Questions Your Real Estate Agent Can’t Answer
The job of a real estate agent is to guide you through the process of selling or buying a home, but do you know the questions you can’t ask your agent to answer? If your agent deflects your questions regarding neighborhood information, don’t mistake their actions for lack of knowledge when they might just be following the law. As licensed professionals, real estate agents must abide by certain rules and regulations. These rules are designed to protect the integrity of the sale as well as all parties involved. One such law would be the Fair Housing Act that was put into to action to prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap.
Questions Your Agent Can’t Answer:
“Which schools are ‘the best’ in the area?”
Asking your agent to describe the different area school systems and what schools in the area are considered to be ‘the best’ is a big no-no. If an agent answers this question they are guilty of steering your opinion. To find out more information about area schools, do some research on your own; there are great websites out there designed specifically to inform new residents about each school.
- Check out: http://www.greatschools.org/ to see how area schools
rate nationwide.
“What is the main religion in this neighborhood?”
The decision to purchase a home should be made based on the property’s fair market value. If you’re interested in the religious services available in a neighborhood do a Google maps search for religious structures in the area of question and see what is available. (Example search: house of worship in Albany, NY)
“Does this block have a lot of children?”
Your agent can’t single out neighborhoods based on the age of area residents. If you’re looking for older neighbors consider moving into a community that is designed specifically for people age 55 and older. If you are interested in getting to know your potential neighborhood make sure you drive by the property throughout different points during the day and throughout the week; this will also give you an idea of the traffic or street parking situation.
“Can you tell me what the crime rate is for the area?”
If you’re interested in crime statistics, you may like to visit the following two sites for information:
- http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/crime/
- http://www.familywatchdog.us/(this site is a National sex offender registry website)
“What is the average household income in this neighborhood?”
Interested in what your potential neighbors are making? For median household value, median household income, and a brief description with information about the neighborhood in question visit this site:
“Has this property ever been the site of a landfill?”
Your agent might not know the answer to this question. For information regarding past and present environmental concerns in your area visit the EPA’s website that lets you search by zip code.
