The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the ways people have conducted business, and some housing experts predict it will forever change real estate’s processes. Consumers likely will depend more on their real estate agent than ever before, Jennifer Anderson, a real estate pro in the San Diego area and an honoree in the National Association of REALTORS®’ “30 Under 30” class of 2014, wrote in a recent column for Forbes.com.

Before the pandemic, many real estate processes still required printed documentation. A digital transformation has occurred in the housing market as real estate professionals rushed to adapt how they showed and closed on homes while the coronavirus outbreak placed cities in lockdown.

“Even though most buyers will always prefer in-person walk-throughs, virtual showings offer a beneficial intermediary step for both buyers and sellers,” Anderson notes. “Technologies like augmented and virtual reality were a lifeline for the real estate industry during strict social distancing regulations.”

Anderson predicts more real estate professionals will adopt technology to digitize sales moving forward. With health and safety now at the forefront, buyers also will likely look to their agents for more information, such as in weighing environmental considerations or even more financial impacts since the pandemic.

Anderson predicts a move from high-density areas of the country to the suburbs and exurbs as consumers prefer more distance among neighbors. She also foresees an increase in second homes, as some find greater comfort in owning a home in a less populated location for domestic vacationing and security.

“COVID-19 won’t stop us from buying and selling homes, but it will change how, where, when, and why we buy,” Anderson writes. “By working with a forward-thinking agent and utilizing the latest technology, you can prepare for an uncertain future and make a smart investment in your long-term health and happiness.”

The growing trend of working remotely could untether Americans from office spaces in pricey areas and prompt them to buy homes elsewhere. Home sales in the suburbs as well as smaller, less expensive cities could see a boost that continues beyond pre-pandemic levels, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Some tech companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and Square, have already announced that they will allow select employees to work remotely full time. They expect half of their workforce to work remotely within five to 10 years. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says that about 75% of his employees have already expressed an interest in moving to a different city if they could work remotely.

The insurance company Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, has announced a permanent transition to working from home for some of its employees as well as a hybrid work model for others. That hybrid model includes working from smaller brick-and-mortar offices that will remain open.

The increased opportunity to work remotely could make it easier for workers who had been priced out of large coastal cities to move elsewhere to buy a home.

Younger generations have been purchasing homes at lower rates than previous generations. Less than 37% of people under the age of 35 owned homes last year, according to Census Bureau data. In cities like the Bay Area, where home prices are among the highest in the nation, many young adults have been priced out, even those earning high income.

Some of these young adults may be financially ready to launch into homeownership in a more affordable market, housing experts say. For example, the average age of a Facebook employee is 29 years old and their median pay as of 2018 was more than $240,000, according to data from Payscale. “Now could be the time for younger workers to start putting the matchmaking skills of online real estate platforms to the test,” The Wall Street Journal reports.

Hospital design and the food industry could teach the residential real estate community a lot when it comes to creating healthier space, says Bea Spolidoro, principal at FisherARCHitecture in Pittsburgh. A person’s home can have a physical and psychological health impact, Spolidoro told Forbes.com.

Spolidoro says homes can be designed to limit the spread of germs and bacteria with flatter, smoother surfaces that are easier to clean. Spolidoro recommends reducing seams in countertops, ensuring nothing can easily fall behind built-in cabinetry, and avoiding overly complicated designs in high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handles, buttons, operating parts, and railings.

Nonporous materials are easier to clean and sanitize, such as steel, quartz, and Corian. On the other hand, granite and other natural stone countertop surfaces are more porous and can allow for microbial spores to accumulate. Look for materials that have natural antimicrobial properties, such as copper and its alloys—brasses, bronzes, copper, nickel, and zinc, among others.

Also, proper ventilation is important in reducing the spread of bacteria, limiting the accumulation of pollutants inside and outside a home, which can affect those with respiratory problems. Several indoor air quality monitors can help track levels of pollutants. Additionally, outdoor air quality monitors can warn when windows should be closed. Air purifiers and even some indoor plants also can help improve the air quality inside a home.