Battle Creek Times

Among the many changes that COVID-19 has brought are changes to the housing market in Calhoun County. 

The Battle Creek Enquirer says that selling homes in Calhoun County has become even more difficult than it was before the virus began to spread. That is partially because the real estate industry has had to adapt to the challenges brought about by the coronavirus, such as stay-at-home orders and potential buyers being afraid to visit homes in person. 

Judy Jordan, president of the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors, told the Battle Creek Enquirer that although realtors have had to make some big changes, but they will be prepared for another situation like this one, should it happen in the future. 

Real estate agents were, in fact, unable to show homes for a period of time, due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home restrictions. Closings were also being altered, as in-person meetings were no longer desirable.

Zillow, an online real estate database, states that the median home value in Calhoun county has increase 7.3% year-over-year and was at $128,836 as of March 31. But there are fewer homes on the market this year. There were 375 on the market at this time in 2019, but there are only 228 this year. 

Two reports — one Gallup poll and a study by OJO labs — reported that 49% of respondents believe it is not a good time to purchase a home and 80% of buyers have delayed or stopped their housing search, reported the Battle Creek Enquirer.

Joe Sobieralski, president and CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, told the Battle Creek Enquirer that people are beginning to show signs of being interested in buying again. 

"I am optimistic on a lot of fronts that commercial real estate is going to be different in smaller markets like Battle Creek," Sobieralski said. "People's habits are going to change, maybe residential [real estate] is a lagging indicator if the theories hold true that there is going to be a movement of people from large metropolitan areas.”