Can I Collect Commission With My Inactive North Carolina Real Estate License?

Real estate agents in North Carolina often wonder what happens to their income potential when their license becomes inactive. Whether an agent is stepping back from production, taking time off, or transitioning careers, the most common question is: Can you still earn commission with an inactive North Carolina real estate license?

The short answer is no—but there are important details and alternative options that allow you to keep earning real estate income without returning to traditional sales, paying MLS dues, or joining the local REALTOR® board.

This article breaks down what an inactive license means, why you cannot earn commission under that status, and how thousands of agents continue earning referral income by keeping their license active in a cost-effective way.

Understanding an Inactive North Carolina Real Estate License

When your license is inactive in North Carolina, it means you are not legally authorized to perform brokerage activities or receive compensation tied to a real estate transaction. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) requires all income-earning real estate activity—including referral fees—to be done under an active license status.

An inactive license may occur for reasons such as:

• Missing CE requirements

• Voluntarily deactivating your license

• Leaving a brokerage without affiliating under a new BIC

• Letting your license lapse unintentionally

Once inactive, you cannot legally:

• Represent buyers or sellers

• Participate in real estate transactions

• Collect commission

• Earn referral fees of any kind

Many agents are surprised to learn that even referral income is prohibited while inactive.

Why an Inactive License Cannot Earn Real Estate Commission

Under NCREC rules, commission can only be paid to a licensee in active status under a supervising broker-in-charge. Any form of compensation—whether from a sale, listing, lease, or referral—requires an active license.

Key takeaways:

• Referral fees are considered brokerage compensation.

• Commission cannot be paid to an inactive licensee.

• It does not matter when the lead was generated—the license must be active at the time compensation is paid.

• No brokerage can pay you legally if your license is inactive.

This means that even if you know someone buying or selling real estate, you cannot earn anything from their transaction while your license is inactive.

Good News: You Can Stay Active Without MLS or REALTOR® Fees

One of the biggest misconceptions in North Carolina real estate is that an active license requires joining the MLS or paying REALTOR® dues. This is not true.

NCREC only requires:

1. Your license to be active

2. You to be under a BIC/supervising broker

That’s it.

You do not need:

• MLS membership

• REALTOR® Association membership

• Expensive monthly brokerage fees

• Any production minimums

This creates a perfect opportunity for agents who want to stay licensed but prefer not to work in full-time sales.

How North Carolina Agents Make Commission Through Referrals

If your license is active—even if you are not in the MLS—you can earn referral fees by connecting buyers, sellers, investors, or relocation clients to another licensed agent.

You don’t show houses, negotiate, or manage paperwork. You simply send the referral.

Typical referral fees range from:

• 20% to 30% of the receiving agent’s commission

• Higher percentages for luxury, commercial, or relocation clients

• Lower percentages for low-price or simple referrals

This makes referrals one of the easiest, lowest-effort income streams for agents who do not want the responsibilities of traditional production.

Why So Many NC Agents Choose a Referral-Only Brokerage

Referral brokerages allow agents to keep their North Carolina license active without joining the MLS or paying REALTOR® dues, while still earning income.

This setup is ideal for:

• Retired or semi-retired agents

• Agents taking a break from production

• Agents who moved out of state

• Investors who want to maintain a license

• Part-time professionals

• Busy families or agents in career transitions

By referring clients rather than working transactions, agents stay licensed, compliant, and income-eligible with minimal time commitment.

Keeping Your North Carolina License Active Through a Referral-Based Brokerage

Many North Carolina agents do not want to remain in full production, but they still want the ability to legally earn commission when opportunities arise. In those cases, activating your license with a referral-based brokerage can be an ideal solution.

Instead of leaving your license inactive—or staying with a traditional brokerage that requires MLS and REALTOR® dues—you can activate your license with a company that is designed specifically for referrals. This allows you to remain compliant with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission while avoiding the cost and workload associated with day-to-day sales.

When your license is active under a referral brokerage, you are legally able to earn commission through referrals without handling transactions yourself.

The Risk of Leaving Your North Carolina License Inactive

Leaving your real estate license inactive for an extended period often leads to missed opportunities and lost income. Even if you are not actively selling, people will still come to you for advice, recommendations, or help with buying and selling property.

When your license is inactive, you cannot legally earn from those opportunities.

An inactive license means:

• You cannot collect commission of any kind

• You cannot earn referral fees

• You cannot participate in brokerage activity

• You lose income when personal contacts buy or sell

• You miss long-term referral opportunities

Over time, this can easily result in tens of thousands of dollars in lost referral income simply because the license was not active.

How Park Place Realty Network Helps NC Agents Stay Active and Earn Referral Income

Park Place Realty Network offers a program specifically designed for agents who want to activate their North Carolina real estate license without participating in traditional sales.

When you activate your license with Park Place Realty Network, you become active under our brokerage. From there, you can earn income strictly through referrals—without joining the MLS, paying REALTOR® dues, or managing transactions.

Here’s how the program works:

• You activate your North Carolina real estate license with Park Place Realty Network

• You do not list or sell properties yourself unless you choose to

• When you know someone buying or selling residential or commercial real estate, you send the referral to us

• We place that referral with a top-performing local agent anywhere in the world

• The receiving agent handles the entire transaction

• You earn a referral fee once the transaction closes

This structure allows you to remain fully compliant, active, and income-eligible, while eliminating the stress and expenses of production real estate.

Since 2010, Park Place Realty Network has built long-standing relationships with trusted brokerages and agents nationwide and internationally. This ensures your referrals are handled professionally, while you benefit financially without the day-to-day workload.

Final Thoughts

You cannot collect commission with an inactive North Carolina real estate license. However, that does not mean you must return to full-time sales or carry the costs associated with traditional brokerages.

By activating your license with a referral-based company like Park Place Realty Network, you can stay active, remain compliant, and earn referral income worldwide—without MLS fees, REALTOR® dues, or production requirements.

If you are looking for a simple, low-overhead way to keep your license working for you, visit ParkPlaceNetwork.com to learn more about activating your license and earning referral income through our program.

Author bio: Kim Moore, a seasoned real estate professional with over 30 years of experience, now shares her expertise by writing insightful articles for leading real estate companies.