Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us. We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 (known as the coronavirus) and its impact on our community. This page will continue to be updated with resources to keep you informed. You can also check out NAR’s Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTORS®.
If you have any other concerns or needs, please reach out to us! We are here for you, and we’re all in this together. Thank you for being a Chicago REALTOR®.
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COVID-19 Policy
Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us. Following the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), State of Illinois and City of Chicago, we will no longer require proof of vaccination, negative COVID-19 tests or masks for in-person events, meetings or classes, effective immediately. We will continue to comply with CDC Guidelines for COVID-19 and reserve the right to change these guidelines.
Licensing & Education
Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to the Chicago Association of REALTORS®’ Real Estate School. We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 (known as the coronavirus) and its impact on our community. RRES complies with all CDC rules and regulations. We are continuing to host online and webinar courses through RRES.
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Chicago Vaccine Information
- The City of Chicago has created a vaccine resource website with information for you.
- Click here for Chicago’s Vaccine Finder website to get information and schedule your appointment. Please note that proof of residency will be required for all first dose appointments at City-supported sites beginning Monday, March 29, with the exception of the United Center. Pharmacies and healthcare providers have been asked to prioritize Chicagoans and current patients.
Cook County Vaccine Information
- Click here to access Cook County’s vaccine resource website.
- Click here to get information about scheduling a vaccine appointment through Cook County.
State of Illinois Vaccine Information
- Illinois has a COVID-19 website with information for you.
- Check out their vaccine FAQs.
- Make an appointment at one of the State of Illinois’ providers.
ConnectMLS Adds Field For Virtual Open House Information
UPDATED May 13: You asked for the ability to add virtual open house showing information in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this feature will be a permanent part of listing options available to brokers.
MRED now has a new virtual open house feature for your listings in connectMLS. A “Live Stream” field now appears in the “Tour/Open House” section of add/edit. Select “yes” in this field to input a link to the online tour or open house via Zoom, Facebook, Webex, etc.
You can also now search by tour type in Search > Tour/Open House, and virtual tour information is available on Property Detail Reports. MRED is syndicating the “Live Stream” field to third-party vendors; however, this does not guarantee any particular portal will display this information.
Learn more, by watching this video.
Can Notarial Acts Be Performed Remotely?
Does Illinois allow remote online notarization?
Yes, Senate Bill 2664 was enacted and takes effect when rules are adopted. Under the new law, Illinois Notaries can notarize for signers in any location, but the Notaries themselves must be physically present within the state at the time of the act.
How do remote online notarizations work in Illinois?
In Illinois, remote online notarizations involve digital documents and electronic signatures. The signer logs onto a RON platform and must prove their identity by remote presentation of an ID, credential analysis and dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA) assessment. Alternatively, the Notary may use personal knowledge to verify the signer’s identity.
The Notary asks the signer if they understand and are willing to sign the document. Then, the Notary checks the document for blanks, completes the notarial wording, attaches an electronic stamp and attaches a digital certificate containing their electronic signature.
The notarization is complete when the Notary records a journal entry and saves an audio-video recording of the transaction.
What Resources Do You Have For Property Owners
The resources at this link provide property owners with assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.
A new Protect Your Investment brochure is available from NAR designed to help homeowners who are struggling to meet their loan obligations. Protect Your Investment offers guidance on working with trusted professionals like REALTORS® and housing counselors at HUD-approved agencies. The brochure also provides information about payment options offered by lenders and tips for avoiding scams. The Protect Your Investment brochure is also available in Spanish.
See also NAR’s Protect Your Credit brochure.
Check out this Apartment Therapy Q&A article about buying and selling during the pandemic – this is an excellent resource for you to share with your clients.
Who Can I Give A Sentrilock One Day Code To?
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the switch for many to virtual business, we’ve received quite a few questions about Sentrilock lockboxes. We put together a short FAQ to help clarify confusion about one day codes and who can be given access.
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Guidance For Workplace Vaccinations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently published updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccines. In anticipation of the wide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, associations and brokerages should begin thinking about and crafting COVID-19 vaccination policies. Here are the important takeaways from the guidelines:
- Employers can require that employees receive the vaccine before returning onsite.
- Employers may be required to make exceptions to a mandatory vaccination policy.
- Employers should require employees to obtain the vaccination offsite.
- Employers can require employees to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
- Employers can require all individuals who come onsite to provide proof of vaccination.
- Employers can require attendees at in-person events to provide proof of vaccination.
NAR suggests that brokerages should create a clear communication plan that “informs employees of the terms of the policy, including information on vaccine supply, payment for the vaccine, timelines for receiving the vaccine, consequences for non-compliance, and other practical issues such as whether employees will be excused from work to get the vaccine. Employers should work closely with human resources and legal counsel to develop a policy, in evaluating accommodation requests to the policy, and before disciplining or terminating any employee for non-compliance with a mandatory vaccine policy.”
Find out more information and next steps on NAR’s site here.
NAR recommends you consider establishing a cross-functional COVID-19 Task Force, with representatives from across the organization, including human resources, legal, and facility operations, to prepare and monitor the re-entry of the workforce, as well as the evolving circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Their checklist provides an overview of some of the key considerations the COVID-19 Task Force should consider when developing the organization’s plan for the workforce’s re-entry to the workplace.
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Financial Assistance & More
According to NAR research, nearly two-thirds of NAR’s membership obtain their health coverage through a spouse’s employer-sponsored health plan, Medicare, or a health plan purchased in the Affordable Care Act’s “individual” market. Ten to fifteen percent, however, remain uninsured.
NAR recognizes that the COVID-19 national emergency presents additional challenges, particularly to members and their families’ health and well-being, as the Nation continues to weather the public health and economic storm. Congress and the Administration recently responded with a number of public policy changes to help bolster health insurance plans and ease requirements for more individuals to obtain treatment and insurance. Click here for a high-level summary of these changes, what COVID-19-related medical services may be covered, along with helpful links and resources on these benefits.
- Working Credit is an organization that can help provide you with assistance on how to navigate your personal financial situation and help you make decisions that will be best for your financial wellness in the long term. If you have specific questions or need advice, visit their website.
- Operation Hope provides financial emergency preparedness and recovery assistance through their Hope Inside Disaster Program to individuals, families and businesses, either directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
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City of Chicago Coronavirus Updates
The City of Chicago is putting out regular COVID-19 updates. Access the latest here.
City Hall is closed effective March 20, 2020, and will remain closed until further notice. Visit their website for more information and resources.
State of Illinois Coronavirus Updates
The State of Illinois is putting out regular COVID-19 updates. Access the latest here.
Our Advocacy Efforts On Your Behalf
The Chicago Association of REALTORS® is working on your behalf to ensure your interests are represented at each level of government during the COVID-19 crisis. Things are changing quickly, so we’ve put together a list of resources and answers we currently have. We’ve also noted the questions to which we are still actively seeking answers. Check back to this page regularly for updates!
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Pandemic Guide For Real Estate Managers
IREM has put together a guide for real estate managers to help you through the pandemic. Click here to access.
IREM has also put together resources on COVID-19. Access them here. If you have any questions or thoughts on IREM’s “From the Front Lines” series, please reach out to Brian at bflozell@irem.org or Denise at dfroemming@irem.org.
What You Need To Know About Evictions
- UPDATED September 15, 2021: Governor Pritzker’s office announced it will extend the state’s eviction moratorium until October 3.
- UPDATED August 27, 2021: The Supreme Court has ruled to end the CDC’s eviction moratorium. Find out more here.
- UPDATED August 2, 2021: The City of Chicago has released information you need to know about the COVID-19 Eviction Protection Ordinance. Check it out here.
- UPDATED May 3, 2021: Governor Pritzker has extended the eviction moratorium another 30 days until May 29.
- UPDATED April 6, 2021: Governor Pritzker has extended the eviction moratorium another 30 days until May 1. Continuing from the executive order from March 5, landlords must deliver to tenants a declaration that tenants may then execute and deliver back to landlords to trigger the protections of the moratorium. Find out more here.
- UPDATED March 9, 2021: Governor Pritzker has extended the eviction moratorium to April 3. He also signed a new order stating that if, after the filing of an eviction action, a tenant delivers an Illinois Tenant Declaration to the landlord, the landlord may only continue with the eviction if the tenant:
- Poses a direct threat to the health and safety of other tenants, or
- Is an immediate and severe risk to the property.
- This clarification allows emergency evictions to continue even if a tenant is a “covered person” under the executive order. Click here for more information.
- UPDATE February 10, 2021: Governor Pritzker announced that the eviction moratorium would be extended until March 6, 2021.
- UPDATE December 14, 2020: Governor Pritzker announced on Friday, December 11 that the eviction moratorium would be extended another month until January 9, 2021. The modifications include specific language regarding a minimum of 5-day notice for eviction actions. Also, the order specifically prohibits an eviction action against “a tenant who does not owe rent” and an exception is offered. However, this means an eviction action against a tenant with an expired lease but current with rent payment may not commence.
- UPDATE November 14, 2020: Governor J.B. Pritzker, seeking to “balance the rights of tenants and landlords,” issued Executive Order (EO) No. 2020-72, extending the moratorium on initiating and enforcing residential evictions, with some amendments. As with all prior executive orders, this one is in effect for 30 days, until December 13. Find out more here.
There are currently three overlapping eviction and foreclosure moratoriums effective in Chicago.
- The County moratorium covers all Chicagoans and currently lasts through at least May 18
- The State moratorium also covers all Chicagoans and lasts through the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and prevents the actual execution of evictions. The Governor’s executive order extending the eviction moratorium also prohibits “commencing,” as well as carrying out, residential evictions.
- UPDATE July 23: The moratorium has been extended to August 22.
- UPDATE September 16: The moratorium has been extended until November 14.
- The federal moratorium passed in the CARES Act covers HUD-supported housing and housing with federally-backed mortgages, and lasts for 120 days (through July 25).
- The federal eviction moratorium restricts lessors of covered properties from filing new eviction actions for non-payment of rent, and also prohibits charging fees, penalties or other charges to the tenant related to such nonpayment of rent.
- The federal eviction moratorium under the CARES Act does not prohibit the filing of cases that were filed before the moratorium took effect or that are filed after it sunsets, that involve non-covered tenancies, or where the eviction is based on another reason besides non-payment of rent or other fees or charges.
CAR endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge in April. The pledge states that Chicago’s leading residential housing lenders and landlord associations stand with all Chicagoans by affirming they may provide deferred payments and other relief for eligible renters and mortgage borrowers who demonstrate a significant financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the pledge.
CIC & The Preservation Compacts COVID-19 Resources For Owners & Tenants
The Community Investment Corporation and The Preservation Compact have compiled relevant resources that may be helpful to building owners and tenants during the COVID-19 health pandemic. Access them here. With so much discussion around rent payments during COVID-19, the National Apartment Association has released a video explaining the breakdown of $1 of rent. Watch it here.