Gary Pickren
Columbia Lawyer with Real-World Experience
Gary Pickren has deep ties to the local real estate community. Since 1995 Gary has performed real estate closings, taught real estate agents, and advocated for all South Carolinians in changing South Carolina real estate law. Toward that end, Gary started a weekly video blog that has over 4,000 subscribers. He even started a real estate podcast in 2020 to better educate the real estate agents on issues in the real estate closing process.
Gary grew up in Spartanburg and graduated from Dorman High School and Wofford College. After graduating from law school in Alabama, Gary relocated to Columbia where he has been an active member in the military community serving as the Assistant Ombudsman Director for South Carolina in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve as well as raising money for the South Carolina Military Family Care Association.
Gary, his wife, and his children are avid travelers who love traveling the United States and Europe. They particularly enjoy our western National Parks. If you are looking for a great city or National Park to visit with your family, chances are Gary has tons of advice on great places to visit.
Podcaster, Real Estate Instructor, Broker & Military Advocate
Gary is an author, podcaster, real estate instructor, and licensed real estate broker so he has a unique perspective on real estate closings. Gary has taught continuing education to thousands of real estate agents on topics such as contracts, agency, disclosure, and ethics. His weekly podcasts and video blogs reach thousands of real estate agents. Gary assisted in the writing of the real estate contract used in the Midlands since 2007. Gary also successfully argued before the South Carolina Real Estate Commission seeking a rewrite of the controversial Seller Disclosure form. Gary later served on the task force that rewrote the disclosure form.
Gary has a deep respect for our citizen-soldiers. As Gary witnessed service members return after deployment struggle with employment issues, he decided to get involved. Gary volunteered to be the Ombudsman for the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve. In ESGR Gary mediates disputes between the employer and the service member pertaining to the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In 2014 Gary was promoted to the Assistant Ombudsman Director of South Carolina. Gary also raises money for the South Carolina Military Family Care Association.
-Darcy C.
Professional Accomplishments
Education
- Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D., 1995
- Wofford College, B.A., 1992
Associations & Memberships
- South Carolina Real Estate Commission- Commissioner (Term 2021-2024)
- South Carolina Real Estate Commission Task Force on Rewriting SC Property Disclosure Form (2013-2014)
- South Carolina Real Estate Commission Task Force on Writing (2015-2016)
- Mandatory Continuing Education Class for Real Estate Licensees (2014)
- Legal Counsel on Central Carolina REALTORS Association-Contract Committee (2007-present)
- Past Corporate Counsel to Central Carolina REALTORS Association
- Education Committee Central Carolina REALTORS Association (2010-2011)
- Board of Directors- Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (2016-2019)
- Membership Chairman- Building Industry Association of South Carolina (2017-2018)
Title Agent
- Chicago Title Insurance Company
- Fidelity National Title Insurance Company
- First American National Title Insurance Company
- Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
- Stewart Title Guaranty Insurance Company
- WFG National Title Insurance Company
Community Involvement
- Assistant Ombudsman Direct for South Carolina for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
- South Carolina Military Family Care Association Fundraiser Organizer
- Member of Downtown Church
- Elder of the Church Session of Downtown Church
- Former Board of Director for Dentsville Youth Baseball and Softball League
Awards & Recognitions
- Great Columbia Business Monthly’s “Midlands’ Legal Elite” – 2021
- Great Columbia Business Monthly’s “Midlands’ Legal Elite” – 2020
- Great Columbia Business Monthly’s “Midlands’ Legal Elite” – 2019
- A/V Preeminent Attorney Peer Review Rated- Martindale-Hubbell (Top 5% Nationally)
- 2019 “Best Attorney” Readers of The State Newspaper
- 2019 Closing Attorney of the Year – Sales and Marketing Council of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (BIA)
- 2018 President’s Excellence Program Award- Central Carolina REALTORS Association
- 2017 Closing Attorney of the Year – Sales and Marketing Council of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (BIA)
- 2017 Associate Member of the Year – Building Industry Association of South Carolina
- 2016 Spike of the Year – Building Industry Association of South Carolina
- 2014 Closing Attorney of the Year – Sales and Marketing Council of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (BIA)
- 2012 Closing Attorney of the Year – Sales and Marketing Council of BIA
- 2013 Associate Member of the Year – Central Carolina REALTORS Association
- Awarded the “Excellence in Serving on Contract Committee” from the Central Carolina REALTORS Association (2007-2008)
- Dr. Perry C. Hopkin’s Patriot Award for Service- Employer Support of Guard and Reserves 2016
- Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow
Licenses
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Co-Chairman, Governmental Affairs Committee- Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (2014-2015)
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South Carolina Delegation of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina meeting in Washington, DC, (2013, 2017, 2018)
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Sales and Marketing Counsel of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina
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Worldwide ERC-Professional Employee Relocation Council
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Licensed South Carolina Real Estate Broker
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LLR Certified Continuing Educational Instructor for Real Estate Licensee
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Advisory Counsel to Consolidated Multiple Listing Service
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South Carolina Bar
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Cumberland School of Law- Law Review
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Columbia Mortgage Bankers Association
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Central Carolina Association of Realtors
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Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina
Get In Touch
700 Huger Street, Suite 102
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 400-8600
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406-A East Butler Road
Mauldin, SC 29662
(864) 999-2030
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925 E. Main St., Unit A
Lexington, SC 29072-4202
(803) 808-0100
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708 Lafayette Avenue, Suite 3
Camden, SC 29020
(803) 310-3957
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189 S. Converse Street
Spartanburg, SC 29306
(864) 597-0300
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485 Chapin Road, Suite B
Chapin, SC 29036
(803) 932-6003
info@blaircato.com