Hello REALTORS®, Advocacy is an important part of what your REALTORS® Association does on behalf of its members. Last week, a group of members from your Western Upstate Association of REALTORS® traveled to Columbia to talk with our representatives in the SC House and Senate. Please thank your fellow Realtors for taking time out of… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, It’s election year. Well, every year is an election year. 2026 is often called the mid-terms because the President is not on the ballot. But in South Carolina, 2026 is important because key statewide offices are on the ballot including Governor, Attorney General, and our members of Congress including the seat currently held… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, Last week, I shared building permit data by Upstate county. Overall, annual building permits in 2025 were 8% more than 2024 and have leveled off after the crazy year—2021. In fact, it looks like 12,000 new housing starts per year in the six Upstate counties is the new normal. The most important trend… Read more »
Read MoreHousing Supply Overview U.S. pending home sales fell 9.3% from the previous month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The drop in contract signings was broad-based, with all four regions reporting declines. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales were down 3.0%, with the South recording a modest gain while the Northeast, West, and… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, We often use building permit data to help us advocate for Realtor interests. It not only pays to keep accurate data, but that data can be a great resource for you. I gather building permit data from the US Census Bureau, which is reported to them by our local governments. Until recently, the… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, Each year, at this time of year, local governments step up enforcement of their business license ordinances. Many hire consultants who search online data to identify businesses that aren’t in compliance. However, a real estate sign is a good indicator that a Realtor is doing business in the area. Most cities in South… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, Signs and sign ordinances can be beneficial to Realtors, but they also come with responsibility. Over the last several years, your REALTORS® Association successfully lobbied across the Western Upstate for protection of real estate signs, that communicate that real property is for sale, while local sign ordinances were updated. More than a decade… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, Over the last month, I have been reporting on the status of your REALTORS® Association’s advocacy efforts. Last week, I covered state government. This week, I am reviewing NAR’s efforts on your behalf in Washington, DC. The most important news from NAR is its emphasis on advocacy, which NAR detailed in its Annual… Read more »
Read MoreHello REALTORS®, The South Carolina General Assembly returned last week for the second half of their regular two-year legislative session. Several Realtor legislative initiatives are pending. Below is a report on some of those initiatives as well as the status of several bills that affect Realtors that are being monitored by your state advocacy team…. Read more »
Read MoreHouse Supply Overview U.S. pending home sales climbed to their highest level in nearly three years, rising 3.3% month-over-month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 1.0% increase in contract signings. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales advanced 2.6%, with both monthly and annual gains recorded across… Read more »
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