ABoR ‘strongly discourages’ real estate showings

In a blow to the Austin area’s red-hot real estate market, the Austin Board of Realtors is recommending all of its realtor members suspend in-person real estate showings until further notice, an ABoR spokesperson confirmed March 26.

The announcement comes in the wake of the stay-at-home orders issued by Austin, Travis County and Williamson County that went into effect March 25.

“In reviewing the three existing orders, it’s our interpretation that showing activity may be allowed in Williamson County, but it’s clearly not allowed in Travis County and the City of Austin,” according to an ABoR announcement. The announcement is also on ABoR’s coronavirus page.

“While some markets may allow showing activity, this is not business as usual," the statement reads. "ABoR strongly discourages in-person showings at this time.”

ABoR said real estate closings that are underway can continue as normal.

The statement said that if circumstances require an in-person showing, they “strongly encourage showing only unoccupied properties.”

ABoR said the organization recognizes the impact to one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets.

“The sooner our industry is a partner in compliance, the sooner our lives can return to normalcy and our market will return to its robust state,” the statement said.