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Across Pennsylvania, consumers are being denied the basic ability to obtain shelter. Since the state’s business shutdown, Gov. Tom Wolf has deemed real estate a non-life sustaining business, which has caused a significant hardship for Pennsylvanians. We were shocked to see the governor continues to fail to recognize the need for consumers to buy and sell their homes. The phased reopening of the state still restricts more than half of Pennsylvanians from buying or selling a home and creates chaos in the real estate marketplace.

Real estate services are being conducted safely in nearly every state across the country, yet Pennsylvanians are being denied the ability to purchase shelter where they want to live.

Bordering states have all adopted safe procedures to ensure that their citizens are able to work with real estate professionals to buy and sell property.

The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors has been advocating to make real estate a life-sustaining business. We believe, like most other states, that real estate professionals can safely conduct business for their clients.

Two bills have been introduced in the state House and Senate, which would allow real estate to reopen across the state with proper safety procedures in place. We commend those legislators who have supported this legislation and recognize that real estate is a necessity.

We are not suggesting a return to “business as usual.” We recognize that the environment has changed and real estate professionals are ready to adapt to make these changes.

Every Pennsylvania Realtor has stories of clients who’ve endured hardships because the state’s shutdown has severely curtailed the practice of real estate. Gov. Wolf needs to immediately reopen real estate on a statewide basis.

Terry Solomon August

President

Luzerne County Association of REALTORS