05/06/2026
๐๐ถ๐ด ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐: HUD Issues New Guidance on Crime and School Data
For years, real estate professionals have been told to stay silent when clients ask, "Is this a safe neighborhood?" or "How are the schools here?" We have always taught that answering these questions directly could be flagged as "steering" under the Fair Housing Act.
That just changed. A new letter from the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) clarifies that real estate agents do NOT violate the Fair Housing Act simply by discussing crime prevalence or school quality. HUD is now encouraging the free flow of truthful, non-racial information to help families make informed decisions.
https://www.hud.gov/sites/default/files/hudclips/documents/AS-Trainor%27s-DCL-on-Neighborhood-Crime-Data-and-School-Quality.pdf
๐ฏ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
1. ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ "๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ": answer questions without bias or with the intent to steer. Be truthful - address FACTS not imoressions
2. ๐
๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Tell everyone the same thing. Use the same source. Share with everyone regardless of any protected class status.
3. Lean Into Your Role as the Expert: HUD explicitly noted that homeowners pay commissions for our expertise. Don't be afraid to be the "community expert" again. Sharing statistics about local safety or academic performance is seen as a value-add that helps clients find "safe and decent" housing.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ง๐: HUD is prioritizing your First Amendment rights and your client's right to information. You can be helpful, be an expert, and stay compliantโall at the same time.
