The 2023 Nominating Committee has announced their recommendations for the 2024 CTAR leadership positions.

One candidate has been selected for each vacancy and will be elected by acclamation should no additional candidates be submitted. Additional candidates may be placed in nomination by a petition signed by at least 3 percent of REALTOR®️ members eligible to vote. If petition candidates are submitted, email voting will be conducted. Otherwise these slated candidates will be approved by acclamation.

Any petition for additional candidates must be submitted no later than October 10, 2023.

Stephen Kohn | 1st Vice President
Broker/Owner, Excel Real Estate

Stephen is a servant leader, and truly has a heart to give and see things through to the end. He is currently the Broker/Owner of Excel Real Estate – Charleston & Atlanta, and CEO of Empowerment Development Group, LLC, where they provide housing solutions to combat the attainable workforce housing issues in the Lowcountry.

Originally from Jacksonville, FL, he relocated to the Lowcountry in 2009. After serving 8 years in the US Air Force, and receiving a medical retirement in 2014, he decided to continue to serve through Real Estate. He is currently enrolled in the Doctoral of Leadership program at Charleston Southern University, where he plans to ultimately effect change through the power of the pen. Stephen played an integral role in founding the NAREB Chapter, Charleston Area Realtist Association, has served on several different boards, creating true change around the Lowcountry. As a DE&I Champion throughout the state, his service and commitment to the South Carolina Association of Realtors & Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® has afforded him the opportunity to be hands on with the community he serves! He is committed to enabling people to become the best version of themselves, no matter what.

Matt Anderson | Treasurer
Principal, Matt Anderson Properties

Matt is the founding Principal of Matt Anderson Properties and the Charleston Home Search team with the Boulevard Company. He was born and raised on Sullivans Island, has been selling real estate full-time since 2006, and consistently ranks amongst the top 1% of agents by volume in the Charleston Trident MLS.

Matt has extensive experience working with Residential, Multi-Family, and Commercial investors/developers and his passion lies in the adaptive reuse of historically significant and urban infill projects on the Peninsula. Matt is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s local chapter, serves on the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Developers Council, and currently serves on the CTAR Board of Directors as Treasurer. Matt, his wife Karen, and their son Asher live in the Wagener Terrace neighborhood in Downtown Charleston.

Jane Barr | Director
Broker Associate, The Boulevard Company

Jane is a Broker Associate with The Boulevard Company and has been a REALTOR® in the Charleston area since 2004. She holds the designation of Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and takes pride in delivering excellent service to her clients. Jane is very involved in the community and has served on various local boards and commissions including serving on the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments for 2 years, former board and past President of The Charleston Area League of Women Voters and former board and past President of Trident Area Agency on Aging. Other involvements include participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry for many years and a long-time member of the Carolina Lady Anglers that promotes conservation, sport fishing, and an annual fishing tournament that raises money for breast cancer survivors.

Jane was born and raised in Florence, S.C., and has lived in Charleston on Johns Island since 1995. Jane has a Bachelor of Science degree from Francis Marion University and formerly worked in the field of Aging prior to her real estate career.  When Jane is not busy, she and her husband enjoy adventuring the beautiful outdoors of Charleston.

Nia Swinton-Jenkins | Director
REALTOR®, Carolina One Real Estate

Nia Swinton-Jenkins, a Charleston native, is a respected real estate professional with certifications in military relocation, relocation, and negotiation. She’s a REALTOR® of Distinction recognized by the Charleston Trident Association of REALTOR® and actively advocates for property rights, heirs property + diversity, equity and inclusion within her industry. Voted one of the “CRP Top 40 Under 40 Realtors,” Nia serves clients from Charleston to Columbia, SC.

Nia is also a dedicated member of the SC Army National Guard, where she’s a Medical Services Officer and a graduate of The Federal Officers Candidate School. Holding an M.P.H. in Health Policy and a B.S. in Biomedical & Scientific Communication, she brings a unique perspective to her 18-year career in sales, marketing, public health, science, and education.

As a wife and mother of two, Nia values family and enjoys the outdoors, rollerblading, movies, travel, and quality time with loved ones.

Joel Torres | Director
REALTOR®, Marshall Walker Real Estate

Joel Torres was born and raised in West Los Angeles, California. Where he worked for years as a beach Lifeguard, Trainer & Rescue Boat Operator.  He is the youngest of 5 children from a first generation family where his parents moved from Honduras to America to chase the American dream.

In Los Angeles, Joel attended West Los Angeles College where he received his Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and Studies. Looking for a change in pace one year, Joel decided to visit an older brother in Charleston, South Carolina. Let’s just say the rest is history!

Joel has been residing in the West Ashley area of Charleston for over 14 years now. He has served the County & City of Charleston in a multitude of ways through his work as a Water Safety Public Officer. After years of serving the public in an aquatic capacity, Joel decided to take things on land, to help the public with their Real Estate goals! Joel is always striving to better himself through each transaction, and since becoming an agent, has obtained his Associate Brokers License, the Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) Certification, CIPS, C2EX just to list a few. When not helping clients and customers achieve their goals, Joel loves spending time with his wife, Marie and 3 fur babies. In his free time, he and his family enjoy traveling and spending time at the beach.

Bobette Fisher | NAR Director 2024-25
REALTOR®, Carolina One Real Estate

Bobette has been a residential real estate agent since 2002 and with her current brokerage Carolina One Real Estate since 2009. She holds the designations of CIPS, CRS, GRI and SFR and was CTAR President in 2020 and has served in many Leadership roles since 2010.  Awards include: 2020 CTAR REALTOR® of the Year, 2014 SC CRS of the Year in 2014 and received the distinguished NAR Omega Tau Rho Award in 2015. Bobette founded the Women’s Council of REALTORS SC Coastal Network in 2022 and serves as SC RPAC Chair in 2023.

Bobette has lived in the Charleston area since 2000.  She is married, has two grown children, two granddaughters and is a native of Elkhart, Indiana. In her off time, she enjoys traveling, the local beaches, all the great food and fun activities the Lowcountry offers!

Sky High Demand and Lack of Inventory Keeping Charleston Market From a Healthy Pace

Charleston, SC – (July 10, 2023) 1,789 homes sold in June in the Charleston region at a median price of $410,000 according to preliminary data released today by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR). Last year, 2,046 homes sold in July at a median price of $420,000 which is 13% fewer sales at a price point that is a slight 2% lower.

Year-to-date, 8,658 homes have sold in the Charleston region at a median price of $404,665. In 2022, 11,072 homes had sold at a median price of $396,900 which reflects a 22% difference in sales and a 2% increase in median price.

Inventory showed a decline for the first time this year, with 2,398 homes listed as “active” for sale in the CHS Regional MLS database at the end of June—representing about a month and a half worth of available inventory and 12% fewer homes for sale than at this time last year.

“Home sales have steadily increased every month this year, but the demand for housing significantly outweighs current supply in the Charleston market” said 2023 CTAR President Katesha Breland. “This month, inventory declined for the first time this year. Summer is typically the busiest homebuying season and people are buying everything that is available, but we need a significant amount of additional housing, in a wide range of price points to accommodate the demand from prospective buyers” she said. “If we had more homes to sell, we could sell them!” said Breland.

May Adjustment

Preliminary data showed 1,654 homes sold in May in the Charleston region at a median price of $420,000. Updated figures now show 1,675 homes sold at the same median price.

Berkeley County

532 homes sold at a median price of $352,601 in Berkeley County in June, 491 single-family homes and 41 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 2,362 single-family homes have sold in Berkeley County at a median price of $384,995; 257 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $304,040.
There are currently 736 residential properties for sale in Berkeley County; 663 single-family homes and 73 condos/townhomes.

Charleston County

737 homes sold at a median price of $524,500 in Charleston County in June, 541 single-family homes and 196 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 2,724 single-family homes have sold in Charleston County at a median price of $606,628; 919 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $395,000.

There are currently 956 residential properties for sale in Charleston County; 729 single-family homes and 227 condos/townhomes.

Colleton County

30 homes sold at a median price of $296,500 in Colleton County in June, 25 single-family homes and 5 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 143 single-family homes have sold in Colleton County at a median price of $265,000; 22 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $289,200.

There are currently 57 residential properties for sale in Colleton County, 57 single-family homes with no condos/townhomes currently on the market.

Dorchester County

363 homes sold at a median price of $327,875 in Dorchester County in June, 327 single-family homes and 36 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 1,514 single-family homes have sold in Dorchester County at a median price of $378,000; 156 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $265,000.

There are currently 384 residential properties for sale in Dorchester County; 354 single-family homes and 30 condos/townhomes.

1,589 homes sold in March in the Charleston region at a median price of $403,075 according to preliminary data released today by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR). Last year, 2,127 homes sold in March at a median price of $385,000.

At the end of the first quarter of the year, 3,674 homes have sold in the Charleston region at a median price of $394,250. At the end of Q1 last year, 5,046 homes had sold at a median price of $376,000 which reflects a 27% difference in sales year-over-year and a 5% increase in median price.

Inventory has increased by 60% with 2,427 homes listed as “active” for sale in the CHS Regional MLS database at the end of the month compared to last year’s 1,513. Current inventory represents just over 1.5 months of supply, which is still considerably lower than the 5-6 months that we’d like to see as a representation of a healthy level of inventory but moving in the right direction.

“When we look at the last five years of sales data from the first quarter, you can clearly see the outlier “Covid Years” and their impact on the regional market” said 2023 CTAR President Katesha Breland. “When you look back to 2019 and earlier, before the pandemic boom, the sales market was behaving very similarly to how it is now—steady and sustainable growth. The data shows exactly what we’ve been saying, that the market is normalizing and returning to sustainable activity” Breland said. “On the pricing side, the lower levels of inventory and lack of available homes in a variety of price points continues to be a challenge as prices continue to rise. With the regional median price crossing the $400k threshold, buyers are going to have to rely on a trusted Realtor® professional to find what fits for their needs and their budget” she said.

February Adjustment
Preliminary data showed 1,131 homes sold in February in the Charleston region at a median price of $385,388. Updated figures now show 942 homes sold at the same median price.

Berkeley County
486 homes sold at a median price of $345,599 in Berkeley County in March, 426 single-family homes and 60 condos/townhomes.

Market Graphics

The Starlight Motor Inn opened in 1961 and remains a landmark to this day. As the first modular-built motel in the South, it was an affordable and accessible option for those visiting our region.

The Starlight has stood through the complex and storied history of our region. The Inn has been a constant through the Civil Rights Era, Hurricane Hugo, the Naval Base closure and in 2020 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This building had a front row seat to the history of North Charleston and will play a vital role in the reimagining of the city going forward.

Ham Morrison, principle of the project shared: “This was a very challenging project. The site was on the city’s (North Charleston) condemned list and it wasn’t an easy argument to change that.”

“Even after explaining that we saved the Big Bertha building on King Street, they were still apprehensive to give us an opportunity to save the property – they were tired of the complaints and fires, and liabilities coming from the site. Understandable.”

“When we dug into the history and learned that the motel was the first modular built motel in the nation – now we had the city’s attention.” 

“So, history really did save the two buildings. Getting them placed on the National Register of Historic Places helped the city realize the significance and allow us to pull the permits and go to work.  And the project numbers would not work without the help of historic tax credits and abandoned building credits. We did the same thing on Big Bertha (1056 King Street). That project would not have worked without the credits.”

Nestled along the upcoming Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT), Rivers Corridor, the area has been rezoned to accommodate for transit-oriented development. The planned build-out includes shops, restaurants and green space to help preserve the community’s character as Rivers Avenue evolves. This project is proof that cities and towns can grow and develop to remain viable AND we can protect treasures like The Starlight Inn at the same time.

“We also set up the project to be owned by a qualified opportunity fund. So, we have a mix of capital gain investment and regular after-tax cash investment. The Opportunity Zone component helps attract patient money. As you know, investors get to defer gains and have their investment grow tax free on a 10-year hold.” Added Morrison.

The Starlight Inn has taken advantage of several REALTOR® policy initiatives—the Inn is located in an Opportunity Zone, a REALTOR® priority championed by Sen. Tim Scott. The business has also benefitted from Historic Tax Credits which help not only protect the property through preservation but creates an incentive to do so as Historic Tax Credits are NAR and SCR priorities at their respective levels of government. On the local level, CTAR worked with the City of North Charleston to rezone Rivers Corridor to transit-oriented development zoning, supporting future investment and ensuring smart growth of the area. The Starlight Inn’s utilization of these REALTOR® advocacy initiatives will preserve and protect this treasure for generations to come.

And with a throwback neighborhood bar and a pool, The Starlight Inn will be the hippest place in North Charleston once again! Click here to view a plan for the Starlight Inn’s campus.