It is no secret that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has brought a great deal of concern about how the public can best protect themselves and others from spreading the virus.

But what happens when residents selling their homes must welcome potential buyers into their refuge, not knowing who may have been exposed to COVID-19?

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) distributed a press release on March 12, titled “NAR Survey Finds Nearly 1 in 4 Home Sellers Changed How Their Home is Viewed on the Market Due to Coronavirus Outbreak.”

The report states that as a result of the outbreak, sellers are “stopping open houses, requiring potential buyers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer, asking buyers to remove shoes or wear footies, or other changes.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that since COVID-19 is a new disease, people are still learning how it spreads.

They believe it spreads mainly from person to person, specifically “between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) [and] through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes... It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

NAR found that 16 percent of its members who participated in their March 9 to 10 survey noted that buyer interest had decreased due to the coronavirus. Members in California and Washington state — where the outbreak is currently more widespread — cited larger decreases in buyer interest of 21 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

Nationwide, three percent of homes were reported to have been removed from the market, with California and Washington state having one percent and two percent higher stats, respectively, than the country’s average.

Fortunately, the study also found that 78 percent of members said there have been no changes in buyer interest due to the coronavirus and that nearly nine in ten members observed that the coronavirus has not affected the number of homes on the market.

Newtown Market

Newtown Board of Realtors President David Landau told The Newtown Bee on March 12 that some local clients selling their homes have begun expressing concerns for how the COVID-19 outbreak will impact the housing market.

However, he has not found the virus to have made much of an impact on open houses being conducted in town.

Landau reported that a healthy 27 open houses were scheduled in Newtown for the weekend of March 14 and 15, while 650 open houses were scheduled throughout Fairfield county.

On March 16, he said that at the two open houses he personally hosted this weekend, there were seven visitors total, which he added “is not a bad turnout.”

For sellers and agents who are concerned about keeping themselves and their property safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, he recommends people visit the “Coronavirus: A Guide for Realtors,” at nar.realtor/coronavirus-a-guide-for-realtors?fbclid=IwAR1MDWyhpte44-x2iZzFu0UxBRp236KW3vAGwFRmq-pO9RyUIeRg6zrwA08.

“A Great Time To Sell”

While there are some states experiencing widespread effects from the virus, overall, the market is proving to be a positive time for sellers.

According to NAR’s report, “Thirty-seven percent said lower mortgage rates excited home buyers much more than the stock market correction.”

Mortgage rates are reaching historic lows and Landau said that is instilling “more confidence” for home buyers.

For local residents who still may be concerned about putting their house on the market right now, Landau advised, “Proceed with caution but rates are low, buyer traffic is still picking up for the spring, so it’s still a great time to sell.”

To view NAR’s full Economic Pulse Flash Survey report, visit nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/nar-flash-survey-economic-pulse.