RealTown's RealTalk

When asked about the schools by a buyer, I explain how the system is designed on which school their child(ren) might attend.  I also give them the website address for the district.   I recommend visiting the different school choices.  I also let them know that if they are buying a house because of a particular school, it is not guaranteed that their child will be able to get in.  Other than general information, I do not recommend one school over the other or discuss ratios or anything like that.

Suzanne N. Ellis
Semonin Realtors, Louisville, KY
Suzanne@SuzanneEllis.com
http://www.SuzanneEllis.com
(502) 327-2520
PS - I am never too busy for your referrals!

I give my clients the internet links for the local school district as well as the ODE (Oregon Department of Education) report cards.  This is usually all people want anyway. 

Unless you have children in all the local public schools, you really can't speak on a personal level about them. You just don't know.  People also have different standards for education and what they consider good.  Boundaries change, class sizes change, teachers leave or retire.  A new principal can dramatically change the culture of a school as well.

I will quote a source if someone asks about a school.  I will say, "according to the ODE this school got strong ratings for the past 3 years. Here is the website for more information."      That's about the extent of it for me.  I will also tell people if the school is on the unsafe list.  We have 5 here in Salem that are on the list.  Pretty much, I stick to documents and reports created by the state and schools, and I cite those.  I avoid generic things like "we have good schools here," and I always remind parents to double check the school boundaries with the school district prior to writing an offer.

 Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

"As always real estate is local, and maybe in your area it is different. However in NY I can’t begin to discuss school districts. Once I say anything beyond known facts (ie it has football) I can get myself in trouble with the real estate police. My response is always the same. “I would love to discuss schools with you. However NYS says that I can’t. I don’t always agree with the rules, but I do have to play by them.” "

Ditto.  We aren't allowed to comment on schools. I direct them to the Board of Education as well as Greatschools.net and basically let them know that I can not be the judge of what a "good school" is and that they need to do the research and decide for themselves if there are certain schools that they prefer to be in or away from, if that is an issue for them.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tom Hathaway

Someone wrote: 

Ditto.  We aren't allowed to comment on schools. I direct them to the Board of Education as well as Greatschools.net and basically let them know that I can not be the judge of what a "good school" is and that they need to do the research and decide for themselves if there are certain schools that they prefer to be in or away from, if that is an issue for them.>>

I wonder if this may be one of those urban myths.  Can anyone show us in writing (from NY or anywhere else) the actual regulation or law which specifically says a Real Estate Licensee who is representing a buyer can not tell that buyer client what they know, believe, or even their personal opinion, about a specific school?

Often such urban myths get started and become general belief because it might just be the personal opinion that is created by the opinion of one speaker, who tells another speaker who tells another and before you know it all those speakers are making statements as if there is some law against something, when in reality it might be common business sense not to make a certain statements or provide certain information, but it is not actually against in regulation or law.

I wonder if this may be one of those urban myths.  Can anyone show us in writing (from NY or anywhere else) the actual regulation or law which specifically says a Real Estate Licensee who is representing a buyer can not tell that buyer client what they know, believe, or even their personal opinion, about a specific school?

Often such urban myths get started and become general belief because it might just be the personal opinion that is created by the opinion of one speaker, who tells another speaker who tells another and before you know it all those speakers are making statements as if there is some law against something, when in reality it might be common business sense not to make a certain statements or provide certain information, but it is not actually against in regulation or law.

It's called fair housing. Good schools can be code for the racial make up of a school system. When ever the buyer has questions about schools, racial make up of an area or crime stats I always reefer them to the source for that information. In Ohio we have school report cards from the state department of education that I can  provide when asked as well as a link to the ODE web site. By the way the south suburb district that is the most diverse rates excellent on the state report card and was one of Newsweek's Silver level school systems. The wrong answer to a tester can cost you your license and a fine. Tom brush up on your Fair Housing, Civil Rights and Core Law. In Ohio we are required to do so every three years.

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 12/8/2007 11:59 AM