Is Real Estate Brokerage an Essential Business?

San Francisco Real Estate: Escrow Out Loud

Is real estate an essential service during the mandatory shelter-in-place directive issued on March 16, 2020 in San Francisco county.

Links mentioned in show:

Federal Directive from DHS that is not binding (Mar 28, PDF)

SF list of essential businesses and exemptions

Open San Francisco city services

How you can volunteer during the shelter-in-place directive

SF Social Distancing Guidelines

#stayhome, #staysafe

In this episode we address the confusion about real estate's classification as an essential business.

The one situation I can imagine where it is okay to do business as a broker: if you have a court order to sell a home and want to livestream a tour with no one else present, go for it. Then remember that title companies are not open, appraisers and inspectors are not essential businesses for transactional activities, and if you can put that deal together and get it to closing while staying 6 feet away from everyone, I salute you and invite you on to the podcast to tell us all how you did it!

Otherwise, stay home. If you are stuck at home and looking for ways to volunteer, the city has a page with links and suggestions to volunteer opportunities during the mandatory shelter-in-place directive.

While the business of real estate is transacting business on behalf of our clients, my joy and meaning, and what has kept me in the real estate business, is the satisfaction of helping another person. While now is not the time to transact, it is absolutely the time to do whatever you are able to do to help our neighbors, both literally and figuratively.

Sitting still, much less staying home, is hard for all of us . I can’t wait to do business with you when the directive is lifted, and until then the best way to help everyone in San Francisco is to stay home and stay safe.

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