BRR's Coronavirus Response

BRR’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Dear BRR members,

This page was created as a resource for REALTORS® and community members and will be updated from time-to-time. Please check back often and reach out to us directly if there is something we can help you with.

Thank you and be well.

Becky Enrico Crum, 2022 BRR President
becky@andyenrico.com | 208-336-8880

Breanna Vanstrom, BRR Chief Executive Officer
breanna@boirealtors.com | 208-947-7228

 

Disclaimer: The guidance shared from BRR, IR, or NAR related to COVID-19 is just that: guidance based on our most conservative interpretations of local, state, and federal protocols and guidelines. Real estate agents should seek additional guidance from their brokers, and brokers should seek advice from their legal counsel about their options under all applicable orders and guidelines. The decision to continue with any in-person activities is at the discretion of each agent as directed by their clients and based on guidance from their brokerage. BRR, IR, NAR do not have the authority to prohibit or restrict real estate brokers from practicing real estate during an emergency, but remind members to make all business decisions in relation to their duties to the public, clients and consumers, and to other REALTORS® under the Code of Ethics, as well as their obligations under all local, state, and federal orders and guidelines.

Resources for Property Owners, Tenants, and Landlords

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, TENANTS, AND LANDLORDS


Mortgage Forbearance Information

The information contained in the following links ONLY applies to mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Contact your mortgage servicer directly (the company to which you send your check or auto payment to each month) for guidance.

Do NOT stop or reduce your mortgage payments without first having written confirmation to do so by your mortgage servicer (the company to which you send your check or auto payment to each month). Missing payments or sending partial payments without prior approval will harm your credit.

DO NOT reply to any emails or phone calls from companies offering mortgage assistance or forbearance, even if they claim to be from your servicer. Call your mortgage servicer directly at a phone number that you know is correct, or reach out through their secure email portal, if you need assistance.

 

RENTAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

Renters, DO NOT stop or reduce your rent payments without first having written confirmation to do so by your landlord. For renters seeking relief, the best first step is to talk to their landlord. The non-profit Jesse Tree can help renters who aren’t sure how to discuss their hardship with their landlord, or, if they need additional assistance. Jesse Tree can be reached at 208-383-9486 or jessetreeidaho.org/rental-assistance. Another resource that may be helpful for renters is the Intermountain Fair Housing Council’s Navigating COVID-19, Tenant Guidance. [PDF]

Landlords, DO NOT stop or reduce mortgage payments on your rental properties without first having written confirmation to do so by your mortgage servicer. If you are receiving rental payments, tax credits, etc., from a federal, state, county, or city agency, or a non-profit organization, please contact them directly with questions. Jesse Tree can also help landlords who aren’t sure how to access resources available to them or their tenants. Call 208-383-9486 or visit jessetreeidaho.org/landlord-resources.

BRR encourages landlords to work with tenants who need assistance, especially if there is no mortgage on the property, if the property’s mortgage goes into forbearance, or, if you are approved for any kind of loan/payment assistance as the property owner.

Resources for REALTORS®

RESOURCES FOR REALTORS®:

Real Estate Declared an Essential Service

Idaho REALTORS® did a tremendous job ensuring that real estate remained essential across the state, by working closely with the Governor’s office as they were crafting the initial stay-home order; and BRR reached out to all cities and county commissions in Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties, to share the same message, so that any local orders were in line with the state. Read the joint letter from BRR and the Idaho Mortgage Lenders Association here.

Legislative successes like these would not have been possible without the ongoing support of those who invest in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC). See the list of major investors here, and feel free to reach out to any one of them to learn how RPAC helped to ensure real estate remained essential during this time, allowing REALTORS® in Idaho to continue to work and serve their clients.

Fair Housing, Code of Ethics, and COVID-19

BRR received the following question from a member, and we reached out to Zoe Ann Olson, Executive Director of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council (IFHC) for clarification: “My client requested no children present during showings due to concerns about COVID-19. Is that allowed under Fair Housing guidelines?”

Response from IHFC: “With any housing transaction, it important to remember that as a housing provider or real estate licensed professional, the client and the housing provider cannot discriminate on the basis of familial status or any other protected class. COVID-19 hits everyone, regardless of age or protected class or socio-economic background.  Families bring children to showings to make sure everyone loves the house. I understand the concern, and if the seller is worried, they might consider doing virtual tours for everyone.  All parties during a transaction should have CDC health standards in place such as wearing gloves, masks and wiping down areas before and after a showing especially if one must be done to complete the sale. No one should show or attend a showing if sick. But that general policy should be understood, and no one should inquire into the nature or severity of one’s health as it may be construed as disability discrimination.”

Additional Resources and Member Benefits

Community Support and Information

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RELATED INFORMATION

If you or someone you know needs assistance, here are some tips and local resources:

BRR is sharing these links for informative purposes and makes no guarantees regarding accuracy. If there is a resource or link that you think should be included here, please email pete@boirealtors.com.

Related Blogs/Information

Showing Guidance from IR and IREC

On June 3, 2020, Idaho REALTORS® (IR) and the Idaho Real Estate Commission  (IREC) emailed members joint guidelines clarifying agents’ duties regarding showings as we’ve heard some people have incorrectly…

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Open House Alternatives During Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Disclaimer: The guidance shared on this page is just that: guidance based on our most conservative interpretations of local, state, and federal protocols and guidelines. Real estate agents should seek…

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Idaho Rebounds Business Protocols and Open Houses

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Mortgage Payment Assistance, Financial Support, and Scam Warnings for those Impacted by the Coronavirus

Please note that this is the most up-to-date information we have at the time. Reach out to loan servicers directly for guidance, keeping in mind what forbearance could mean for…

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