Any realtors or real estate people out there?

Brey335i · 08-30-2011, 09:37 PM

The better question is... why would you rent from someone who requires all this information?

I refuse to show anyone my paychecks or give them much information at all. I have the money (willing to show proof of funds but nothing more) and I am more than willing to meet in person and talk. If a potential seller / etc wants more then I am not interested.

An apartment is an apartment. If the renter doesn't pay then kick him out... simple as that.

ABQ325i · 08-30-2011, 09:58 PM

Before I answer I want the following paragraph to be read:

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).

It appears that the Realtor is fishing and wants to try and find out things they are not allowed to ask, the photo in my opinion is a dead giveaway for race and the biography in my opinion is an open request for familial status and also fishing for sexual orientation, national origin, religion and age. It might be an innocent mistake, but if it is, it is a really stupid mistake and could prove a very costly one for both the Realtor and the property owner.

There is an Agency agreement in place which basically means whatever the Realtor says, the owner is responsible for and whatever the owner says the Realtor is responsible for.

I think the local board of Realtors/Real Estate Commission/HUD might be the best bet to see if any ethic/potential discriminatory violations are happening here.

This is a very huge and costly lawsuit just waiting to happen. It will probably also cost the Realtor her job and license.

Also, in my state all disclosures are required to be made upfront not after the fact.

O-cha · 08-30-2011, 10:08 PM

Since it got deleted, As I already said, you can't ask SPECIFICALLY about religious practices, that along with race, martial status sexual orientation ETC are all prohibited by law, everything NOT prohibited by law oyu may ask about, so long as you ask EVERYONE.

No law is broken unless the landlord uses that information to unfairly discriminate as provided by the law under conditions not specifically prohibited but falling under more general laws.

As an example the landlord is perfectly within his rights to ask what you do on sundays, if that reveals you're not christian, it's perfectly legal, if he doesn't rent to you because of that it's illegal. If you can prove it (good luck) then you have him.

So yes asking for a bio is legal as it's not prohibited by law, only IF and WHEN he uses that information to discriminate against you is he breaking the law. In the meantime it's perfectly legal for him to ask.

ABQ325i · 08-30-2011, 10:21 PM

I did not say they are doing anything illegal. The Realtor is acting in a very dubious manner and I for one would not risk my Real Estate career duplicating him or her.

OP was given this information by a Realtor not a landlord and as a Realtor they really should know better. I know that every time I go to a class which includes ethics, we are warned about how to word ads and reminded how many frivolous lawsuits there are against Realtors because of poorly worded ads and statements.

O-cha · 08-30-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQ325i

I did not say they are doing anything illegal. The Realtor is acting in a very dubious manner and I for one would not risk my Real Estate career duplicating him or her.

OP was given this information by a Realtor not a landlord and as a Realtor they really should know better. I know that every time I go to a class which includes ethics, we are warned about how to word ads and reminded how many frivolous lawsuits there are against Realtors because of poorly worded ads and statements.

Not in response to you, in response to some of the things my friend posted that got deleted. Such as claiming they can't ask for the bio because the "law does not say that he can"

ABQ325i · 08-30-2011, 10:33 PM

Sorry, I thought you were directly replying to the post above you

Cdnrockies · 08-31-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brey335i

An apartment is an apartment. If the renter doesn't pay then kick him out... simple as that.

Not nearly that simple. It isn't "just an apartment" to the landlord. It is his property that he is looking to protect and make money on. A little more stringent screening process potentially leads to far less problems and complications for the landlord. Solid tenants lead to less turnover and more profit for the landlord. It is such a pita to deal with vacant apartments or repairing the damage that less stellar tenants leave behind. Ask me how I know.

There is nothing wrong with screening your tenants so that you have people that are going to take care of your property and pay their rent on time.

I don't see the issue with the picture at all. Having the landlord and his staff being able to visually identify actual tenants is a good thing. Definitely would help with security.

There is next to zero chance that you would ever be able to prove that the landlord was discriminating against a person anyways. There is nothing that states just because you have cash means a landlord has to allow you to live there. They could find a multitude of other reasons to deny an application.

BTW, how many units in the complex? Is every tenant white/black/brown/purple? Difficult to say the form is potentially discriminatory based on race if the tenant mix says otherwise.

E90SoFlo · 08-31-2011, 10:07 AM

Also remember that realtors that are dealing with "rentals" are the bottom of the totem pole for Real Estate agents.

Most rentals are handled by management companies that are full of the realtors that can't/don't want to make it as a Residential/Commercial agent.

1cleanm6 · 08-31-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KwlAznKid

I'm trying to rent an apt with a friend and i've done some renting in the past but nothing close to what the realtor is asking of me to do this time.. this seems a bit weird to me.. anyone have any input? is this normal? the application asks me to attach a PICTURE of myself? and also attach a copy of my credit report that I have to obtain myself.. usually don't they run it for you?

i included a screenshot of part of the application..

thanks.

Let me give you some insight ( im an agent )

These requirements might be asked by the agents office or more regularly the apartment complex you want to lease. Ive heard of such requirements before and they are usually for upscale apartment leases. From my experience everything sounds about right. I really would consider all of this a positive. Them asking for your picture can be for security reasons.

Echo M3 · 08-31-2011, 10:06 PM

I'm not in real estate, but I have rented my fair share of apartments in the past. I'll say this: I would NEVER willingly divulge so much personal information. Unless this is the only available apartment within 50 miles, I would inform them what I am willing to share (SS #, proof of employment, letter of rec, etc.) and what I am not willing to share (family and personal life), and see what they have to say. Perhaps offer them a face-to-face interview instead. Good luck

EDIT: I'll also add that any rental agency with this many guidelines is probably bad news. Certain guidelines are fine, but if they are this incredibly anal about the application process, things can only get worse if you are accepted. I would steer clear if you can.

08-30-2011, 09:37 PM	#23
Brey335i Banned 116 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	The better question is... why would you rent from someone who requires all this information? I refuse to show anyone my paychecks or give them much information at all. I have the money (willing to show proof of funds but nothing more) and I am more than willing to meet in person and talk. If a potential seller / etc wants more then I am not interested. An apartment is an apartment. If the renter doesn't pay then kick him out... simple as that.
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08-30-2011, 09:58 PM	#24
ABQ325i Private First Class 16 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 08 E60 535i + 06 E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Albuquerque iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 535i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Before I answer I want the following paragraph to be read: Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). It appears that the Realtor is fishing and wants to try and find out things they are not allowed to ask, the photo in my opinion is a dead giveaway for race and the biography in my opinion is an open request for familial status and also fishing for sexual orientation, national origin, religion and age. It might be an innocent mistake, but if it is, it is a really stupid mistake and could prove a very costly one for both the Realtor and the property owner. There is an Agency agreement in place which basically means whatever the Realtor says, the owner is responsible for and whatever the owner says the Realtor is responsible for. I think the local board of Realtors/Real Estate Commission/HUD might be the best bet to see if any ethic/potential discriminatory violations are happening here. This is a very huge and costly lawsuit just waiting to happen. It will probably also cost the Realtor her job and license. Also, in my state all disclosures are required to be made upfront not after the fact.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2011, 10:08 PM	#25
O-cha Brigadier General 228 Rep 4,726 Posts Drives: Mcoupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In front of you iTrader: (2)	Since it got deleted, As I already said, you can't ask SPECIFICALLY about religious practices, that along with race, martial status sexual orientation ETC are all prohibited by law, everything NOT prohibited by law oyu may ask about, so long as you ask EVERYONE. No law is broken unless the landlord uses that information to unfairly discriminate as provided by the law under conditions not specifically prohibited but falling under more general laws. As an example the landlord is perfectly within his rights to ask what you do on sundays, if that reveals you're not christian, it's perfectly legal, if he doesn't rent to you because of that it's illegal. If you can prove it (good luck) then you have him. So yes asking for a bio is legal as it's not prohibited by law, only IF and WHEN he uses that information to discriminate against you is he breaking the law. In the meantime it's perfectly legal for him to ask. __________________
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08-30-2011, 10:21 PM	#26
ABQ325i Private First Class 16 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 08 E60 535i + 06 E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Albuquerque iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 535i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	I did not say they are doing anything illegal. The Realtor is acting in a very dubious manner and I for one would not risk my Real Estate career duplicating him or her. OP was given this information by a Realtor not a landlord and as a Realtor they really should know better. I know that every time I go to a class which includes ethics, we are warned about how to word ads and reminded how many frivolous lawsuits there are against Realtors because of poorly worded ads and statements.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-30-2011, 10:33 PM	#28
ABQ325i Private First Class 16 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 08 E60 535i + 06 E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Albuquerque iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 535i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Sorry, I thought you were directly replying to the post above you
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08-31-2011, 10:07 AM	#30
E90SoFlo Banned 213 Rep 2,669 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Naples, FL iTrader: (9)	Also remember that realtors that are dealing with "rentals" are the bottom of the totem pole for Real Estate agents. Most rentals are handled by management companies that are full of the realtors that can't/don't want to make it as a Residential/Commercial agent.
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08-31-2011, 10:06 PM	#32
Echo M3 Major 125 Rep 1,432 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I'm not in real estate, but I have rented my fair share of apartments in the past. I'll say this: I would NEVER willingly divulge so much personal information. Unless this is the only available apartment within 50 miles, I would inform them what I am willing to share (SS #, proof of employment, letter of rec, etc.) and what I am not willing to share (family and personal life), and see what they have to say. Perhaps offer them a face-to-face interview instead. Good luck EDIT: I'll also add that any rental agency with this many guidelines is probably bad news. Certain guidelines are fine, but if they are this incredibly anal about the application process, things can only get worse if you are accepted. I would steer clear if you can.
	Appreciate 0 Quote