Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have been working with a realtor to help me find a home to move to in Greensboro. I am moving from out of state. Among the listings he sends me every day via email, one interested me but I have no inkling as to the nature or quality of the neighborhood. I am only looking at low-priced houses as that is all I can afford, but as a single woman I want it to be a reasonable quality neighborhood, and most of all, safe.
I wrote to my realtor and inquired about this property, and told him about my safety concerns as my reason for asking. He simply wrote back with the telephone number of the police department, virtually telling me to find out myself. He also said he googled the area (which I can -- and DID -- do on my own) and could not find anything.
I like these realtors, but I feel like, as "relocation specialists", they should be doing more for me than just robotically sending me an automated listing of houses for sale.
If this is all the help I can expect, then fine, I will stay with them. But if there is a realtor who can do more to help me, I will get out there and find one. I am very frustrated with this level of service.
Am I just expecting way too much in a realtor, "relocation specialist?"
According to fair housing law the realtor cannot advise you as to the safety of a neighborhood. They can only provide you with facts provides by another source (aka police dept) and you must make an educated guess. So, he is helping you the best he can. But of course you can inquire here, non-realtors are not bound by such laws. Also, here is a link to the most recent Greensboro Crime maps of Greensboro:
Hi,
I'm in a similar situation, currently situated overseas. The Greensboro Police crime maps that d_Random provided links for have been the only source for neighborhood safety info in map form that I've been able to find. However, here are some other useful links:
for larger cities, including Raleigh & Charlotte,this next link provides good info, but unfortunately only vague info on Greensboro neighborhoods. at the bottom of the page is a neighborhood crime index. note that (downtown) Greensboro is about 1.5 the national crime rate (probably not bad for a city) while the Gorrel st. area is about 3 times the national rate. However, my understanding is that within these neighborhoods there can be very safe as well as unsafe areas. Crime Statistics for Southside, Greensboro, NC - REALTOR.com
According to fair housing law the realtor cannot advise you as to the safety of a neighborhood. They can only provide you with facts provides by another source (aka police dept) and you must make an educated guess. So, he is helping you the best he can. But of course you can inquire here, non-realtors are not bound by such laws. Also, here is a link to the most recent Greensboro Crime maps of Greensboro:
Man, isn't that just the kicker? When our own safety comes second to others making a buck. Now that part of the law, well it really, really stinks. I want to know who I need to talk to about changing that bit of crapola!!!
Man, isn't that just the kicker? When our own safety comes second to others making a buck. Now that part of the law, well it really, really stinks. I want to know who I need to talk to about changing that bit of crapola!!!
I would suggest calling your state legislator.
I don't understand how 'others making a buck' fits into the law. Are you saying the realtors are 'making a buck' from this law? How, pray tell?
According to this (http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hrc/fairhousing.htm - broken link) site, crime statistic disclosures aren't mentioned (that I found, but I just scanned the document), but it may be covered by another law.
(c) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for a person to induce or attempt
to induce another to enter into a real estate transaction from which such person
may profit:
(1) By representing that a change has occurred, or may or will occur in the composition of the residents of the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located with respect to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or familial status of the owners or occupants;
or
(2) By presenting that a change has resulted, or may or will result in the lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the quality of schools in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located.
so much for the average person's right to be informed!
A realtor cannot answer questions such as "is this a good neighborhood" because a good neighborhood to one person is not the same as another. It's a vague question, and unfortunately generally related to the racial makeup of a neighborhood. So we don't answer questions like that- it's code for "what's the racial makeup" and it can and will be seen as a violation of Fair Housing Law. I don't touch that question.
And Crime statistics are where we would get the information anyway.
Honestly, if you like a particular house, call the police department non-emergency number and ask for the captain's office over that street. It will be in one of 5 zones for the city of Greensboro. Then get the full report as an excel file emailed to you for, say, the last year. Then you will know as much as an agent will know.
Man, isn't that just the kicker? When our own safety comes second to others making a buck. Now that part of the law, well it really, really stinks. I want to know who I need to talk to about changing that bit of crapola!!!
It is not about "making a buck." It's about being fair to all. Period. Fair Housing laws are put in place to help, not to hinder. If you don't like your agent not answering questions about the racial makeup of a neighborhood, good luck finding one that will because it's a violation of federal law. Again, a "good neighborhood" question can be interpreted lots of different ways. I have refused to work with people who have asked direct questions about racial makeup of neighborhoods. Because a) I believe in fair housing, b) I like my job and my license and c) I have a family to support.
My only question is this - why is it so bad to want to be around others like ourself? Think of gas prices if you want. Instead of having someone simply tell me where I can find a neighborhood group of people who share the same interests as I do, I have to drive around the entire 3 or 4 counties trying to find the perfect neighborhood on my town. How much money is that costing me in gas every week? Plenty!
Let me just give you an example.
Let's say I am Hispanic, but I would really like to be around other ex-Cubans who share a lot of the same religious holidays and ways to celebrate. Doing so, will help me get my child in school that we like because I'm around people who have "been there."
Or, let's say...I'm European and like being multicultural and do not want the STIGMA of obviously separated neighborhoods. Which neighborhoods are benefiting from the law? Who is commesurating???
The thing is, the last thing I want is racial separation. So see my point is, in the same way this law is attempting to protect the "rights" of everyone, it is also discriminating against those who DO wish to mingle, so to speak. And where's the harm in that?
I apologize if my earlier post sounded like I was accusing realtors singularly for "wanting to make a buck," but I do suspect it has something to do with selling homes that otherwise would not be sold to a better informed consumer. Does anyone really disagree with that? That's ok if you do, but hey, this is how I see it. Someone feel free to persuade me, because I certainly don't want to overlook the big picture, if I'm not already seeing it.
I do understand both sides.....at times people ask because they want to be with a specific race and other times its because they don't want to be around a specific race......
Its hard.....I guess for other info you can also check the school reports they also give the breakdown of ethnicities.....if that is important to you.....
but as a person who worked in real estate for 9 years here on long island it is the same and the agents truly aren't allowed to steer clients one way or another.....even if it could be in their best interest.....
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
philso
I want to know who I need to talk to about changing that bit of crapola!!!
"good" neighborhoods
