Free cheat sheet · North Carolina
NC Agency & the Due-Diligence Deal, Decoded
North Carolina's Working With Real Estate Agents disclosure, the due-diligence fee vs. earnest money (the #1 confusion), and the state-law facts the broker exam tests hardest.
North Carolina's state section leans hardest on agency (16 of 60 scored questions) and on its unique contract mechanics — the due-diligence fee and period. Get these two areas right and the state section is very winnable.
This cheat sheet decodes the facts NC candidates miss most, with the classic traps flagged.
NC is broker-only
- There is no 'salesperson' in North Carolina — everyone starts as a PROVISIONAL BROKER, working under a broker-in-charge (BIC).
- You remove provisional status with 90 hours of postlicensing education (within 18 months).
- Licenses renew ANNUALLY, by June 10.
The Working With Real Estate Agents Disclosure
- NC's required agency disclosure — given at FIRST SUBSTANTIAL CONTACT.
- It is a DISCLOSURE, not a contract. TRAP: it is not the Texas IABS or the PA Consumer Notice — different state, different document.
- Agency itself: dual agency and designated agency are both permitted WITH written consent.
- Oral buyer agency is allowed — but only UNTIL the buyer makes an offer, at which point it must be in writing.
What else is in this cheat sheet
- Due-diligence fee vs. earnest money (know this cold)
- Money, closings & the Commission
- Exam traps recap
Common questions
Is this cheat sheet really free?
Yes. Enter an email and the full sheet unlocks — there's no card, no trial, and no charge later. The email is how we send the occasional practice tip; unsubscribe whenever.
Can I print it?
It's laid out to print cleanly on standard paper once unlocked, so you can keep it beside you while you study rather than reading it on a screen.
Will memorising this pass the exam?
No, and we'd rather say so. A cheat sheet consolidates what you already half-know and exposes what you don't. Passing comes from working real questions until the reasoning is automatic — the sheet is a companion to that, not a substitute.
Are these facts verified?
They're written from each state's published statutes, commission rules and the testing vendor's content outline. Rules do change; where something is time-sensitive we say so, and you should confirm anything decisive with your state commission.
Use it, don't just read it
Work through free practice questions on the same topics, drill the exam vocabulary, check where you stand, or browse the other cheat sheets.