NEXT LEVEL REPLAY: “The information advantage” webinar arrives at a pivotal moment for real estate professionals
WMLAR members who attended Stacey Ruwe’s recent Next Level Success Webinar, The Information Advantage: How to Find School, Tax & Utility Data for Your Clients, received timely guidance on one of the most important—and evolving—topics in real estate practice: how to provide clients with meaningful neighborhood information while remaining compliant with fair housing laws and ethical obligations.
The webinar could not have come at a more relevant time.
In April 2026, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter clarifying its position that real estate professionals do not violate the Fair Housing Act simply by sharing objective information related to school quality or neighborhood crime statistics with prospective buyers.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated: “Americans should not be left in the dark about vital facts like neighborhood safety or school quality. HUD is making clear that real estate professionals can openly and lawfully provide this information in an equal and consistent manner to American families.”
The letter further emphasized that consumers deserve access to factual information needed to make informed housing decisions. At the same time, both HUD and the National Association of REALTORS® reinforced an important distinction: agents should provide objective, verifiable information—not personal opinions, interpretations, or commentary that could lead to steering concerns under fair housing law.
That balance was exactly the focus of Stacey’s webinar.
Providing the tools—not the opinion
Throughout the session, Stacey emphasized that REALTORS® can and should help clients access reliable information while avoiding subjective commentary about neighborhoods, schools, or safety.
One of the webinar’s strongest takeaways was her reminder: “Your job: provide the tools, not the opinion.”
Stacey walked attendees through practical ways to locate and present publicly available information related to:
- School districts and boundary maps
- Property taxes and millage rates
- Homestead exemptions and assessment data
- Crime statistics and public safety resources
- Neighborhood information sheets for buyers
She also repeatedly stressed the importance of staying factual, citing sources, and allowing clients to draw their own conclusions.
Understanding the ethical and legal guardrails
A major portion of the webinar focused on fair housing compliance and risk management.
Stacey outlined the distinction between what agents can do and what they cannot do when discussing neighborhood information.
REALTORS® can:
- Share publicly available data and links
- Direct clients to official or third-party resources
- Present factual, verifiable information
REALTORS® cannot:
- Steer clients toward or away from areas based on demographics
- Subjectively characterize neighborhood “quality”
- Guarantee school assignments or tax amounts
These concepts closely align with NAR’s longstanding guidance. In its April 29, 2026, response to HUD’s letter, NAR reiterated that REALTORS® have long been encouraged to share objective information from reliable third-party sources while avoiding subjective opinions or hearsay that could be interpreted as discriminatory steering.
Practical tools agents can implement immediately
In addition to discussing compliance, Stacey provided attendees with actionable resources they can begin using immediately in their businesses.
She reviewed:
- School research tools such as RPR, GreatSchools, Niche, and district websites
- County assessor databases and tax history resources
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and local police dashboards
- Best practices for building professional neighborhood information sheets
- Client conversation starters that build trust without overstepping legal boundaries
Her approach focused not on fear or avoidance, but on equipping agents to serve clients confidently, professionally, and responsibly.
Information is your edge
One of the webinar’s central themes was that today’s consumers expect more informed guidance from their agents. Buyers increasingly want help understanding the broader financial and lifestyle implications of where they live—not just the property itself.
As Stacey explained throughout the session, clients remember the agents who do the homework.
The webinar reinforced that the strongest REALTORS® are not simply transaction facilitators—they are trusted resources who know how to gather, verify, and present information professionally while respecting fair housing principles and ethical obligations.
Replay availability
Members who missed the live webinar—or who want to revisit Stacey’s practical strategies and resources—should watch for replay information from WMLAR.
For additional information on HUD’s recent guidance and NAR’s response, visit:
