By: Austin Smallwood, SCR Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs In times such as these it is more important that REALTORS® do what they do best and that’s get deals done. Now more than ever is a time to distinguish yourself by keeping in mind Articles 1 and 13 of the Code of Ethics. Article… Continue Reading The Impact of Coronavirus on Real Estate Transactions in South Carolina
Please communicate to your landlord clients to expect changing property management conditions due to the effort to minimize virus risks and virus impacts. Tenants may experience income issues due to virus issues and the economy. This may impact rents. SC Supreme Court halts evictions through March On Tuesday, March 17th, the South Carolina Supreme Court… Continue Reading Changing Property Management Landscape Due To Coronavirus
Please let SCR know if you are experiencing any virus related issues with your real estate practice (e.g., sales, property management) so SCR can help educate the membership on workarounds or issues to consider. Examples of potential issues: Closings? Travel restrictions? Law firm practices? Quarantines? Leases expiring. Cleaning? Showings? Disclosure? South Carolina has psychological affected/impact/stigma… Continue Reading Any Virus Related RE Issues?
SCR Legal's Top Ten Open House Risks/Issues: 1. Safety. Remove all trip/slip/fall hazards. Provide adequate lighting (e.g., windows, electric lights). Park so that you are not blocked in the driveway. Walk so that you are not blocked in a room or basement or upper floor without a clear escape route. Upon arriving quickly alert the… Continue Reading SCR Legal’s Top Ten Open House Tips of the Day
https://www.nar.realtor/coronavirus-a-guide-for-realtors NAR says that you can ask about travel and signs of respiratory illness and refuse to drive consumers who may be at high risk for coronavirus due to travel or symptoms of respiratory illness but do this uniformly for all consumers. Example: NAR says that the coronavirus originated in China but do not violate… Continue Reading NAR on Fair Housing Issues and Corona Virus
Coronavirus Guidance for Associations and Members NAR is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. Based on questions from association executives, we have formulated guidance for associations on staff travel, workplace precautions, meetings/events, and more. You can access the guidance here: https://www.nar.realtor/ae/coronavirus-a-guide-for-realtor-associations In addition, NAR is providing guidance for REALTORS® for use in their day-to-day business, including… Continue Reading NAR on Coronavirus
The SCR230 Residential Property Condition Disclosure Statement RPCDS can be a REALTORS® best risk management strategy. For risk management reasons, brokerages can always attempt to get the SCR230 into the transaction via the listing agreement and via the purchase agreement so that the SCR230 is used in transactions. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/230.pdf Recently this hypothetical was presented to… Continue Reading Disclosing Condo Issues on SCR230 RPCDS
If/when your MLS adopts a version of NAR's clear cooperation policy then you must input your listing into the MLS and you have one business day to input your listing into MLS unless you are only communicating your listing internally to your brokerage as an office exclusive. Sellers will no longer be able to simultaneously… Continue Reading NAR/MLS Clear Cooperation Policy Addresses Abuses of Coming Soon Advertising
Risk management, consider evaluating the criminal conviction after the other rental evaluation (e.g., finances, rental history). The potential tenant might be rejected on financial and rental history without the need to take on the potential fair housing risks that can arise from rejecting on felony conviction. Video on this issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYIxNwXhos If asking a potential… Continue Reading Fair Housing: Potential Tenants with Felony Convictions
The 2020 SCR Housing Opportunity Committee (HOC) is seeking ideas on ways that SCR can help address homelessness in SC. SCR HOC member Peggy Hill mentioned that WUAR will host Rebuild Anderson on May 12th at the WUAR offices. This organization fundraises to repair low-income homes which helps the low-income homeowner remain in their home… Continue Reading REALTORS(R) Fight Homelessness