COVID-19 Resource Page

In response to the concerns about COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus, we wanted to provide a resource page for our members.

SCCAR Office Guidelines for Phase II Reopening


You can visit the SCCAR office by appointment only.
Besides staff, we can only allow 1 person at a time to enter the office.
Please contact the SCCAR office to receive an appointment:
(425) 339-1388 or membership@sccar.org.

Online store option is now available!
You can now order from our store online & then schedule a curbside pick-up time. Visit our store at www.sccar.store. For members to receive your 15% discount, use the coupon code Realtor15.

Face masks required.
When entering the SCCAR office, you will be required to wear a face mask. If you don't have one, SCCAR will provide one for you. This is to keep you & our staff safe.

Classes, Committees, Meetings, & Events
SCCAR has been working to ensure continuity in our operations. However, the safety and well-being of members & our staff is our top priority. With that in mind, there will be no in-person classes, meetings, committees, & events indefinitely. Until then, we will host our regularly monthly committee meetings and classes virtually. You can visit our website to see a full schedule.

If you have any questions, please contact SCCAR at (425) 339-1388, or by emailing info@sccar.org.

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Governor Jay Inslee shared details of a new roadmap for fighting COVID in Washington.

As he outlined during a televised press conference, the Healthy Washington plan goes into effect Monday, January 11th. It replaces the Safe Start plan that has determined much of the statewide response to COVID since spring, including restrictions on businesses, public gatherings and recreation.

The plan takes a regional approach to attacking the virus, dividing Washington into eight areas. It focuses less on hitting hard-target case numbers and more on trends.

Snohomish County’s performance will be tracked as part of a region that includes King and Pierce counties. The roadmap’s regions were developed based on available health care services.

Under the new plan, there initially will be two phases, with all regions starting in the first phase, the most restrictive. It is like Phase 1 under Safe Start, with no indoor dining permitted but other essential businesses such as manufacturing and construction continuing to operate following specific guidance.

Phase 2 would allow more indoor activity, including dining at 25% capacity. People would still be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

To move into the next phase, the region must hit each of these metrics:

  • Decreasing trend in two-week rate of COVID cases per 100,000 in population. The decrease must be greater than 10% in the most recent two-week period compared to the prior two-week period.
  • Decreasing trend in the two-week rate of new COVID hospital admission rates per 100,000 in population. The decrease must be greater than 10% in most recent two-week period compared to the prior two-week period.
  • COVID test positivity of less than 10%.
  • ICU occupancy (total) of less than 90%.

The state Department of Health will calculate and share performance results each Friday, with regions cleared to move to Phase 2 eligible to do so the following Monday. All four metrics must be met to advance, and a region must continue to meet at least three metrics to remain in Phase 2. A region can be returned to Phase 1 if it is unable to meet two or more metrics. State and local public health officials also may move a region back to Phase 1 if necessary.

To receive up to date information about the Heathy Washington initiative and the Roadmap to Recovery, visit Washington State's Coronavirus Response website.

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The National Association of REALTORS® is providing guidance to help REALTORS® respond to the coronavirus's potential impact on the real estate industry. Check out their coronavirus page for updates.

Also, Washington REALTORS® is updating their COVID-19 resource page daily.

Be sure to refer to the CDC’s website for up-to-date information about COVID-19(link is external). Daily updates about the coronavirus are also available from the World Health Organization(link is external).

Applying for Unemployment

 

The Washington Employment Security Department (“ESD”) is currently in the process of establishing its online system to accept applications for unemployment benefits from independent contractors under the CARES Act, the federal law to provide economic stimulus in response to COVID-19. Under the CARES Act, independent contractors and the self-employed can receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”), which will be administered by ESD in Washington State. ESD estimates that updates to its online application system will allow for applications from independent contractors and the self-employed by mid-April. ESD requests that those who may file for PUA benefits sign up on its website to be notified when the application process for independent contractors is ready. REALTORS® who may seek PUA should create a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account, and watch ESD’s new tutorial. The law requires everyone to apply for regular unemployment first, and be denied, before applying for PUA.  

Coronavirus: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FAQs

You can learn more by visiting ESD's website.

Small Business Loans

The Treasury Department released the application for the SBA 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which you can access here. It also released a summary guide of the program for borrowers, here.

Small businesses and sole proprietors can apply beginning Friday, April 3; independent contractors and the self-employed can apply beginning Friday, April 10.  Applications go directly to SBA lenders, which you can find throughthe SBA site here.

This is a new program created by the CARES Act to provide small businesses (500 employees or fewer), sole proprietors, and the self-employed/independent contracts who are impacted by COVID-19 with loans of 2.5x their average monthly payroll expenses (up to $10 million) to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities for an 8-week period during the crisis.  Employers who maintain payroll levels of at least 75% of their average and the same number of employees are eligible for loan forgiveness.  You can learn more about the loan program in NAR's CARES Act FAQ document and the CARES Act Summary.

There are still some questions as to if a small business should include independent contractors in its employee numbers and payroll costs; what we know for certain is that independent contractors can apply for their own 7(a) PPP loans.  We are seeking clarity on that question from the Treasury and the SBA and will have the answer soon.

NAR will be posting a SBA-Program specific FAQ focusing on the 7(a) PPP loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which you can apply for here.  (Businesses can apply for both, but the funds cannot be used for the same purposes, and the $10,000 advance grant is not forgiven if you also receive a forgivable PPP loan.)

Loan Processing Flexibilities

On March 31st, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced several loan processing flexibilities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (The Enterprises) designed to help their customers.

The flexibilities announced by the Enterprises include:

  • Allowing desktop appraisals on new construction loans;

  • Allowing flexibility on demonstrating construction has been completed (alternative to the Completion Report);

  • Allowing flexibility for borrowers to provide documentation (rather than requiring an inspection) to allow renovation disbursements (draws); and

  • Expanding the use of power of attorney and remote online notarizations.

Learn more from Freddie Mac.

Learn more from Fannie Mae.

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