HEATHER WITALISZ
WESTFIELD – Despite feeling the effects of COVID-19, local real estate professionals say there is still a market and properties are still selling, just in a different way.
Two local Realtors, Heather Witalisz and Lesley Lambert, say the health and safety of everyone involved in a transaction is paramount.
Witalisz, Realtor and managing partner of Witalisz & Associates, Inc., said the “health and safety of our families and local community is our number one priority” and they have adjusted their business model.
“Like most businesses, we are adjusting to this ‘new normal’,” said Witalisz. “Many of us in the local real estate industry are working remotely and leaning into technology in order to service our customers and clients. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is taking our current situation very seriously.”
Lambert is a top Realtor with Park Square Realty and said business is still moving forward.
“The real estate market continues to be fairly busy,” said Lambert. “Buyers are still out there looking and when new homes come on the market we continue to see strong and often, multiple offers.”
LESLEY LAMBERT
There have been fewer homes for sale in the Greater Westfield area recently, and Lambert said that trend is continuing.
“We have been experiencing an inventory shortage and it appears that is still the case,” she said. “Real estate has been deemed an essential job, but most of us remain working from home for the time being.”
Lambert said she does still go to homes but takes every precaution.
“When it is necessary to go out on an appointment, I am taking all of the social distancing guidelines into practice,” she said. “Much of a real estate transaction can be done virtually. Homes can be shown virtually through video and other technology, documents can be signed digitally, home inspectors can do a virtual wrap up after they complete the inspection, as a few examples.”
Closings are the biggest challenge facing buyers and sellers right now.
“One of the most significant impacts the coronavirus pandemic is having on the local real estate market is in navigating the closing process for pending transactions,” said Witalisz. “We are managing changing timelines for inspections and appraisals and we are adapting to new procedures for the acquisition of smoke certificates.”
Witalisz said the real estate community is working together.
“Our local Realtors are incredibly resilient and we are very fortunate to work with some of the best attorneys, mortgage officers and real estate partners right here in our city,” she said.
The stay-at-home order was given barely three weeks ago and the market has not yet been affected.
“In terms of Westfield market statistics, Q1 data for 2020 remains strong,” Witalisz said. “The number of single-family homes sales increased by about 36% compared to the same time frame in 2019. The average sale price improved by approximately 17.5% and the time on market for these sales were slightly shorter by. Factors attributing to these outcomes are lack of housing supply, strong buyer demand combined with historic low interest rates.”
Lambert said even during a pandemic, people still need to buy and sell homes.
“There are always reasons why people need or want to move and now is no different,” she said. “The way we handle the transaction is changing, but there are still plenty of homes being sold. As a real estate professional in the community for over 30 years, I am committed to finding ways to help people navigate this new terrain we face.”
Right now, with people ordered to stay at home as much as possible, having a home feels more important than ever.
“As we know, real estate is the one of the largest financial investments most of us will make in our entire lives,” said Witalisz. “It represents a huge financial as well as personal commitment. During these most challenging times, our homes are our constant. They are a safe haven. We are all in this together: Safe and strong.”
