SRS: Redefine Your Seller Representation

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)
November 7-8 | 9am-5pm

Course Cost: $249
REALTOR® Gold Card Rate: $219
Register here. 

** all prices will increase $20 on October 24, 2023***

The Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation, recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®️, is the premier credential in seller representation. It is designed to elevate professional standards and enhance personal performance. SRS is a global community of REALTORS®️ who use their ideas and expertise to professionally and ethically represent sellers.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation of skill development, training, and resources to help real estate professionals represent the interests of sellers in today’s marketplace.

Working with sellers is the primary focus for agents across the country. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, the SRS Course will redefine your ‘normal’ and reinvent the way you represent sellers. You will learn tips and tools that will equip you to list in today’s marketplace. Read more benefits of earning your SRS designation here.

The SRS course can also be utilized as an elective credit for the ABR designation and is approved by the SCREC for 8 elective CE hours (CEE3912).

Additional requirements for earning your SRS:

  1. Successful completion of the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) 2 day Designation Course.
  2. Successful completion of one SRS elective course.
  3. Documentation verifying three (3) completed transactions in which you acted solely as a seller representative (no dual agency).
  4. Maintain active membership status with the National Association of REALTORS®️

Please view the complete requirements for earning your SRS designation

Course Sponsors

Donaldson Law Firm

 

Tidewater Mortgage Specialists, Inc

Additional requirements for earning your SRS:

  • Successful completion of the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) Designation Course.
  • Successful completion of the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) 2 day Designation Course.
  • Successful completion of one SRS elective course.
  • Documentation verifying three (3) completed transactions in which you acted solely as a seller representative (no dual agency).
  • Maintain active membership status with the National Association of REALTORS.

Please view the complete requirements for earning your SRS designation here. 
Questions about earning your SRS? Click here.

2022 Year-In-Review Residential Market Update


On January 18, CTAR hosted its annual Residential Market Update featuring Dr. Joey Von Nessen, Economist with the Moore School of Business at USC.

If you missed it, check out the recording of his presentation here or review his slide deck here.


Watch the recorded 2022 Residential Market Update:

Review Dr. Von Nessen’s Slide Deck:

Earn Your SRES Designation in November

Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) Designation Course
November 15-16, 2022 | 9am-5:30pm | Instructor: Brian Woods

Course Cost: $229
Gold Card Price: $199

This course seeks to instill knowledge and understanding of and empathy for 55+ real estate clients and customers and to develop the business building skills and resources needed for specialization in the 55+ real estate market.

This course earns you 8 elective hours (CEE2469) and is required to attain the SRES® Designation. It also counts as one elective course towards the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation and the Resort and Second-Home Markets Certification (RSPS).

Register for this course

Sponsored by:

Mutual of Omaha Mortgage

Dallis & Badger Law Firm

Realtors of Distinction

REALTORS® of Distinction Award

The REALTORS®️ of Distinction award recognizes the top 10% of producing Charleston REALTORS®️ with 1 or more transactions who apply for the award, complete additional education requirements in the award year, and adhere to the REALTOR®️ Code of Ethics & LLR regulations.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JANUARY 10, 2024. No late applications will be accepted.

REALTORS® of Distinction Award Luncheon
The awards luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 11:30am-1:30pm at Trident Tech N. Campus. More detail will be announced soon.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility or the REALTORS® of Distinction Award program, please email Claire.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

To be eligible for this award, applicant must have met the following criteria between January 1-December 31, 2023:

-Maintained membership in CTAR January-December 2023 and must currently be a member

-No Ethics or LLR violations in the last 3 years

-Achieved minimum sales for the category you apply for (specifics below).

2023 AWARD QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

Members may apply for only one award category (Residential, Commercial, Rising Star, Property Manager, or Team).

2023 Education Requirements:

12 hours of education completed in 2023

These may be virtual or in-person CE courses, lunch and learns, webinars, professional development presentations, and/or educational conferences, MLS classes, etc… All courses must be at least one hour. Office meetings do not count.

2023 Sales Requirements

Silver Circle – $10,800,000 – $16,299,999 in volume or 20 – 28 sides

Gold Circle – $16,300,000 – $25,599,999 in volume or 28.5 – 41.5 sides

Platinum Circle – $25,600,00 in volume + or 42+ sides

Rising Star – $8,100,000+ in volume or 15+ sides (licensed 2 years or less by end of 2023)

Property Managers Award – $110,500 in lease volume and/or 60 sides

Team Award* – $21,600,000+ in volume and/or 40+ sides

Commercial Award – $10,800,000+ and/or 20+ sides

*Definition of a Team:

A team is 2 or more licensed producing sales associates who combine sales for award or commission sharing in any fashion. Independent contractors employed by a team in non-selling/non-listing activities are not counted as a member of the team. A team may apply as a team OR as individuals, but not both. If a team chooses to apply as individuals the team production is divided by the number on the team and that is the number each member may claim. Or, we will use the amount shown on the Flex Residential Sales Report under each individual team member’s name as of Dec. 31, 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Individual Residential Award applicants MUST use the Flex Residential Sales Production Report plus a list of any additional transactions not under your name in MLS, not under your partner’s name, or not in MLS to verify sales.
If a list of additional transactions is not included with your application, only those transactions under your name in the Flex Residential Sales Production report will count. Check this report for accuracy after each closing within 5 days; do not wait until year end.
Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be rejected.
Individuals or teams falsifying production numbers or # of people contributing to their volume/units or their education hours will be charged with a violation of the Code of Ethics.

Profiles in Diverse Leadership: Corwyn Melette

For the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR), Black History Month doesn’t end in February—we remain committed to listening, learning and growing to create a truly equitable Association for ALL Realtor® members. Throughout this year, we will celebrate the cultures and traditions of our diverse membership and recognize those in our industry or Association who exemplify the diverse, inclusive and equitable Association culture we are striving for.

Today, we recognize Past CTAR and MLS President, Realtor® Corwyn Melette, for his humble service with the local, state and national Realtor® organizations and his continued dedication to the growth and betterment of CTAR, CHS MLS and the real estate industry as a whole.

Corwyn’s Presidential year was defined by a year of new opportunities—taking on new Association office space and moving into the future with a new MLS platform. “That year, 2014, was a year of change—we changed locations, changed how we did business and we changed what our board leadership looked like” he said.

Corwyn served as the first black President of CTAR and oversaw a year of significant growth for both the Association and the MLS. As President, he welcomed the membership into a brand-new office building and alongside MLS President Ann Whalen, led our collective organizations forward with the establishment of a new, cutting-edge MLS platform.

While his legacy will be defined by creating meaningful change on multiple fronts, he began his leadership journey with the mindset of a humble volunteer. “I was not looking to break a ceiling, I just wanted to be of service. I had no intention of becoming President of our Association, but my service led me there and it was my humble honor to have occupied that seat.” Corwyn explained.

“I wanted to be a voice for those who felt they didn’t have one. For those people who are part of our population but are oftentimes underserved and definitely underrepresented—that includes people of color, low to moderate income buyers, agents that work in those spaces, agents that look like me who endeavor for a luxury business or to work in other parts of the market…I just wanted to give a voice to those people” he said.

It’s no surprise that Corwyn was an impactful leader during this pivotal year—his focus has always been on how he can support and help those around him. In 2004, he earned his real estate license and began looking to purchase investment properties for himself, knowing that real estate is a proven path to building financial strength and wealth. However, he quickly realized how important it was for him to share this knowledge with others who could benefit alongside him.

Now, as a broker owner of the Exit Realty Lowcountry Group, Corwyn leads, manages and inspires a team of 14 agents. “I get to help these agents establish and build their business. We are helping people, going against the odds, working diligently to persevere and overcome those odds—to meet the success that our clients endeavor for” said Corwyn.

In his time as a Realtor®, Corwyn has made a career out of achieving what seems impossible. In what was the most longest and most complicated transaction he’s ever completed, Corwyn accepted the challenge of selling what seemed like an unsellable house for a widowed, retired schoolteacher who had been moved to assisted living. After months of roadblocks, she thanked him for working so hard for her and he told her, “I keep seeing a light. As long as I keep seeing the light, I’m going to keep going. I don’t know what the light may be—it may be a train, or it could be the end and the opening for this sale, but whatever it is, I’m going to keep going” The perseverance paid off and at the end of a very long and trying 11-and-a-half-month process, the property closed. “She was relieved at the end, and I was so grateful to have gotten that done for her” he said.

Whether in his role as a Realtor®, now as a Broker or in one of the many positions that he’s held with CTAR, CHS MLS, South Carolina Realtors® (SCR) or the National Association of Realtors®, Corwyn embodies what it means to be a leader, and always puts service to others first.

“I do believe for our Association seeing someone of color in my role provided some sense of belonging, I’m hopeful that it did—that it gave a sense of ‘If he did it, maybe I can as well’. I hope and want our Association to be reflective of our membership—whether it’s based on demographic, race, religion—that we remain open to consider the viewpoints of others in our membership” he said.

“I believe that our association now more than ever is seemingly more inclusive—that we’re figuring out ways to provide across the board for all of our members and invite all of them to be a part of THEIR association. There is no Association without our members—and I think membership is just the minimum—our members need to get involved and are needed to lend their voices and ideas to committees and boards. That will be critical to our success in the future” said Melette.

CTAR and CHS MLS humbly thank Corwyn for his leadership, his tenacity and his willingness to do whatever he needs to do to get the job done. It is because of Realtors® like Corwyn that our organizations have grown, changed and will continue to because of the future leaders his leadership has inspired.

Hurricane Dorian Update

The CTAR, CHS MLS and SCCMLS offices will remain closed through Friday. We look forward to seeing you on Monday morning! We hope everyone is staying safe during the storm!

All programs, classes and meetings have been canceled through Friday, including the CID Luncheon and Mayoral Forum on Thursday.

EVACUATION DETAILS
Governor McMaster has issued mandatory evacuations and I-26 lane reversal, including the following zones:
Charleston County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
Dorchester County Evacuation Zone D
Berkeley County Evacuation Zone B, G

FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Please remind your sellers to secure yard signs or information boxes that may be in their yards as they can become dangerous projectiles during the storm.

For more information on what you need to bring with you when you evacuate, and how to be best prepared for the storm, please click here.

A HELPFUL TIP FROM SCR
Do mandatory evacuation orders automatically extend “business days” or other deadlines in SCR Form 310 or other pending real estate contracts?

Unless there is language in your contract that contemplates evacuation orders, the “business days” definition remain the same. Although SCR Form 310 provides for an automatic extension “for an unsatisfied contingency through no fault of either party,” the safest practice is to encourage your agents to seek extensions today to protect against any confusion or delays (whether it’s because of a contingency or not.)
Have additional questions? Call the SCR Legal Hotline at 803-772-5206, a free member benefit.Please be prepared for this unprecedentedly strong storm and get yourself and your family to safety!

Rep Cunningham Joins CTAR in the American Flood Coalition

Rep. Joe Cunningham Joins American Flood Coalition to Combat Rising Waters
South Carolina Congressman joins the coalition showcasing the urgency of flooding and sea level rise issues facing the 1st district.

The American Flood Coalition is pleased to announce that Rep. Joe Cunningham has joined its nonpartisan alliance to address the growing threat of flooding and sea level rise. Rep. Cunningham represents South Carolina’s First Congressional District, which encompasses South Carolina’s Lowcountry, including Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Kiawah, and Hilton Head.

Rep. Cunningham joins the Coalition at a timely moment for South Carolina, as flooding concerns in the state are growing.

“In the last few years, historic flooding has inundated South Carolina’s Lowcountry because of unprecedented high tides, erosion, and harsher storm surges and hurricanes. In Charleston, flooding threatens to compromise our medical district and recurrent flooding threatens nearly every military installation in our district,” said Rep. Cunningham. “I look forward to working together to build a flood-resistant South Carolina.”

Charleston is home to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Roper St. Francis Healthcare system, and Ralph A. Johnson VA Hospital, which house a total of 6 separate hospitals. The streets in Charleston’s medical district flood regularly and often prevent people and ambulances from reaching the hospitals. During Hurricane Matthew, Ralph H. Johnson VA rescheduled 6,000 appointments and transferred many of its patients under its evacuation protocol.

“As an advisory board member of the American Flood Coalition, we are pleased to welcome Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-1) as a coalition member,” said the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS in a statement about the Congressman’s membership. “Our region and state have faced catastrophic flooding in recent years and it is imperative we advocate for solutions locally and nationally.  As the first federal member of the South Carolina delegation to join, we congratulate Rep. Cunningham for being our voice on the national stage regarding flooding solutions and his leadership on this issue.”

CTAR Delegation meets with Representative Cunningham in his DC office during the Realtors Midyear Legislative Meetings

CTAR Delegation meets with Representative Cunningham in his DC office during the Realtors Midyear Legislative Meetings

Rep. Cunningham’s district is also home to a number of critical military installations threatened by flooding, which degrades operational readiness. Joint Base Charleston was recently named by the Air Force as one of their top 5 bases most vulnerable to weather impacts, and access roads to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort can be restricted by high tides and storms. Additionally, flooding downtown can cut off access to Charleston’s Coast Guard facility, disrupting search and rescue operations during storms.

Rep. Cunningham is the 13th Member of Congress to join the American Flood Coalition and the 32nd member from South Carolina. The coalition’s South Carolina membership includes the cities of Beaufort, Charleston, Folly Beach, as well as civic groups such as Groundswell! and the Historic Charleston Foundation. Several local business groups, such as Charleston Homebuilders Association and Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS, are also coalition members.

20 elected officials in South Carolina are also members of the American Flood Coalition, including Governor Henry McMaster, as well as numerous state legislators, mayors, and city councilmembers.

“This is a very exciting moment for the coalition. We have worked with our state and local members in South Carolina to elevate their concerns on sea-level rise and flooding. Now, we have a great opportunity to connect them with their federal representative and work towards a common goal,” said Melissa Roberts, Executive Director of the American Flood Coalition. “We look forward to working with Congressman Cunningham to advance practical solutions for flood affected communities in both South Carolina’s first congressional district and across the country.”

The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups that have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through national solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations.

Cities, towns, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders wishing to join the American Flood Coalition or read more about the organization’s work can visit the coalition’s website to find out more.

SentriSmart App and Bluetooth Lockbox

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Take advantage of Sentrilock’s new SentriSmart™ app and Bluetooth Lockbox to make showings and listing maintenance a breeze!

The SentriSmart™ app will allow you to access lockboxes without a SentriCard while in the field. With the new, bluetooth lockboxes, the app opens the key compartment for you, and non-bluetooth boxes are accessed with a mobile access code – still no card necessary for access to the key compartment! The app is provided by Sentrilock at no cost to you.

Watch the video below to learn more and download the app in your mobile device or tablet app store.

Can’t see the video below? Click here.

 

Click the image below to learn more or download a PDF here.

 

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Download the app in your mobile device or tablet app store.

Big Changes to Closing Process

After close collaboration with NAR, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has released a new toolkit to help Realtors® navigate the changes. 

Explore the complete guide here. 

 


 

New rules affecting the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) will go into effect on October 1. The changes will significantly change the closing process.

On November 20, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued its final rule to integrate RESPA and TILA disclosures and regulations. The final rule integrates existing disclosures with new requirements from the Dodd-Frank Act to improve consumer understanding of the mortgage process, aid in comparison shopping and help to prevent surprises at the closing table.

The Good Faith Estimate will be combined with the Truth in Lending (TIL) disclosure now called the “loan estimate” and the HUD-1 settlement statement with the final TIL, now called the “closing disclosure.”

The changes will also affect the settlement process, requiring that the closing disclosure be in the hands of the consumer three days before closing.

Highlights of the new rule include:

  • A new loan estimate document which replaces the Good Faith Estimate and the initial Truth in Lending disclosure.
  • A new closing disclosure document which replaces and combines the HUD-1 and final Truth in Lending disclosures.
  • Loan Estimates must now be given to consumers within 3 business days of applying for the loan.
  • Types of loans covered include most closed-end consumer mortgage loans. The rule does not apply to Home equity lines of credit, reverse mortgages, mortgages secured by mobile homes or by dwellings not attached to the property and creditors who make five or fewer mortgage loans in one year.
  • SCR suggests those who intend to buy or sell real estate after July should contact their law firm as soon as possible to discuss how the new federal laws, closing procedures and documents could potentially cause closing delays.

 


 

Training Opportunities & Resources

  • Complete Realtor® Toolkit available here.
  • An online overview of the changes from NAR is available here. 

Join us at the Realtor Rally March 24!


Please join us on March 24 at 10 am at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and the South Carolina Statehouse, to show your support for the American Dream of Homeownership and Quality of Life for all South Carolinians!

March 24 | 10 am – 3 pm

Register here. (no cost for Realtor® members)

Join your fellow Realtors®, legislators and the media as we let our voices be heard. The issues we’re tackling this year are:
– Real Estate License Law Update & Modernization
– Business License Tax Reduction
– Patent Reform
– Environmental litigation Reform
– Property Tax Reform

The day’s events will include a full issue briefing by your SCR lobbyist, events inside the Statehouse, and a BBQ lunch with your legislators.

It’s time to take our message to our elected officials. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with your legislators and rally support for the Realtor® Party.

If there is enough participation, CTAR will provide transportation to the event.