The great hard to talk about issue.  Often times as a Caucasian I am reluctant to discuss issues of race because if I say something wrong or even something others disagree with I will get hit with the R word (called a Racist).  I do not consider my self a Racist and think America offers the greatest opportunity for people of any culture to get ahead.

I think there is some truth that people are drawn to people who look like them. I am white and have been married to two white women.  However, I did date people of other cultures.  I did not have a plan that I would only marry a white person it just ended up that way.  However, personality can over come appearance.  I struggle with interpersonal social skills,  I am not good at small talk,  I am not one of those guys who could sell snow to Eskimos (and we do have those types in real estate).  On the surface and by stereo type I should be a big success I am a Tall White Male.  I am over weight and am working on that issue.  Other than being over weight I have been told I am good looking.  But I really lack that ability to come in and dazzle people with my personality.  I win clients over with honesty, hard work, and technical skill.  If I had the dazzle I think I would earn more money than I do.

I am a conservative christian, however, many of my clients are from other backgrounds.  I do not hide who I am, but I do not hit people over the head with it either. I think it is important to let people feel comfortable with who they are.  I do not get turned off by people of different colors trying to sell me or working with them.  However, people can get turned off by a big cultural difference.  If I walk into a real estate sales office as a member of the public I might get turned off if I felt like I was in a foreign country or strange culture.

Let me try to be specific without getting hit with the R word.  As a Realtor I have come to understand the concept of Fung Shway (I realize it is probably spelled wrong.) and help my clients find homes that meet their wants and needs.  I ask them about the subject to help me understand.  I do not have a problem with that, that is my job.  As a member of the general public I understand when I go into a Chinese restaurant and there is a Buddha with burning incense; the concept of ethnic food is a submersion into the culture.  If I went into a real estate office and saw the same thing I do not think I would be comfortable, unless I was in Asia buying a home.

Fraud, and not just in real estate, is often characterized by victimization within a community.  This because the victimizers plays upon the trust and familiarity with the victim.  The Maddoff  scam was largerly targeted at the Jewish community.  I think for this reason some people often look out side their own ethnic community.  I saw a newspaper article one time that did a study on trust across racial lines.  People tended to trust people of their own race most, followed by whites.  I think whites were seen as the generic race, whereas other minorities were seen as less trustworthy.

The bay area is a very diverse place and I think far more open than other areas of the country.  However, your part of the county is the land of Limousine Liberals.  As an example a number of years ago I spoke to a cop in central county (not San Ramon) who told me the locals were always on the police if there were any complaints about profiling or racism.  Yet they would get calls all the time about suspicious people and when asked why the people were suspicious they would say because he is "black" or something similar.

You get to know people when you drive around with them housing hunting for weeks on end.  There are a few racist, and not all of them are white.  However, you also get a lot of people wanting diversity, yes white people.  I cannot comment or guide in this area one way or the other as it is not allowed.  Most people want diversity in the community, as long as they feel personally safe. 

I know not all of this applies to you, but it is candid about what I see and hear.  One of my more interesting prospects is not white, but insists white people are the smartest people in the world (in general).  He is a smart and wealthy man who makes good money.  He tells me about the country he is from and how the English made any success his country has and how bad it has gotten post colonial.  He is very status concious and talks about the status issues between different groups and clans in his native country.  I think he is misguided on a lot of things, but it is an interesting perspective and not your standard racism.

I do not think much of the above applies to you, just on the general topic that is what I see and feel.  I do think you will make your own success.  Sometimes being different can help you stand out.  Being black did not hold Oprah back.