Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor

"Is this a 'safe' neighborhood?"  That question puts a Realtor^® in a bind.  I really want to take care of my clients. I want them to buy in a community where they feel safe.  I want to meet and exceed their expectations.

Yet, if I answer that question directly with a "yes" or "no", I will be violating a federal law.  The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits me from steering a client away from a neighborhood or toward another one.

That prohibition is even written into the buyer agency contract and the listing contract we must use--they require both agent and client to not discriminate against certain classes of people.

I go further and just say to my clients that we won't discriminate against anyone.  To sellers I say, "If someone has the money, they can buy the house."  To buyers, I say, "If you want a 'safe' neighborhood, you have to tell me which neighborhoods seem safe to you.

For instance, in the buyer agency contract is a provision that relates to "Megan's Law": "If the presence of a registered sex offender is a matter of concern to Buyer, Buyer understands that Buyer must contact local law enforcement officials regarding obtaining such information."  This recognizes that I cannot perform the search for my buyer clients. To do so, and to imply that an area is "safe" or "not safe" by my answer would be a violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Fortunately in this instance, technology comes to the rescue.  You can ask local law enforcement officials about registered sex offenders.  You can also go to an internet site, familywatchdog.us, and see where they show such persons living near you.

I help my clients as much as I possibly can by providing a link to familywatchdog.us on my website.  You can always find it by clicking the button on the left panel that says, "Helpful Links".  It helps you stay safe and me stay legal.