SRS: Redefine Your Seller Representation

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Caitlin

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:

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

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

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Caitlin

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

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Caitlin

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

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Meghan

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.

City of Charleston “Stay At Home” Ordinance

Posted on March 25, 2020 by admin

PLEASE NOTE: These guidelines will ONLY affect the City of Charleston

Last Update: March 26, 2020 | 7:08 pm

Please note that individual services and businesses may elect to close by their own choosing.

As of 6pm of March 26, real estate has been reclassified as an “essential service” under the City of Charleston’s “Stay at Home” ordinance, which went into effect on Thursday March 26, 2020.

“The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR) applauds Mayor Tecklenburg’s leadership in classifying real estate as an essential service during this crisis. This crucial decision will allow real estate to keep transacting and supporting our local economy. It allows Realtors® to safely assist their clients in obtaining shelter during a time when shelter has never been more important” said 2020 CTAR President Bobette Fisher.

“Realtors® are ethically bound to do what is best for their clients and the public, which is our primary focus as we continue business and push forward during this unprecedented time” said CTAR CEO Wil Riley. “Real estate transactions are an essential part of a healthy economy and we will work with our members to ensure they understand how to proceed during this unfamiliar time. Members will be tasked with strictly following CDC guidelines and required to adhere to all local, state and federal directives as they apply to the continuation of business” said Riley.

“We will adopt new best practices and protocols for continuing to work—increasing our use of technology for things like listing appointments, virtual showings, virtual open houses and other solutions that will allow us to safely conduct business during this time” said Fisher.

The Charleston-based CHS Regional MLS also relaxed guidelines for users earlier today, which allows for temporary rules changes and use of virtual tools to help users to serve their clients safely. In-person/onsite showings are no longer required during this time, and the CHS MLS Board voted to relax restrictions on virtual open houses and how that information is shared.

“Business is operating a bit differently than it did a few weeks ago, but the MLS leadership and staff is committed to supporting our members and keeping everyone safely operational through this unprecedented time” said 2020 CHS MLS President, Peter Derry.

“Real estate transactions are an essential part of a healthy economy and we will work to ensure that property owners preserve their right to buy and sell their property freely” said Riley.

The essential services classification will allow real estate to transact freely as licensees follow all guidelines and orders, refraining from in-person contact, utilizing virtual tools and strict adherence to the public health guidelines offered by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

See the ordinance for a comprehensive list of Essential Services.

Rep Cunningham Joins CTAR in the American Flood Coalition

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Meghan

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

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.

ZipLogix Software Now Available to Members

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Meghan

NAR has expanded its partnership with zipLogix to now include zipTMS™, their transaction management component, at no cost to Realtor members. Members will enjoy the benefits of zipTMS™, including providing access to a comprehensive platform to manage transactions from beginning to end. This partnership will keep REALTORS® at the center of the transaction, helping state and local REALTOR® associations increase membership providing access to zipForm Plus and zipTMS™

Announced at the end of 2015, the software is now officially available, intended to provide members with access to top technology in the industry. You can find more information on NAR’s website here.

There are currently over 600,000 members that use zipLogix with the goal of increasing that number after the partnership. This easy-to-use real estate forms and transaction management software platform is designed to help increase productivity, integrity and provides intellectual property protections for state and local form. It also authenticates users through NAR’s NRDS database.

ZipLogix is a 100-percent REALTOR® association-owned company, and with the help of NAR, are committed to making sure REALTORS® have the resources they need to succeed in today’s real estate environment.

Big Changes to Closing Process

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Caitlin

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.

Realtors Housing Opportunities Fund

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Meghan

The Realtors® Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF) is an endowed fund created by the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® supporting non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in the local community. RHOF’s giving mission is three-pronged: the repair or rehabilitation of low-to-moderate income housing, creation of new affordable housing, and education to encourage responsible homeownership.

The Fund is administered by the Coastal Community Foundation and since its inception, RHOF has provided OVER $1 million in funding to Lowcountry nonprofits.

Donate Today!

On April 8th 2022, the Realtors®️ Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF) Committee hosted a Build Day with Dorchester Habitat for Humanity. RHOF granted them $3,125 towards a new home for The Levine Family. Tyornia Levine is the chef manager at the College of Charleston and a single parent of six children. This grant was just one of 15 grants awarded in 2022 totaling over $58,995!

This spring, the Realtors® Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF) Committee presented a check to Dorchester Habitat for Humanity for $5,000 towards a new home for Laura, a first time homeowner and single mom of 4 children who had previously been living in a garage apartment. The committee also helped build Laura’s home! This grant was just one of 18 grants awarded in 2019 totaling over $54,000!

How You Can Help:

Donate
100% of your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and will be granted back out into our local community. Mail in a check payable to RHOF to CTAR, c/o RHOF, 5006 Wetland Crossing, North Charleston, SC 29418 or click here to donate online.

Volunteer
Sign up to help us at our next volunteer project for one of grant recipients. We volunteer each spring and fall. Contact us if you’d like to be added to the volunteer list.

Serve on the Committee
The RHOF committee is made up of volunteer Realtor leaders who meet 5-6 times per year to award grants and coordinate fundraisers.

Attend a Fundraising Event
RHOF hosts 2 Cocktails for Community events each year. Just by attending, you are helping us raise money!

For more information on RHOF or to get involved please email
jessie@www.charlestonrealtors.com.

Become a resort & second home expert

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Caitlin

Resort & Second-Home Markets Course
May 28 | 9am-6pm

Course Cost: $199
Realtor® Gold Card Cost $179
Register here.

Why earn the RSPS Certification?
RSPS is recognized as an official NAR Certification, and allows buyers and sellers to have confidence in the ability of a Realtor® who specializes in buying, selling or management of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in a resort, recreational and/or vacation destination, to assist them with their search.

The RSPS certification course is also approved as elective credit towards the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation.

What you’ll take away:
6 elective CE hours (CEE2253)
RSPS Certification

Questions about earning your RSPS? Click here.

Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®

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