How COVID-19 is Affecting the Housing Market

How COVID-19 is Affecting the Housing Market

Concerns about COVID-19 and Governor Wolf’s recent orders have affected the local real estate market, as they have other areas of the economy. To decrease the spread of the virus, the governor ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical offices on March 19 and four days later issued a stay-at-home order for several local counties, including Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester Counties.

During the past ten days, the number of new listings in PA has decreased, and the number of house showings saw a steep decline statewide (data from BrightMLS as of 3/28/20). Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties seem to be following this trend.

Though many real estate tasks can be accomplished remotely, some cannot. For example, buyers generally don’t want to buy a home without visiting it in person, and in-person showings with agents are not in compliance with the governor’s orders.

Now is not the time for sellers to have their homes on the market. Buyers touring a home may be carriers of the virus, and surfaces they touch may become contaminated. Inspectors also pose this risk. A prudent course of action for sellers who listed their homes prior to the health crisis is to take their homes off the market until the crisis abates.

The PA State Police have begun issuing warnings to businesses, including real estate companies, that have not ceased in-person operations. None of us knows when the housing market will get back to normal, but let’s do everything we can to stay safe until then.

Read more of Annette’s real estate articles for the latest real estate advice.

For more information on the real estate market, contact Annette Nelson at (610) 247-7892 or annette@preferredhomes.com

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