2023 Realtor Voter Guides are Here!

As a service to all Realtor® members, a volunteer group of your Realtor® peers takes the time each election season to interview the candidates running for office. If you’d like to participate in our candidate screening committee, please email Josh Dix. This committee is open to all Realtor® members.

These voter guides identify candidates who are pro-business, pro-public property rights and whose values closely align with Realtor® interests. As an individual, who you vote for is YOUR business, but as Realtors® who we support impacts all of OUR business. Our number one consideration in recommending one candidate over another is the candidate’s stance on key Realtor® Issues – private property rights, highest and best use of land and of course, fair housing.

This voter guide is intended to help you identify those candidates who will be supportive of Realtor® issues and support your business. View below, or download a PDF here.

If you have questions about the 2022 Voter Guide, the candidate screening process or how selections are made, please contact Josh Dix.

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.

NAR Green Designation

NAR Green Designation
May 3-4 | 9am – 4pm
CEE3605 – approved for 12 hours of CE
Instructor: Jacel Galloway

Member/Non Member $265
Gold Card $240

NAR’s Green Designation Course: People, Property, Planet, Prosperity covers the distinguishing characteristics that make a high-performance home. The course looks at how consumer demand for these homes is increasing and provides a detailed accounting of how high-performance features work. The course prepares real estate professionals to provide advice and sources of information to help homeowners improve the performance of their homes— from low-cost fixes and DIY projects, to retrofitting and replacing systems, to big budget remodeling projects and new constructions. Ultimately, this course will show you how to apply green knowledge to enhance your business while also helping to create a more sustainable, healthy world.

Designation Member Benefits can be found HERE.

Sponsor:

Join us for Spring Cocktails for Community!

Join us for the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® Spring Cocktails for Community at Holy City Brewery’s Porter Room.

Admission is $35 per person and goes directly to RHOF. The ticket price includes 2 drink tickets and hors d’oeuvres.

As always, we’ll enjoy networking time with the best of Charleston’s real estate community and have the chance to win some great raffle prizes and bigger ticket auction items while supporting the Realtors Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF).

About the Realtors®️ Housing Opportunities Fund:
Since 2003, the Realtors®️ Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF) has dedicated itself to assisting in the development, maintenance, or repair of housing for those in need, through its endowed fund and grant distributions to Lowcountry organizations committed to the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. RHOF was founded in 2003 to address the growing need for affordable and safe housing for Lowcountry residents in need. The Fund is administered by the Coastal Community Foundation and since its inception, RHOF has provided over $1 million in funding to Lowcountry nonprofits.

Equestrian Property Certification April 13

Equestrian Property Certification
(CEE3687) 6 hours of credit (LLR/CTAR)
with instructor Jacel Galloway

Course Cost: $175 | Gold Card Price $150

The Equestrian Properties Certification Course is designed to educate real estate agents both with and without a background in Horses to better serve Equestrian Clients. This Course will cover an array of topics including: Differentiation of the Equestrian Client, amateur vs. professional; Aspects that Make up an Equestrian Property, Equine Liability Law, Working with Equestrian Buyers, Working with Equestrian Sellers and Commercial Properties vs Non-Commercial Properties.

About the Instructor
Jacel Galloway is a licensed Realtor®️ and the director of the Equine Properties Division with The American Realty. In her time in Real Estate, she has used her Equestrian background to create an Equestrian Certification Course to assist real estate agents in how to actively work with Equestrian Buyers and Sellers. She also has a passion for teaching, coaching and building leadership skills in herself and others. Jacel has 18 years of teaching and coaching experience.

**This certification is provided through American Real Estate University. This is not a NAR endorsed certification**

February 2023 Market Report: Home Sales Continue to Progress at a Healthy and Sustainable Pace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Home Sales Continue to Progress at a Healthy and Sustainable Pace

Charleston, SC – (March 10, 2023) 1,131 homes sold in February in the Charleston region at a median price of $385,388 according to preliminary data released today by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR). Last year, 1,493 homes sold in February at a median price of $375,000 which is 24% fewer sales at a price point that is 3% higher.

Year-to-date, 2,073 homes have sold in the Charleston region at a median price of $386,100. In 2022, 2,919 homes had sold at a median price of $369,000 which reflects a 29% difference in sales and a 5% increase in median price.

Inventory data shows just over 70% more homes on the market than at this time last year, with 2,443 homes listed as “active” for sale in the CHS Regional MLS database at the end of the month—representing about 1.5 months of available inventory. In comparison, there were just 1,426 homes listed as “active” for sale last February—so while inventory is still less than half of what we need to sustain a balanced market, that metric is moving in a positive direction.

“The February market data shows what we expected—progress towards the normalization of the residential real estate market in the Charleston region” said 2023 CTAR President Katesha Breland. “The number of transactions we’re seeing now is a more normal and sustainable pace than we’ve seen in recent years, following the extreme market environment we experienced in 2020 and 2021” said Breland. “As we move into the spring, we anticipate sales remaining near this level and sales increasing incrementally during the busier buying months” she said.

 

January Adjustment

Preliminary data showed 919 homes sold in January in the Charleston region at a median price of $388,000. Updated figures now show 942 homes sold at the same median price.

Berkeley County

389 homes sold at a median price of $336,000 in Berkeley County in February, 360 single-family homes and 29 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 646 single-family homes have sold in Berkeley County at a median price of $379,000; 60 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $290,495.

There are currently 731 residential properties for sale in Berkeley County; 654 single-family homes and 77 condos/townhomes.

Charleston County

455 homes sold at a median price of $465,500 in Charleston County in February, 331 single-family homes and 124 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 610 single-family homes have sold in Charleston County at a median price of $575,500; 217 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $373,534.

There are currently 907 residential properties for sale in Charleston County; 727 single-family homes and 180 condos/townhomes.

Colleton County

19 homes sold at a median price of $284,475 in Colleton County in February, 17 single-family homes and 2 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 33 single-family homes have sold in Colleton County at a median price of $299,000; 7 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $215,000.

There are currently 76 residential properties for sale in Colleton County, 68 single-family homes and 8 condos/townhomes.

 

Dorchester County

239 homes sold at a median price of $306,475 in Dorchester County in February, 192 single-family homes and 15 condos/townhomes.

Year-to-date, 340 single-family homes have sold in Dorchester County at a median price of $359,995; 33 townhomes/condos have sold at a median price of $253,000.

There are currently 436 residential properties for sale in Dorchester County; 396 single-family homes and 40 condos/townhomes.

# # #

April 18: At Home with Diversity Designation!

April 18, 2023 | 10am – 5pm | Instructor: Arthur Takeall
Gold Card Free | CTAR Members $99 | Non-Member $139

Register for this non-CE course while seats are available! Completion of the AHWD course meets the extra 6-hour CTAR member education requirement. This course will be taught by local instructor Arthur Takeall.

The AHWD certification course provides the latest information on working effectively with diverse populations to build business success in today’s multicultural real estate market. The free course registration fee (valued at $99) is on a first come, first serve basis for CTAR members.

Each attendee will be required to complete the AHWD NAR application process and pay the one-time $40 AHWD NAR application fee to obtain the NAR AHWD certification.

The AHWD Certification also qualifies as an elective course for the following NAR Designations:

• CIPS: Certified International Property Specialist | Offered at CTAR March 6-9

• ABR: Accredited Buyer Representative | Offered at CTAR March 22-23

• SRS: Seller Representative Specialist | Offered at CTAR Nov 7-8

View full details for earning the AHWD NAR certification

Register for the AHWD course today!

Thank you to our event sponsor, Cresswind Charleston

ABR Designation Course | March 20-21

Accredited Buyer’s Representatives (ABR) is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. What’s their key to success? They know that you can’t count on the market—you have to count on your skills. ABR education provides the expertise you need for an edge in serving today’s homebuyers.

The ABR Course will be offered live at CTAR on March 20 and 21 from 9am-4pm with instructor Shane Mask.

After completing this two-day course, you will have achieved ABR candidate status, a three-year period during which you must fulfill the ABR Designation Requirements.

The Details
March 20-21 | 9am-4pm with Shane Mask
CEE3607 | 12 Elective hours (LLR & CTAR)

The Cost
Member / Non-Member rate $265
Gold Card rate: $240

The Benefits
Check out the full list of ABR Member Benefits and learn how to earn your full ABR designation here.

After an intense seller’s market, the real estate landscape is changing. Many buyers feel anxious about a potential economic downturn and rising interest rates.

ABR designees have continuous access to education, industry information, marketing materials, and more. These resources can boost referrals and lead generation.

January 2023 Market Report

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SALES DECLINE AS EXPECTED DURING MARKET NORMALIZATION

919 homes sold in January in the Charleston region at a median price of $388,000 according to preliminary data released today by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR). Last year, 1,427 homes sold in January at a median price of $360,295 which is 36% fewer sales at a price point that is almost 8% higher.

Inventory data shows 75% more homes on the market than at this time last year, with 2,652 homes listed as “active” for sale in the CHS Regional MLS database at the end of the month—representing just under two months of available inventory.

“The January residential market data shows the trends we anticipated—in addition to the holiday season always being the slowest time of year for home sales, market conditions are simply more challenging right now” said 2023 CTAR President Katesha Breland. “This is all part of the process as our market normalizes following the shift in market influences like higher borrowing costs, decreased affordability as median home prices continue to rise and the overall impact of inflation” said Breland. “The good news is that demand for housing in our region continues to increase, as does inventory following the holiday season. As we saw mortgage rates decline throughout the last month, we anticipate that challenges will ease a bit and more buyers will be in a better position to act on a purchase than they were a month or two ago” she said.

December Adjustment
Preliminary data showed 1,258 homes sold in December in the Charleston region at a median price of $390,000. Updated figures now show 1,271 homes sold at the same median price.

Berkeley County
305 homes sold at a median price of $332,220 in Berkeley County in January, 274 single-family homes and 31 condos/townhomes.

There are currently 851 residential properties for sale in Berkeley County; 771 single-family homes and 80 condos/townhomes.

Charleston County

368 homes sold at a median price of $481,500 in Charleston County in January, 277 single-family homes and 91 condos/townhomes.

There are currently 933 residential properties for sale in Charleston County; 736 single-family homes and 197 condos/townhomes.

Colleton County

21 homes sold at a median price of $244,000 in Colleton County in January, 16 single-family homes and 5 condos/townhomes.

There are currently 83 residential properties for sale in Colleton County, 77 single-family homes and 6 condos/townhomes.

Dorchester County

162 homes sold at a median price of $305,963 in Dorchester County in January, 144 single-family homes and 18 condos/townhomes.

There are currently 471 residential properties for sale in Dorchester County; 444 single-family homes and 27 condos/townhomes.

# # #

Scam Alert: Vacant Land Scams

Fake Seller/Fake Buyer Scam Alert: Vacant Lots

The South Carolina Real Estate Commission is aware of a rise in fraudulent sales and mortgages, most commonly associated with vacant lots. The scam targets unencumbered, vacant lots owned by persons out of state. With this scam, South Carolina real estate licensees may be contacted by a person acting as the seller seeking to have a vacant lot promptly sold for below market value.

Licensees approached with requests are advised to verify that the seller matches the person on the land deed so as to be in compliance with S.C. Code Ann. § 40-57-135(E)(1), which requires a written listing agreement signed by the property owner.

If you encounter a property owner that has been a victim of an attempt to sell their property without their consent, encourage them to contact the secret service in their Charleston Field office at 803-388-0305 to report the fraudulent activities and get assistance in stopping the perpetrator.

The Scheme: 

  • The criminal searches public records to Identify real estate that Is free of mortgage or other liens and the identity of the property owner. These often include vacant lots or rental properties

 

  • The criminal poses as the property owner and contacts a real estate agent to 11st the targeted property for sale, and requests It being listed below current market value to generate Immediate Interest

 

  • The criminal, posing as the property owner, demonstrates preference for a cash buyer, and quickly accepts an offer

 

  • The criminal, posing as the property owner, refuses to sign closing documents in person, and requests a remote notary signing

 

  • The criminal (or co-conspirator) also impersonates the notary and provides falsified documents to title company or closing attorney

 

  • Title company or closing attorney unwittingly transfers the closing proceeds to criminal

 

  • All communication is electronic, not in person

 

Best Practices to Avoid This Scam:

  • Independently search for the identity and a recent picture of the property seller

 

  • Request an In-person or virtual meeting and to see their government issued identification

 

  • Be on alert when a seller accepts an offer below market value in exchange for receiving the payment In cash and/or closing quickly

 

  • Never allow a seller to arrange their own notary closing

 

  • Use trusted title companies and attorneys for the exchange of closing documents and funds

 

Here are some other “red flag” actions to be aware of:

  • The buyer/seller is traveling on vacation (sometimes abroad), claims they cannot meet in person, and has to do everything by email

 

  • The seller has a family emergency, needs a quick cash sale, and will accept substantially less than full price if they can close in a very short time

 

  • The email address or phone numbers are from another country. Of course, there are legitimate buyers and sellers who live overseas, but this does raise a flag that should be checked

 

  • The photo IDs, such as drivers’ licenses or passports, are barely legible

 

  • The Seller does not require a Due Diligence fee and/or low or no Earnest Money combined with a quick closing (in order to obtain quick proceeds before a scam is discovered)

 

  • The buyer/seller makes constant excuses, is not able to perform the terms of the contract, or is not returning paperwork

 

  • The buyer/seller gets very angry at the licensee as the transaction gets closer to closing and applies pressure on the licensee to make sure the deal goes through. Sometimes they offer an incentive such as commission bonuses or promising other opportunities to buy or sell