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Real Estate deemed essential services in Harris County/Houston

1,190 Views | 4 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by Red Pear Realty
Houston Lee
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AG
Here is the e-mail I received from HAR

Dear HAR Members,

As you may have seen, Harris County issued a "Stay Home-Work Safe" order this morning, which will go into effect at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, March 24 and will continue through April 3. This follows on Galveston County issuing a similar order yesterday.

The big question for HAR Members is about whether real estate services would be included as an essential service and could continue to operate during this time. We are happy to say, YES, for Harris County, which includes the City of Houston. The following is the text of the relevant section from the order:

xvi. Professional services. Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, insurances services, and "real estate services" when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities or to further Essential Businesses, Essential Government functions, or Critical Infrastructure.

You may also go here to see the complete order: https://agenda.harriscountytx.gov/2020/03-24-20StayHomeWorkSafe.pdf

HAR President and CEO Bob Hale spoke via phone during the Harris County Commissioners Court meeting this morning and argued forcefully for the inclusion of real estate as essential. You may see the text of what he said HERE.

As Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at the press conference when she announced the order, everyone should work from home unless your job is required for the health and safety of the community. People may leave their homes to go to the grocery store, doctor's appointments, pharmacy, exercise outside, etc. At all times, people must still maintain the social distancing standard of keeping six feet between you and anyone else. As they have been already, restaurants will continue to operate on delivery, takeout or drive-thru only. Note that the Galveston County order does not include real estate services as essential at this time. We have been in contact with all of the county elected officials in our region and will continue to communicate with them as they determine what actions they will take next. Things are changing rapidly, so it is likely other counties will issue similar orders in the coming days.

Additionally, TREC has waived all renewal and application deadlines until May 31, 2020. You may read more here:
https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/trec-and-talcb-grants-waiver-extend-all-renewal-and-application-deadlines-through-may-31%C2%A0

HAR is providing virtual courses to help you complete your CE or just catch up on that education you had been putting off. You may find the available online courses at www.har.com/education.

This is YOUR association, and we are here to support you during this time. We will get through this together.

Stay safe and wash your hands!
Yesterday
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AG
Haven't met anyone that wasn't essential. It's a big joke.
ReloadAg
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It's a huge joke. I build new residential construction in Austin and originally we though we were exempted from Austin's shelter in place ordinance that took effect yesterday only to find out today that residential construction is not in fact exempt unless you build affordable housing. I happen to work in a community that builds affordable housing so I'm not shut down but man what a crock of utter BS.
jokershady
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AG
But not in Fort Bend County for some reason.....
flown-the-coop
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https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

Many local municipalities and counties were referencing DHS CISA guidelines which until yesterday were silent on residential construction. Not any more. The big home builders pushed hard on this all week to get these activities included.

Also included were permit, inspection services, right for third party inspects, and others. Included in another area as essential were settlement services.

These are advisory so places like Austin / Travis County may keep their exclusions in place. But it gives the local governments some cover if they choose not to lock down residential construction that they were following DHS guidelines.
Red Pear Realty
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Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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