You can choose your car, you can choose your friends, but can you choose your neighbors?
Even though you are in love with the home you are considering purchasing, the location of the neighborhood, and everything else about it, how are you going to know what kinds of neighbors you will have? Will they be anything like you? If you try to ask, no Realtor or new home sales consultant will (or should) answer you directly -- and for good reason.
Agents cannot discuss matters of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status, dictated by the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (amended in 1988 to include the latter three statuses). They would be in violation of their real estate licenses by telling you about your potential neighbors, even though many agents pride themselves in helping to populate an area with a diversified and friendly group of homeowners. If the agent's answer is the same every time you try to get this information (either invoking the Fair Housing Act rules or merely glossing over the subject with a light, non-committal remark) you will understand that the agent is just doing his or her job by not going further.
Laws such as these were created to protect the rights of individuals buying or renting property from discrimination. Because prejudice is still alive and well in our society, the law does not leave it up to individuals (real estate agents) to create an atmosphere which will make you decide to buy or not to buy in a particular neighborhood based on information of this type. Agents, therefore, must be "color blind" and equally considerate in any situation pursuant to minority statuses or family groups or they risk violating their fiduciary responsibilities – something they take very seriously.
So how can you get a feel about whether you would be comfortable in the neighborhood without "drilling" an agent for information? A great way is to visit the neighborhood often, especially on weekends, when potential neighbors may be out and about. Especially in newer neighborhoods, it’s not at all that unusual for occupants to be more than willing to "open up" to any newcomers or potential newcomers with whom they may potentially share their community. They may talk to you about neighborhood schools, local issues they may be dealing with, and give you a more informed feeling about investing there. If you have children, bringing them along may naturally open up friendships with potential neighbors in no time flat, as only children can do.
New home communities can be among the friendliest because of the commonality created by everyone rowing with the same oars in terms of moving to a new area. Some may still be putting in their backyards, are looking for babysitters or trying to find fellow golfers, making them more open to acquiring new friends than in established communities.
No individual will be able to guarantee that you will love your new neighbors even if you meet a few early, but it’s also not unusual to find neighbors who prefer to keep their distance, valuing a heightened sense of privacy. There is, after all, a driver for every seat.
To get current on Fair Housing laws, visit the housing section of the U.S. Department of Housing (www.usdoj.gov).
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