Whit Moore of Coldwell Banker
By John Temple Ligon
Temple@TheColumbiaStar.com

C. Whitaker Moore

C. Whitaker Moore, Columbia residential Realtor since 1969, has been named "Top Producer in Columbia" 25 times. He was also #1 producer in the nation for The Gallery of Homes franchise.

Moore was born in Charleston, where his father was the principal at Craft Elementary School, slightly north of Broad, now a condominium building. Moore grew up with an older sister and an older brother. His father moved the family to Columbia in 1952 so he could enter school administration and later textbook sales.

After A. C. Moore Elementary and Hand Jr. High, Moore moved on to Dreher, where he played varsity basketball and helped win a state championship.

At USC, Moore majored in economics and graduated in 1969. His military obligation was met in the Army Reserves, where he was in civil affairs for six years, meeting every month after his six months of active duty training.

Moore knew in college he was preparing to earn a living as a residential real estate agent. Upon graduation from college, other than the time he spent on Army active duty, Moore hit the ground running.

His first transaction was a two- bed, 800- sq.- ft. house behind Midland Shopping Center. The deal came through at $6,800, or $8.50 per square foot.

Presently, a good middle- market home runs at least $150 per square foot. The high end gets to $300 per square foot, and if that's including three bedrooms, the house total area can run 2,000 square feet, which is $600,000.

The Heritage high rise at the corner of Gregg and Senate reportedly has units selling for about $200 per square foot. Down Senate Street at Senate Plaza, expect to pay $150 per square foot.

Point being, Moore has seen many changes since his first closing.

In his personal life, too, Moore is an agent for change. His three grown daughters from his first marriage are doing well. Two are in New York City, and the third is a teacher's assistant in Columbia.

He and his wife Michel, also a realtor, travel extensively. Most recently the couple went to Mexico, Costa Rica, Paris, San Francisco, and Napa Valley. A western Mediterranean cruise was not long ago. Frequent visits to their house in DeBordieu meet their one-fourth-share ownership agreement.

Moore runs three times a week as he maintains his basketball player's form. He and Michel enjoy their 17- foot outboard in local lakes and rivers, but the real fishing is offshore. Michel has plenty of trophies recognizing her offshore hauls, and she has been recognized as the Female Angler of the Year.

Moore is a former member of the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He has served on the boards of the Columbia Museum of Art, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia YMCA, Central Carolina Community Foundation, and the Salvation Army. He is a founding board member of Carolina National Bank.

Moore's advice to young people is to buy as soon as the savings plan allows for a down payment and the income stream meets the mortgagee's requirements. The good old days are today. Interest rates are within an attractive range. Moore remembers the negative amortization loans at 14% in the early '80s, which was when the 14% was still not enough to fully service the debt, so the house debt actually went up for the first few years.

Buy now.