Where The Kids At?

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Street signs are not a protected class. Yet.

One of the most common criteria I get from families looking for homes in the Charlottesville area is – We want to live in a neighborhood that has a lot of kids.

1- Are there kids in this neighborhood?

Look for balls, bikes and playground sets. Despite the fact that most families with kids want to live in neighborhoods with other kids, this is (per my training) deemed to be a Fair Housing Law violation.

Did you know?

So a broker who says something like, “There are tons of little kids in this building neighborhood — it’s really family friendly” could be accused of specifically steering families to the building and driving people without children away from it.

* Editor’s note: I inserted “neighborhood”

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Some may argue that my approach is extreme, but:

1) I’d rather just treat everyone the same
2) I’d rather not be sued and lose my ability to practice what I love.
3) Fair is an arbitrary term, in my opinion – my fair is likely different than a teenage girl’s fair is different than a 72 year old retiree’s fair. I like “same”. Merriam Webster doesn’t define “fair” as the real estate world interprets it until 6a:

1 : pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality
2 : superficially pleasing : specious
3 a : clean, pure b : clear, legible
4 : not stormy or foul : fine
5 : ample
6 a : marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism b (1) : conforming with the established rules : allowed (2) : consonant with merit or importance : due c : open to legitimate pursuit, attack, or ridicule

“Walkable neighborhood” apparently might be construed by some as discriminatory.

* Title shamelessly inspired by Toyota’s Swagger Wagon.