Real Estate is an essential business during this pandemic. I spoke with the Helena Association of Realtors to discuss the pandemic impact on the essential industry.
“Our market has been strong and steady and sustainable for years in our area here in Helena,” says George Harris, the CEO of the association.
According to the association, the housing market continues to be strong in Helena. There are more listings under contract than at this time in 2019.
The median price for houses increased about 3.5% to around $300,000 in a 12-month period.
“We’re hopeful that with some proper precautions in place, we will continue to enjoy a robust market in Helena and real estate will continue to be an excellent, reliable investment, as we get through this,” says Harris.
Those precautions refer to showing houses to potential buyers. These are the precautions the association recommends. When showing a buyer a home, do not touch any of the items in the home. If the buyer refuses to visit any houses, utilize face chat technologies to show properties. Transform as many services as you can to online services to avoid any physical human-to-human interactions. The association is still hopeful that real estate will have a strong recovery after the pandemic.
“New listings or buyer demands may temporarily decline, at this time during this pandemic, but we are still inclined to believe that the recovery will be strong, after the storm has passed,” says Harris.
The association is unaware if any real estate employees have been furloughed.
