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New Jersey Realtors ® & COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have an open house? No. There is a ban on open houses under Executive Order 107.

Can I show a house? Per Governor Murphy’s March 30 clarification to Executive Order 107, “Realtors ® can operate and show houses to prospective buyers on a 1-on-1 basis or to immediate families. There is still a prohibition on open houses.”

We continue to urge our members to exercise extreme caution with their clients. New Jersey Realtors ® encourages the use of virtual tools, such as FaceTime, for showings (at the seller’s discretion.)

Can I still close on a transaction? Yes, you may continue to work and close your transactions. If an in-person closing is necessary, you must practice safe social distancing as established by the CDC.

Is real estate considered essential or nonessential under Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 107? On March 30, Gov. Murphy clarified Executive Order 107 with an Administrative Order: “Individual appointments to view real estate with Realtors ® by individuals or families shall be considered essential retail business for the purposes of paragraph 6 of Executive Order No. 7. However, open houses will be considered impermissible gatherings in accordance with paragraph 5 of Executive Order No. 107.”

A quick note to our membership—We did not ask to be deemed essential; we did reach out to the governor’s office for clarification of his expectations on how we were to proceed as an industry under Executive Order 107. The clarification on the governor’s Executive Order was sought only to determine what was permissible for those renters, buyers, or sellers who are in immediate need of real estate services. Situations where there is an immediate need could include: a renter whose lease ends during the EO, end of a winter rental, those who needed to buy or sell for health or financial reasons that existed before COVID-19, those in pending transactions who needed guidance, or a vacant property, to name just a few. As a state association, we are always trying to best inform our members about what is and is not allowable based on the most current state laws, regulations, and orders—we needed the clarification from the governor’s office in order to inform our membership on what was allowed during this unprecedented event. To be clear, we suggest all showings be held through virtual options. As a New Jersey Realtor ® , you should not take this action by the governor to mean you must continue your business.

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What about problems with title and deed searches at the county level? If you are having problems with title or deed searches, please reach out to us at news@njrealtor.com or your local board and we will work to get you answers.

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Is there relief for independent contractors in the stimulus package? Yes. The $2 trillion economic stimulus package provides relief for independent contractors. Read more here.

Are there any options for a virtual notary so I may avoid in-person meetings with regards to a closing? There is a bill allowing remote notary waiting for Gov. Murphy’s signature. The requirements are as follows: A Q

• The notarial officer must have personal knowledge of individual, satisfactory evidence of ID by a witness, or two different proofs of ID by the individual. • The notarial officer must be able to reasonably confirm that two parties have the same document in front of them. • The notarial officer must keep audio & visual recording of the performance of the notarial act.