You can't "steer" buyers in any way. It's called "Due Diligence" on the buyers part.

"An agent helping you to purchase"

    Do I represent that Buyer?   Is there a Fiduciary?

   In my city of Tallahassee, the majority of crimes are committed in one particular geographical area of town.  But if I say, "Don't buy a house there!" some Tester from HUD or some other Government person or some do-gooder will try to take me down.

   The answer to your question - give everyone of your Buyers the same advice prior to touring or showing homes. 

    Point them to the Public Record crime statisitics (here is one website that I direct my Tallahassee clients to.

   If they are interested in a house, suggest they drive by it at night, or on weekends.  Tell them to talk with the neighbors.  

  BTW Richard Alan Naggar this is the Government at its worst.  Don't people have a right to know where the "bad neighborhoods" are?  But oh no, if any Realtor was to truly represent their client, and tell them exactly where the high-crime neighborhoods are, you could be found guilty of "steering", and lose you real estate license and face  criminal charges.

Steering comes to mind. In real estate, steering can be problematic. 

The seller must fill out detailed, mandatory disclosures. 

The buyer is required to do their own research and discovery.

I may be the listing agent, but I may not be familiar with the character of the neighborhood down to the detail that you describe, Richard Alan Naggar.

What I do know, if I think it is relevant information, would be provided to the seller, to make the seller more knowledgeable and not to steer the seller away from the neighborhood.

The choice of buy or not is always the choice of the buyer.

That's a buyer's responsibility for their own research. And not legal for me to disclose anything about crime or neighbors I think are bad.

We are not allowed to comment on crime, sex offenders, etc. We are required to suggest to clients that they do their own research on issues like that and we can provide links to information. It's still buyer beware in real estate. As for "bad" neighbors, it's not something I would know when I'm listing a property. As for graffiti, unkempt neighborhoods, etc. people can see that with their own eyes. What's to disclose? I suggest to my clients that if they are interested in specific neighborhoods, they drive around them at different times of the day.

"Fair housing" & steering is screaming in my mind while reading this...  Everything is relative and quite often subjective thereby not for me to lead a discussion on with clients. But I can certainly refer to appropriate resources for their own due diligence. 

Be careful what you say or you may be subject to action by your Board or the courts. You can be the source of the source but not always the source. 

Richard Alan Naggar - that's a big no-no and violation of the real estate rules in Texas. Due diligence is everyone's responsibility but it's not for agents to disclose information like that. 

There are always "signs" that indicate what to expect in most neighborhoods. Potential buyers can usually figure it out from there. disclose what needs to be disclosed, and just ask buyers if they have any questions about the neighborhoods, and answer then he best way we can, which is usually telling them where they can find that information.

Great follow-up question, Richard Alan but, that is something that the federal government forbids us to do - steering.

Ethically though, we are responsible as fiduciaries, to assist our buyers through their Due Diligence. So, I share with my buyers, a site that shares current crime, as well as strongly encourage them to visit the community at different times of the day and night. Same thing with clients who ask the age of the residents - visit when the school bus comes through/to the community. You'll get a good feel of how many little ones are in the neighborhood!

Discussing crime in the neighborhood would be a clear case of Steering.

Ah, Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - always stirring the pot with a classic real estate question! Disclosures, neighborhoods, graffiti, gangs, crime - oh my! It’s like trying to decide whether to tell someone about the haunted house they’re about to buy or just let them find out the hard way. So, let’s talk about how honest you really need to be here in Massachusetts when it comes to the neighborhood and all those “undesirable” details.

First off, in Massachusetts, the law is pretty clear: you don’t have to disclose neighborhood issues like gangs, graffiti, crime, or bad neighbors. We’re a “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware) kind of state. That means, unless it’s something that directly affects the property itself, such as a leaky basement, lead, or asbestos, we’re under no legal obligation to spill the beans. Pretty straightforward, right? 

Now, here’s the kicker: a real estate agent is held to a higher standard than the homeowner. We’re supposed to pass on info that could influence a buyer’s decision. For example, if they see the basement flooding every time it rains, they must tell the buyer. But if a neighbor’s yard is full of junk and loud parties, that’s more of a gray area. The sellers might mention it if asked directly, but they’re not required to bring it up proactively. And they don’t have to tell us. And I don't have to ask. And if we don’t know, we don’t know.

But let’s not forget that honesty is still the best policy. If someone asks point-blank about neighborhood safety or crime, it’s generally wise to answer truthfully. Not because it’s legally required, but because, in the long run, fudging the truth or oversharing can come back to bite you. The seller could get sued for not being honest if the buyer later claims they hid something material.

But here’s the real crux of the matter: should you volunteer all that extra stuff? Nope. Over-disclosing, especially about things that aren’t legally mandated, can scare off buyers faster than you can say “bad neighborhood.” Do you really want to be that person who tells every grim detail, only to see the buyer run for the hills? Probably not. Sometimes, a little mystery is better - let the buyer do their own digging.

And as for ethics? Well, it’s always better to do unto others as you’d want done unto you. If you’re about to buy a house in an area known for crime, would you want the seller or agent to hide that info? Probably not. But if you’re just trying to unload a property with a few cosmetic issues or in a rough neighborhood, a little honesty (without going overboard) can save you from future headaches.

So, to sum it up: 

- In Massachusetts, we’re only required to disclose factual issues directly related to the property itself.  

- Neighborhood problems? Not legally necessary, but honesty is still the best policy.  

- Over-disclosing can scare away buyers, so be strategic. Share what’s relevant, with a dash of honesty.

Remember, transparency is great, but sometimes it’s just smarter to keep a few things to yourself, especially when they’re not legally mandated. Because at the end of the day, a smooth transaction is worth more than spilling every detail, whether it’s about graffiti or gangs.

Minot North Dakota is laid out as North, South, East, and West and each section is known for different things. The NE has the lowest property values and is not really known for anything exceptional. NW has many fine homes and schools. The SW has the most popular shopping and was the most popular area for up and comers. Then the country club moved into the far SW and a new development sprung up making it the most popular place to be along with a new set of schools. I live in the furthest North portion of SE Minot. We are known for summer entertainment, the Zoo, State Fair, Historic Eastwood Park as well as Historic Corbett Field. Each area of town has it's appeal and I'd be comfortably set in any part Of Minot.

     In the country your neighbor is half a mile away. Maine is the 4th lowest crime state and the northern portion is half again that pretty impressive statistic Gangs? What gangs?

     There are not bad neighborhoods in country living... you have space, no 300 lot Knot's Landings or Morning Glory Circles. Or areas where you better roll through stop signs and crouch slouch lower in the car just in case of crossfire Richard Alan Naggar. Case in point to illustrate... no good or bad neighbors just wildlife.

I provide the resources for the buyer to complete their own investigation. I recommend visiting during the day, evening, and weekends. Talk to the neighbors and check resources online for other concerns, such as crime, etc. 

It is always prudent to direct buyers to websites for that type of information.  Redlining is a thing.  Encouraging buyers to visit the property at different times of the day to see who your future neighbors will be is also a good suggestion.  

The ONLY THINGS a seller is not required to disclose in Arizona are a. site of a death or crime. b. non-communicable illness. c. vicinity of a registered sex offender. The property.
Not the neighborhood.
The disclosure questions about traffic, noise, , nuisances, disturbances odors etc. are there to be answered honestly. I've seen disclosure statements where the seller revealed that they hate their neighbor and have had nothing but trouble with them, LOL
And so much more 😝

1. What Carol Williams said.
2. Disclose facts and buyer beware.

Disclosure is a widely used expression that has numerous definitions.  Who determines that a neighborhood/bad neighbors is present?  This is a individual decision/opinion, you can share your opinion but that is where the buck stops.  Ethics?  Repercussions?  I worry not.  

Richard Alan Naggar 

When showing a home to a buyer in an area that maybe sketchy, I recommend that they drive around. I also recommend that they check the sheriffs website if they have any concerns.

If you want to continue practicing Real Estate then you cannot steer people. Let people know up front that you cannot comment on crime, bad neighborhoods etc and they'll do their own due diligence if it is important to them. They can call the police department. They're super helpful and can answer questions.

I don't think we should define any community as a bad neighborhood.