March 19. Realtors say closings are still happening but the big spring bump in listings and sales is in doubt. Showings have ground to a halt.
Nevertheless, there are still buyers who need to buy, and sellers who need to sell, said Pat Riley, CEO of Allen Tate. Leases may be up or “they just want to take advantage of today’s low interest rates to make their homeownership dreams come true.”
Technology helps buyers virtually tour homes from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Even pre-listing appointments and signings ca be done on-line. “We can do some things later if we need to,” Riley said.

RILEY
The only exception right now is courthouse closings, which could impede our ability to file documents, and there may be some possible solutions to that.
This is also a time when people need to work together for solutions, Riley said. There are a lot of opportunities to be heroes.
Riley said he knows of an elderly couple in the process of selling their home to move into a long-term care facility.
Because of COVID-19, the long-term care facility is under quarantine with no new admissions permitted.
The home is under contract, but has not closed yet, Riley said, so they needed special accommodations.
“While these folks have sold their home, closing would mean they would have to find alternate housing and need to move twice. Instead, they are working with the buyer to see if they can delay the closing, or close on time and rent the home back for a while,” Riley said.
So far, no contracts have fallen out of bed.
“Traffic might slow for a while, listings might delay,” Riley said.
“We are committed to safe practices as advised by the CDC to ensure safe environments for our sellers to show their homes, buyers to view homes and agents and employees to continue to help them,” he explained.
“We’re going to keep this train on the track, safely, in the very best way we know how,” he said.