I recently read a post by a Rainer in an office in South Texas... where someone called to ask for help in finding a home there... readily admitted that they were "prejudiced." 

They basically told the Realtor that although they did want to purchase a home in the area... that they wanted the Realtor to avoid showing them homes "near any Mexicans."  Yikes !

Here is what I did... in a similar situation years ago:

I was showing a couple some homes in Fort Worth in a neighborhood where the prices were in the $175,000 to $225,000 price range. 

Then it came.  Some of us have heard it before.  They asked me... "Is This a "Mixed" Neighborhood ?

I paused slightly, and then answered:  "Well, let's look around."

"Oh... look, over there," I said.  There's a "single story" home.  And... over there... why, there's a "two-story" home.  And... LOOK.  There's even a "story-and-a-half" further down the street !"  That was all I said.  I gently and, in my best "lady-like" manner... I politely smiled.

So they said:  "No... I mean... is the neighborhood mixed... as in "color?" 

I said... "oh... well why didn't you say so ?  Let's go see what we can find."

I then replied:  "Oh look, up there on the right... there's a red brick home.  And a sandy-brownish brick home over there.  And, wow, there's even one with some orangish-brownish brick with beige siding."  They all look so nice, don't they ?"

Funny thing... but the questions stopped.

After our appointment ended that day... I never heard from them again.

Moral of the story:  There will always be some people who are just firmly and forever "bigots."  There's really nothing you can do to change the great majority of their minds.  All you can do is show them that you will NOT cooperate in playing that vile, hateful game of theirs.

 
Star Posted by Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone on 07/20/2011 09:17 PM   Comments (104)   Prejudice and Real Estate in the ActiveRain Channel   bigotry in real estate, prejudiced buyers, tutorials  
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104 Comments on Prejudiced Buyers. What To Do When They Ask those Inevitable Questions...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
21
2011
548,216 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Karen-Ann:

We live in a very ethnically diverse area, so I don't hear about people asking these awful questions.  If a customer does ask about mixed neighborhoods, I will use your tactic.  Seems to work. 

4:43pm • #86

Karen that is an incredibly creative answer for that question. The best part is that you did answer their questions, you just took the meaning literally. Love that!
5:03pm • #87

Hi Karen, I am in no way, shape or form, a real estate expert, I leave that up to you AR folks, but I wanted to give you a congrats on your feature. You definitely know how to spark interest.
5:11pm • #88

Bravo, what a great response to an offensive question.  And I love the gentle way you turned your answers back on those folks.
5:21pm • #89
499,369 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Love the creative way you kept your answers focused on describing the houses - and I sure would have liked to see the looks on their faces as they tried to figure out whether you were just not understanding their true meaning - or if maybe they were a wee bit out of line.
6:41pm • #90

Karen

I just wish you could do the Johnny Appleseed thing and spread your seeds of patience, compassion and creativity in every corner and crevice of the planet.

I am a man of color. Not long after moving to Los Angeles, I accompanied a blue-eyed brother on his apartment hunting quest.

As he rang the bell at the entry gate to one complex, the apartment manager appeared in the walkway. She began walking toward us. She was a senior citizen and favored one leg. My friend figured he could save her the walk if the place was already rented so he shouted "Hi, is the apartment still available?" 

Her response: "For who?"

We DID save her the walk!

 
William
7:27pm • #91
510,788 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wow, it's amazing that in this day and age people are still prejudiced. You handled it brilliantly! Well done!

Gretchen
8:00pm • #92
339,646 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I can so see you saying that and pulling it off.
9:57pm • #93
966,276 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jill:  You have gotten to know me pretty well from reading my blog posts... and my comments.  Yes... I enjoyed every minute of it.  I am sure my expertise at being a stand-up comedienne...(even though I was sitting down and driving when I said the above things)... when I taught seventh and eighth grade for nine years before getting into real estate.

It has served me well.  I appreciate your kind words.
10:07pm • #94
966,276 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Gretchen in #93:  I so appreciate your kind words... and I am also so glad to see you here.  <smile>
10:08pm • #95
JUL
22
2011
153,094 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Karen,

What a sensitive topic and story to share.  Enjoyed hearing how you handled the situation, and those folks.  I usually take a less creative approach, but will try yours and a few other commenters' the next time it comes up, as it inevitably will.  Sorry you lost a transaction in the process of being honest and being a professional, but you'll be rewarded in the long run, in my opinion. 

You're really tearing it up this week with featured posts.  Congrats!
12:06am • #96
966,276 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Michael... yes, this week has been good with Featured Posts.  It only goes to prove that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile.  But I must admit... both of those posts were ones I felt pretty good about writing.  The trick is... doing it again.  Thanks for your kind words.
12:20am • #97
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Hey Karen....been a while. You handled the situation very well. Hope you are doing well yourself.
1:15am • #98
1,224,901 Points 79 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good morning Karen,

Congrats on the featured post. It certainly is well deserved. Love how you handled theses buyers..great approach and one I will remember to some day pull out and use!
6:56am • #99
966,276 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Trey:  Yes, it has been awhile.  It's getting to be "Aggie's season" time.  I don't follow either the Aggie's men's football or basketball... but it will be fun watching the Aggie Women do their thing basketball thing again this year.  Have you ever gone to any of their games ?  And me... I am doing kinda "medium."  Medium-rare, actually.  Hope you are well.

Dorie:  Thanks for the congrats.  Yeah... "handling" these folks was fun.  They deserved what they got, and I got to watch them squirm... and then let them go.  Kinda like "catch and release" fishing.

I bet when you get the chance to use this technique... it'll work well... but only if you can keep a straight face while doing it.
7:20am • #100
1,142,706 Points 242 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Karen Anne:  I would expect nothing less from a Southern Cleveland gal than to stick to your convictions--which by the way, are spot on!

I get those questions all the time and like Ken Cook said, sometimes it's because they WANT to live in a particular environment in which they feel comfortable.  When I explain Fair Housing to them, they always understand and given the proper resourses, figure it out on their own.  I have to say I've never lost anyone from my response but, if I did, I wouldn't want to work with them either.  There are plenty of other buyers out there who have the same morals and ethics that I do so, I'd just be off working with them instead.  GOOD for you!

And, congrats on that little gold star--well deserved!
10:53am • #101
612,035 Points 40 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Karen Anne, seeing more and more of this - it's scary, besides STUPID.  I like how you handled it.
2:12pm • #102
544,821 Points 120 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Karen Anne:  Your responses to their carefully asked questions are an inspiration.  It is a surprised when bigots are so open. 
7:39pm • #103
JUL
23
2011
466,302 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Yes... there are... once a lady told me she would never live in San Antonio because there were to many Mexicans living there... I smiled and said neither would I..... but the joke is that I am of Hispanic decent. I continued to be nice to her, she was older and deserved some kind of respect. Older people grew up with different views.

One day, months later, this same lady went to our boss to see what who she could get to translate a letter written in Spanish from Mexico. She told her to go ask Miss Sussie, since I she is Hispanic.... I have never seen anyone so embarrassed and apologized profusely. I told her not to worry about it and assured her if she were drowning I would still drag her big behind in our boat.

You did do a great job on handling it and now I know how I will handle it when someone finally ask me that question.

Thank you... I love you Karen you are a great person.
4:20pm • #104
JUL
24
2011
648,311 Points 63 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I will say that racism does come in many flaovrs....  I once had an African American couple reject a shcool system because of its hispanic population (they got that info online) OK......but I'm not taking you to non-hispanic neighborhoods!  Our relationship ended there.
9:32pm • #105

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Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone

Fort Worth, TX

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New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

Address: Serving the entire Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

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The Real Estate Market in Fort Worth and Tarrant County offers such a great value to both "first time" and "move up" buyers. Karen Anne's blog gives you up-to-date market news, and features many of the great homes available at great prices !


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