Learn Expert Tips On How To Deeply Sanitize Your Home Against The Corona Virus That Has Claimed Many Lives

With coronavirus (COVID-19) affecting so many aspects of life, we’re all spending more time at home. The disease is also affecting the way we think about cleaning and sanitizing. It’s probably fair to say most people want their homes to look clean and smell fresh, but the focus now is on keeping the virus away from ourselves and vulnerable family members. We’ve put together a few tips on how to keep your home clean and as free as possible from infectious viruses.

Do daily cleaning and disinfecting?

First, before you start cleaning, the CDC advises you should wear disposable plastic gloves. Coronavirus can live on stainless steel and plastic surfaces for up to 72 hours. This is the reason why experts advise you to focus on faucet taps, doorknobs, and door handles, also known as “high-touch surfaces.”

Clean these surfaces first with soap and water. Then, follow up with disinfectant.

What qualifies as a disinfectant?

Experts want everyone to know that some popular cleaning solutions like vinegar don’t kill coronavirus. Alcohol, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide are all effective chemicals that do kill the virus.

Alcohol can be diluted to 70%, and household bleach should be diluted using the manufacturer’s instructions. Hydrogen peroxide can be used full strength. Alcohol wipes are effective in sanitizing and disinfecting electronics like keyboards and touchscreens.

Do you need to sanitize and clean the fabric?

According to the CDC, if no one in your house is infected with COVID-19, you can wash your clothing and other household fabrics as you normally do. However, if you’ve been out, you should remove your clothing and launder it as soon as possible. The virus is able to survive longer on plastic and stainless steel, so it could be present on buttons and zippers.

The CDC has another warning related to clothing and fabrics used by an infected person: don’t shake them before putting them in the washing machine. Shaking the items could disperse virus particles through the air. Washing clothing in a normal washing machine with detergent will kill the virus.

Other germs in addition to coronavirus can survive on towels and clothing, so laundering them regularly will help prevent infections in general.

Viruses have no way to move on their own. They make people cough so they are spread through the air. Sanitizing surfaces regularly can make your home safe from the coronavirus/COVID-19 disease.

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html

https://www.dailytargum.com/article/2020/03/rutgers-experts-explain-how-to-sanitize-homes-during-coronavirus-outbreak

The COVID-19 Outbreak Has Caused Zillow to Pause Its Home Buying Program: Find Out How This Can Have An Impact On Your Home-Buying Process

Online real estate service Zillow has a home buying program in 24 states. It stopped the program March 23, 2020 due to COVID-19. As the pandemic has continued, home buying and selling has been changed in every state, including ones with no “stay at home” or “shelter in place” orders

In California, after initial disruption due to COVID-19, by the last week of March, real estate was added to the state’s “essential business operations.” This meant that home sales can continue, but precautions are advisable. A survey conducted by the California Association of Realtors in mid-March found that 54% of its members saw a decline in buyer interest. Some sellers have also backed out of their sales due to COVID-19, but the overwhelming majority were staying in the market.

California real estate pros are working virtually

The California Association of Realtors requested that all of its members should cease open houses shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that all Californians should stay at home starting March 19, 2020.

Before COVID-19, 75% of California’s realtors weren’t offering virtual tours or sales, but now they’re essential. Virtual closings are possible too, and are being used to continue the buying and selling process.

What does this mean for your home buying or selling?

Count on working with real estate professionals using technology. From virtual home tours to conducting the sales and negotiation process online, you can complete a real estate transaction without personal contact. Using virtual signing methods can eliminate the risk of virus contamination.

Interest rates are low and helping buyers and sellers

After the Federal Reserve lowered its interest rate to zero, interest rates increased for about a week. Real estate professionals found that trend hard to explain, but interest rates have adjusted and as of April 1, 2020, were lower than ever for all mortgage products, from 30-year fixed-rate loans to 15-year fixed rate home mortgages and 5/1 ARMs. Refinancing mortgage interest rates are also low, and experts predict that there will be many opportunities to refinance in the coming months.

California’s economic experts predict that with the $2 trillion Federal stimulus bill, the real estate market will not suffer much due to the COVID-19 crisis. The state’s economy is expected to recover quickly once the stimulus takes effect and people are back to work when the crisis is over.

Sources

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/24/zillow-pausing-home-buying-through-zillow-offers-s.aspx
https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/california-real-estate-market-coronavirus/

With California’s Ever-Evolving Luxury Home Market: Is Now the Best Time to Look for Homes Up to $10 million?

According to Statista, single-family luxury homes in Los Angeles spent an average of 103 days on the market in the later months of 2019. Some industry insiders have predicted that 2020 will be a good time to buy a luxury home in Southern California, especially in the $2 million to $10 million range.

But the COVID-19 outbreak has influenced every segment of the homebuying market, including luxury homes. You can find homes with significant price cuts in many areas in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, including properties with prices cut up to 10% or more since mid-March 2020.

Some mortgage rates, like 30-year fixed-rate VA loans and 15-year fixed-rate VA loans, have decreased slightly following the Federal Reserve Bank’s lowering of its interest rate to zero on March 15, 2020. However, other mortgage rates, including conventional 30-year home loans and 15-year fixed-rate conventional mortgages, have increased even with the basic Fed rate being literally at zero. Even FHA mortgage interest rates have increased slightly, with approximately rate increases of .1 to .33% observed after the Fed slashed its rates on March 15.

So if you’ve been looking for a luxury home to buy, now may be a good time, especially in the $2 million to $10 million range if you’ve sold your home elsewhere. If you need a mortgage to buy your property, you will definitely want to work with an experienced home mortgage and a real estate professional to find the right home to buy. You do have a lot of choices right now and can look for the home you want in the right neighborhood, with the best mortgage deal. Virus fears shouldn’t affect your home search and mortgage process: every mortgage and real estate professional is working to conduct business virtually, including virtual home tours and signings.

Sources

https://www.statista.com/statistics/953484/days-on-market-luxury-los-angeles-california-by-type/