On Thursday, March 19, Governor Wolf issued an order that as of 8 p.m. on the 19th all "non-life sustaining businesses" in the state must shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19. Per that guidance, all real estate sales and leasing businesses are required to close their physical locations and suspend "in-person, physical operations" until further notice, although the order "does not apply to virtual or telework operations (e.g., work from home), so long as social distancing and other mitigation measures are followed in such operations."

Please consider real estate as an essential activity as shelter is a basic need.  There are people that have major financial pressures to buy and sell, regardless of a pandemic.  State residents are incurring double mortgage payments and are getting displaced from their homes because of the shutdown on real estate activities.  How can someone shelter in place or stay home without a home?  Homeland Security has deemed real estate essential. Other states, including California, New York, New Jersey, California and Connecticut have deemed real estate activities (not going into the office) as essential.  Pennsylvania is one of the only states taking this stance and it will hurt the people that live here and the economy of the state.  There are major financial consequences by putting a total hold on the real estate industry.  

Real estate made up 16.4% of the gross state product and for every real estate transaction that occurs, 23 people on average are put to work.  Do the right thing and make real estate services essential.