Despite the action taken last Saturday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that expanded its list of essential services to include residential and commercial real estate, California still remains under a stay-at-home order, and your health and safety, along with the health and safety of your clients and communities, is of utmost importance. As such, all REALTORS® must follow existing protocols for protecting against the spread of COVID-19 during this pandemic as provided by the CDC and other local orders. Note that if you do business in a city or county with more restrictive standards regarding what qualifies as an essential service, or additional restrictions on activities, those guidelines still govern your actions as a real estate licensee. In other words: If there is a more restrictive local order, it must be followed.

To help you navigate practicing real estate during these challenging times, C.A.R. has released these best practice guidelines that reflect our understanding of Governor Newsom’s stay-at-home order. This document details recommended best practices for marketing, showing and closing on properties while maintaining compliance with CDC recommendations.

To further assist you, C.A.R. today released two new forms: One is a Listing Agreement Coronavirus Addendum or Amendment (RLA-CAA) for sellers and listing agents to sign, and the other is a Property Viewing Advisory and Declaration (PEAD) that is to be given to and signed by the seller, buyer, agents and anyone else who will be entering a property. The forms can be accessed here.

Yesterday, C.A.R. launched its new COVID Relief Hotline, which provides our members with 1:1 assistance in accessing financial relief programs. We know many of you have questions about the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, a new program made available through the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The California Employment Development Department (EDD), which will administer the PUA, has not yet finalized its implementation procedures. In the meantime, C.A.R. strongly recommends that REALTORS® NOT apply for PUA at this time from the EDD but rather wait for further guidance. Applying now could result in significant delays. We will issue information to members as soon as we have it.