HAR’s Bob Hale: Houston Realtors Are Essential — Should Be Exempt From Stay-at-Home Order
Bob Hale
HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Bob Hale, president and CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR.com), says real estate agents provide an essential service and should be exempt from the Harris County stay-at-home order.
The Harris County Commissioners Court agreed and added Realtors to the list of businesses and workers allowed to continue operating under the stay-at-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
“I am Bob Hale, President & CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors, better known as HAR.com,” Hale told county officials.
“Ensuring that Harris County residents and families can obtain shelter is essential. Last year, consumers bought and sold 103,000 properties worth $30 billion through the HAR MLS. Currently, 14,000 families in the greater Houston area have signed contracts to buy or sell and are waiting to close. We cannot leave them in limbo,” Hale said.
“Right now, 41,000 sellers have homes listed for sale with a Realtor and 11,000 properties are listed for rent. Many of these sellers need to complete their transactions. In the past seven days alone, 3,000 families listed their homes for sale with Realtors,” he added.
“Approximately $2.4 billion in residential transactions are currently pending in Harris County. Of that, $800 million is scheduled to close within the next 10 days while the order is in effect,” Hale said.
“Please allow Realtors to continue assisting and serving their clients so real estate activity does not grind to a halt. Other states, including Connecticut, Ohio and Illinois, have already classified real estate as an essential service,” Hale told officials.
The county’s rules took effect Tuesday at 11:59 PM and are scheduled to remain in place through April 3.
Alongside Realtors on the exempt list are hospitals, clinics, dentists, grocery stores, plumbers, electricians and many other essential services. Realtors may continue sales activity, although open houses are discouraged to minimize health risks.
