HAR’s proactive response to the COVID-19 outbreak garnered extensive news coverage in broadcast, print and online. 

HAR YPN 2020 Chairman Ricky Gonzalez was profiled in a Univision / Channel 45 (Spanish language television) story about COVID-19’s early effects on Houston area home sales and HAR’s efforts to make open houses and home showings safe through the use of virtual technology on HAR.com. The story aired in the evening news on April 16.

HAR Technology Advisory Group Chairman Thai Klam interviewed with KTRK-TV / ABC13 about HAR’s swift move to suspend the promotion of in-person open houses on HAR.com in mid-March and the subsequent use of online technology by HAR members to safely serve their real estate clients. The story aired on April 23.

HAR MLS Advisory Group Chairman Rob Cook gave a live interview during the morning news on KRIV-TV / FOX 26 News on April 24 about how Realtors have begun adopting virtual technology on HAR.com to responsibly and safely serve consumers in need of housing. He shared similar information four days later in an interview with KTRH / Newsradio 740, in which he also provided some of the earliest MLS data reflecting the sharp decline in home sales resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.

On May 1, Houston Chronicle real estate reporter Nancy Sarnoff reported that HAR had advised all Realtor members that in-person open houses would remain off HAR.com until the state’s second phase of openings takes place on May 18, and that Realtors must take all precautions possible in the meantime, including using electronic technology, to conduct day-to-day business. 

HAR’s March 2020 MLS Market Update – which reported on a positive month of sales despite the COVID-19 outbreak due to positive momentum throughout the first half of the month – generated coverage from mid- to late April in the following media outlets:

  • Bellaire Essentials
  • Community Impact Newspaper
  • CultureMap Houston
  • Examiner Newspapers
  • Houston Agent Magazine
  • Houston Business Journal (online and print editions)
  • Houston Chronicle (online and print editions)
  • Houston Community Newspapers
  • Houston Public Media / KUHF 88.7 FM
  • KHOU-TV / 11 News
  • KPRC-TV / Local 2
  • KRIV-TV / FOX 26 News
  • KTRH / NewsRadio 740
  • KTRK-TV / ABC 13 Eyewitness News
  • Realty News Report (RNR)

These stories and more are available in the HAR Online Newsroom at www.har.com/content/newsroom as well as in HARConnect.