State Issues New COVID-19 Guidelines for Real Estate Employers & Transactions

State Issues New COVID-19 Guidelines for Real Estate Employers & Transactions (May 8, 2020)

The State of California Department of Health and Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) have established new guidelines for employers and agents conducting transactions in the real estate industry. Please comply with the guideline references listed below to remain in compliance with the multi-phased approach to re-entry into the workplace/community and to ensure the health and safety of your employees and clients.

To assist you in your efforts to comply with these guidelines, we have also developed a print-ready flyer for you to post at properties to inform clients that your business practices are within compliance of state-mandated guidelines and that their entry into a property is subject to their compliance with posted rules*. View/Print Flyer >

RESOURCES:

CDPH/CALOSHA COVID-19 Guidance for Real Estate Transactions (05.07.20) >
This document provides guidance for businesses operating in the real estate industry including sales and rentals of single-family, multi-family, apartment, commercial, and industrial properties to support a safe, clean environment for workers. This document is supplemented with a general checklist (link below) to ensure proper compliance with these guidelines.

Transactions Guidance Contents:

Workplace Specific Plan
Shown Properties Specific Plan
Topics for Employee Training
Individual Control Measures and Screening
Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols for Workplaces
Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols for Shown Properties
Physical Distancing Guidelines for Workplaces
Physical Distancing Guidelines for Shown Properties

CDPH/CALOSHA COVID-19 General Checklist for Real Estate Transactions (05/07/20) >
This checklist is a supplemental worksheet for use with the above listed Guidance for Real Estate Transactions. It is intended to help people involved in real estate to implement detailed plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. This checklist is a summary and contains shorthand for some parts of the guidance; familiarize yourself with the guidance before using this checklist.

Checklist Contents:

Contents of Written Worksite Specific Plan
Topics for Employee Training
Individual Control Measures and Screening
Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols for Shown Properties
Physical Distancing Worksite Guidelines
Physical Distancing Guidelines for Shown Properties

COVID-19 Resilience Roadmap (05/08/20) >
As a supplement to its stay-at-home orders (03/29/30, 05/04/20), the State of California has posted a new feature on their website describing the specific stages of reentry into the workplace/public places. Now moving into Stage 2, California is allowing lower-risk workplaces to gradually re-open with specific safety protocols in place. This site provides guidelines for each of the four steps of gradual reopening of business and end of stay-at-home orders.

*Note: Guidelines specify that virtual property showings remain the preferred method of property viewing and live in-person showings should be restricted to only those instances when virtual viewing is impossible.

Cloud CMA Live – Coming Soon!

We are excited to announce a new enhancement coming to Cloud CMA: Cloud CMA Live. Cloud CMA Live is a new interactive digital CMA experience. The best part? This is a free enhancement being added to all accounts without any action on your part.

When does it go live?

Expected launch date is May 5th. Once launched, users will see a new “Live CMA” link in the report card.

What are the new features?
– Present beautifully on any modern screen; laptop, tablet, TV, you name it.
– Live Virtual Listing Presentations with built in Zoom and Skype integration.
– Toggle comps to add or remove on the fly.
– Comp data updates automatically on interactive reports.
– Add custom content including video.
– Draw attention and highlight anywhere on the screen with the new “telestrator” feature.
– Perfectly complements branding on Cloud CMA printed reports.

Watch more about Cloud CMA Live here.

It’s a new market, agents need new tools

When Cloud CMA began working on Cloud CMA Live over 6 months ago, no one could have predicted that new ways of presenting remotely would be needed. There have been many announcements of products and services working to help buyers, but we are proud to be able to provide this new free enhancement to help agents and their home sellers.

Real Safe Agent: Protect Yourself And Your Colleagues

Protect yourself and your colleagues

Real Safe Agent has been deployed to more than 100,000 agents across the country. The system is based on the Collaborative Prevention Model, a behavior based crime prevention methodology developed by Lee Goldstein while working with serial sex offenders.

“This application is about preventing the crime from occurring, and the fact that there has never been an attack or attempted attack on an agent while using it speaks volumes,” said Goldstein.

CCAR is pleased to provide members with the latest in professional security:

RealSafeAgent is easy to use and benefits agents, their clients and one-another through an interactive mobile application that puts professionals in touch around the clock.

10 Tips for Holding a Safe Open House

Open houses can be a great sales tool—but hosting one also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Take these steps to stay safe:

If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you at the open house.
Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial.
Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.
Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.
Have all open house visitors sign in. Ask for full name, address, phone number and email.
When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them; don’t lead them. Say, for example, “The kitchen is on your left,” and gesture for them to go ahead of you.
Avoid attics, basements, and getting trapped in small rooms.
Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to call you.
Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

(Sources: Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Mesa, Arizona; Nevada County Board of REALTORS®; Georgia Real Estate Commission)

Visit NAR’s REALTOR® Safety website at www.nar.realtor/Safety

CUSTOMIZED FINANCING OPTIONS

financing options

Contact a CCAR REALTOR or Affiliate member to find a home financing option that's right for you.

adjustable rate mortgages

Adjustable Rate Mortgages benefit people who plan to move or refinance in the near future, or those who expect their incomes to increase. ARM interest rates are dictated by changing market rates. When interest rates rise, monthly payments may increase and when interest rates decrease, monthly payments may decrease.

Usually ARMs have a lifetime periodic cap (limit) on the rate adjustments and total amount rate can change over time.

fixed rate mortgages

Fixed Rate Mortgages (FRMs) are the most common type of mortgage enabling consistent monthly payments; pre-payment penalties are rare.

10- to 15-Year Payment Plans are shorter loans that carry higher monthly payments but accrue less interest and enable equity to increase faster.

Biweekly Payment Plans are designed to shorten the term of a loan and allow for extra principal reductions each year, therefore shortening the original term of the loan.

reverse mortgages

Reverse mortgages enable senior homeowners, 62 years and older, to either purchase or stay in their homes and maintain/improve their standard of living without taking on a monthly mortgage payment.

Reverse mortgages enable senior homeowners to convert home equity into cash for living expenses, home improvements, in-home health care or other needs. Instead of making monthly payments to the lender, the lender may make monthly payments to the borrower, depending on the type of program selected. Criteria for approval differs greatly from other mortgages.

Borrowers may receive proceeds in a lump sum payment, fixed monthly payments for life, or a line of credit. Interest rates can fluctuate monthly/annually but monthly proceeds borrowers receive may not change.

government loans

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan programs enable borrowers to obtain financing with lower down payments. These loans are only available through approved lenders.

FHA (Government Insured) Loans require a very low down payment, typically 3.5% to 5% of the FHA-appraisal value or the purchase price, whichever is lower. Underwriting guidelines may be more lenient than conventional mortgage loans. Maximum loan limits vary depending on regional housing cost averages.

VA (Guaranteed) Loans provide service members, veterans and eligible surviving spouses additional options for home financing and housing-related programs that help them build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for personal occupancy. Because the VA guarantees a portion of the loan, private banks/mortgage companies can offer more favorable terms. Qualification guidelines are more flexible than FHA or conventional loans. Borrowers should check with authorized VA mortgage loan originators to determine eligibility.

The best way to find the right mortgage for you is to discuss your finances, plans and preferences with your REALTOR and a mortgage professional.

Disclaimer: The information above is provided solely for general informational purposes and is specifically not intended to be the basis for legal or financial advice. The information above should not be relied upon by the reader when forming a plan or decision of financing. Persons considering financing options for the purchase or refinance of real estate should consult with a professional before making any financial decisions.

Email Scams

A phishing email, purportedly from the “REALTOR Party via DocuSign” has been sent to some NAR members. If you have received an email like this, delete the email and its attachment immediately. If you have opened the email and entered your DocuSign credentials, log onto DocuSign and change your password immediately.

Remember never to take action or click on any emails/links that appear suspicious. Only open emails/attachments if you can verify the sender is legitimate via a telephone call.

Please share this information with your clients.