But, as Consumer Reports explains, with a little creativity and flexibility, this could be the right time to buy! If youre secure in your job and you have some savings, its actually not a bad time to buy. Mortgage applications have declined by 35 percent since the first week of Marchwhich may mean there are fewer buyers in the market right now. But the question remains: How can you shop for and perhaps even buy a home while social distancing? The irony is that the real estate market has been actually moving toward a sort of remote or digital experience for years.