According to HUD, it is not longer taboo for Realtors to talk about crime. HUD Empowers Real Estate Agents to Better Support American Homebuyers:
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to real estate professionals clarifying they are not violating the Fair Housing Act when they share information with prospective homebuyers about neighborhood crime rates and school quality data.
“Buying a home is one on the most significant decisions a family will ever make,” said Secretary Scott Turner. “Americans should not be left in the dark about vital facts like neighborhood safety or school quality. HUD is making clear that real estate professionals can openly and lawfully provide this information in an equal and consistent manner to American families.”
In the letter, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor explains that unlawful steering under the Fair Housing Act requires intentional discrimination based on protected characteristics. Providing prospective homebuyers with information about school quality and crime data is not a violation when it is shared consistently without discriminatory intent.
Accordingly, Fair Housing Assistance Programs (FHAPs) should not issue discrimination findings solely because real estate professionals provide such information or answer nonracial questions on these topics in a consistent and unbiased manner. Likewise, Fair Housing Initiatives Programs (FHIPs) should not use federal funds to pursue complaints based on these same practices.
This overturns a long held practice of doing nothing more than pointing clients in the direction of police states as issued by local municipalities.
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