Over the past five years, Calling the Coast Home, a series of accredited, continuing education elective courses for real estate professionals (REPs), delivered 59 courses to over 1,300 REPs, garnering about $146,000 in economic benefits. The course was developed to provide resources to new homeowners and renters through their real estate agents.
Five course modules provide training in topical areas, such as coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, water quality, flooding and flood maps, and rebuilding regulations. Participants receive required continuing education credits and access to materials to share with clients as they explore the S.C. coast. The courses are approved and instructors licensed by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission through the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, and the series is offered through each of the three regional associations of REALTORS®.
Partners include S.C. Department of Natural Resources, ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, S.C. Department of Environmental Service’s Bureau of Coastal Management, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, and Hilton Head Area Realtors. Contact April Turner, Coastal Communities Program specialist, at (843) 953-2073 for more information about the current course schedule.