helping a client sell on the open market. My goal is full transparency, so homeowners can make informed decisions that best fit their needs.
Before signing any contract, take a moment to verify who you’re dealing with. You can search any real estate license directly on the North Carolina Real Estate Commission website at www.ncrec.gov.
If you’re thinking about selling your home quickly and want to do it safely and transparently, call Jody Christensen with JMS Home Buyers LLC—a trusted, local, licensed real estate professional who believes transparency isn’t optional.