The National Association of REALTORS® quarterly home prices increased again this quarter. Prices continue to drift up this quarter with 90% of the markets showing home price appreciation. We can also look at the top metro areas whose price grew the fastest. Housing affordability is down and for first time buyers qualifying incomes are rising… Continue Reading Second Quarter Single Family Metro Market Prices
"Classic" Mediation: This is the long-established NAR "assisted self-settlement" procedure where REALTOR® mediators are trained to act as a peacekeeper/facilitator/realist to assist the disputing parties in reaching their own self-settlement. Mediators then help the parties write down their settlement on the NAR mediation form and the parties sign. Because the parties arrived at the decision… Continue Reading What is Ombudsman aka Ethics Mediation?
As the real estate sustainability movement continues to grow, the National Association of Realtors® is proud to introduce the Sustainability Resource Guide, a resource especially created for associations and members to positively impact business practices. NAR research shows real estate consumers are requesting more information about the sustainability aspects of their real estate investment, and… Continue Reading NAR Leads the Dialogue on Sustainability, Develops Resource Guide
Only use SCR313 comfortably when your buyer is timely/properly terminating under SCR311 due diligence. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/313.pdf For all other uses of SCR313, you should be very worried and always recommend your buyer seek legal counsel asap before taking any actions or submitting any SCR313 or communicating any termination to the other side (e.g. seller, seller's rep).… Continue Reading Terminating and Earnest Money
Keeping a home spic and span can be a time and energy consuming process. However, there are many ways to get and keep a home immaculately clean without breaking a sweat. Cleaning soap scum out a tub can be a backbreaking task, but homeowners can cut the effort in half by attaching a scrubber to… Continue Reading Story Idea: Tips for Deep Cleaning a Home
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Never trust wiring instructions sent via email. Cyber criminals are hacking email accounts and sending emails with fake wiring instructions. These emails are convincing and sophisticated. Always independently confirm wiring instructions in person or via a telephone call to a trusted and verified phone number. Never wire money without double-checking that the wiring… Continue Reading Email Signature/Footer to Protect Against Wire Fraud and Unintended Agreements
Do you get upset with other REALTORS® and real estate teams that potentially give the false impression that they are a stand-alone brokerage and do not clearly disclose their brokerage on their signs and other advertising and communications? The SC real estate commissioners do. The commissioners and LLR staff want the public to know exactly… Continue Reading Advertising Complaints
Current best practice with flood insurance: REALTORS® always get a seller disclosure and owners association addendum (SCR230, SCR231). Seller Disclosure (LLR RPCDS Question #19 asks about water issues (e.g. floods, leaks, mold, wood destroying organisms, plumbing issues) during the seller's ownership. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/230.pdf REALTORS® always have buyers sign SCR233 Flood Insurance Disclosure form. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/233.pdf Buyer reps… Continue Reading Flood Insurance (Repetitive Claims)
Current best practice with flood insurance: REALTORS® always get a seller disclosure and owners association addendum (SCR230, SCR231). Seller Disclosure (LLR RPCDS Question #19 asks about water issues (e.g. floods, leaks, mold, wood destroying organisms, plumbing issues) during the seller's ownership. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/230.pdf REALTORS® always have buyers sign SCR233 Flood Insurance Disclosure form. https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/233.pdf Buyer reps… Continue Reading Flood Insurance Disclosures (SCR233 flood insurance disclosure form)
NAR identifies metro areas with the highest deficit in home construction,, as well as those areas where the housing supply appears to be sufficient to meet the demands of home buyers. The Monthly Housing Shortage Tracker is an index, which compares how many permits are issued relative to the number of new jobs. The higher… Continue Reading Improving Housing Supply Conditions