Hello REALTORS®,
Title theft and deed fraud is a fast-growing problem nationwide. SCR is working with legislators to protect property owners from fraud and theft by requiring counties to improve their deed recording processes and records systems.
The legislation, if enacted, will require most deed submitters to provide government-issued photo ID, to empower Registers of Deeds to reject documents without proper identification, and to allow verified property owners to receive real-time alerts when instruments are recorded against their property.
The legislation has passed the SC Senate and is pending in the SC House. However, there is only one week left in the current legislative session to get the bill to Governor McMaster’s desk.
Anderson County has already implemented deed fraud and theft protection
More than a year ago, Anderson County Treasurer Jason Phillips and Auditor John Benca, a Realtor, proposed to County Council a new system for recording and maintaining property records as well as property tax records.
Your Western Upstate Association of REALTORS® supported their proposal, which cost more than $1 million to implement and about $150,000 per year to maintain. Some of those costs will be offset in the future by allowing the county to also identify and curtail property tax evasion. The system it replaced was manual and labor intensive, which also will save the county money.
So, how is the new system an improvement? The primary way it helps property owners is by allowing them to sign up for and receive notifications when a deed, mortgage, lien, or other land record with their registered name has been recorded with the Register of Deeds. It also allows property owners to research their property records for those types of records filed with their property.
The R.E.A.A.C.T. system is an example of Realtors and government working together to solve a problem that has plagued our industry for several years. If you own real property in Anderson County, you should sign up with the R.E.A.A.C.T. system so you can protect your property ownership. And Realtors, you should advise your clients to sign up as well.
Anderson 2 Bond Referendum Failed
Anderson County School District 2 bond referendum failed 81-19 on Saturday, May 2. The voter turnout was substantial. The school district proposed borrowing $60 million for various school construction projects.
Moratoriums
This week, both Pickens and Oconee counties took steps toward enacting moratoriums on residential subdivisions.
Pickens County is already under a moratorium, it’s third in as many years, although it is limited to a small area of Highway 8 between Easley and the Anderson County line. The proposal would extend the moratorium for 90 days.
Oconee County Council gave first reading Tuesday to a moratorium on all “planned subdivisions” of more than 10 lots. They will meet again on Thursday to read the ordinance for a second time. Three readings are required, and third reading must wait at least 1 week after second reading.
Advocacy Opportunities
Realtors, you can participate in your association’s advocacy efforts. Thousands of Realtors will “fly in” to Washington June 13-18 to meet with their members of Congress. Attendees also can participate in education sessions as well as briefings on key issues, including the economy. Interested? Visit https://legislative.realtor/.
RPAC is Important
If real estate is your profession, advocacy is your business. And these advocacy results highlight the importance of supporting your association’s advocacy program.
RPAC is an important element of that advocacy program. About one-third of our members support RPAC. We encourage all Realtors to support RPAC, and we make it easy to do so. We include a voluntary $25 RPAC contribution ($100 for brokers) on your annual dues renewal. Simply pay it and you have supported RPAC. If you want to do more, that’s easy too.
Addie Patterson and Michael Dey Western Upstate Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs Team