(OP here) I did scout out some apartment complexes in late February and pretty much settled on one in particular.
I was psyching up to try to make the move in April, but the current pandemic erupted (in USA, anyway) about the time I was flying back. I was planning to try iBuyers or an investor for a quick sale to let someone else deal with the hassles of getting the house prettied up, but real estate in general is in a huge moment of uncertainty and iBuying in particular seems to have shut down hard.
In addition, dealing with people for home sale, moving, apartment acquisition, etc. is not social distancing.
Now I'm figuring on staying put at least another month and more likely 2-3 or more. Given that I'm retired and have a cash cushion, and that presumably contractors have less business, I'm considering getting the house fixed up myself. (Well, paying others to do it.)
I have a vague worry about whether apartment complexes may run into troubles during these times, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I have to just sit and wait and watch on that front. The complex I chose in particular has a building or two vacant right now as they're converting 3-bedroom units to two 1-bedroom units. They were to become available in April.
do you want to consider renting out your home and using that income to rent other places?
Not sure who that was aimed at, but I've repeatedly decided I don't want the bother of being a landlord. I keep getting tempted because my mortgage is much lower than rent would be, and my house is well-located for all sorts of working families in a more or less recession-proof area, but I just don't want the hassle, especially since I'm moving 2200 miles away.
I'd much rather have the equity (tax-free in my situation!) in my
pocket investment accounts.