Things Your Real Estate Agent Can’t Tell You

Using a real estate agent is a great way to ensure you’re navigating the buying or selling process with ease. They can help you set the right price, negotiate on your behalf, and give you access to exclusive listings that aren’t publicly available. However, as licensed professionals, there are certain things your agent simply cannot tell you due to legal and ethical restrictions. Don’t worry though — while they can’t directly offer this info, here’s how you can uncover it yourself.

1) “This area is great for young families!”

This might seem like a harmless comment, but it’s actually illegal. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 protects family structure, meaning your agent cannot comment on the demographic makeup of a neighborhood based on family status. Saying things like, “This area is perfect for young families” could imply that other family structures are less welcome, which is a violation of fair housing laws.

How to find out yourself: If you’re interested in a family-friendly area, use Google Maps or other online tools to explore the neighborhood. Look for local schools, parks, or playgrounds. These are good indicators that the area may cater to families with young children.

2) “You don’t want to live in that area. That’s where the [nationality, gender, age group] live!”

An agent cannot tell you to avoid a neighborhood based on the demographic makeup of its residents. They can’t say things like, “This is where a certain group of people live,” as it could influence your decision based on protected classes such as race, gender, or age.

How to find out yourself: You can learn about the demographics of a neighborhood by checking out the US Census Bureau’s website. It provides detailed data on age, gender, and ethnicity, often broken down by zip code. This allows you to make your own decision based on hard facts rather than stereotypes.

3) “Are you sure you’re interested in that area? It’s pretty high crime.”

Crime rates are public information, but agents can’t directly advise you about the crime in a neighborhood due to potential implications about race or ethnicity. While well-meaning, discussing crime statistics could inadvertently lead to assumptions about the racial makeup of an area, which is prohibited under fair housing laws.

How to find out yourself: There are several resources online to look up crime statistics, such as MyNeighborhoodUpdate, CrimeReports, SpotCrime, and NeighborhoodWatchDog. You can also visit local police department websites, as many offer crime mapping tools that allow you to see detailed crime data by location.

Buying a home is emotional and one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make. While your agent can’t directly provide all the answers, there are plenty of ways for you to get the information you need and make an informed decision.

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