Since COVID-19 shut down the U.S. economy in March of 2020, the state and federal governments have been trying to pick up the pieces. The virus’s high rate of contagion forced businesses to close their doors and citizens to remain in their households. For some businesses, this meant working remotely for the time being, while others were hit especially hard and have had to make difficult decisions regarding layoffs, furloughs, and even closing their doors for good. Without a steady income, Americans everywhere have struggled to make ends meet, especially when it comes to paying costly rent and mortgage bills.

Flash-forward six months later and legislation is continuing to be made to avoid mass homelessness across the country. Florida has seen an exceedingly high number of positive cases and the state has closed and reopened a few times since March. With 623,471 positive cases and 11,331 deaths in Florida alone at the time of this writing, Governor DeSantis has recognized and addressed Floridians’ financial difficulties in the midst of the pandemic. Foreclosures and evictions are on the horizon for many Floridians, but Gov. DeSantis continues to put off the inevitable for many.

Despite COVID-19’s impact on the U.S. economy, the housing market has not come to a stop. Since a high number of Floridians have lost their jobs or taken a pay cut in the last six months, many of these individuals are looking to downsize and reduce their mortgage payments. Additionally, some Floridians have begun to recognize the risks that large cities can pose on its inhabitants, choosing to move outside of these urban areas and avoid forced close quarters. And for those who refuse to let COVID-19 put their life on pause, there is no time like the present to start fresh. Regardless of the reasoning behind moving or deciding to purchase your first home, making such a large purchase can be exciting and intimidating. The home buying process involves much more than simply finding the right type of floors or cabinets. From finding a property to completing the closing process, working with a real estate attorney is your best way to be prepared every step of the way.

Find the Right Professionals

It is never advisable to take on the house hunt and legal home buying process without the help of reputable professionals. Your first step is to find a real estate agent who understands what you are looking for and is familiar with the area in which you are looking to move. A well-experienced real estate agent will be able to help you find a property that fits your financial and personal needs in a reasonable amount of time. A mistake that many first-time homebuyers make is attempting to find a property on their own, spending months or up to one year looking for places to live. Although it is helpful to see a number of properties before deciding on one, the process can sometimes make homebuyers feel overwhelmed. Once you have found a property that you are interested in, hire a reputable real estate attorney to help you with the remainder of the legal process.

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, states have begun to make their own decisions regarding reopening after months of mandatory stay-at-home orders. Florida began its reopening process earlier than most and has seen a spike in its recorded cases. The state had its record high of cases on June 16, with 2,783 COVID-19 cases confirmed in a single day. With that state’s popularity as a vacation hotspot, some say that the reopening is happening sooner than it should. Florida may have begun to reopen its public spaces, but regulations remain in place to assist those struggling to pay their rent or mortgage to avoid a high number of evictions or foreclosures in the midst of a pandemic.

Financial Assistance

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the first housing executive order in early April, with an initial timeline of 45 days. According to the order, no mortgage foreclosure actions can be made for the time being. This also extends to renters who are late on rent payments. Landlords are unable to evict you from your apartment or house due to late payments during this time. However, the order strictly states that this cannot be construed as relieving homeowners or tenants from paying their mortgage or rent. Since the pandemic has lasted much longer than the 45 days allotted by Governor DeSantis, he has extended the order to last until July 1, 2020. Although the order may not completely relieve Floridians of their housing costs, it does allow them more time to earn and produce their mortgage costs or seek out additional help through loans or other means.