Buying or Selling a Home/Racial "Steering"

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Expert: - 11/29/2009


Question
I am concerned that my realtor might be steering me away from preferable housing because I am not white.  I said "might" because I am not 100% sure.  He keeps sending me listings for areas that I told him I was not interested in.  The areas that do interest me have some homes within my price range, but I went to competing realtor sites to view them.  While browsing the internet I came across a term on this probable situation: Racial Steering."  Does racial steering still exist?  If it turns out that it is happening to me what can I do to stop it (if it is an industry-wide practice?  

Answer
Hello Jack - Please accept my apology for the delay. I was out of town and returned today. Unfortunately, racial steering probably does still exist. To answer your question I recommend a brief visit to the National Fair Housing website at www.fairhousing.org Also, the act of providing properties in areas that you did not specify would not in itself define steering, rather the opposite. If you new of properties for sale in your price range and these are located within the area that you desire, and the agent would not show you the homes in those areas then you may have reason to believe that something is wrong. In addition, real estate agents have no database of For-Sale-By-Owner properties or properties that are not listed with the Multiple Listing System. Another term is exclusively listed properties. These properties are those which are listed with a realty firm but the realty firm is not a member of the MLS or they are a member but the homeowner has requested the property is not to be listed in the MLS. There are few scenarios like the latter although the aforementioned is frequent. Usually the best course is to just ask the agent straight out why there have been no properties shown to you in the area of your choice. Then go from there. If you do not feel comfortable talking to the agent about this I recommend calling his supervisor who is called the Designated Broker. This person is responsible for the compliance of all licensees with the firm. I again apologize for the delay in my reply. If you have any additional questions please reply. Thank you - Todd

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Todd C. Menard

Expertise

National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics and Professional Standards * Contract Questions: 05/05 Arizona Real Estate Purchase Contract, Exclusive Buyer Broker Contracts, Listing Contracts and associated contract documentation as it relates to boilerplate, covenants, contingencies, procedures and procedures. * ARMLS Arizona Regional Multiple Listing questions * Real Estate Professional Standards and Practices, Ethics, Obligations, Duties * Agency relationships in Arizona, Procurring Cause * Questions typicaly arising during the listing period * Questions typically arising during the escrow period * Questions about working with a real estate agent/REALTOR * Questions Related to New Home Builders

Experience

National Association of REALTORS Board of Director (2011) Arizona Real Estate Salesperson License (1991-1995), Arizona Real Estate Brokers License (1995-Present), Arizona Association of REALTORS Board of Directors (2008-Present), Arizona Association of REALTORS Professional Standards Committee (2008-Present), AAR Certified NAR Code of Ethics and Professional Standards Instructor, Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS President-Elect (2011) Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS Board of Directors (2008, 2009), Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS Grievance Committee Chairperson (1998-2007), Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS Bylaws Committee (2008-Present), Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS Education Committee (2008), Arizona Association of REALTORS Forms Committee - Residential Purchase Contract (2005), Arizona Association of REALTORS Forms Committee - Residential Rental Agreement (2008), Arizona Association of REALTORS Forms Committee - Buyer Broker Agreement (2009), Arizona Association of REALTORS Presidents Advisory Group, Road to Professionalism (2009), Arizona Association of REALTORS GRI Curriculum Review Committee (2009), Arizona Department of Real Estate, Commissioner's Education Advisory Group Sub-Panel B (2010) Arizona Department of Real Estate, Commissioner's Statute and License Review Committee (2007)

Organizations
National Association of REALTORS, Arizona Association of REALTORS, Arizona Real Estate Educators Association (AZREEA), Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System (ARMLS), American Notary Association, Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS (SEVRAR), Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS Women's Council of REALTORS (2010-Present), Phoenix Association of REALTORS (1994-2000, 2005-2009), Scottsdale Association of REALTORS (1994-2000, 2005-2009), Maricopa/Glendale Association of REALTORS (1994-2000, 2005-2009),

Publications
"Real Estate in 2008"- Lifebushido Publishing (Contributory Author), SEVRAR Magazine, Internet Crusade, RealTown ListServe, Blogger.com, Active Rain

Education/Credentials
- AAR Certified Ethics and Professional Standards Instructor, Graduate REALTOR Institute (1993), Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Over 100 Hours of annual real estate continuing education, Annual Ethics and Professional Standards Development Workshops as required by the National Association of REALTORS, Approx. 36 hours of NAR Code of Ethics training annually, Numerous IDW, Seminars and Train the Trainer programs, Business Management Degree - 1981

Awards and Honors
2009 REALTOR of the Year Award, Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS (10,000+ Members), Double Platinum Production Award ($45,000,000 Sales Volume)- Keller Williams Realty Int'l (2001), Top 15 Sales Production Keller Williams Realty International (2001), Top 5 Sales Producation Keller Williams Realty Southwest Region (2001), Top Recruiter Award - Keller Williams Realty Int'l, SW Region (2002), Who's Who in U.S. Executive (1983), Who's Who in U.S. Real Estate Professionals (2007)

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