Understanding Fair Housing Laws and What They Mean for Your Home Search in Eugene

Understanding Fair Housing Laws and What They Mean for Your Home Search in Eugene

Can you rely on your REALTOR® to provide all the information about a particular neighborhood or school?

It might seem like you should be able to — after all, your agent knows the local market inside and out. But when it comes to topics like schools, crime, or even the overall “feel” of a neighborhood, there are legal limits to what we can say.

What’s surprising is that some agents still give opinions on these things — even though it’s actually against the law. It might sound helpful in the moment, but commenting on schools or crime can cross a legal line under fair housing laws and regulations.

Let’s take a closer look at what that means for you as a buyer, what your agent can help with, and how you can still gather all the information you need the right way.

What Fair Housing Laws and Regulations Are

The federal Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, after years of inequality and discrimination in housing access. It made it illegal to treat people differently when buying, selling, renting, or financing a home because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.

Oregon adds even more protections, including marital status, sexual orientation, and source of income, meaning it’s against the law to make housing decisions based on where someone’s money comes from, whether that’s a job, child support, or a housing voucher.

In short, these laws ensure that everyone has equal access to housing opportunities. As REALTORS®, we’re trained and obligated to uphold these standards every single day — not just because it’s the law, but because it builds fairness and trust in the communities we serve.

What This Means for You as a Buyer

There are plenty of things your agent can help with — and a few that they can’t.

I can help you understand the local housing market, like how prices differ between South Eugene and Santa Clara, or which neighborhoods offer an easier commute to the University of Oregon or the hospital. I can also help you find homes that fit your lifestyle, whether that means being close to parks, coffee shops, or bike paths.

What I can’t do is guide you toward or away from certain areas based on who lives there. So when someone says, “We want a neighborhood with good schools and low crime,” that’s where things get tricky. Those phrases sound innocent but can unintentionally connect to protected classes under fair housing law.

That’s why I focus on facts, data, and your personal priorities while helping you navigate the rest responsibly.

How to Research Schools on Your Own

If schools are high on your list, there are excellent resources available:

• GreatSchools.org – Compare test scores, read parent reviews, and view school ratings.
• Oregon Department of Education – Check official “report cards” for every school, including graduation rates, demographics, and class sizes.
• District websites – Eugene’s 4J and Bethel School Districts both share academic programs, immersion options, and extracurricular opportunities.
• Local parent groups – Facebook and community groups often offer firsthand insight, but remember — those are personal opinions, not official data.

Once you’ve done your research, I can absolutely help you find homes within your preferred district boundaries. That’s a fair and compliant way to align your search.

How to Research Crime and Safety

Safety is another topic that’s important to most buyers — and again, it’s one you’ll want to research independently.

Here are a few ways to do that:

• City of Eugene Police Department – The Community Crime Map lets you view incidents by date and type. Some of my clients have even called the department directly to ask about patterns or concerns in specific neighborhoods.
• CrimeMapping.com or SpotCrime.com – These pull from public police data to show local crime trends.
• Nextdoor – Community posts can give you a sense of neighborhood activity and connection.
• Visit in person – Drive or walk through at different times of day. Notice lighting, noise, and overall atmosphere. That real-world impression is something no online map can replace.

These methods let you do your own homework without putting your REALTOR® in a legally sensitive position.

What Your Agent Can Help With

A REALTOR® can still do a lot to make your search smooth and strategic. We can help you interpret market data, negotiate, understand disclosures, and coordinate inspections or repairs. We can also connect you with trusted local professionals, from lenders and appraisers to contractors and landscapers.

When it comes to location, we focus on what you can control: things like home size, amenities, commute times, and price point — not demographics or subjective opinions.

For example, if you want a quiet street with access to nature, we might look near the Ridgeline Trail or the Southwest Hills. If walkability and restaurants are your thing, the Friendly Area or Whiteaker might be a better fit. That’s all about lifestyle, not who lives there.

Why Fair Housing Laws Matter

The goal of fair housing laws and regulations isn’t to limit your choices — it’s to make sure your decisions are based on facts, not assumptions.

These laws protect everyone — buyers, sellers, and communities alike. They keep housing decisions focused on financial and practical factors and ensure that every person, regardless of background, has equal access to the neighborhoods and opportunities they value most.

Housing impacts so much of our lives — where our kids go to school, the sense of community we build, and the stability we enjoy. Everyone deserves to make those choices freely and without bias.

The Bottom Line

As you start your home search, be open, do your research, and work with a REALTOR® who takes these standards seriously.

If you ever have questions about how to get reliable information the right way — or just want help building a smart, ethical, and effective home search strategy — I’d love to connect.

Fair housing laws aren’t about making things complicated — they’re about keeping things fair, transparent, and focused on what truly matters: finding the right home for you.