Foreclosure Filings Decreased in 2024, Though SC Still in Top Five

(123rf.com image)

ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, released its Year-End 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings— default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 322,103 U.S. properties in 2024, down 10 percent from 2023 and down 1 percent from 2022 and down 35 percent from 2019, before the pandemic shook up the market.

Foreclosure filings in 2024 were also down 89 percent from a peak of nearly 2.9 million in 2010.

Those 322,103 properties with foreclosure filings in 2024 represented 0.23 percent of all U.S. housing units, down slightly from 0.25 percent in 2023, and down from 0.36 percent in 2019 and down from a peak of 2.23 percent in 2010.

“The continued decline in foreclosure activity throughout 2024 suggests a housing market that may be stabilizing, even as economic uncertainties persist,” said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM.

“This year's data points to foreclosure trends potentially returning to more predictable levels, offering some clarity for industry professionals, investors, and homeowners. While foreclosure filings remain a critical metric for understanding market health, current trends may point to a more balanced landscape, potentially shaped by careful lending practices and ongoing homeowner resilience.”

States with the highest foreclosure rates in 2024 were Florida (1 in every 267 housing units with a foreclosure filing); New Jersey (1 in every 267 housing units); Nevada (1 in every 273 housing units); Illinois (1 in every 278 housing units); and South Carolina (1 in every 304 housing units).

Among 224 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates in 2024 were Lakeland, Florida (1 in every 172 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Atlantic City, New Jersey (1 in every 200 housing units); Columbia, South Carolina (1 in every 204 housing units); Cleveland, Ohio (1 in every 208 housing units); and Las Vegas, Nevada (1 in every 231 housing units).

Winthrop University to Collaborate on Statewide Program to Recruit Teachers

With support from a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Winthrop University will collaborate with three South Carolina institutions to create a statewide model for yearlong teacher residencies in an effort to recruit and retain aspiring teachers.

As the lead institution, Winthrop’s College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences will partner with Clemson University, Columbia College, the University of South Carolina at Columbia, and South Carolina’s Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), which is housed at Winthrop.

Called SC RISE (South Carolina Residencies Impacting Schoolwide Equity), the five-year project will be funded through the federal Education Innovation and Research Program.

President Edward Serna ’02 said that through SC RISE, Winthrop and its partners are poised to make a lasting impact on teacher preparation and student success across South Carolina.

“This grant will build a foundation for sustainable and equitable educational practices statewide,” he said.

“We are excited to be launching a statewide initiative to establish teacher residencies as a transformative strategy for improving education. It speaks volumes to Winthrop’s commitment to teacher preparation, recruitment and retention as the university was one of only three award recipients for the early phase competition focused on educator recruitment and retention.”

Winthrop has a proven track record of implementing residency programs through an earlier federal Teacher Quality Partnership grant project, called NetSERVE. Education Dean Beth Costner said the yearlong teacher residencies represent a promising preparation model that provides rigorous, on-the-job pre-service training before candidates become full-time educators.

Educators hope the training will prepare young teachers for the classroom and reduce the high number of teachers leaving the field.

Where yearlong internships are something Winthrop already requires of teacher candidates, one of the main differences exists in the financial support, Costner said.

Professionals in many other fields are required to complete paid, supervised work experiences before obtaining licensure. The model is touted by Prepared To Teach, a group with expertise in teacher residencies and SC RISE partner.

One area to explore will be paid residencies. Historically, teaching has required experience while expecting candidates to manage costly preparation programs with little, if any, financial support, Costner said.

Paid residencies, which the grant will support, alleviate some of the economic burden while enabling aspiring teachers to become fully qualified under the guidance of experienced mentors before leading their own classrooms.

Florence Regional Airport Names Brad Beadles New Executive Director

The Florence Regional Airport, operated by the Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority, announced that Brad Beadles has been named its new executive director, effective immediately. Beadles brings over 14 years of aviation industry experience to the role, positioning him to lead the airport into its next phase of growth and development.

Beadles, an Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), has worked in airport management and operations at  Marco Island Executive Airport and Evansville Regional Airport. His experience spans areas such as operations, regulatory compliance, staff development, and strategic planning, along with a background as an FAA Part 135 certified Helicopter Pilot.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brad to our team,” said J. Rene’ Josey, Chairman of the Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority.

“His extensive background in aviation operations, leadership, and commitment to continuous improvement will be a tremendous asset to the Florence Regional Airport. We are confident that his vision will be instrumental in advancing our mission to provide excellent service while driving the economic growth of the region.”

In his previous positions, Beadles was responsible for the day-to-day operations of airports, managing capital improvement programs, hiring and developing staff, and ensuring regulatory compliance. His dedication to improving passenger services, as well as his commitment to enhancing general aviation services, will align well with the airport’s long-term goals.

As executive director, Beadles will focus on several key initiatives, including improving the passenger experience, enhancing services for general aviation customers, and strengthening the airport’s role in supporting regional economic development. 

Duke Energy Proposal Would Boost Solar Energy in South Carolina

Duke Energy has made proposals to the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to help customers in both states to receive the benefits of solar energy without the commitment and expense of installing and maintaining rooftop panels.

The company's new proposed Clean Energy Connection (CEC) program is designed to allow customers to subscribe to new, utility-owned solar energy facilities, pay a monthly subscription fee and receive a bill credit for solar produced, at no extra cost to non-participating customers.  

If approved, the CEC program will be available to large commercial customers, small- and medium-sized business customers and residential customers in the Carolinas. The program was filed with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina in late December 2024 and with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in early January 2025.

The CEC program builds upon years of stakeholder engagement that yielded an expansion of program options for customers to have access to solar in the Carolinas, including the recently approved Green Source Advantage (GSA) Choice in North Carolina and Renewable Choice, Clean Energy Impact and expansion of GSA in South Carolina.

These programs were developed after extensive conversations with customers, and other key stakeholders to learn more about what is needed for customers to achieve their carbon and sustainability goals.

The program leverages competitively procured solar necessary for the system.  Customers may subscribe to a portion of that solar energy from Duke Energy's CEC solar portfolio in 1-kilowatt (kW) increment subscriptions associated with the program's solar facilities. The monthly subscription fee is added to a customer's regular electric bill.

Customers also receive a corresponding subscription credit that represents their share of energy produced by the solar centers in a given month, multiplied by the subscription credit rate, which begins to escalate annually after three continuous years of subscription in the program. 

Participating customers will also have the rights to the environmental benefits of that renewable energy without directly owning the generating facility, and these benefits can be used to help achieve their own environmental and sustainability goals.  

The financial impact from the program benefits all customers without penalizing non-participating customers. 

If approved, the program will be open to current and future Duke Energy customers in 2027, when the new solar facilities are expected to come online.

Allow us to tell your company's Business Narrative. Send your press release to David Dykes or for more information email [email protected]