Information Your REALTOR® Can't Provide

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments a person will make in their lifetime. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone, you will have a trusted REALTOR® at your side. They will help connect you to other home professionals, provide data on the house and accompany you on showings. Some REALTORS® even go to extremes for their clients by pet sitting or helping you pack.

However, there are some topics they cannot help with. See below for some of those forbidden subjects.

Safety

This is one of the most common unanswerable questions, and while it can be frustrating for prospective homebuyers to get tight-lipped responses from their REALTORS®, they really aren't trying to give you the runaround.

 Professional, local REALTORS® are very familiar with the neighborhoods in which they work, but because of legislation called the Fair Housing Act, they legally can’t share neighborhood characteristics that aren’t related to the home’s physical characteristics.  

The Fair Housing Act was enacted in 1968, and according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development it “protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for any housing.” The prohibitions specifically cover discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or family status. In Michigan, housing discrimination is prohibited by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act and includes all of the federal protections in addition to age and marital status. In particular, this set of laws prohibits real estate professionals from steering prospective homebuyers toward or away from an area or neighborhood based on any of the classes under federal protection.

Commenting on a neighborhood’s safety could be interpreted as a reference to race or class, so most REALTORS® will wisely choose to direct buyers to do their own research.

To assess the overall safety of a neighborhood, you can visit the local police department for more information. In fact, Lansing Police Department just launched a mobile app this year and can provide this information and more to citizens.

Schools

Just like discussing the safety of a neighborhood, REALTORS® also can’t tell you which school system is preferred and which is “not so good.” Agents can talk about publicly acknowledged test scores, but to specifically talk about a school’s reputation could, again, be seen as discriminatory and a violation of the Fair Housing Act.

REALTOR® Erica McAvoy with Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood says in addition to legal ramifications, answering this question is difficult because it’s very subjective.

“What you consider a ‘desirable’ or ‘good’ school may not be what someone else considers a ‘good’ school,” she said. “I suggest that buyers visit the districts themselves...meet with the superintendent or other faculty and tour the facilities. That is really the best way to know if a particular school is the right fit.”

Neighborhood

Is it family-friendly? Are there many rental properties? Is it a quiet street? What are the neighbors like? When you are buying a home you are buying a lifestyle, and the neighborhood is part of that lifestyle. But if you want to know the demographics of your potential new neighborhood, you will have to find a source other than your REALTOR®.

“If you really want to get a feel for a neighborhood, drive by during different days and times,” said McAvoy. “If you see residents out and about, stop and chat with them. You would be surprised how forthcoming neighbors will be about their experience in the community.”

While their hands are tied when it comes to answering some of your questions, a good REALTOR® is a valuable resource who can direct you to the resources that will help you draw your own conclusions.

“When you are buying a home, it’s really a collaborative process between you and your REALTOR®,” said McAvoy. “As agents, there is a lot we will do to help you find that perfect home, but when it comes to the more subjective issues, the responsibility of research and education really falls on the buyer.”

If you are about to embark on your home buying journey, make sure you enlist the help of an experienced local REALTOR®. Visit the Greater Lansing Association of REALTOR®’s website at www.lansing-realestate.com to find a list of area experts.