Tag Archives: Charleston

CTAR Student Membership

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Launch into your real estate career by joining the premier organization for real estate professionals in the Charleston region! For the first time ever, you can network with a professional member base of more than 4,000 local Realtors®. Connect with the people who are going to give you your next job and help you close your first deal.

Membership with CTAR and CID will provide you with unparalleled professional networking opportunities and the chance to get a head start on your competition in the local real estate market!

Apply by September 8, 2017 to win one of ten scholarship memberships! Winners will enjoy full Student Membership benefits plus paid admission fees to all events.

*Deadline to apply for the scholarship is September 8, 2017. Membership valid September 2015-June 2016.

Annual Student Membership Includes

  • Dual membership in both the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR) and the Commercial Investment Division (CID).
  • Access to all CTAR and CID events including the monthly Commercial Division luncheons.
  • Discounted member rates for events, programs and classes
  • $75 discount on the Pre-Licensing course at CTAR
  • Weekly industry updates
  • Access to monthly market statistics reports

*Student memberships are for students who are seeking a graduate or undergraduate degree in real estate, have completed at least 1 year of college and one college level real estate course and are not yet associated with an established real estate office.

Submit your application online, here.

For questions regarding Student Memberships, contact Claire Hayden.

Announcing the 2015 CTAR Board of Directors

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Congratulations to the following REALTORS® who will serve as the 2015 CTAR Leadership team!

Matthew DeAntonio | 2015 President
Broker Associate, Carroll Realty
Matt DeAntonio will serve as the 2015 President. He is a native of Charleston and began his real estate career in 2003.  He is a Realtor of Distinction and is working toward a CCIM designation.  Matt has been involved with CTAR and SCR throughout his career on various committees such as Professional Standards, Finance and the Realtors Housing Opportunities Fund (RHOF).  He earned his degree from the University of South Carolina and resides on the Isle of Palms with his wife Cindy.

 

 

 

Michael Sally | President-Elect
Broker-in-Charge, Pathway Real Estate Group
Michael Sally will serve as the President-Elect. Michael is a Hanahan native where he has served as Chairman for the City of Hanahan Planning Commission for 3 years, was elected to Hanahan City Council in 2010 and served as Mayor Pro Tem. Michael is also the NAR Federal Political Coordinator for Senator Tim Scott and served as Legislative Group Chairman at CTAR. Michael married his high school sweetheart and they live in Hanahan with their 3 children where they enjoy spending family time outdoors backpacking, boating, camping, hunting and fishing.

 

 

Dave Sansom | Vice President of Administration
CFO, Carolina One
Dave Sansom will serve as the Vice President of Administration. Dave Sansom grew up in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. He and his wife Nancy moved to Charleston in 2000 and he has been in residential real estate since late 2000. Dave sold real estate for eight years before being named Broker-in-Charge of Carolina One Real Estate’s Coleman Boulevard office in Mount Pleasant in mid 2008 and was recently promoted to CFO/COO. Dave also served several years on the MLS Board of Directors, most recently as MLS President. Dave and Nancy have three children and live in Mount Pleasant.

 

 

 

Kimberly Lease | Vice President of Finance
Broker Associate, Century 21 Properties Plus
Kimberly has been in real estate for 15 years and has served CTAR in Grievance, Leadership Development and Professional Standards and is a recipient of the REALTOR® of Distinction award.  She is a graduate of Clemson University, an experienced Corporate Relocation Agent and is NAR certified in Mediation. She currently lives on James Island with her husband and enjoys cooking, paddle boarding, boating and traveling.

 

 

 

Bobette Fisher | 2015 Director
Agent, Carolina One
Bobette Fisher is originally from Elkhart, Indiana, although she became a southerner 29 years ago. During her 12 years in Real Estate, Bobette has served on several national committees with The Council of Residential Specialist and most recently served as President of the South Carolina CRS Chapter. She and her family relocated to Charleston in 2000. Bobette is married to Steven Fisher and they have two children, Andrew and Stephani.

 

 

 

 

Cary Collins | 2015 Director
Agent, Prudential Southern Coast 
Cary is a Summerville native where he has served on the Dorchester County SPCA Board of Directors,  currently serves as the Treasurer for the Summerville Masonic Lodge and enjoys officiating high school football and basketball.  Raised in a real estate family, Cary was ready to join the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® immediately following his graduation from the University of South Carolina to start his career.  He firmly believes in the power of home ownership and has enjoyed 11 years in the industry so far. Cary still resides in Summerville with his wife and two sons.

 

 

Louise Voelker | 2015 Director
Broker-in-Charge, Carolina One Goose Creek
Louise is originally from Boston, Massachusetts but has called Charleston home since 1993.  She has been in real estate for 19 years and is currently the Broker in Charge for Carolina One in Goose Creek. Louise lives on Daniel Island with her husband, Ed, where they enjoy hiking, boating and scuba diving.


 

 

 

 

 

CTAR Grand Opening

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Join us for the CTAR and CTMLS Grand Opening!

Grand Opening
Tuesday, August 12 | 4-7pm
5006 Wetland Crossing, North Charleston 

Don’t miss this great opportunity to see your new building! There will be light refreshments and a few giveaways! Drop-in anytime between 4-7pm, or plan to attend when we gather for remarks at 5:30pm.

The new building is located at 5006 Wetland Crossing, North Charleston, right behind Tanger Outlets. GPS does not yet map our location, but enter Strayer University as your destination and you will find us, or, view a map here.

RSVP for the Grand Opening here.

Cocktails for a Cause at Sol

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Join us at our Summer Cocktails for a Cause at Mt. Pleasant’s hottest new restaurant-SOL Mt. Pleasant!

Cocktails for a Cause
Wednesday, July 23 | 5-7pm
at SOL Mt Pleasant

Complimentary appetizers and happy hour drink specials will be available thanks to our sponsor Manaker Cipolla, & Associates, LLC. Tablets and other great prizes will be raffled off plus SOL will donate 10% of all purchases you make to the Realtors® Housing Opportunities Fund.

Free for Realtor® Members | $10 guests/non-members | Register here. 

Thank you to our sponsor!

2014 Charleston Housing Blueprint

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CTAR, in conjunction with the SC Community Loan Fund, recently released a housing blueprint for the Charleston region. The blueprint compares our region to economic competitors on key housing and quality of life metrics and makes recommendations for our region to increase housing affordability.

Since 2010, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance has published an annual Regional Economic Scorecard of our region’s economic progress compared to six similar metro areas and two leading economies. Overall, the Charleston region is performing well economically, while also undergoing a structural transformation into a more diversified, knowledge-based economy. However, our region consistently ranks last in housing affordability.

We have achieved the economic growth that we want as a region and now the challenge is sustaining that growth. It is our hope that this document serves as a blueprint of actionable items to increase the number of housing units affordable to the region’s growing workforce because Housing Matters.

2014 Charleston Tri-County Region Housing Blueprint

 

 

 

 

Can’t see the image above?
View the Housing Blueprint here.
Download a PDF version here.

 

Flood/FEMA data now on CRS Reports

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In response to the change in flood insurance laws, CTMLS and CRS Data is pleased to bring you new flood zone information to the CRS property reports. The new information is located at the bottom of the CRS Property Report.

Click the thumbnail below to access a full-sized version of the image.

This information covers:
– the zone code
– flood risk
– zone description
– panel ID and the effective date

This information also includes 4 links: FIRM Panel ID Map, Zone source, FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping, and the FloodSmart.gov Flood Risk profile specific to the property address.

This addition to the CRS reports should save those of you working with flood zone properties a significant amount of time and energy to find the important information you need to assist your clients with these complex transactions.

Investors are back! Get Your Share of this Market with CIAS

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Real estate investing guru Greg Rand has named Charleston one of his top two choices for real estate invesment locations.

Click the thumbnail to watch Rand's commentary on Charleston.

Rand cited Charleston’s long-term market stability and other factors as his reasons for choosing the Holy City as an investment goldmine.

“If you look at the 15 year sale price chart, there is very little evidence of a housing crisis in Charleston. The kind of city that produces that kind of stability is one with a high quality of life, a low cost of living and growing job market” said Rand.

With investors already flocking back to the Charleston market and droves more sure to come, you have to be prepared to handle this very different type of client.

Prepare yourself with the CIAS designation, offered at CTAR August 20 and 21, 2013.

A Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ (CIAS) finds, creates, and closes with residential real estate investors with the knowledge and tools earned through comprehensive education and experience.  CIAS-designated agents help real estate investors navigate:

  • Investment Strategies including Self-directed IRAs and 1031 Exchange
  • Leverage Options, Key Calculations and Return-on-Investment
  • Capitalization Rate, Average Returns and Cash Flow

The CIAS designation course will be offered at CTAR August 20 and 21 (9am-5:30pm each day).

CTAR members can receive a 25% discount ($150) off their registration by using the discount code: LIVEB


Full registration | $599
CTAR members | $449*      *payments can be spread out into 5 payments of $99

Register here.

Still want to know more about CIAS? Click here.

This course is not an NAR-approved designation course.

Charleston Realtors complete Leadership Development Program

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The Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® (CTAR) is pleased to announce the thirteen graduates of the inaugural class of the CTAR Leadership Development Program. The program is designed to provide those with interest in taking a leadership role in the Association and their community the education and training to enhance and develop their leadership skills.

front row (l-r): Wendy Deitsch, Katesha Breland, Cynthia Haskins Hill, Joni Byars, Trina Woods, Jana Bantz back row (l-r): Kaz Ansari, Ben Schulyer (program chair), Meghan Byrnes Weinreich (staff liaison), Michael Fenwrick, Jim Hamilton, Steve Williams, Joseph Cullom, Owen Tyler (CTAR President) not pictured: Lisa Burbage, Lynn Carmody

The three-month program includes four sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of leadership development: teambuilding, communication, community activism and effective leadership. Speakers for the various sessions include local community leaders like etiquette and communication expert Cindy Grosso, representatives from the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), George Stevens of the Coastal Community Foundation, Jennet Alterman of the Center for Women, as well as other local businesses and industries.

“We designed this program to help our members develop their leadership and communication skills, which will help them not only if they choose to pursue a leadership role with the Association or in the community, but also in their day-to-day business. We provide the opportunity for our members to learn from those who have achieved success in real estate as well as other industries” said Wil Riley, CEO of CTAR.

Graduates of the 2013 Inaugural CTAR Leadership Development Program
Kaz Ansari, J. Meyer Homes /Carolina Elite
Jana Bantz, Prudential Southern Coast Realty
Katesha Breland, Sweetgrass Realty Group
Lisa Burbage, Elaine Brabham and Associates
Joni Byars, Good Faith Mortgage
Lynn Carmody, Carolina One Real Estate
Joseph Cullom, Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service
Wendy Deitsch, LifeTree Real Estate, LLC
Michael Fenwrick, Keller Williams Realty, West Ashley
Jim Hamilton, RE/MAX Pro Realty
Cynthia Haskins Hill, Pathway Real Estate Group, LLC
Steve Williams, Coldwell Banker United, Mount Pleasant
Trina Woods, Century 21 Properties Plus

Those interested in participating in the CTAR Leadership Development Program must be a REALTOR® member in good standing and apply for the program. There is a fee to participate, but financial aid is available. The dates for the next session are to be determined, but interested parties should contact Meghan Weinreich at CTAR.

The Details: Real Estate and the Fiscal Cliff Deal

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As part of your Realtor Membership benefits, we keep track of legislative issues that will affect your business and share them in a way that’s quick and easy to read.

On December 31, 2012, the White House and the Senate finalized the details of their deal to avert the fiscal cliff.

The fiscal cliff deal and how it affects real estate

Here is the breakdown of provisions affecting real estate in the fiscal cliff bill:

Mortgage Debt Cancellation Act
Extended through 2013
For more to understand the Mortgage Debt Cancellation Act, click here.

Mortgage Interest Deduction
The Mortgage Interest Deduction has not been changed. For more information about the Mortgage Deduction Act, click here.

Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction
Extended through 2013 for those with incomes under $110,000.

State & Local Property Tax Deduction
This provision has been extended.

Energy Efficiency Tax Credit
The 10% tax credit (up to $500) for homeowners for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes has been extended through 2013.

Leasehold Improvements
The 15 year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements on commercial properties has been extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover
2012.

Capital Gains Tax
Remains at 15% for most taxpayers.
23.8%* rate for those making $400,000 (individual)/$450,000 (couple); retains primary residence exemption up to $500,000 (couple)/$250,000 individual.
*includes 3.8% Medicare capital gains tax included in health care reform.

Estate Tax
Rises to 40% and includes a $5 million exemption. Of all small businesses and family farms in the country, only 40 were higher than the $5 million exemption last year.

For more information and additional details about the fiscal cliff deal, click here.

Take Action! Tell congress to extend the real estate tax provision

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TAKE ACTION!
Homes sales to become more difficult without tax provision extension

If action is not taken soon, short sales could become even more difficult to complete next year. At the end of 2012, a tax break to families whose homes have lost value and are underwater could prove more difficult to sell without action from Congress.

At issue is a 2007 temporary law that exempts families from paying taxes on owner occupied homes for mortgage debt that was forgiven by the lender in a short sale or foreclosure. Prior to 2007, any mortgage debt forgiven required the seller to pay taxes as if that debt forgiven was ordinary income.

Home sellers in distressed situations are selling for a reason – they don’t have the money to pay their mortgage and are underwater. So they opt for a short sale or in drastic situations are foreclosed upon. They don’t have the money to pay the taxes and thus are saddled with more debt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Already real estate transactions, including loan modifications, short sales and foreclosures, are in the pipeline and may not be able to close before year-end. If owners are unable to close these transactions, and if Congress does not act, these owners and sellers will not receive the benefit of tax relief provisions they have relied on.

Why is this important?
• Homeowners shouldn’t be forced to pay tax on money they’ve already lost with cash they never received – and never will receive.

• More than 20% of current homeowners with a mortgage owe more on their homes than the current fair market value.

• Transactions not completed by year-end could become taxable in 2013, despite a borrower’s reliance on this tax relief.

• The housing market, while recovering, is still fragile enough that this tax relief will be needed in 2013 and possibly beyond.

TAKE ACTION!
Click here to tell Congress to extend this important real estate tax provision.

 

For more information on the Mortgage Debt Cancellation Act, click here.