Much has happened since March 7 when the COVID-19 related State of Emergency was issued, and throughout that time NYSAR has been actively representing us. Here is more detail.
3/7 Executive Order(EO) 202 declaring a disaster emergency for New York State
3/18 EO 202.6 requires non-essential businesses to reduce in-person workforce by 50% by March 20, 8:00pm
3/19 EO 202.7 requires non-essential businesses to reduce in-person workforce by 75% by March 21, 8:00pm
3/20 EO 202.8 requires non-essential businesses to reduce in-person workforce by 100% by March 22, 8:00pm
3/20 Governor Cuomo issues guidance on essential businesses within “New York State on Pause” EO. The essential business list does not include real estate services.
3/22 8:00 pm – all non-essential business, including real estate, must close in-office personnel functions
3/23 NYSAR & REBNY ask Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development (ESD) to include “real estate closings” and county clerks to be deemed essential
3/23 NYSAR asks Governor Cuomo and ESD to amend EO 202.6 to include “services related to real estate transactions” as essential
3/25 NYSAR and REBNY ask Governor Cuomo for clarity regarding permissible real estate activities
3/28 NYSAR receives copies of emails from licensees where ESD has deemed them “essential” with no limiting language
4/1 NYSAR receives copies of emails from licensees where ESD has deemed only certain functions of a licensee as essential
4/1 ESD changes previous guidance to only allow virtual showings and remote work
4/9 ESD published limited functions of a real estate brokerage that can be performed. In-person contact is still prohibited and licensees should perform all activities virtually or remotely.