Business as usual used to mean a commercial entity was carrying on in its normal way despite some interruption, whether it be fire, flood, or, as of this year, in the coronavirus and governmental executive orders.

Until late February or early March, some realtors were very busy selling properties. William Raveis Realty owner John Biondolillo said before COVID-19 plenty of Mainers were looking for new primary residences and plenty of out-of-state buyers were seeking properties in Maine. The firm also offers properties in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

Biondolillo said the first few months of COVID-19, prospective buyers never disappeared; there were just more of them than there were sellers. “The listings were tight to begin with and this year the number of listings in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are about half of what they were in 2019.”

Carol Buxton is not a realtor, but has been helping buyers find properties for decades. During those early months of COVID-19, business plummeted. “Basically what happened is interested buyers couldn’t get here because of the 14-day quarantine.”

“Honestly, through the end of February our sales were up 78% from the same time last year,” Biondolillo said. “Initially things dropped off March to May. A couple weeks ago I checked and we were up over last year – in all locations, but especially in Maine.”

Bruce Tindal, owner/realtor at Tindal & Callahan Real Estate, said sales were quite slow in March and April. “In May the action picked up and since June business has been strong.” he said.

Dennis Gleason, a realtor for Sotheby’s Legacy Properties, said it experienced similar inactivity that same time period, until April. “We were showing many properties. The Boothbay Playhouse was shown two to three times a day. Some of the (prospective) buyers had come up here in March, quarantined, and then came to viewings with a broker during April and May. “Inventory is very tight. More people are coming from out of state who want to find a foothold in Maine. In my experience these buyers are from urban areas. They want a place they can escape to.”

Gleason suspects the reason so few properties are on the market is homeowners are less comfortable having strangers in their house due to COVID-19 – even if prospective buyers and realty agents are wearing masks, booties and gloves.

To address their concerns, companies have used social media including Facebook and Zoom to show properties. Sotheby’s/Legacy Properties and William Raveis Realty also used the Matterport 3D data platform offering buyers walking tours of properties. Besides photos, the software creates a dollhouse cutaway of the rooms as well as walk-through doorways. Gleason said Matterport really helps people get a sense of what they want in a new or getaway home.

“It’s better if buyers can see the house in person. They may not like it so much if they buy having only seen the property online. We are seeing more and more face-to-face and I think that people have a sense of urgency and know how tight the market is. But we are still using Zoom, Facebook and Matterport with buyers.”

Tindal said his crew had been showing houses through video tours, live walking tours, or both. Realtors used their phones’ video features to view a property with the potential buyer on the line, to hear reactions and answer questions – always with realtors following state guidelines – wearing masks (and booties while they were still state-required).

In-person showings have been on the rise. Gleason attributes it to buyers and sellers becoming more relaxed about social distancing. Yet last week Gleason showed a property whose sellers required booties, masks and gloves; and nothing was to be touched.

It is a seller’s market, according to those interviewed. They noted they have seen multiple offers on properties, and reasonably priced houses have been going quickly.

“In 36 years I’ve never seen a market with such opportunities for buyers and sellers. The buyers have tremendous buying power because of the low (loan) interest rates; the sellers can sell with confidence because there is such a demand. I think now with those low rates people can come to Maine and find their dream home.”

Tindal said, “There is so much to do (in the Boothbay region) now. Forty-seven years ago when I first started selling real estate, the Y wasn’t what it is today; there were no land trust trails, no botanical gardens, the golf course was just nine holes .... but now this region has so much more to offer.”

Looking forward, Biondolillo believes, “In most areas in America the price ranges will continue to be incredibly strong.”

Maine Association of Realtors concurs with Biondolillo’s forecast, with one caveat. In the June report, President Tom Cole said, “With Maine’s economy opening up and historically low mortgage interest rates, we expect a steady recovery if the supply of for-sale inventory expands.”