Naturally, the coronavirus has made buying and selling a home more complicated this spring. Social distancing and other mitigation efforts have changed the way we think about nearly everything, including the buying process. But according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, Americans are adapting, embracing technology, and not changing their plans. In fact, the survey found that 68 percent of respondents said their plans to move, or not, haven’t changed. Just 9 percent said they weren’t planning to move but now are and 14 percent said they’d canceled a plan to move. Furthermore, a growing number of buyers say they’d be comfortable buying a home they didn’t see in person, provided they had access to a virtual tour, photos, and detailed listing and neighborhood information. The largest share of participants said they’d still prefer to see a home with their buyer’s agent but 24 percent said they’d be willing to buy a home they didn’t see in person. And, when it comes to younger buyers, that number is closer to 30 percent. In short, the survey is good news for the housing market, as it indicates that Americans still want to buy and are open to new ways of getting it done. (source)
