What Fair Housing Won't Let Your Agent Do For You

The Fair Housing Act governs what real estate agents can and cannot do for their clients.

When buyers merrily hop into a real estate agent's car to tour homes, the last thing on the buyer's mind is whether the agent will refuse to honor specific requests. The buyer knows what she wants. It might be a home in an upwardly mobile, transitional neighborhood, perhaps near her church, in an area known for residents who practice a certain faith. Or maybe the buyer prefers a neighborhood predominantly populated by young marrieds with children. The buyer has her own thoughts about what she wants, and she expects her agent to fulfill those desires by showing homes that fit those very specific descriptions.

Doesn't sound unreasonable, does it?

The bad news is that a real estate agent can't fulfill any of the above requests. Not any reputable agent, anyway, who doesn't want to break the law . . . read more about Fair Housing Act.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• Agents vs. Realtors
  
• Full-Service Real Estate Agents
  
• Who pays the Real Estate Agent?

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