Though the pandemic may have halted or slowed life down in a lot of areas, the housing market in Snohomish County was not one of them. This spring, many REALTORS^® across the country will hold thousands of open houses from coast to coast, aiming to focus attention on the benefits of homeownership for individuals, families, communities, and our nation’s economy.  

“REALTORS^® will hold open houses in various neighborhoods throughout Snohomish County this spring and will provide guidance for potential buyers and answer questions about the local housing market, as well as the home buying and selling process. Whether you are new to homeownership or have been a homeowner for years, this is an unprecedented time. We want to ensure that during this pandemic, we can provide essential tips from REALTORS^®  for buyers and sellers so they have a safe and hassle-free experience. If you are interested in purchasing a home, visiting open houses is a great way to get an idea of what you can afford in certain neighborhoods, as well as a taste for what is on the market,” said Jennifer Pederson, President of Snohomish County-Camano Association of REALTORS^® (SCCAR).

The National Association of REALTORS’® (NAR) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows 53 percent of all buyers used open houses as a source in their home search process. This figure suggests the value of open houses even in the internet era. However, just like everything else in the era of COVID, open houses have changed. To provide extra safety precautions for buyers and sellers here is a list of some things you can expect when visiting an open house, as mandated by the Governor’s Healthy Washington initiative:

• No more than 10 people are allowed on the property at a time.
• If there are already 10 people onsite, you may be asked to wait outside.
• Face coverings are required at all times.
• Social distancing must be practiced on site.
• There should be hand sanitizer placed around the property for your convenience.
• All the surfaces will be disinfected before and after the open house.
• You may need to sign-in and provide your contact information for contact tracing purposes, in the case of an outbreak.

“REALTORS^® visit hundreds – if not thousands – of homes with buyers each year and have a unique understanding of what buyers can afford in our local market,” Pederson said. “Homeownership builds financial security over the long term. It’s an investment in your future, as well as the future generations to come.” NAR also recently reported more renters than ever aspire to become homeowners and an overwhelming majority of Americans believe buying a home is a solid financial decision.

For more information about buying or selling a home, be sure to work with a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Snohomish County-Camano Association of REALTORS® is the voice for real estate in Snohomish County. If you have questions for The Expert about real estate email us at info@sccar.org, or by visiting https://www.sccar.org.