Though real estate agents and brokers could not foresee how COVID-19 was going to impact the housing market, flight from cities to rural areas has resulted in a “booming housing market,” including sight unseen purchases.

“The market is hot,” said Billy Harris, a real estate broker at Beverly-Hanks and Associates.

According Canopy MLS (Multiple Listing Services), Transylvania County closed sales in July totaled 83 and rose 23.9 percent year-over-year, while pending contracts soared 58.8 percent year-over-year as 108 homes went under contract during July.

“New listing activity d...