Fair Housing - Find Out for Yourself!

We, as agents, are sometimes asked questions that we are prohibited from answering under fair housing and ethics. We have been asked if there are any black families in the neighborhood (by a black family), are there a lot of children in the neighborhood, questions about crime statistics, religions, elderly, etc., etc., etc., just about every question in the book that a potential buyer may ask about a property and/or neighborhood. On the seller's side, we have been asked questions about potential buyers - their age, marital status, children, etc.

Since the Fair Housing Act of 1968, discrimination is no longer allowed in the realm of housing. It is illegal to discriminate against race, color, national origin, sex, family status, or disability. Agents are prohibited from "steering" clients into particular neighborhoods or situations. It is a harsh reality, however, that people discriminate on a regular basis in their own lives - a family with young children may want to live in a neighborhood with other young families with children - an elderly couple may not want to live in a neighborhood with a lot of young children - a family of a particular religion may not want to live in a neighborhood that is predominantly a different religion - same goes for race, same goes for gay couples, same goes for every different type of individual situation you can imagine.

As an ethical agent as well as an agent who wants their clients to buy the home they want, where they want it - we will explain the laws to the potential buyer (and as stated above, sellers as well). What we are not prohibited in doing is to suggest to the buyer to take the time to do their own homework - drive around the neighborhood during the day, the evening and on weekends - see if they feel comfortable with the makeup and the daily activities of the neighborhood themselves. There is nothing to stop a potential buyer from knocking on the neighbor's doors and introducing themselves as a potential buyer - asking whatever questions they would like, there's no restrictions on that!

You're going to make a large investment for a considerable period of time - it is in your best interest, if you are not familiar with the neighborhood to spend the time learning about it!

Don't rely on what an agent may or may not tell you - there are so many restrictions in that area you probably won't get much information anyway - Go find out for yourself, go identify that area you will settle into comfortably for a long time to come!