Members

Hello REALTORS®, When I speak to new Realtors, I usually mention that among other things our advocacy operations include monitoring the courts.  Sometimes your REALTORS® Association is involved in those court cases.  Below are two examples. WOTUS WOTUS stands for Waters of the US.  WOTUS is important because it determines the “waters” that federal agencies… Read more »

Hello REALTORS®, When I was young, I remember asking my parents if we were there yet during long road trips.  I am sure many of you did that as well.  Well, in government affairs, we never really reach the destination.  Government affairs is just a series of stops on a never-ending trip that fictional West… Read more »

Housing Supply Overview U.S. pending home sales dipped 0.8% month-over-month and 0.4% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, with the decline attributed to low housing inventory. Regionally, monthly contract signings rose in the Midwest and West but fell in the South and Northeast. On a year-over-year basis, contracts increased in the South and… Read more »

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 »

Hello 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 »

Hello 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 »

Housing 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 »

Hello 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 »

Hello 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 »

Hello 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 »