Kelly Allen

Director of Education, Instructor

Kelly received her BSED from the University of Georgia. A former teacher for ten years, Kelly moved her family from Portland, Oregon to Asheville, North Carolina in 2002 where she started a new career with Keller Williams Professionals. In her first year, Kelly closed 32 transactions and won Rookie of the Year for the Carolinas Region. The next year she closed 52 transactions working 10 months out of the year. Her third year, Kelly closed 60 transactions and built a team of five talented professionals. After the birth of her son in 2006, Kelly focused on coaching agents across the country, helping them construct a robust business by deconstructing personal barriers. Combining her love of teaching and her practical knowledge of real estate brokerage, Kelly began teaching for Cumbie & Trull in 2014. Her engaging classroom style creates energy and enthusiasm for the instruction she provides.  Kelly received the Larry A. Outlaw Award for Excellence in Education from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission in 2020.

Annette Wise

Instructor

Annette is a native of Buncombe County, graduating from Enka High School. While at Enka, she lettered in 4 sports, all for 4 years. She attended Clemson University on a Basketball scholarship and graduated with a BA degree in Political Science. Annette returned to Asheville and began a career with Buncombe County government. She served as Director of the WNC Nature Center and later as Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Director. Annette oversaw the development of the Buncombe County Sports Park, the WNC Nature Center approval to join the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), rejuvenating all County pools and the Municipal Golf Course to name a few. Annette left County Government to pursue a career in Real Estate. She received her Real Estate License in 2006 and has served as a Broker in Charge since 2010. In her spare time, Annette spends time with her family, on the lake and enjoying Clemson Football and Women’s Basketball games.

Kevin Mahoney

Guest Instructor

Kevin Mahoney received his law and undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, and then in private practice for twelve years in Boston, Massachusetts. While in private practice, Kevin focused on real estate and commercial litigation. His practice included all aspects of real estate transactions, including the drafting of legal instruments for residential and commercial real estate purchases, financing documents, leases, trust instruments, condominium documents, and zoning and environmental opinions. Kevin formerly worked as a Special Deputy Attorney General for the North Carolina Department of Justice leading the Western Office in Asheville and focusing on real estate litigation throughout Western North Carolina. This practice focused primarily on land use and valuation, including assessments of highest and best use, and the utilization of all three real estate appraisal valuation methodologies. Kevin now works for NC Eminent Domain Law Firm where he focuses exclusively on representing landowners in condemnation cases in Western North Carolina. He is a Past President of the Biltmore Park Homeowner’s Association and is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina.

Lisa Duggins

Director of Operations & Marketing

Lisa graduated from Western Carolina University with a BFA in Graphic Design and has developed an eclectic background in customer service. She enjoys graphic illustrating and being outdoors with her family.  

301. Relationships and Responsibilities

30 hours

A review of agency relationships in real estate transactions and a real estate agent’s legal duties to clients and customers, a step-by-step review and discussion of the functions and responsibilities of a real estate agent when working with residential sellers and buyers, a review of issues associated with agent compensation and agents changing firms, and a review of license status and education issues.

302. Contracts and Closing

30 hours

Selected basic contract law concepts, real estate sales contract preparation, sales contract procedures, closing procedures and closing statement preparation, and real estate license status and education issues.

303. NC Law, Rules, and Legal Concepts

30 hours

Topics addressed in this course include general North Carolina licensing requirements, brokerage compensation issues, the disciplinary process, specialized types of real estate, property management in NC, and miscellaneous NC laws and legal concepts.

2026-27 General Update

• Appraisals
• NCREC FAQs
• Fake Sellers
• Fair Housing
• Law and Rule Updates
• Licensing & Education

2026-27 Broker-In-Charge Update

• Appraisals
• NCREC FAQs
• Fake Sellers
• Law and Rule Updates
• BIC Responsibilities

The BICUP is for Brokers who are currently serving as Broker-In-Charge (BIC) or are BIC eligible who want to retain that status. If you are not currently serving as a Broker-in-Charge or are not BIC eligible, you will not receive CE credit for this course. You can check your personal information to see if you are BIC eligible at the NCREC website: http://www.ncrec.gov

Electives

NEW 2026 Elective! The Art of Client Advocacy: Advanced Negotiation and Objection Handling in Real Estate Brokerage: Examine negotiation methods to better protect clients through ethical, results-driven frameworks and strategies. By applying diverse communication techniques to real-world scenarios, brokers gain the confidence to manage difficult conversations and complex negotiations with professionalism, integrity, and full compliance with North Carolina license law.

Elective Real Estate Crossroads: Navigating Generations, Storms, and Shifting Legal Tides: Prepare to navigate a complex intersection of generational preferences, environmental challenges, and evolving legal frameworks during this NCREC-approved elective. Explore how generational shifts are reshaping buyer and seller priorities. Examine strategies for safeguarding properties and communities against natural disasters. Unpack the latest legal trends impacting real estate transactions. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and actionable takeaways, participants will gain the confidence to steer their careers in the right direction, no matter which way the winds blow.

Crunched: The Housing Crisis and Zoning
Participants will explore the legacy of decades-old exclusionary land use controls, private deed covenants, and Federal Housing Administration redlining, together with a host of Supreme Court rulings that laid the foundation for our current lack of housing supply, variety, and affordability.

Fair Housing: Know Better, Do Better
A real estate elective designed to discuss fair housing laws and why those laws are still needed today.

Ethics: What Would Your Mama Say
Through a survey of ethical situations brokers regularly encounter in the market, licensees will analyze the 88 Standards of Practice which support the 17 Articles of the Realtor Code of Ethics.

Jim Gelleny

 Instructor

Jim received his BES (Pre Arch) Degree from the University of Waterloo in 1980. His first Real Estate License was in the Province of Ontario in 1982 where he worked the Family Real Estate and Land Development business. He moved to Naples Florida in 1984 to pursue new developments in the Family business obtaining his Florida Real Estate License in 1988. He developed numerous projects, most significantly a zero lot line villa project called St. Andrews at Pelican Bay. He was involved with Craigowan Builders and the preferred builders program in Pelican Bay in Naples and in Biltmore Park here in Asheville, both designing and developing the new single family home product. In late 1999 he moved his family to Asheville to begin a new segment in his business life. With a new NC Real Estate license he began to work in the residential sales field. In 1985 he started a new successful land project of upscale homes called King Heights, located in Arden. Jim moved to NAI Global commercial office in 1998. His experience is in commercial, residential sales/design and land development. He is a licensed instructor for Pre-License & Post License in North Carolina (NCREC). Jim also enjoys sports like ice hockey (Penguins & Hurricanes), football (Steelers), baseball (Blue Jays) and is a certified USA Hockey Coach. He is also a UNC Tar Heels fan (oldest daughter is a member of the Tar Heels Dance Team).

Michelle Melvin

Guest Instructor

Michelle Melvin earned her B.S. from Eastern Michigan University majoring in Public Relations and a minor in Photography and Graphic Design. Aimed with the idea of being a marketing and advertising executive she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to pursue that. Landing a job with Christie’s Great Estates in the marketing department started her love of real estate. Michelle moved to North Carolina in 1995 where she continued to work in corporate American in marketing departments. Soon realizing her true love was real estate she obtained her North Carolina Real Estate License in 2002. From that time forward she has had a successful career where she has been a top producer since specializing in new construction and property management. In 2004, she earned her Broker-in-Charge license and started teaching prelicensing. Because of her daily job of working with buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords she brings a unique perspective to the classroom. Offering real life examples she conveys real estate rules and laws from a mountain of working knowledge. Living in Raleigh with her husband, daughter and dog Missy she brings a different market perspective to show that real estate is absolutely local.

Kelly Allen

Director of Education, Instructor

Kelly received her BSED from the University of Georgia. A former teacher for ten years, Kelly moved her family from Portland, Oregon to Asheville, North Carolina in 2002 where she started a new career with Keller Williams Professionals. In her first year, Kelly closed 32 transactions and won Rookie of the Year for the Carolinas Region. The next year she closed 52 transactions working 10 months out of the year. Her third year, Kelly closed 60 transactions and built a team of five talented professionals. After the birth of her son in 2006, Kelly focused on coaching agents across the country, helping them construct a robust business by deconstructing personal barriers. Combining her love of teaching and her practical knowledge of real estate brokerage, Kelly began teaching for Cumbie & Trull in 2014. Her engaging classroom style creates energy and enthusiasm for the instruction she provides.

Jenny Blythe

Instructor

Jenny Blythe has been a real estate professional in North Carolina since 2005, and is consistently a multimillion dollar producer year after year. She has served as broker-in-charge of large firms across NC and continues to train and coach agents from all over the state. Her expert knowledge in NC real estate has allowed her to grow a thriving real estate firm and coaching company.

Jenny’s passion for teaching continues, and she is a NCREC approved instructor. Her creative online teaching skills and enthusiastic approach to learning make her classes engaging, entertaining and prepare her students not only for the exam but for business in today’s competitive market.

Matt Davies

Matt Davies began his career in 1998 with PricewaterhouseCoopers as an auditor, where he developed a strong foundation in financial analysis and regulatory compliance. In 2003, he earned his North Carolina real estate license, followed by his Real Estate Instructor license in 2008 — marking the start of a lifelong commitment to real estate education.

Matt is the co-author of North Carolina Real Estate Today, a leading textbook used by real estate students across the state. He is also the co-owner of Learn Test Pass, an educational company that develops end-of-course and practice exams for North Carolina real estate programs.

Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and curriculum development, earning both the North Carolina Real Estate Educators Association (NCREEA) Instructor of the Year award and the North Carolina Real Estate Commission Instructor of the Year award. His innovative approach to real estate education also earned him the Program of the Year distinction.

Outside the classroom, Matt is a devoted father of four and an avid lover of the outdoors. Whether hiking a new trail or exploring nature with his family, he brings the same sense of curiosity and passion for growth that defines his professional life.