Update: PA Shuts Down On-Site Appraisals for Residential Real Estate Contracts Entered Into After March 18, 2020

On April 10, 2020, the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of State provided revised guidance with respect to the permissibility of appraisal, notary, title, and home inspection activities pursuant to the Pennsylvania governor’s order of March 19, 2020, which closed non-life-sustaining businesses.  The guidance clarified that for residential real estate contracts entered into after March 18, 2020, all in-person inspections, appraisals, final walk-throughs, and title insurance activities are prohibited until Pennsylvania’s Emergency Disaster Declaration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been lifted.  The original guidance, issued on April 8, 2020, had applied to residential real estate contracts entered into after March 6, 2020.

With respect to contracts entered into prior to March 18, 2020, in-person activities that are permitted—subject to certain social distancing parameters—include inspections, appraisals, final walk-throughs, and in-person title insurance activities.  In addition, any real estate business that can be accomplished remotely is also permissible.