Star Profile
Andy Walker of Bolin Ligon Walker
By John Temple Ligon Temple@TheColumbiaStar.com

Andy Walker

South Carolina has almost 50,000 residential real estate licensees, but 23,000 of that group actually stand as Realtors, and Andy Walker is their president.

Walker was born and educated in Clinton. His father is a family physician, and his mother is an accomplished watercolorist, active in both the National Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society.

After Clinton Elementary and Bell Street Middle School, Walker was president of the senior class at Clinton High School. He also played varsity golf.

Walker left home for Presbyterian College, where he played on the golf team and was a football trainer for their team. He was president of the student body his senior year.

He majored in business and minored in English. During all four years of college he wasn't sure what to do for a living.

Walker took his first job with First Union Bank in Charlotte, where he stayed for almost three years. He moved to Hilton Head for a few months as a mortgage lender, but it wasn't what he wanted to do. He asked P.C.'s placement office what they had. They suggested a call to Realtor Laine Ligon in Columbia at Bollin Ligon.

Fellow P.C. alumnus Ligon recommended Walker get his real estate license before he did anything else.

On April Fool's Day, 1989, Walker began selling residences. After a six- month beginner's dry spell, Walker began to make business flow. By 1996, he was a partner with his name on the door, as in Bollin Ligon Walker.

Walker has three older brothers. Jimmy, the oldest, works in the library at the College of Charleston.

Bill, the middle of the three, is a television writer who has written for Rosanne, Will & Grace, and Frasier, where he earned an Emmy.

George, the youngest, is in oil- related manufacturing in Montgomery, La.

Walker and his wife Elizabeth have three children. Ginny, 10, the oldest, and in the fifth grade. Andrew, eight, is in the third grade. Margaret, five, is in kindergarten. All three are enrolled at Hammond Academy.

As president of the S. C. Realtors, Walker says it's the largest trade association in the state.

In S.C. there are 19 local groups of Realtors under Walker's state association. Their mission includes enforcing a code of ethics through a self- policing structure. The association of Realtors also acts as an advocacy arm before local and state government.

At the state level, Walker sees the coming year's discussions in the capitol including property tax reform, eminent domain, comprehensive land planning, and zoning- change procedures.

Always on the watch for any potential erosion of private property rights, Walker is trying to get a better reading on steps municipalities must take for a zoning change, particularly what public notices should be given.

Bollin Ligon Walker moved to 3008 Millwood Avenue almost five years ago. They are directly across Millwood from Shandon Florist.

Bollin Ligon Walker is composed of 20 full- time people, including 14 agents. The agents are independent contractors. There are also six employees on staff.

For the near future, Walker sees continued favorable interest rates nationally and reliable home market stability locally.

According to reports last August, South Carolina has the seventh lowest foreclosure rate. The Midlands and its Realtors are in relatively good shape.