Biden-era HUD memo silences Realtors on crime and school data, critics say
An executive memo issued by the Biden administration directed HUD to curb real-estate agents from discussing neighborhood crime and school quality, a move that industry groups say still limits buyer information.
Soon after his inauguration, Joe Biden issued an executive memorandum directing the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prioritize diversity and inclusion, which was interpreted as a prohibition on real-estate agents providing crime and school information to buyers. Platforms like Realtor.com, Zillow and Redfin promptly stopped displaying neighborhood crime data, and the National Association of Realtors published a guide telling agents to point clients to external sources.
In April, the Trump administration’s HUD office sent a "Dear Colleague" letter, signed by Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor, urging the industry to resume sharing such data. However, New York state regulations still threaten liability for agents who discuss schools or crime, according to the New York Association of Realtors. Critics, including journalist Helen Andrews, argue the policy harms homebuyers by obscuring essential neighborhood details and serves political goals over consumer interests.
Why it matters
Homebuyers may lack vital information about safety and schools if agents are barred from sharing it.
In this story