HUD Clarifies: Agents Can Discuss Crime Statistics and Schools — Here’s What That Means for Pittsburgh Buyers

A clarification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week is worth knowing about if you’re a Pittsburgh buyer who has been hesitant to ask certain questions about neighborhoods.

HUD confirmed that real estate agents can discuss crime statistics and school information with buyers — as long as there is no discriminatory intent involved in how that information is used or presented.

This is an important clarification. Let me explain what it means and why it matters.

The Background

Fair Housing law prohibits agents from steering buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected characteristics — race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability. That’s not changing.

What HUD clarified is that discussing publicly available information like crime statistics or school performance data is permissible when it’s done for informational purposes and without discriminatory steering.

The distinction is intent and application. Providing factual, publicly available information that buyers ask about is different from using that information as a tool to steer buyers away from specific neighborhoods based on who lives there.

What This Means Practically for Pittsburgh Buyers

You can — and should — ask about:

• School district performance data (test scores, graduation rates, programs offered)
• Crime statistics for an area (publicly available through police department data, city websites)
• Neighborhood-specific amenities and walkability
• Public services and infrastructure

What I direct buyers to (and what any agent should be comfortable pointing toward):

• GreatSchools.org — school ratings and detailed performance data
• NeighborhoodScout or CrimeMapping.com — public crime data by zip code and address
• City of Pittsburgh / Allegheny County municipal websites — public safety data and reports
• Walk Score — walkability and transit access by address

I encourage buyers to research these resources themselves. I can point you to where the data lives — what you do with that information in your personal decision-making is yours.

A Note on School Districts in Allegheny County

Allegheny County has dozens of separate school districts, and they vary significantly in size, programs, performance, and culture. For buyers with school-age children, understanding the specific district for a given home is important.

The good news is that public information on Pennsylvania school districts is detailed and accessible. The Pennsylvania Department of Education publishes school report cards annually. District websites provide program information, enrollment data, and contact information for school staff.

When I work with buyers who have school-age children, district research is a core part of the neighborhood conversation — not an afterthought.

The Bottom Line

Buyers have a right to information that helps them make one of the largest financial decisions of their lives. HUD’s clarification affirms that agents can participate in those conversations factually and without discriminatory intent. Ask the questions that matter to you. Do your own research. Make the decision that’s right for your family.

That’s what I’m here to help with.

🌐 kan.realtor