REALTORS® Are A Key Resource In North Carolina’s Competitive Housing Market

North Carolina’s real estate market continues to boom as we enter 2018. In fact, Wallethub’s 2017 Best Real-Estate Market report listed five North Carolina cities within its top 100, and cities like Charlotte are experiencing the highest sales volume since 2007.

The state’s REALTORS® have long understood the positive impact this rise in home ownership has on families, communities and the local economy. Because of this, they strive to support the homebuying process in many ways. This includes advocating behind the scenes to make life easier for homebuyers.

Andrea Bushnell, Esq., Chief Executive Officer for NC REALTORS®, the state’s REALTOR® Association, was aware that while the state’s rapid growth was a good thing, it also left many prospective homeowners overwhelmed with the buying process. She wanted to make sure consumers were aware that REALTORS® could be their strongest ally during the search for a new home and after.

One of the ways NC REALTORS® raised awareness was by hosting The Smart Move™ contest. Consumers who worked with an NC REALTOR® to purchase a home in North Carolina were encouraged to share their “smart move” story for a chance to win $7,500 to put towards home improvements. The REALTOR® they worked with would also come out a winner, taking home $2,500 of their own.

Video entries were submitted online and reviewed by a neutral jury panel, consisting of corporate and nonprofit leaders from across the state, representing Homes4NC, Lennar Homes, and WKZL/WKRR-FM among others. Homeowner Edie Wilson of Charlotte and her REALTOR® Phyllis Furr St. Clair were the winners of The Smart Move™ contest. Edie’s entry was unanimously selected out of dozens of eligible entries because of her video’s originality, creativity, storytelling, and her explanation of why working with an NC REALTOR® was a “smart move” for her. Prizes were awarded during a special ceremony at the NC REALTORS® 2016 Conference & Expo.

Bushnell shares that The Smart Move™ contest was just one part of a long-term effort on NC REALTORS®’ part to reach out to NC homeowners. It’s important to the association that homebuyers feel confident when working with a REALTOR® regardless of where they live. “Improving the perception of REALTORS® is not a North Carolina issue, it’s a national issue,” says Bushnell. NC REALTORS® will continue to advocate for homeowners and act as a resource in an increasingly competitive market.