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Watchdog Report – July 16, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, Elections aren’t held just every four years, or even two years.  In fact, at almost any time there is a special election scheduled somewhere in South Carolina.  There have been two special elections in the Western Upstate so far this year, including one this week for the mayor of Honea Path.  And regularly… Read more »

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June 2025 Market Reports

Monthly Indicators U.S. existing-home sales edged up 0.8% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.03 million units, exceeding economists’ expectations, although sales were down 0.7% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). On a monthly basis, sales increased in the Midwest, Northeast, and South but decreased in the West. New Listings… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – July 8, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, In last week’s Watchdog Report, I reported on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which is what the update to the federal tax code has been called.  It passed the House in May, and the Senate amended and passed it last week.  You can read last week’s Watchdog Report by clicking here for complete details… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – July 1, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, There is some positive news for Realtors coming from Washington this week.  Early on Tuesday morning, the US Senate passed its version of the President’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and NAR reports that the bill includes the top five Realtor legislative priorities that support homeownership and strengthen the real estate economy. What does the… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – June 23, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, “Budget” is not just a state or federal government word—it dominates local government agendas each year about this time.  This week, I thought I would give you an overview of why budgets are difficult, and what we can expect in the years to come.  But first, what about this year’s budgets? For the… Read more »

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May 2025 Market Reports

Monthly Indicators U.S. existing-home sales dipped 0.5% month-over-month and 2.0% year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million units, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Sales increased in the Midwest, decreased in the West and Northeast, and were unchanged in the South. Year-over-year, sales were down in every region except the… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – June 17, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, The SC General Assembly wrapped up the main part of their work at the end of May by completing our state government’s annual budget.  Governor also completed his portion of the budget process by vetoing just $10,000 and as well as a few “directions” to state agencies on how to spend money that… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – June 9, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, Like all the local governments in the Upstate, Oconee County’s local governments have been wrestling with balancing their budgets.  That has kept elected officials busy and created some political drama (as if there isn’t enough of that already).  This week, I am providing a review of what has been happening in Oconee County… Read more »

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NAR Directors Approve Pro Standards Clarification

The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a 2026 budget with no dues increase and passed a Professional Standards Recommendation to clarify language in NAR Code of Ethics Standard of Practice 10-5, which prohibits harassment of any person or persons protected under Article 10 of the Code.  A day earlier, the Executive Committee… Read more »

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Watchdog Report – June 2, 2025

Hello REALTORS®, As local governments spend the surge of COVID money, balancing their budgets is getting more difficult.  Budgets have dominated our local government agendas—except in Anderson County. In the last year, Anderson County government has been especially busy with development-related ordinances, considering 16 ordinances and adopting 11 of them. The riparian buffer ordinance (8.)… Read more »

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