At the national level, housing affordability is up from last month but down from a year ago. Mortgage rates rose to 4.75 percent this July, up 14.7 percent compared to 4.14 percent a year ago. Housing affordability declined from a year ago in July moving the index down 8.2 percent from 151.2 to 138.8. The… Continue Reading July 2018 Housing Affordability Index
Mustard pizza, real estate tips from “Game of Thrones”, the oldest house in Mexico City and more compiled by Anne-Marie Siudzinski, Senior Library Information Specialist. Nonprofits are looking to move into better spaces, says a new report from CBRE. Mustard on pizza? We say NO! BobbbyLight/flickr/2012 Indications of rising home prices include florists, wine… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: September 10-14
As you all know, Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall in the coming days and directly impact the great state of South Carolina during the same time SCR's Annual Conference, Own the Future was scheduled in Myrtle Beach. Unfortunately, the conference is officially canceled and will not be rescheduled due to expected impacts around… Continue Reading CANCELED: Own The Future: 2018 South Carolina REALTORS® Annual Conference
SCR mediators have long mediated commission disputes between brokerages prior to formal arbitration hearings. In mediation, the money is divided between the brokerages in some percentage per the brokers' decisions. In arbitration, one party gets the money per the arbitration hearing panel's decision. SCR mediators have long mediated earnest money disputes between buyers and sellers.… Continue Reading Sign up for October 1, 2, and 3 2018 mediator/ombudsman training
Here is the link to the SCR mediation information: https://screaltors.org/mediation/ Here is the link to the SCR mediator list: https://screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MediatorPamphlet2016.pdf Recommend the parties seek legal counsel asap. The parties will talk and decide which mediator they want to hire and where/when to meet. Then, the parties will meet and split the money in some percentages… Continue Reading Earnest Money Disputes, BIC Holding Earnest Money (Mediation/Litigation)
Section 5, Compensation Specified on Each Listing, in the NAR Model MLS Rules provides in pertinent part that compensation “…offers are unconditional except that entitlement to compensation is determined by the cooperating broker’s performance as the procuring cause of the sale (or lease)…” It can be a potential MLS rules violation to do otherwise. Posted… Continue Reading Don’t Put Conditions (other than procuring cause) on Coop Compensation in MLS
The National Weather Service has issued advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Helene, and Tropical Storm Isaac. A state of emergency and mandatory evacuations have been ordered in the Carolinas, and a state of emergency has been ordered in D.C. The North Carolina REALTORS® have canceled the State of Real Estate and XCHANGE… Continue Reading Disaster Relief Resources
By Samantha Jones Multiple offers are the elephant in the room in today’s market. Let’s be honest, it’s a dog eat dog world out there. The majority of real estate markets are moving at supersonic speed. Forget Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we’re striving to keep up with the market. We want to give our… Continue Reading How to Win a Multiple-Offer Situation for Your Buyers
State law and the NAR code of ethics address your risks: State law: SECTION 30-2-50. Obtaining personal information from state agency, local government, or other political subdivision for commercial solicitation; penalty. (A) A person or private entity shall not knowingly obtain or use personal information obtained from a state agency, a local government, or other… Continue Reading Be Very Careful About Using the ROD/MLS/GIS as Your Personal Lead Generation System
As a part of Realtor® Safety Month, the National Association of Realtors® released its 2018 Member Safety Report, which surveyed over 3,000 Realtors®, members of the National Association of Realtors®, about how safe they feel while on the job, their personal safety experiences and the safety procedures they follow. The report found that nearly a… Continue Reading Realtors Release 2018 Member Safety Report