VOL 105 NO 4 | NOVEMBER 2026
THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE IN NORTH CAROLINA
BRENDA HAYDEN’S JOURNEY TO PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP
Plus:
Brenda Hayden
2026 NC REALTORS® President
+ Brenda’s Year in Photos + An Antitrust Refresher: Settlement Compliance Key settlement requirements and ongoing compliance considerations for REALTORS® and their firms.
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CONTACT Courtney McAlister | cmcalister@ncrealtors.org | 336.550.4425
November 2026 Insight, Volume 105, Issue 4 First Vice President Renee Cooney
President Brenda Hayden
Treasurer Adam Upchurch
President-Elect Brooke Rudd
Immediate Past President John McPherson Regional Vice Presidents Region 1: Ben Myers, Surf City Region 2: Bob Bates, Southport Region 3: Melissa McKinney, Fayetteville Region 4: Grace Jones, Durham Region 5: Samantha Cole, Aberdeen Region 6: Phillip Johnson, Winston-Salem Region 7: Chris Puckett, Kannapolis Region 8: Jamie Young, Charlotte Region 8: Beverly Newell, Charlotte Region 9: Caleb Phillips, Arden Region 10: Sharon Gupton, Cary Region 10: Lawrence Terry, Raleigh At-Large Representative: Cindy Chandler, Charlotte Chief Executive Officer Andrea Bushnell, Esq.
4 Where Strength Meets Vision A look at Brenda Hayden’s path to leadership, the values that shaped her and the relationships she has built across North Carolina. 8 Brenda’s Year in Photos Highlights from a year of service, connection and purposeful leadership across the state. 14 An Antitrust Refresher: Settlement Compliance Key settlement requirements and ongoing compliance considerations for REALTORS® and their firms.
Vice President of Communications & Marketing Mckenzie Allen Creative Development Manager Joe Fallon Content Marketing Manager Aliyah Ross Multimedia Coordinator/Staff Photographer Doug Klesch Contributors Kentia Smith and John Wait For advertising information, visit ncrealtors.org/advertise or contact Keri Epps-Rashad at (336) 217-1049. INSIGHT (ISSN 24714127) (USPS 17170) is published four times a year in February, May, August and November by NC REALTORS®, 4511 Weybridge Lane, Greensboro, NC 27407. Periodicals Postage Prices paid at Greensboro, N.C. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to INSIGHT, 4511 Weybridge Lane, Greensboro, NC 27407-7877. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. Articles which appear in Insight are an informational service to members and consumers. Their contents are the opinions of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent those of NC REALTORS®. Advertising of a product or service does not imply endorsement, unless specifically stated. To optout of paper copy mailings, email hello@ncrealtors.org with a subject line of “Insight opt-out.”
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4511 Weybridge Lane, Greensboro, NC 27407 Phone: (336) 294-1415 ncrealtors.org
ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 3
BRENDA HAYDEN’S JOURNEY TO PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP
BY LEE NELSON Lee Nelson is a freelance journalist from Illinois. She writes for REALTOR® Magazine, several state REALTOR® magazines and websites and loanDepot.com.
For Brenda Hayden, real estate is about understanding what people need and helping them find a way forward. As 2026 president of NC REALTORS®, she brings that same approach to serving members across the state. That starts with listening to the challenges members face in a changing industry. “There’s so much going on in our industry right now. Rules are changing. Technology is changing. Laws and regulations that affect how we do business are evolving,” she says. Hayden believes success in real estate requires continued learning and the ability to adapt without losing sight of great customer service. Agents often guide clients through some of life’s most emotional and contentious moments, including divorce, a move or a death in the family. “You can’t lose sight of who you are working for. It takes discipline, persistence and good problem-solving,” Hayden says. “You get a lot of no’s in this business. It’s a business, not a hobby or side hustle.” One of her greatest passions remains helping first-time homebuyers. “When I work with single mothers and I see the look on their kids’ faces when they run through the house finding 4 INSIGHT • November 2026
their bedrooms, it’s joy. It’s about generational wealth and creating stability for the family unit,” she says.
HER PATH TO LEADERSHIP Before entering real estate, Hayden spent 11 years in the life insurance industry, including as a claims manager. The role required her to carefully read and interpret life insurance policies to ensure each claim was processed with the appropriate coverage. “Those experiences helped me in my real estate practice because I found it very easy to read and understand contracts,” she says. She works as a broker with Keller Williams Unlimited in Charlotte and earned an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte. In 2019, she served as president of the Canopy REALTOR® Association, Canopy MLS and Canopy Housing Foundation. “Brenda has a very humble, servant-leadership style,” says Anne Marie DeCatsye, Esq., CEO of Canopy REALTOR® Association, Canopy MLS and Canopy Housing Foundation.
“When you are first, you already know all eyes are going to be on you. But my biggest responsibility is to make sure I’m not the last.” “She does not need to hear herself talk and is usually one of the last to speak after listening to all sides.” DeCatsye has known Hayden since 2001, when they took a real estate prelicensing class together at what is now Canopy Real Estate Institute. “Brenda’s calm demeanor in the face of the chaos of constant change impresses me the most,” she says. At the end of Hayden’s term as Canopy president, DeCatsye asked senior staff to describe her. “The response was very consistent: poised, professional, sincere, caring, passionate, compassionate, selfless, steady, smart, focused, warm, kind and humble,” she says.
LEADING BY LISTENING Throughout her year as president, Hayden has averaged two to three meetings a week, some requiring travel across the state. “We have 43 associations with just under 55,000 members,” she says. “There is no one broad-stroke answer or solution to a problem across all 43. I don’t go into a meeting thinking I have the answers. I need to talk with more than one person.” Hayden sees it as her responsibility to understand the resources that can help members find answers. Listening intently and asking the right questions help her develop a thorough understanding of each situation or problem.
Hayden’s leadership has extended across the local, regional and state levels. In 2022, she was named Canopy REALTOR® of the Year and served as executive chair of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition. She also held several leadership roles with NC REALTORS® before becoming president.
“That is far more important than giving a quick response,” she says.
That path culminated in a historic milestone in January, when Hayden became the first Black woman to serve as president of NC REALTORS®.
“It’s about getting people in a room and talking about things. It’s about helping people understand that a solution that applies to one association or community doesn’t necessarily work in other areas,” Hayden says.
“It’s an incredible honor with a lot of responsibility not only for the organization but for others who come after me,” she says. “When you are first, you already know all eyes are going to be on you. But my biggest responsibility is to make sure I’m not the last.”
One of her priorities as president has been fostering a culture of unity.
John McPherson, NC REALTORS® immediate past president, says Hayden reads people and gives them exactly what they need.
ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 5
“As REALTORS®, we are self-employed. So, if you need to be an hour or two away from your business to do anything else, it has an impact on your pocketbook.”
“I remember when I was on stage giving out my presidential awards, she asked, ‘You need me?’ Quietly, she stayed with me because I did need her,” he says. “She is like that with individuals, businesses and associations. If you need her, she is there. This is commitment and never a title.” He feels fortunate to have served with her. “She was a great president-elect and had my back so many times. But she is an even better president,” he says. Under Hayden’s leadership, member-led work groups have focused on key priorities, including strengthening broker engagement, helping local associations address housing availability and affordability and exploring ways to encourage greater collaboration across the association. Hayden has also spent much of her year attending events hosted by local associations and visiting communities throughout North Carolina. She says she will miss the opportunity to travel the state and build those connections. “Those relationships matter, not because of what I can get, but because of knowing people everywhere. Our communities are so unique.” While she has enjoyed exploring the state, the time away has also deepened her appreciation for returning home to the Charlotte area, and for the sacrifices members make when they step away from their own businesses and families to serve the association. “As REALTORS®, we are self-employed. So, if you need to be an hour or two away from your business to do anything else, it has an impact on your pocketbook,” she says.
INSPIRED — AND INSPIRING OTHERS Hayden’s story captivates Brooke Rudd, 2026 presidentelect of NC REALTORS® and vice president of Margaret Rudd & Associates in Oak Island.
6 INSIGHT • November 2026
“Brenda took every single thing that life threw at her and said, ‘Watch this: I accept your challenges and will thrive despite every curveball thrown my way,’” says Rudd. She admires Hayden’s uncanny ability to read a room, understand the importance of timing and recognize when not to act. “She also can interconnect multiple concepts and implement fascinating solutions that aren’t readily obvious,” she says. “Brenda has a deep love and appreciation for life and never takes it for granted. Where many would have just given up, she broke through glass ceilings again and again.” Although they met only a few years ago on the Executive Committee, Rudd says they feel like twins separated at birth. “We are colleagues who became friends, then realized we truly are family. Brenda is objective, fair and very composed,” Rudd says. “She embodies strength and tenderness at the same time. What I feel most, though, is how Brenda makes life and leadership cohabitate with the appearance that everything is always seemingly perfect.” Hayden’s childhood was not always perfect. Amid frequent moves, her mother, Pearl, raised four children on her own and became Hayden’s greatest influence. “We faced housing insecurity many times. That’s what makes what I do pull at my heartstrings,” she says. “As a family, we moved quite a bit. I went to three different high schools, and I can’t even remember the number of middle schools I went to.” Her mother persevered at a time when women, particularly women of color, faced significant barriers to obtaining credit independently. “I take my hat off to my mom for keeping it together as well as she could. She was a person of high integrity, high faith and a work ethic like no other,” she says.
Hayden was 7 or 8 when the family left Florida, shortly after her mother completed her GED. Pearl eventually earned a degree in early childhood education. “I remember her taking me along to her college classes when she had no one to watch me,” Hayden says. Pearl worked at a day care center, later earned a CAD certification in an engineering track and spent years working for a company. Watching her mother reinvent herself helped Hayden find the courage to follow her own dreams. “I’ve done several careers and have never been ashamed of it,” she adds.
FAMILY, FUN AND FITNESS Family remains at the center of Hayden’s life. Her mother came from a family of 16 children, and her husband is the youngest son in a family of nine children. The couple is planning a large family reunion in Virginia, with more than 185 people already registered. “We love family, and we have a huge family. We have 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild,” she says. “We have no shortage of family.” As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Hayden is determined not to take time with family—or any day—for granted. “I had just turned 31 when I got cancer the first time. Then I got it again in 2012,” she says. That perspective also fuels Hayden’s commitment to staying active. A three-time national qualifier in bodybuilding, she considers fitness both a passion and an important source of personal time. “Most days, you can find me in the gym. I love fitness. That’s my me time. I’m very focused on what I’m doing, and I’m not a social butterfly in the gym,” she says. Outside the gym, she enjoys hiking four-mile trails, volunteering and traveling with her husband. The couple takes a big trip each year, with recent adventures including Costa Rica, an Alaskan cruise and dog sledding. They have also bicycled near Lake Victoria.
are going through now. Everyone was very gracious, and I felt a strong connection.”
ADVICE FOR FUTURE LEADERS Hayden hopes future NC REALTORS® presidents will continue to be good listeners and recognize that leadership is ultimately about preparing others to step forward. “It’s not about them. It’s about the organization. I believe when you are in leadership, you are there for a specific time and specific tasks, then it’s time for someone else. I would not be true to who I am if I weren’t making space for the next leader and creating opportunities for others,” she says. That commitment is reflected in her relationship with Grace Jones, who was recently elected to serve as NC REALTORS®’ 2027 first vice president. The two met at a National Association of REALTORS® conference about five years ago. Jones admires Hayden’s commitment to protecting members and the personal responsibility she takes for the outcomes of leadership decisions. “She leads by example and will be a tough act to follow,” says Jones, a broker at Keller Williams Elite Realty in Durham. “I love watching her lead with integrity.” “Brenda has a quiet, unassuming confidence. She has a refreshing personality and is always genuine,” Jones adds. “She has listened to me and equally shared personal things, making me feel comfortable being myself.” That support was especially meaningful when Jones first became a regional vice president after stepping in for someone who had left the role. Hayden called to answer questions and make sure Jones understood what was expected of her. “She wanted to make sure I didn’t get ‘lost in the sauce,’” Jones says. “She reads up on subjects before speaking and always has a way of intelligently articulating her perspective. She has a calm way of making others reflect introspectively.”
Yet one of Hayden’s most meaningful journeys was a mission trip to Cuba three years ago with a group of 12 women. “It was very eye-opening and one of my best experiences,” she says. “I get emotional thinking about it and what they ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 7
“Brenda’s calm demeanor in the face of the chaos of constant change impresses me the most.” Anne Marie DeCatsye
8 INSIGHT • November 2026
“I remember when I was on stage giving out my presidential awards, she asked, ‘You need me?’ Quietly, she stayed with me because I did need her. She is like that with individuals, businesses and associations. If you need her, she is there. This is commitment and never a title.” John McPherson ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 9
“She embodies strength and tenderness at the same time. What I feel most, though, is how Brenda makes life and leadership cohabitate with the appearance that everything is always seemingly perfect.” Brooke Rudd
10 INSIGHT • November 2026
“Brenda has a quiet, unassuming confidence. She has a refreshing personality and is always genuine. She has listened to me and equally shared personal things, making me feel comfortable being myself.” Grace Jones
ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 11
CONNECT, LEARN & GROW AT
NC REALTORS® EVENTS Your NC REALTORS® membership is an investment in your business, your professional growth, and your future. One of the best ways to experience that value is by taking advantage of the events offered throughout the year.
NC REALTORS® events bring REALTORS® from across the state together to learn from industry experts, build valuable connections, stay informed on issues affecting the profession and get involved in the association. Here’s what you can gain by making NC REALTORS® events part of your year:
Grow as a leader.
Take part in leadership opportunities, committees, and conversations that help shape the future of real estate in North Carolina.
Experience more of your membership.
Meet fellow members and learn more about opportunities to participate in NC REALTORS®. Whether you’re looking for professional development, meaningful connections, or a better understanding of what’s happening across the industry, there’s an NC REALTORS® event that can help you get there.
Build your network.
Connect with REALTORS® from across North Carolina and build relationships that can lead to referrals, collaboration and new opportunities.
Bring back valuable knowledge.
Learn from experts and fellow REALTORS® and take practical ideas back to your business.
Stay ahead of change.
Get timely information on legislation, legal issues, market trends, technology, and other topics that impact your business.
2027 Events
Event Dates
Vision Quest & Winter Leadership Meetings
January 25-29, 2027
CE at Sea
February 14-21, 2027
Legislative Meetings & State of Real Estate
April 12-14, 2027
Virtual Business & Committee Meetings
June 8-10, 2027
Regional AE Conference
July 20-23, 2027
NC REALTORS® Convention
October 17-20, 2027
12 INSIGHT • November 2026
PLAN AHEAD Scan for the Full Calendar of Events!
Event Location Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, NC Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas departing from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Raleigh Marriott City Center Raleigh, NC Virtual Beaufort Hotel Beaufort, NC The Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa Hilton Head, SC
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Legislative Advocacy
Your membership powers NC REALTORS® PAC and advocacy wins like the 2023 repeal of the Privilege License Tax.
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$50
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The Privilege License Tax repeal saves members $50 annually and $3M across the industry.
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Need tech support? As a member, you can access Tech Helpline for assistance with your computer, printer, or devices, saving you the cost of hiring an IT professional.
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ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 13
AN ANTITRUST REFRESHER: SETTLEMENT COMPLIANCE BY “LEGAL JOHN” JOHN WAIT General Counsel
This fall marks the three-year anniversary of the jury verdict in Burnett v. NAR, et al., and this past August marked two years since new MLS rules were instituted in response to the settlement. For anyone practicing brokerage during this time period, you know that it has been a lot of adjustment. Even some of the most recent forms changes this past July are aimed at helping members more easily comply with the settlement and giving consumers a better understanding of how broker compensation can be negotiated. Given these major milestones, it might surprise some readers to know that the Burnett case continues to be litigated as well as other cases that are part of the settlement, such as Gibson v. NAR, et al. In fact, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals just issued an opinion about Burnett on August 19, 2026, upholding the settlement and denying the claims of several parties who objected to it. A similar decision was issued by the same court in Gibson on September 1, 2026. It is unclear whether the objectors in either case will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in. It is also unclear whether SCOTUS will take either case even if they do. The Eighth Circuit’s recent decisions reaffirm something I have been stressing in my educational sessions for a while now. Settlement compliance did not end after MLSs instituted new rules, and all members must continue to be vigilant about the core issues that caused the settlement in the first place. The settlement is about much more than a set of new rules to be followed by brokers who operate in the MLS. Burnett and Gibson are antitrust cases, and therefore, the issues that led to them involve claims of that nature. So, let’s revisit those claims, and then look at ongoing settlement compliance. 14 INSIGHT • November 2026
What were the core allegations in the Burnett case? The plaintiffs in Burnett were sellers who alleged that they overpaid commissions when selling their homes. In particular, these sellers claimed that if it were not for MLS rules that required listing agents to cooperate with and offer compensation to buyer’s agents, the sellers would have paid a lot less in commissions. Certain pieces of evidence were important factors for both the judge’s orders before trial and for the jury. Specifically, the sellers offered into evidence the MLS rules mentioned above, then-existing Standards of Practice 16-15 and 16-16, and historical rates of compensation in the Kansas City MLS and nationwide. The sellers also submitted into evidence training materials used by firms, firm policies on minimum commission rates, and data showing that agents steered their clients based on agent compensation instead of client need. Before submitting the case to the jury, the judge in Burnett noted that an antitrust conspiracy does not require an explicit agreement. The judge specifically noted that commission rates in the United States have remained unusually uniform, even with increased market pressure from real estate technology companies in the years just prior to the case. Given all the above, the judge concluded that the sellers had forecast enough evidence to send the question to the jury.
Did the changes required by the settlement fix all the issues raised in Burnett? In short, no. Look carefully again at the evidence listed above that the judge and jury in Burnett considered. Aside from revised Standards of Practice and MLS rules, do you still sometimes encounter the others? It is quite possible that you do. While none of the items above by themselves are automatically anticompetitive, they can, when put together, continue to present antitrust concerns. This means that a lot of the same evidence that caused the Burnett case still exists today, even after the settlement.
How can REALTORS® and their firms maintain settlement compliance? At a minimum, there are some rules from the settlement that members and firms must follow.
1. Offers of compensation in the MLS banned – Any offer
to pay buyer agent compensation cannot be in the MLS.
should strongly consider consulting with legal counsel and training their agents to effectively manage the following issues:
Steering Buyer agents should show their clients homes based on those clients’ needs and preferences. If the agency agreement is on the Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement (Form 201), the buyer has agreed to pay their agent regardless of whether the seller offers compensation or not. The buyer agency agreement also makes clear that the seller has no obligation to pay the buyer’s agent.
with a buyer as their agent, you must have a written buyer agreement in place before touring a home. The agreement must specify how much you will be paid. Once fully executed, a buyer agency agreement cannot be amended to permit additional compensation unless the amendment itself complies with the settlement.
Firms and agents who steer buyers to homes just based on whether or how much buyer agent compensation is offered should review their policies to ensure compliance with both the settlement and the license law. To avoid allegations of non-compliance, buyer agents may want to stop asking sellers or listing agents ahead of an offer whether buyer agent compensation is being offered, and instead just include the buyer’s request in the offer to purchase itself.
3. Agency services are not free – Unless a broker’s services
Negotiating buyer agent compensation
4. Sellers must agree in advance to any compensation
As the MLS rule above states, a seller must be informed in writing that agent commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. The Exclusive Right to Sell Listing Agreement (Form 101) fulfills this requirement and makes clear that even if the seller authorizes the listing firm to advertise buyer agent compensation, the final amount is negotiable and subject to the seller’s final agreement in a written contract.
2. Written buyer agreements – If you are working
are, in fact, free, then the broker should not advertise that they are.
paid by listing firm to a buyer agent – If the listing firm is going to offer or pay any compensation to a buyer’s agent, then they must obtain the seller’s consent in advance.
5. Disclosure of negotiability of agent commissions – Both buyers and sellers must be informed that brokerage commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.
Beyond the above minimum rules, the parties objecting to the settlement raised the following issues in their court briefs. Given how the issues raised in these court briefs overlap with the evidence above in the Burnett case, members and firms
Firms and agents who adopt a policy setting a minimum that the seller must offer in order to be a client should review those policies with counsel to ensure compliance. Especially now that buyer agent compensation can be negotiated as a term of the purchase contract, listing agents should negotiate this contract term as aggressively as they would any other contract term for their seller.
ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 15
Accurate information about written buyer agreements As stated above, a written buyer agreement is required before touring a home if brokerage services are going to be provided to the buyer as their agent. This means you do not need a written buyer agreement to show a home to a buyer if you are going to be acting only as a listing agent or a seller subagent. Firms should make sure their agents provide accurate information to buyers to avoid allegations that their agents are requiring buyers to sign unnecessary agency agreements just to gain clients. Admittedly, the above scenarios are difficult to deal with. They all involve complicated and difficult conversations between agents and consumers.
That said, these conversations must be had, and they must have factual information as a base. It may be hard to believe, but settlement compliance will expire in August 2031, because it is only effective for seven years. We are already two years in.
What will happen in August 2031? I will be honest and tell you that I am horrible at predicting the future. My lawyer training has beaten all optimism out of my system, unfortunately. Or maybe it was my teenagers . . . Anyway, I do not know what will happen. What I can say is that firms and agents who prioritize going beyond minimum settlement compliance will be the most prepared for what comes.
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CALL THE LEGAL HOTLINE.
Quick Resolution. Unlimited Access. Included with your membership. (And worth about $300/hour.) 336.294.1415 | legalhotline@ncrealtors.org 16 INSIGHT • November 2026
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ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 17
2026 PROGRESS REPORT
Building Hope Across North Carolina
100 Homes in 100 Counties
84 of 100 Counties Covered
$243,400 Awarded in 2026
The Foundation began 2026 with just 10 counties covered under the 100 Homes in 100 Counties initiative. Since then, the Board of Directors has expanded the initiative to 74 more counties, bringing the total to 84 of North Carolina's 100 counties served — with $243,400 awarded in 2026 to more
30+
Organizations Served
than 30 housing-related organizations statewide. Since the program launched in 2022, the Foundation has distributed more than $600,000 to help house North Carolinians in every corner of the state.
Matching Grants The Foundation thanks the local associations that partnered on a 2026 Matching Grant, doubling their impact for housing organizations in their communities. So far in 2026, the Foundation has awarded $34,140 in matching grants to support the following organizations:
$34,140 Matching Grants
• Burke County Board of REALTORS® Open Hearts Place
• Greensboro Regional REALTORS® Association Community Housing Solutions of Guilford
• Cape Fear REALTORS® Welcome Home Angel
• Mid Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills
• Carteret County Association of REALTORS® Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity
• Neuse River Region Association of REALTORS® Craven County Habitat for Humanity
• Catawba Valley Association of REALTORS® The Corner Table
• Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® Raleigh Area Land Trust
• Coastal Plains Association of REALTORS® Rebuilding Together Pitt County
Give Back Grants NC REALTORS® Gives Back is a way for local associations and their members to come together and participate in a housing-related service project in their area. So far in 2026, the Foundation has awarded $8,000 in Give Back grants to support the following organizations:
$8,000
Give Back Grants
• Catawba Valley Association of REALTORS® The Corner Table
• Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® The Women’s Center
• Mid Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® Southern Pines Elementary School
• Union County Association of REALTORS® Community Shelter/Angel Tree
December 2, 2026 — Application Deadline Applications for Matching Grants and Give Back Grants remain open through this date.
18 INSIGHT • November 2026
SCAN TO APPLY
Down Payment Assistance
$90,000 Awarded in 2026
36
First-Time Homebuyers Assisted
15
Counties Served
Demand for the Foundation’s Down Payment Assistance program has been strong in 2026. After the program’s original $75,000 allocation was exhausted, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved an additional $25,000.
To date, the program has awarded $90,000 to help 36 first-time homebuyers—representing 94 family members—achieve homeownership across 15 counties. Grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted.
The NC REALTORS® Housing Foundation’s work in 2026 spans support for housing organizations, local service projects and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Through the 100 Homes in 100 Counties initiative and its grant programs, the Foundation is helping address housing needs in communities across North Carolina.
Local associations and their members are part of that work, connecting the Foundation’s resources with organizations serving their communities. From supporting Habitat for Humanity affiliates to participating in housing-related service projects, these partnerships put the Foundation’s mission into practice. Together, the programs highlighted here show how REALTORS® are helping North Carolinians find and maintain a place to call home.
Dedicated to making homeownership a possibility for all in North Carolina.
ncrealtorshf.org
Text “NCRHF” to 243725
ncrealtors.org • INSIGHT 19
Registration Is Now Open!
January 25-29, 2027 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, NC