How do I find out if I'm covered by the federal moratorium on evictions?
The Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as Fannie Mae, and the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., or Freddie Mac, have created online resources
for renters to determine if they're covered by the CARES Act. Fannie Mae's website
can be found here, and Freddie Mac's can be found here.
How can I find out if my state has issued an eviction moratorium?
Reach out to your local housing authority, or search online for the name
of your city or county, plus "eviction moratorium."
The National Consumer Law Center has compiled a list of state morato-
riums and housing actions related to COVID-19. Scroll through to find the
steps your state has taken.
Are rental tours happening
right now?
Physically walking through a rental
(or any home) to view it is riskier
now more than ever, but it is still
possible—with some precautions.
With proper social distancing,
masks, and hand sanitizing, having
an in-person showing can still be a
safe option. In WA King County spe-
cifically is currently in Phase 1 which
means that rental properties can be
shown with no more than 3 people
inside at a time (including the bro-
ker). As of the last week in June it is
also now mandatory for everyone in
public to wear masks, so that is also
required.
We are not conducting open houses
or showings en masse for the fore-
seeable future.
Should I rent a home sight unseen?
Renting a home sight unseen is not a new
concept, but it's not ideal. Thankfully, there
are a variety of workarounds online that will
give you a realistic feel for the rental.
Tools such as photos, online tours, and vir-
tual walk-throughs on FaceTime or Zoom are
the next best option to actually touring the
property and will give you a sense of the lay-
out and amenities.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. The
best way to learn about a property is to de-
velop a relationship with your future land-
lord. Just know that in Seattle there is a
first come first serve law, in that the first
applicant to apply that meets all minimum
standards must be given the option to sign
the lease. Too many questions that do not
directly affect the rental (or have very little
affect) prior to turning in your application
could cost you the property. For example, I
went back and forth with an applicant last
week over what day the garbage was picked
