4/1/2020: Quarterly E-Newsletter-Covid-19 Resources

By Stephanie Lundin | April 1, 2020 | 0
SL 2019 Enews Header

Real Estate in the Time of Covid-19

It feels like an entire year has passed since my January newsletter. So much has happened since then, and times have certainly changed. I'm changing my focus, too. It's always been important to me to be your go-to resource in real estate. Now? More than ever. Here I'll update you on the current status of the housing market, and provide a gathering platform for resources. There's a glut of information out there, and not all of it is useful, or true - so while I'm sure you've been inundated with tips and advice, I've held off releasing anything until the dust had settled, and resources were more reliable and direct. As always, I'm here to help and answer questions...and I have plenty of time for that right now, too! I want you to know I am here to help you with anything, so please reach out if I can be of any service as a friend or your Realtor.

Let's start with the market quickly. For most, real estate is NOT an essential service at this time, and many can postpone listing their homes for sale, or purchasing a home. Scout is adapting and weā€™ve already mastered Zoom meetings and the various digital ways of doing things, best we can. Of course, there are certain circumstances where buying/selling IS considered an emergency, or highly urgent, and some realtors are taking extra precautions in the best interests of their clients and doing whatever they can. So, howā€™s the housing market doing? It's COMPLICATED. Due to our massive housing shortage in Portland, the homes being listed are still experiencing multiple offers, probably in part because a lot of sellers are holding off on listing, creating a demand on the homes that are being listed, amidst the pandemic. This could change, but in general compared to the rest of the country, I'm confident we will likely see less shift and continued activity amidst current events. It's a wild ride we're on, and I'll be here to give it to you, straight no matter what, though.

RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac:

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac have tools for homeowners for relief related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling:Ā 
HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies around the country that provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and other housing-related issues.

RESOURCES FOR TENANTS

Moratoriums on Evictions:Ā The State of Oregon and many other citiesĀ and counties have imposedĀ a moratorium on residential evictions on the basis of nonpayment of rent due to wage loss resulting from COVID-19.

Oregon Community Alliance of Tenants:Ā The Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) is a statewide,Ā tenant-controlled, tenant-rights organization. CAT's mission is to educate and empower tenants to demand safe, stable and affordable rental homes.

RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): CFPB works to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and provide people with the information, steps, and tools that they need to make smart financial decisions. They provideĀ specific steps for how to protect yourself financiallyĀ during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS):Ā The IRS has extended the deadline for personal tax returns from April 15th to July 15th. You can findĀ their current tax relief efforts related to COVID-19 here.

State of Oregon Unemployment Insurance:Ā click here forĀ informationĀ on COVID-19 related business layoffs, closures, and unemployment insurance benefitsĀ for workers, employers, and job seekers.

Help Paying Bills or Rent:Ā There are many organizations in Oregon that offer assistance to those struggling financially.

Banks: individual banks announced their own policies for helping consumers, includingĀ mortgage holders and credit card customers

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS:

Business PortlandĀ has aĀ list of resources for Oregon businessesĀ looking for assistance due to the COVID-19 crisis.

U.S. Small Business AssociationĀ (SBA):Ā SBA has put together a list ofĀ Small Business Guidance & Loan ResourcesĀ that includes advice, loan programs, government contracting and local assistance.

Greater Portland, IncĀ is also a great source for local businesses in need of assistance.Ā TheirĀ Resources for Greater Portland BusinessesĀ page includes City, County, Regional, Oregon, Washington, and National/Federal resources as well as advice, and webinars.

Travel PortlandĀ has compiled aĀ list of local and national resourcesĀ for local businesses impacted by the crisis.

Business for a Better PortlandĀ created theĀ BBPDX SwitchboardĀ for local business owners to share information and resources, best practices, find answers, and build community.

TheĀ City of PortlandĀ has created anĀ emergency fund for small businessesĀ located in Portlandā€™s Jade District or Old Town Chinatown. Asian and Pacific Islander business owners will be prioritized.

FacebookĀ has announced aĀ Small Business Grants ProgramĀ which will distribute cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.

Forbes has compiled aĀ list of free softwareĀ that businesses andĀ schools can use during the COVID-19 Crisis

Various relief funds have been created for restaurant owners and food service workers, including theĀ James Beard FoundationĀ Food and BeverageĀ Industry Relief FundĀ and theĀ Restaurant Workers Community FoundationĀ COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Opportunity FundĀ is providingĀ grants and low-interest rate loans to businesses owned byĀ women, immigrants and people of color.

MENTAL HEALTH:

We know this is all a lot to handle right now. If you're in distress and need help, there areĀ Crisis Lines available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help:

  • Multnomah County:Ā 503-988-4888
  • Clackamas County: 503-655-8585
  • Washington County: 503-291-9111
  • Southwest Washington: 1-800-626-8137
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
  • Lines for LifeĀ are with you, 24/7 with free, confidential, and anonymous help. TheirĀ  highly trained staff and volunteers provide immediate assistance, compassionate support, and resource referrals that can put you on a path to healing. Please remember help on the phone is always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and interpreters are available.
    • Suicide Lifeline: 800-273-8255
    • Alcohol and Drug Helpline: 800-923-4357
    • Military Helpline: 888-457-4838
    • Seniors: 503-200-1633
    • Youth: 877-968-8491
  • Veterans Crisis Line:Ā 1-800-273-8255 and press 1

There are additionalĀ mental health resources available hereĀ from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Ā ā€‹
If you are facing a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911.

SCAMS:

Unfortunately, times of uncertainty and crisis also bring out scam artists. Beware of anyone contacting you with an offer that seems too good to be true - they often are!Ā Visit the Fannie Mae websiteĀ for information on how to spot a scam.

Huge thanks to Think Real Estate for the use of their resources list!

Victory Gardens


As you likely already know, I am an avid backyard gardener, and love to live off the fresh produce I've nurtured throughout spring. Well guess what? Everyone's caught the backyard gardener bug, and the online ordering of vegetable and herb seeds have skyrocketed. You may have seen mention of "Victory Garden" lately? Also known as "war gardens" or "food gardens for defense", these are really just a throwback to WWI and WWII, where American, Canadian, Australian, English, and German citizens were encouraged to grow their own produce, in their back yards, and in public common areas. It was seen as a way to boost rations, and morale. After all, everyone knows the mental health benefits of digging around in the soil and watching something grow from seed. Here's some pics of my 2020 victory garden, and I'd love to see yours, too! What are you hoping to grow over the next few months? I would love to be a resource if you need any tips or tricks!

Communities Coming Together

It's no surprise that Portlanders are rallying to support each other during the pandemic, from delivering groceries and medicine to vulnerable neighbors, to sewing masks for our emergency responders. We're also supporting our favorite local businesses, and working to keep artists and the service industry peeps afloat. It's easy to get overwhelmed and wonder,Ā "Well, what can I do?"

I'd recommend finding one area of focus, and sticking to that. Here's your chance to apply your skills and resources to help others in need. Are you an amazing sewer with a fat stack of fabric? You can learn to make masks with a tutorial,Ā here. My talented sister has already been knocking these out (see pic!), and gifting them to those in the medical community - so proud of her!

Are you looking to stay better connected to your local community, and maybe help an elderly or vulnerable neighbor in need? Now's a great time to join your localĀ Buy NothingĀ group, if you haven't already, and get to know your neighbors!

While being online right now can be a little scary (it's hard to avoid bad news right now), it's also proving to be very successful in what it was originally designed to do - bring us together, keep us informed, and provide us with access to information and resources. Find your niche, and get to work! I bet it will lift your spirits as it has mine to serve my community.

Quarantine Diary


I'm so, SO thankful to not be stuck home alone right now (and sending lots of love and digital hugs to those who are!), because you're never really alone when you have a cat. My kitties, Gus and Sufi, have provided so much comfort. I've been cooking more than ever (and freezing portions for those days I just don't want to cook), taking lots of walks in this pretty spring weather (and keeping my distance!), working out at home, playing guitar, and de-cluttering and CLEANING. There are silver linings to this situation we all find ourselves in, and from what I see, everyone's doing their best to get by. Truly no pressure on this front, but if you feel you may want to list your home this year, why not take advantage of home time (if you get anything done, cough, looking at the hero parents out there with kiddos, I realize this is NOT possible) and knock out some to-doā€™s around the house if you can. Just an idea. We can do a virtual walk through via Facetime if it would help organize your game plan! Please let me know how or if I can help you during this time.

Important Resources & Links

View My Scout Realty Co. Profile

Interested in receiving my listings and blog posts as soon as they go live? Subscribe to get automatic weekly updates from my site right in your email inbox.

Opt-In To My Auto Email List
View the Web Version of this MailChimp Email
Posted in Company Updates, E-Newsletters and tagged

Leave a Comment