Realtors are a wealth of knowledge, but there are laws that limit what your real estate professional can share with you. In this week’s blog, I outline the key research that all buyers should do prior to looking for homes with a Realtor.

You’ve probably heard of the Fair Housing Act. This was enacted in 1968 to prevent housing discrimination based on protected class. As a reminder, protected classes are race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or family status. As a result of this act, there are several key pieces of information I cannot legally advise my clients on. Here are the top 3 questions I’m asked by every client that I’m not allowed to answer and how to find the information yourself.

1. What’s the crime rate or sex offenders in the area? This is the most common question I’m asked because everyone wants to ensure where they’re buying a home is safe. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be the one to reassure you about safety. However, by completing some simple online research yourself you can easily find this information. Here are my go to sites in Arizona: AZ Govt Crime Reports and National Sex Offender Registry
2. How are the schools? Whether you have children, are planning to have children or not, schools are incredibly important to picking the right house. Schools are often a key determinant of resale value of a home and the right school system can help protect your investment in an economic downturn. Overall, US News & World Report ranks Arizona as the 44th state for K-12 education…I probably don’t need to explain that’s not good. If you plan to enroll children immediately or in the future, you should ALWAYS visit the school in person to confirm they’re enrolling new students and tour the facility. The decision between public, private and charter is very personal. Visit this site for the Top Schools in Arizona. If you don’t plan on enrolling children in the near future then a quick search on the  AZ School Report Cards should suffice. 
3. What’s the neighborhood like? Most often this is referencing the age, race and religion of the area. For example, nobody wants to retire to a community full of college student renters with raging parties ’till all hours of the night, amiright? Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to tell you if that’s where you’ve chosen to search for homes. A lot of times the budget you set dictates your search area. The best way to find out if an area you can afford meets your needs is to spend time there! It amazes me how little time people spend in an area before buying.To get a flavor for the area in a hurry you should visit the nearest gas station, grocery store, mass market store (Walmart/Target) and dine at least three different nearby restaurants. There’s also nothing that prevents you from knocking on some neighbors’ doors for more intel. As long as their house isn’t for sale, there’s nothing stopping them from sharing all the neighborhood dish with you!

Just in case you’re wondering, the Fair Housing Act also applies to selling your home. Your agent cannot cater the listing or marketing materials to certain race, age, religion, etc…even if the seller requests it. This puts both the seller and the agent in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

If you’d like a free copy of my Buyer’s or Seller’s guide email me at [email protected]. They are packed full of all the useful information you’ll need to make informed decisions when the time comes to buy or sell your home.

Lindsay Fricks, Helping you, your family and friends Live and Love in Arizona!