Designated agency in North Carolina is considered:

Designated agency in North Carolina is recognized as a form of dual agency. In this setup, two clients are represented by the same real estate firm, with each client being assigned a specific agent from that firm. This structure allows the firm to provide services to both clients while maintaining their individual interests, which is a hallmark of dual agency.

Under designated agency, the designated brokers have the responsibility to treat the clients separately, ensuring confidentiality and loyalty to each party, similar to dual agency's promise of representation. Importantly, designated agency helps avoid conflicts and promotes effective representation while remaining compliant with real estate regulations.

This concept is distinct from the other options, such as mandatory agency practices, which are not uniformly enforced across all agencies; exclusive representation agreements, which pertain more to the commitment between a client and an agent rather than the agency relationship itself; and an authorization to act for multiple clients, which may not effectively highlight the nuances involved in the representation within designated agency structures specifically.