COVID-19 RESOURCE HUB
Resources to Help You Conduct Business During this Period of Uncertainty
During this time of uncertainty, it’s important to stay positive – and well informed. To help you stay current with business best practices, while navigating the constantly-changing environment, we’ve collected the following resources. Whether you’re focused on the safety of your buyers and sellers or you are looking to improve your social networking while social distancing – these resources provide strong counsel to keep you productive, purposeful and positive.
Helpful Articles and Resources on Reopening
- Reopening Plan Vital for Brokers to Avoid Liability
- COVID-19: Workplace Re-Entry Checklist
- Making Your Workplace COVID-Safe
- Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTOR Association
- FAQs for Professional Standards Enforcement During COVID-19
Helpful Articles and Resources on Vaccination
Midwest
New England
CARES Act
- New and expanded Small Business Administration loan programs for small businesses, including real estate agents
- Relief for businesses with existing SBA loans
- Expanded unemployment benefits
- Retirement account withdrawals, free of penalties
- Tax deferrals and benefits for self-employed individuals and independent contractors
- Family Leave and Sick Leave protections
Check out these resource links for more information
- Two Winning Paths to a PPP Loan
- Coronavirus Advocacy FAQs: RE Transactions, Independent Contractors, NAR Grants
- Congress Grants PPP Extension
- The Intersection of SBA Loans and Unemployment Assistance
- Coronavirus: SBA CARES Act FAQs
- PPP Forgiveness Application
- Coronavirus Emergency Loans – Small Business Guide and Checklist – U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs – CARES Act and FFCRA
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – NAR
- Overview of the CARES Act
- Details and Analysis of Relif Options – CARES Act and FFCRA
- Apply for Relief Money – Boefly
- Applying for a Loan? Advice from NAR
- 5 CARES Act Takeaways From “Good Morning RE/MAX’
- Locate a Paycheck Protection Program Lender Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
- SBA Express Bridge Loan
- Comparison chart from RE/MAX LLC
- CARES Act Relief Programs
- Boefly CARES Act FAQs
Get Support and Apply for a PPP Loan
Update to the EIDL Loan – March 29th, 2020
On March 29, 2020, following the passage of the CARES Act, the SBA provided small business owners and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 with the opportunity to obtain up to a $10,000 Advance on their Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The Advance is available as part of the full EIDL application and will be transferred into the account you provide shortly after your application is submitted. To ensure that the greatest number of applicants can receive assistance during this challenging time, the amount of your Advance will be determined by the number of your pre-disaster (i.e., as of January 31, 2020) employees. The Advance will provide $1,000 per employee up to a maximum of $10,000. Find more information on EIDL loans here.
Broker/Owners – When applying for a loan, you will be asked for our franchise code/number. You can find the codes for each region below. To find your code based on your region, visit our Broker/Owner MAX/Center card.
We know you might be struggling right now. Visit the links below to see what relief is available for you to help you during this time of uncertainty.
Relief for you and your business
- 7 coronavirus-related client concerns and how to respond to them
- Building a business as a Latino entrepreneur
- How to Find Out When Your Stimulus Check will Arrive
- Federal Disaster Loan Assistance
- Impact of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” on NAR Members
- State Chamber of Commerce and Real Estate Association COVID-19 Resources
- Economic Inquiry Diaster Loan (EIDL) Applicataion Deadlines by State
- Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs – CARES Act and FFCRA
- Overview of the CARES Act
- Details and Analysis of Relif Options – CARES Act and FFCRA
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief. and Economic Security Act – NAR
- Coronavirus Emergency Legislation: What REALTORS. Need to Know – NAR
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act: Provisions for REALTORS and Their Consumers
- COVID-19 Financial Relief Stimulus Package Passes Senate: Industry Responds
- COVID-19 Relief: Industry Collaborates on Advocacy Efforts, Regulatory Changes
- Vermont: COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Businesses
- Massachusetts: COVID_19 Resources & Guidance for Businesses
- Massachusetts: Guide for Reopening
- Connecticut: COVID-19 Important Information
- New Hampshire: COVID-19 Business Resources
- Rhode Island: COVID-19 Disaster Loan FAQ
- Maine: COVID-19 Relief Loan Programs
- Wisconsin: COVID-19 Business Resources
- Minnesota: COVID-19 Business Toolkit
- Indiana: COVID-19 Resources
- Indiana: Back on Track
- Indiana: SBA Gudiance – Paycheck Protection Program
- Information specific to independent contractors on page 11
Unemployment Benefits by State
- Connecticut Unemployment
- Maine Unemployment
- Massachusetts Unemployment
- New Hampshire Unemployment
- Rhode Island Unemployment
- Vermont Unemployment
- Minnesota Unemployment
- Indiana Unemployment
- Wisconsin Unemployment
Goverment Websites by State
Educating and Engaging Clients
During this uncertain time, clients want to hear from you. As isolation and working from home becomes the new normal, we all have a need to feel connected. Check out the resources below and how you can continue to be of service to your clients.
Relief Information for Homeowners
Some states are offering relief programs for homeowners. Check out the resources below and do your due diligence to see if your state is offering any relief programs you can send to your clients.
- Your Guide to Affordable Housing – Bankrate Article
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act: Provisions for REALTORS and Their Consumers
- Homeowners Insurance and COVID-19: Relief Options and Considerations for Our New Reality
- FreddieMac Response to COVID-19
- IRS Tax Payment Extension
- Credit card issuers offer cardholders relief amid coronavirus outbreak
- Federal Reserve Provides Stimulus – Including for Housing
- FHFA: Mortgage Help for Homeowners Impacted by the Coronavirus
- Freddie Mac: Extending Help to Homeowners Impacted by COVID-19
- Bankrate: List of banks offering help to customers impacted by the coronavirus
- Federal Reserve Board announces the establishment of a Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) to support the flow of credit to households and businesses
- Fed Cuts Rates to Zero as Coronavirus Knocks Markets
Federal Updates
- 3/29 FEMA Extends Grace Period for Flood Insurance Renewal Premiums
- 3/23 FHA Authorizes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Support Additional Liquidity in the Secondary Mortgage Market
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans Now Available
- 3/18 HUD Suspends Foreclosure & Evictions on Single Family Homeowners with FHA-Insured Mortgages for the Next 60 Days
- IRS Extending Federal Income Tax Payments to July 15, 2020
Tips for Conducting Your Business Virtually
Now is the time to embrace technology and learn new ways to run your business virtually. We have collected a variety of resources from all over the web to help educate you on how to run your business in a virtual world.
Tips for Working Remotely
- RE/MAX Virtual Tools
- Marketing Digitally: what’s available and how can it impact my business?
- Customize Your Own Community Response Video
- 100% Virtual Transaction: How to Navigate From Lead to Close
- Approved Suppliers that help your business run remotely
- Agents: When it Comes to Mortgages, Step Up and Overcommunicate
- 5 Ways to Stay Productive While Working From Home
- Tips to Run Your Business During Unusual Times
- 3 Tips to Sharpen Your Image on a Video Call
- Safely Work Remote – Remote Worker Security Information
- Resources for Continuing Business During COVID-19
- Selling A Home During Unusual Times
- Webinar Recording – how to use Zoom
- The Live/Work Space: Making It Work
- How Real Estate Agents Can Create A Live/Work Space Fit For A Boss
- Setting Up for Remote Work Amid a Health Crisis
- 6 Tips for Creating the Perfect Study Space for Your Kids
- Zoom Backgrounds RE/MAX Branded – RE/MAX LLC
- Featured Listing RE/MAX Branded Zoom Background
- How to Create Your Own Zoom Meeting Background
- Free Zoom Accounts for Every Brokerage and Agent
- To access click Zoom tile in MAX/Center for details
Working with Your Clients and Team
- 7 coronavirus-related client concerns and how to respond to them
- Tips to Train Your Team Virtually
- Working Remotely With Your Team and Your Clients
- Zoom Virtual Backgrounds – RE/MAX Branded
Virtual Open Houses
- RE/MAX Exclusive: Free Virtual staging from Box Brownie
- Tips to host a virtual open house
- Open House Guidance During COV-19 – NAR
- Vis-home: more than just a floorplan
RE/MAX Europe Articles and Tips
Protecting Your Communities
In this uncertain time, it’s more important than ever to focus on protecting your buyers and sellers. The resources cited here will help you identify best practices suggested by industry professionals.
- RE/MAX LLC COVID-19 Resource Center
- What is a COVID-19 Clause (and should you have one in your contract)?
- 7 coronavirus-related client concerns and how to respond to them
- Sellers Adopt Showing Procedures to Minimize Coronavirus Spread
- Selling your home during unusual times
- Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTORS®
- What Buying a Home Looks Like This Spring
- Resources for Continuing Business During COVID-19
RE/MAX Branded Safety Supplies
- RE/MAX Branded Sanitizing KIts
- Face masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Safety tools
- Social distancing tools and signage
- Online tours
The Rules and Regulations in Place in Your Backyard
- Massachusetts: Guide for Reopening
- Vermont: Information on Governor Eases Stay Home, Stay Safe Guidelines – April 17th
- Vermont: Addendum to Executive Order – April 16th
- Transaction Guidance During COVID-19
- Greater Boston Real Estate Board
- New Hampshire Realtors: Coronavirus Updates
- COVID-19: Updates from RI REALTORS
- Maine Association of REALTORS: COVID-19 Updates and Resources
- VAR Update: Guidance for Real Estate Closings in COVID-19 Era
- Connecticut REALTORS: Important COVID-19 Information
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: Temporary Emergency Order – Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement and Non-Essential Entry By Property Owners and Their Agents
- Indiana: Back on Track
How to Keep Your Business Moving
- Same Goals, New Strategies
- Tips to Successfully Run Your Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Be Calm, Be Human and Be Successful
- Reach Out and Coach Someone
- How to Talk About COVID-19 in Your Real Estate Newsletter
- Daily Facebook Live Events: How to Adapt in Uncertain Times
- Right Now Is the Time to Up Your Social Media Game
- Real Estate Recruiting—Right Now!
- Daily RE/MAX University Webinars
Continuing Productivity
This is a great time to work on boosting your productivity skills.
- Post-pandemic Preperation with Brian Buffini
- COVID-19 Real Estate Lessons from Italy
- Broker Coaching Facebook LIVEs in Facebook Plus One Group – every day at Noon ET
- 7 tips for running your business
- Resources to use right now
- Social media and marketing tips
- New Tools, Training, Financial Support to Assist during Outbreak
- Approved Suppliers that help your business run remotely
- How Agents Can Keep Busy While Social Distancing – REM
- Keep Your Business Humming With the Perfect Home Office
- 3 Ways You Can Simplify A Profitable Real Estate Business Plan
- Be Social Savvy: Social Media Best Practices Guide
- How to Use Facebook to Attract More Clients
- 5 Ways to Stay Productive While Working From Home
Podcasts and Webinars
- Webinars from LLC at Noon
- Recorded RE/MAX Webinars
- Webinar: A New Listing Game
- Webinar: How to Build Business for Consistent Income
- Webinar: Run Your Business Like a Million-Dollar Agent
- Webinar: Turn Your Business Plan Into an Action Plan
- Facebook Live Events for Running Your Business During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- Now We’re Talking Real Estate Podcast Series
Uniting as One Network
The power is in the network. Today, more than ever, it’s imperative that we lean into our RE/MAX community and help one another get through this uncertain time.
- Together. we rise: RE/MAX Affiliates Come Together to Thank Frontline Workers in New Video
- RE/MAX INTEGRA Donates $100,000 to food banks
- What is a COVID-19 Clause (and should you have one in your contract)?
- RE/MAX LLC COVID-19 Resource Center
- Post-pandemic Preparation with Brian Buffini
- COVID-19 Real Estate Lessons from Italy
- Customize Your Own Community Response Video
- 100% Virtual Transaction: How to Navigate From Lead to Close
- Together we will rise above – RE/MAX LLC Video Campaign
- Navigating Coronavirus – thoughts from CEO Adam Contos
- Adam Contos Message to US Affiliates, March 30th, 2020
- Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs
- RE/MAX Press Release
- A Message to the Network from CEO Adam Contos
- New England Success & Growth Stories
- Midwest Success & Growth Stories
- RE/MAX INTEGRA Brokers/Owner Group
- RE/MAX INTEGRA, US Facebook Page
- RE/MAX Creative Group – get creative inspiration
- #atHOMEtogether
- #atHOMEtogether Creative Files
- How to continue with your business during this challenging time – RE/MAX Europe – Video message from Michael Polzler
Industry Articles
You’re not alone. We as a real estate industry are in this together. See what NAR and other publications are saying during this time.
NAR Articles
- Guidelines to Reopen America -PDF
- A special message from NAR president
- NAR: A Guide for REALTORS
- NAR Urges Swift Passage of Remote Notarization Bill
- Homeowners Facing Hardship Get Mortgage Payment Leeway
- NAR Research and Statistics
- NAR: Get the Right Tools, Right Now to Guide Your Business in This Uncertain Time
- Applying for a Loan? Advice from NAR
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Market Statistics
- Minneapolis Area Realtors Market Data
- Minnesota Realtors Housing Reports
- MIBOR Market Insights
- Indiana Association of Realtors Housing Data
- Wisconsin Realtors Associaton Housing Statistics
- Maine Association of Realtors Home Sales Stats
- Vermont Association of Realtors Market Reports
- New Hampshire Association of Realtors Market Data
- Massachusetts Association of Realtors Market Data
- Connecticut Association of Realtors
- Rhode Island Association of Realtors Statistics
Industry News
- Minnesota: MNR COVID-19 Video Update – Bob Clark
- RISMedia – Conronavirus: Real Estate Resources
- How Record Unemployment Claims Will Affect the Housing Market
- National Association Of Realtors Survey Shows How Coronavirus Has Started To Impact The Real Estate Market
- Mortgage Applications Drop as Coronavirus Infects the Housing Market
- Mortgage Rate Madness: They’re Up, They’re Down, Where Will They Land?
- The COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts on Real Estate Transactions
- A Ray of Hope in Dark Times
- A Special Message From NAR President Vince Malta
- A New Normal: Current Events Will Shape How Real Estate Operates
- Coronavirus: How Brokers Are Responding and Adapting
- The State of Housing: Experts Discuss Global Influence, Trends, Coronavirus and Other Challenges, and Potential Solutions
- How Coronavirus Affects the 2020 Real Estate Market
- Coronavirus Will Shrink US Home Prices By Two To Three Percent Nationally, Zillow Forecasts, But Deeper Dive Could Be In Store – CNBC
- The Housing Market Faces Its Next Crisis As May Rent And Mortgages Come Due – The Washington Post
- As states Reopen, Homebuyers Rush Back Out, But Sellers Are Staying On The Sidelines – CNBC
- As More Renters Stay Put, Apartment Retention Breaks Records, But Revenue Suffers – HousingWire
Skype
- Free tier can host up to 50 people in a meeting with no time limits
- Audio/Video Calling with Screen Sharing and Call Recording
- They boast End to End Encryption
Cisco Webex
- They have recently upped their Free tier
- Unlimited meetings for up to 100 participants
- No duration limits
- Audio/Video Calling with screen share and recording
Google GSuite
- This is the biggest bang for your buck since you’re actually signing up for a full suite of office products and people might already be using it to manage their email and office suites
- $7.80/Month
- Includes: Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Office Suite with Drive Storage
- You can port your custom domain over
- Google Meet Supports
- Up to 100 Participants
- Audio/Video Calling with Screen Sharing and Call Recording saved to Drive
Zoom
The world is virtual and we are all #AtHomeTogether. We have compiled a folder of social shareable you can use to connect with your network and share helpful information with your clients.
- Assure Point of Care COVID-19 Testing (rapid in-home testing)
- Order Branded Social Distancing Materials for your Office
- RE/MAX INTEGRA Updater
- Staying Safe at Open Houses Infographic – Virtual House Infographic
- #atHOMEtogether – creative files
- Consumer social shareables
- Zoom backgrounds
- RE/MAX is THERE one-page brochure
- This one-page brochure can be emailed to your clients to show them how they can still buy and sell safely with RE/MAX, because RE/MAX is THERE
As a Broker/Owner navigating these times can be difficult. We want to equip you with the resources you need to help run your Brokerage during this time of uncertainty. Tune into our Pivot webinar series that features Broker/Owner discussions on how to navigate your business during this uncertain time and how to respond to incoming media inquiries.
RE/MAX Europe Broker/Owner Articles
Access the resources here.
A new Window to the Law video, posted at nar.realtor, offers tips on creating an office reentry and vaccination plan.
Businesses should devise a multi-faceted and phased approach to the workforce’s re-entry to the workplace, which takes into account guidance, regulations, and orders issued by federal, state and local governments and agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and The White House.
Many brokerages are considering reopening workplaces to workers, clients, and the public as the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope against the pandemic. But with more than 1,500 workplace safety lawsuits related to coronavirus exposure since the start of the pandemic, a COVID-19 reentry plan is necessary to keep your workplace safe and reduce your brokerage’s risk of liability.
ABOUT THE RE/MAX INTEGRA RESOURCE HUB
As a result of the COVID19 pandemic we are in an unprecedented healthcare and economic crisis. The measures to control the pandemic and reduce the spread of the virus have put extraordinary pressure on our industry.
In order to assist our network to maintain operations as much as possible and as much as currently permitted, RE/MAX INTEGRA has gathered resources in a resource hub (Resource Hub) for your convenience and reference. The materials in the Resource Hub are made available for you to consider using in your brokerage operations. The materials that are included in the Resource Hub are not mandatory, and whether you use them is your decision. RE/MAX has not vetted these materials and cannot guarantee that they are appropriate or that they conform to the applicable legal requirements in your municipality or state. It is your responsibility as a Broker/Owner to ensure that the materials and procedures that you put in place are reasonable, appropriate, and conform to the applicable laws, regulations, and public health guidance.
You should pay particular attention to any of the materials in the Resource Hub that apply to in-person meetings or home showings as these activities have the greatest likelihood of contributing to the spread of the COVID19 virus. We strongly recommend that you check in frequently with your local public health officials as guidance on in-person contact has changed frequently and it may vary based on where you or the home being sold is located. As a reminder, all open houses, door knocking, card and pamphlet drops, and face-to-face meetings must cease until further notice.
You should also be monitoring the news and other sources of official updates for instructions from local and provincial governments in the event that in-person meetings of any kind are prohibited by law including as a result of an order made pursuant to a state of emergency.
The materials in the Resource Hub are provided for the use of RE/MAX Broker/Owners and Agents only and are not to be shared with anyone outside of the RE/MAX System.