Louisiana Officially Moves to Phase Two of Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana
LOUISIANA REALTORS • June 9, 2020
Gov. John Edwards has officially moved Louisiana to Phase Two
of the White House plan for reopening. Governor Edwards and Louisiana REALTORS® still caution members of the public and businesses to continue to take mitigation measures, such as wearing masks when in public, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 as more people will be interacting with each other.
The Governor’s order follows the White House plan for Opening Up America Again. The order is effective Friday, June 5th through Friday, June 26th. If Governor Edwards remains consistent and the conditions continue to improve, the Governor will likely make an announcement early during the week of June 22nd regarding the plans following the expiration of this order.
Major changes in Phase Two include allowing many more businesses to operate at fifty percent capacity with social distancing, masks for public-facing employees, and increased sanitization. In addition, the state strongly recommends that businesses consider offering temperature checks before a person can enter and posting the symptoms of COVID-19 outside with a request that symptomatic individuals not enter.
A second order outlines extensions of legal deadlines and other administrative matters. Specifically, administrative deadlines are suspended until June 15th, including evictions and foreclosure procedures. Legal prescription remains suspended through July 5th.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Health have issued guidance for churches and different types of businesses to help them enter Phase Two in a way that ensures they operate safely and at the maximum level allowed. Business owners can find information at https://opensafely.la.gov/.
The following businesses remain closed: carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, fairs, contact sports, children’s indoor play centers, arcades, trampoline parks, theme parks, concert and music halls, and other similar businesses. Live entertainment is not permitted inside any building or indoor function.
Louisiana REALTORS® still suggests you continue to exercise extreme caution in showing properties and holding open houses. The guidance Louisiana REALTORS® issued on May 15th
regarding office operations, open houses and possible changes remains the same today.
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on state and local tax (SALT) deductions . This guide explains federal tax law changes that temporarily quadruple the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that taxpayers can deduct and will make homeownership more accessible and affordable, especially for people in higher-tax states. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: Assistance Programs Real Estate Auctions Working with a Real Estate Attorney Making Your Home More Energy Efficient Buying a Historic Property Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on August 6, which will cover packing tips and tricks.
The Louisiana REALTORS® Board of Directors will elect six (6) LR At-Large Directors at its October 8th meeting. Qualifications and an application for the position can be found below.
From flood zones to hurricane season, Louisiana clients have big questions. Learn how REALTORS® can confidently respond with local insights that build trust and close deals.
