How the COVID-19 outbreak impacts appraisals and closings

Life has shifted dramatically over the past few weeks. If you're in the middle of purchasing or refinancing a home, you may be wondering if it’s safe to move forward — especially if you need to schedule an in-person meeting.

While there is a lot of uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak, we’re doing everything we can to make sure you and those closest to you stay safe. All of our partners are following CDC guidelines for social distancing and we’re diligently working to adapt.

What we're doing

Things are changing quickly, but we’re working with industry stakeholders to look for alternatives to in-person appraisals and closings for some loans. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more about this potential option, but you can always reach out to your Mortgage Expert to see if you might qualify.

What our partners are doing

We’re working closely with our appraisal and signing partners to make sure everyone follows social distancing guidelines, including:

• Keeping at least 6 ft. between people
• Cleaning hands often
• Cancelling appointments if they feel unwell
• Cancelling appointments if they have been in contact with someone who’s ill

What you can do

Look for requests from notaries or appraisers before your appointment — these small changes in process are designed to help everyone stay healthy and safe. In addition to social distancing, please cancel your in-person appointments if you start to feel ill or have been close to someone who is. We know how uncertain everything is right now, and we’re making it flexible and easy to reschedule.

What to expect

We are closely watching changes to appraisals and closings at the county level as greater spread of COVID-19 often leads to delays. If that happens in your area, we’ll reach out individually to plan how we can move ahead.

This is new for all of us, but we’ve always believed that transparency, accuracy, and honesty are the best way forward. That’s no different now. We’re committed to keeping everyone informed as we learn more.

In the meantime, thank you for your patience. We’re wishing health and happiness for your home.