The coronavirus has brought the real estate market to a virtual halt, but Realtors remain optimistic that business will rebound once the dust settles from the pandemic.

Home sales and real estate agents took a hit with the COVID-19 prevention stay-at-home order.

“It's already been a heartache on some people and putting people in a financial bind,” said Realtor Chuck Swidzinski, whose Berkshire Hathaway team operates in Butler.

When Gov. Tom Wolf initially ordered social distance practices, real estate companies were asked to not have meetings and show homes in person.

Swidzinski said his team tried to do virtual tours by having the seller take video of their home or using FaceTime to show the buyer around the house.

Wolf later revised his order to include a stop to any new business practices performed by real estate agents. Swidzinski said he and his team are working on closures, but not doing anything new right now.

“Our hands are tied,” he said.

Swidzinski said the stoppage has been hard on his clients, especially sellers whose situations vary. He said it has also affected the many people who work in the industry.

“Now because of the stimulus plan, my assistants are still being paid through the next few months through the company,” he said.

Swidzinski, a member of the Butler County Association of Realtors, estimates about three-quarters of the more than 400 members are full time in the job, making it their primary source of income.

Ron Huber, the association's president, works as a Realtor and member of the Carol Tomayko team of the Remax Alliance Realty in Zelienople.

“If there's one thing we've learned, we certainly have a lot of people who are not opposed to facing challenges,” Huber said. “For the most part, I think our membership has remained optimistic.”Huber said it's likely that when the dust settles from this pandemic, it may take a week or two, but business may see a boom.“I think we'll probably see a pent-up demand,” he said. “The one factor or indication that will dictate that is how quickly people go back to work.”Huber said he believes virtual tours and technology will have a further significance in the sale of homes.“I think going forward, now more than ever, we're going to see a larger push on having quality photographs, better descriptions and 3D walkthroughs that will be an essential part of selling a property,” he said.Huber said his members were surprised by the social mitigation policies, but many have taken them seriously and complied with the state's orders. He said they share the same goals with the state in wanting to keep their neighbors and communities safe.“It's certainly a challenging time and like so many other industries, I think we'll learn to adapt and change and do the best that we can,” Huber said.For Swidzinski, social distancing is crucial to keeping his family safe. His parents are 89 and 90 years old. He said social distancing can work, and it is crucial to keeping at-risk people, such as his parents, safe.“We're keeping them safe, and I have a friend who has cancer, and we're keeping them safe,” Swidzinski said. “For the next 30 days, people need to suck it up.”