Challenging Bias in Real Estate

As Featured on greaternashvillerealtors.org & mainstreetmediatn.com Published Friday, July 7, 2023

I recently took a class called Bias Override taught by a dynamic local instructor, Monica Neubauer. While it can be hard to take an honest inventory of Realtor's participation in business practices that were harmful to many minority groups, it is a necessary endeavor to work to embark on and it is crucial we take accountability. Even with Fair Housing Laws and the Realtor Code of Ethics, we have more to learn and a long way to go before all humans wanting to buy or sell real estate have equal access and fair dealings.

There were many takeaways, but a few, in particular, stood out to me. First was the acknowledgment that we all have biases and we can never get rid of all of our biases. Becoming aware, however, of our biases and using different tools can help us be more connected, open, non-judgmental and less likely to work and interact in ways that are harmful to certain groups.

The idea of “individuation” also resonated with me. This is the idea that we need to use empathic perspective taking to guide us toward individuation. In other words, ask questions about people to obtain their unique perspectives and experiences instead of making assumptions about an individual based on a group they are part of. Even though being part of a group may offer a lot of community, support, and shared similar experiences, no two humans life experiences are exactly alike.

By making a point to get to know individuals versus making assumptions, we are less likely to exhibit biased and harmful behavior and practices when we pointedly learn what is important to a person, how their experiences have shaped them, or why they feel a certain way about something, as a few examples.

People are incredibly interesting, unique, complex, cool, fun, smart, brave, the list is endless—think of it as an exciting adventure to get to know an individual’s unique journey as them—and paraphrasing from the brilliant Brené Brown—When people tell you their story, believe them, even when it doesn’t match your own experience.

Courtney Leggett is a Broker with Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty. Courtney’s real estate career began in her home state of Vermont in 2014. Maintaining active involvement in her local associations has always been a priority for Courtney who currently serves on two Greater Nashville Realtors® committees and recently graduated from Greater Nashville Realtors® Leadership Academy.