As we are in the midst of changing actions by the Federal, State, and local governments with their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; Oregon REALTORS® is sharing the following information to help you and your clients navigate the impacts on the real estate industry. Oregon REALTORS® will continue to provide relevant updates over the next several weeks.
Oregon REALTORS® Office
Like many organizations, we are following the guidelines of social distancing and some of our staff has temporarily shifted to working remotely. During this time, Oregon REALTORS® will continue to be your go to place for all things real estate and our services will continue as normal. You may still call Oregon REALTORS®(800-252-9115), send an email to the appropriate staff person or to info@oregonrealtors.org, and contact the Legal Hotline. We are dedicated to helping our members get through this difficult time.
Oregon REALTORS® Meetings & Events
All in-person meetings have been cancelled and many have been moved to virtual meetings via Zoom video conference. The Board of Directors meeting will still be held April 9 at 9:30am, via Zoom video conferencing. Oregon REALTORS® will continue to review this policy weekly as new information becomes available.
Oregon REALTORS® Classes
Oregon REALTORS® GRI in-person classes are cancelled, however we are working with instructors to find a solution and to offer virtual solutions. Stay tuned for more information!
Please understand that we are in uncharted waters. Please visit the CDC’s website for up to date information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we hold public open houses in Oregon?
- Oregon REALTORS® suggests that public open houses be limited and if they are to occur, brokerages should take proactive steps to comply with Governor Brown’s ban of gatherings of 25 persons or more for at least four weeks.
- Suggestions include posting a notice on the door stating that entrance will be limited and visitors should wait outside in a queue that includes enough space to meet the social distancing guidelines.
- As always, consult with the property owner first about their comfort level with allowing public open houses and consider cancelling open houses and providing private showings instead.
Should you host open houses, be sure to comply with the 25-person maximum capacity, have hand sanitizer available for anyone entering the home and wipe down common surfaces frequently.
What if a seller is not comfortable with people entering to view their home?
Sellers who are not comfortable with members of the public viewing their house may want to consider changing the listing status to “temporarily withdrawn” until the threat has subsided.
What if I want to use alternative marketing strategies?
If you are using strategies such as virtual tours or video tours, do your best to comply with the Oregon Real Estate Agency Disclosure and provide the form as early as possible, even when there has not yet been an in-person meeting.
What should I do with my office staff?
Oregon REALTORS® recommends following the State of Oregon’s social distancing guidelines. They are encouraging as many people as possible to work remotely. In addition, please refer to theNAR Coronavirus Resources and Guidance for Employers.
How will COVID-19 impact Closings?
This information could change at any point but here is a snapshot of what we know now:
Closings: Title Companies and Mobile Notarization
REALTORS® should talk with title companies to determine what their policy is regarding in-person closings and the option of mobile notarized closings. The title companies we have talked to are remaining open but are adopting restrictions on the number of people allowed in their office and may ask customers if they have been sick and require customers to use hand sanitizer or take other precautions. Title Companies are seeing a spike in mobile notarizations. This is something that buyers and sellers can request for a modest additional cost (usually $50-80) and is a way to reduce the amount of social contact that occurs as part of the closing. A notary will come to your house and have you sign the closing paperwork.
Oregon does not currently allow remote online notarization (where signer appears before the notary using audio-visual technology over the internet). However, 23 other states allow for this, and the COVID-19 episode may strengthen the argument for Oregon to move this direction in the future. Also, ALTA, the title industry trade association, is pushing for legislation in Congress to authorize remote online notarization nationwide.
Recording:
As far as we know, county recording offices are currently open across Oregon. Most if not all counties have electronic repositories that allow title companies to record documents. As long as some staff are available to maintain that system then recording should be able to continue. If you are in the middle of a transaction, your title company should be able to keep you apprised of any relevant updates on this front. You can also find the latest news from each county as to how they are responding to COVID-19, visit http://oregoncounties.org/coronavirus-resources/. Also, ALTA is maintaining a database of county recording office closures across the U.S.
Resources and Additional Updates:
ALTA has a great resource page on Coronavirus that they will be updating regularly. It includes suggested safe procedures and protocols for conducting closings in manners to reduce exposure to the virus.
How does this impact Appraisals?
We have heard that there are a few instances where either homeowners or appraisers are cancelling appointments due to COVID-19 but otherwise appraisals are moving forward as usual. However, there are some simple precautions that homeowners and appraisers can take to avoid exposure. Check out these tips provided by OAR Business Issues Committee Appraisal Industry Representative Jim Baumberger.
How is this affecting Mortgage Lending?
The mortgage industry appears to be humming along as it continues to work through the refinance boom that is occurring as a result of low interest rates. Capacity to handle all of the refinance transactions remains a constraint.
The biggest concern as it relates to mortgage lending and COVID-19 is what will happen with workers who are laid off, put on unpaid leave or see a reduction in income based on the impacts of the virus and the social distancing efforts taking place. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require employment and income verification, so there could be an increase in the number of people who are unable to qualify for loans. It’s too early to tell how this will play out as many of the effects on employment are just starting to take shape.
As it relates to impact of recent events on mortgage rates, check out this video update from OAR’s Business Issues Key Committee Mortgage Industry Representative Evan Swanson.
How will this impact Property Management?
Today Multnomah County announced by executive rule a temporary ban on residential evictions for tenants on the basis of nonpayment of rent due to wage loss resulting from COVID-19. The City of Portland has indicated that they will follow with an identical ban.
To qualify for the Multnomah County eviction ban tenants must:
- Demonstrate substantial loss of income, through documentation or other objectively verifiable means, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and
- Notify their landlords on or before the day that rent is due that they are unable to pay rent due to substantial loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rule, signed by Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, states that landlords may seek, and tenants must pay unpaid rent within six months after expiration of “this emergency,” presumably referring to the expiration date of the County’s State of Emergency Declaration which expires on April 10 “unless rescinded or extended further.”
The Rule also requires that places of lodging must accept subsidized vouchers from the County, which the County has been issuing recently.
Landlord groups argued that financial assistance to tenants is a better path than an eviction ban, and that in light of the eviction ban there needs to be financial assistance for landlords to protect them from foreclosure. City and County officials have acknowledged potential hardship for landlords but have yet to address the issue.
Governor Brown stated that she has no immediate plans to issue a similar eviction ban statewide, but she did not foreclose on the option of doing so in the future.