2026 Homebuying Workshop & Buyers Lawsuit:
Know Your Rights!

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Learn to buy a home seminar in North Carolina
  • Know Your Rights

This Homebuyer's Workshop Is About the Things Most Buyers Don't Know Or Find Out To Late.

Join us if you are thinking of buying a home in the next 2 years in North Carolina, whether you are a 1st-time or experienced buyer.
Buying a home isn't only about finding the right property and getting approved for a loan. What happens after that can involve thousands of dollars, contracts you have never seen, inspections, repairs, due diligence, and more. Important issues affecting Carolina homebuyers has changed with a lawsuit against the Realtors Association. This workshop is designed to help you understand what affects you! — before being asked to sign any documents.

  • Did You Know?

Did you know that sellers don't have to accept repair requests from buyers and buyers may end up losing due diligence fees paid to a seller! Do you know how to avoid this?

  • Syllabus

Topics Covered:
This isn't a mortgage/credit repair class. You can find plenty of information about credit scores elsewhere. This workshop goes further.

1

  • What the lawsuit against the National Realtor Association Addressed

- Inflated Commission
- Agency Collusions
- Representation

2

  • New North Carolina Real Estate Agreement

- Buyer's Agency Agreement
- Offer to Purchase Agreement (s) - Repairs

3

  • Agency Agreements

- Dual Agency and why you should think twice
- Who does your agent work for?

4

  • Who is responsible for paying your agent

- Don't sign an agreement without understanding the recent lawsuit and what that means to you.

5

  • Who does your Appraiser represent?

6

  • Can a seller sell a home AS-IS without disclosure?

7

  • What is the loophole for buying a house and protecting your due diligence fees?

8

  • Do you think Home Inspectors are liable for mistakes?

9

  • What is NOT included in every home inspection, but you think it is?

10

  • How can you find certain home issues without an inspector?

11

  • How do you find out if permits were used on that new "Addition" or DIY Open Floor Plan?

12

  • Is your Pre-Qualification letter binding?

13

  • What is a Due Diligence fee?

- Why do I pay this directly to the homeowner?
- Is it refundable?
- How is it different from an Ernest Money Deposit

14

  • Closing date vs. Settlement date: Why it matters

15

  • HOA's: What you need to know if buying a townhome, condo or aged restricted home?

16

  • Why you should never buy a home without a survey, and how the survey protects your ownership /title rights.

17

  • FHA vs Conventional Mortgage vs VA

- Can a seller reject your offer based on the loan agreement?
- Can your loan affect the amount of money a seller contributes to the closing?

18

  • How much money do you really need to buy a home?

- It is not just the downpayment.

19

  • Did you know that North Carolina does not have mortgages, only Deeds of Trust?

- Why you need to know the difference.

20

  • Do You have a CLUE? and why it matters
  • Participants and Registration

Who Should Attend

This workshop is for anyone who wants to better understand the NEW North Carolina home-buying process, whether this is your 1st or 5th home purchase.

  • Anyone planning on buying a home in North Carolina in the next 2 years
  • You haven't purchased a home in 3 or more years in North Carolina
  • If you are not fully up to-date on the Real Estate Association Lawsuit and how it affects you!
  • Existing homeowners thinking of buying there next home.
  • Unmarried Couples think of buying a home together.
  • People over 60 who may want to transfer a home to kids

New North Carolina Real estate agreements have changed what buyers sign, common buyer assumptions and protections. Learn what it means, and what often gets left out of discussions with real estate professionals.

This workshop is for those who want to be more knowledgeable homebuyers and protect their assets.

  • Investment

Registration Includes

  • 3 Hour Detailed Buyer Workshop
  • Sample NC Real Estate Contract(s)
  • Lunch
  • Up to 30 minutes of complimentary virtual consulting time
  • Question and Answer (Q and A) Session

Workshop Fee :

$155

per person

$280

for two people

Charlotte Area Registration:

Register: September 5th SOLD OUT
Register: September 7th Ballantyne SOLD OUT
Register:
Sept 12 - SOLD OUT
Register:
Sept 13 - SOLD OUT
Register:
Sept 19 - Morehead Dr. Area
Register:
Sept 26 -
Lake Norman Chamber
  • What Others Are Saying

Testimonials

We attended the seminar in Greensboro a few months ago and my husband actually had to tell our Realtor about a clue report and we found out that the home we were thinking about buying was previously flooded so we decided not to buy the home. The nondisclosure form the agent gave us didn't disclose the flood because it was a previous owner. This seminar was invaluable.
Michelle and Robert Carmichael
We were buying a home in Matthews, and we pre-negotiated several repairs on the house that the seller had to sign-off on as part of the initial offer. This turned out to be critical since we were able to guarantee repairs were completed and not lose our due diligence money.
Tanya and Peyter Allen
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Eboni Wilson
This is exactly what we were looking for, this is for serious buyers who want to understand the ins-out of real estate not unwanted information or some agent looking for business. This is more like a corporate seminar with results being the goal.
Tom and Nancy McClintock
James, I just want to personally give you a testimonial, you helped our family better understand the process. I suggest everyone attend this workshop and get honest non-bias answers to your questions.
Mike O'Leary
If you are even thinking about buying a home, you need to attend this workshop. It was informative, eye-opening and spoke to concerns all home buyers should be asking questions about. We are buying our 3rd home and thought this class was not needed, and we were wrong. This was a great investment in time and allowed us to be more knowledgeable about the new laws and could speak to our agent from a position of knowledge.
Ted and Carmen Rizzo
If you didn't realize the National realtor association was sued and why this affects you, you need to be at this seminar. So many things have changed and the average person really has no clue what is going on. My wife and I really had our eyes opened and we were glad we attended.
Brad and Emily Trembly
My wife already owned a home, and we are planning to buy another next year. I went to the workshop to get information about downpayment assistance and mortgages. Welp, this was not it. This workshop discussed the business of real estate, and turned out to be much better than expected. I didn't know about the lawsuit or how the commission were now paid as well as the due diligence fee that had to be paid to the seller. If you are buying a home, you need to be at this workshop.
Rob Banner
  • Meet The Speaker

James E. Smith:

Mr. Smith is the former CEO of Executive Sellers Realty, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, and now works with Northgroup Real Estate. Mr. Smith has received Charlotte Magazine's 5-Star Real Estate Award several times in his career as a managing broker and was previously recognized by Keller-Williams as one of its top real estate agents nationwide.

Regarded as one of the most experienced Realtors in the Carolinas with over 20 years of experience, Mr. Smith has had a significant impact on the real estate community as both a firm owner and an advisor to other real estate agents and firms.

Mr. Smith holds a Master's (MBA) Degree in Operations and Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Electrical Engineering, and is a current or past board member of Nations Ford Land Trust, CleanAireNC, and Anne Springs Close Greenway. Mr. Smith currently serves on the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Commission and was honored with the 2025 Marquis Who'sWho in America.

Mr. Smith also holds the following Real Estate Certifications and Licenses:
- Graduate Realtor Institute, GRI
- Accredited Buyer's Representative, ABR
- Certified Residential Specialist, CRS
- Licensed Realtor since 2006

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