Do you think the Major Builders like Pulte are biased against minorities?

[farbet]

I have been in a Pulte sales office, after seeing the models in Carlsbad,last weekend.It was slow slow there
There was a family of color in the office trying to get information on one of the models. We were browsing the catalogues and overheard the conversation.Lady(buyer) said” we are pre approved”. sales Lady:”well you have to go with our lender if you want a discount”.In a rough way
We felt that the sales lady was short with them,never answered their questions on financing,discounts, MR etc, and about the incentives being offered.It seems she wanted to get rid of them to deal with us. There were no traffic on a Sunday.and we mentioned that we were in no hurry to take her time.We went outside and a few minutes later the couple came out and entered their 750L BMW!!
Are these people realtors in these offices? Do the builders have secret shoppers to see what’s going on.
Isn’t Pulte one of the builders in a sales slump!!

[forsale_2007]

I doubt the issue would be with the builder. I’m sure it has to do more with the individual sales rep. Personally, I don’t think it’s a smart move because it’s not like new homes are really moving. Perhaps the sales rep is still caught up in the idea that buyers are lining up left and right and still feel they can treat people that way.

In more recent times, when my wife and I walked into new developments I tend to feel that the sales reps are nicer to us because we are minorities (asian).

My wife and I occasionally walk into some of the new communities in Carmel Valley (Saratoga, Derby Hills, Carriage Run). The sales reps seems to jump to us and ask if we need anything, show us floor plans, take us on tours, even though we say we’re just browsing and not seriously considering switching homes at this point. I would think the sales reps wouldn’t want to waste time on people like us, especially when there are other people there that look like they’re more serious. (We usually show up looking like we just woke up from bed, wearing sweats and t-shirts.)
One time in another community, I had an eerie feeling that a rep just kinda followed us around a bit for no reason whatsoever.

My wife thinks it’s because we’re asian. I don’t know. Any others had similar experiences?

[farbet]

These were not Asians. I know when they see Asians they bend to plese. They equate Asians with “Mone”

More than likely IMO they were Physicians as they wanted a quick move in house by June as they start work in JUly. New Physicians start year is July 1.

[barnaby33]

Maybe thats one situation where it pays to be a minority. I would be so much happier if I did get ignored by the sales folks. Its not like I am going to buy a 700k tract house in Carmel Valley (or anywhere) for that matter.

Its a shame when you get that creepy feeling like soemone is being ignored in favor of yourself. Especially if you suspect either a racial or gender motive. I know it makes me want to wretch.

Josh

[SD Realtor]

Farbet the sales lady may or may not have been a Realtor. Remember all sales agents have a license to sell real estate in CA but not all sales agents are Realtors. I have never worked for a developer however I do not believe the sales agents earn the same commission as any other sales agent who works with resale properties. IMO working for a developer would be pretty sweet, the buyers all come to you, you negotiate based on what the developer gives you leeway to negotiate to… all in all it does not seem difficult. The hard part is the cattle call, when the sales office is packed with people and you are the only agent in there.

Sounds like this sales agent may have acted in a discriminatory manner.

SD Realtor

[Bugs]

Those agents don’t get paid all that well. Compensation varies, but back when times were good I think most developers had them work off a base + commission structure that’s heavily influenced by how many options and upgrades they can pack in.

Right about now, I can’t imagine any builder would look kindly on a sales office rep who was rude or short with any type of buyer. There just aren’t enough of those to go around.

[Anonymous]

I think what you wintnessed was very likely an act of discrimination. But as unfortunate as that may be I don’t really feel that it is worth dwelling on. It also seems the family in question also chose to view it that way and walked away with their dignity intact.

I say this as a marketing professional and USC grad who just happens to be of Latin-American descent. It seems silly to need to qualify my statement that way but in this situation it does provide some context.

Being in college in the early 90’s during the vanguard of identity politics and the multi-culturalism, I was openly encouraged to treat incidents like this as forums to highlight injustice. But I also know that there isn’t a person here that didn’t come to see the other side of political correctness and begin to view it with some suspicion.

My feeling as a “minority” is that the last generation has seen enormous change in these ‘little things’ that were once commonplace and what you experienced has become an exception where it was once the rule.

That sales agent lost a potential sale to a family that was more than likely very well qualified. Period. End of story.

I’m on this board because I have a friend in Colorado who has been a very successful RE investor and is trying to help me get started here … in this emerging “investor’s” market.

The last thing I expected to see was a post like this.

I also have close friends in the Oceanside/Leucadia area and my experience is that Carlsbad is something of a … “wh*t*br**d” community. There, I said the “W” word. Please don’t go all Don Imus on me.

These things cut both ways. If you ever happen to go to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in LA (where they happen to serve amazing waffles) and are “white” you will likely experience the same thing. Let’s agree split the difference and move on …

[Critter]

I’ve heard about another case where a couple was asked if “they were sure they could afford these homes” when they looked at a subdivision. This was back in the heyday of 2005 – they left being miffed at the sales rep, but looking back I think she did them a favor because now they may well have been upside down…

“If they could have been able to afford it” then.

Lesson is, don’t judge by appearances, today’s bum may be tomorrow’s millionaire. And vice-versa!

[lniles]

W Word? What’s that? Wh*br*d isn’t something I’ve heard or would be offended by if you spelled it out so please do. Is it wheat bread? Or white/inbred or something?

Anyway, I am white and went to an open house which was selling for a price well under what I can afford. I do go around in shorts/t-shirt and the REA looked me up and down and said “you kids go ahead and play around”. I was shocked because A) I’m 36, B) A REA had the gall to greet someone rudely in this market C) Anyone with any brains in today’s world knows not to judge anything or any one by appearance.

That was a house in NW Mira Mesa for $600k-something. The REA looked Filipina. The next day after playing at the beach all morning I went- covered in sand and with my dog- to an open house in La Jolla for $1M and the white agent there was super-nice and served us cookies.

[Alex_angel]

Most of these sales ladies are mid aged white women transplanted from the mid-west. They just don’t know any better and when they see a black person they can’t put 2 and 2 together to realize that they have money like everyone else.

As for the asian person above who stated that the Pardee homes sales people jumped to help. I know the sales ladies you are talking about and have seen it first hand where an Asian family walks in and she will drop whomever she is talking with whether they are white or black. She knows that the Asian families are still buying and will ignore everyone else who are day dreaming for a new home. I find at times that there will be no one in the model and the sales people can barely lift themselves out of the couch to greet me. They are pathetic in the 4S Ranch homes. They try to label you as a buyer or window shopper and only then will they try to talk to you. Lately they all have been major POS with their customer service.

[Anonymous]

The “W” word was a joke … tongue in cheek. I meant to say – whitebread – and wasn’t sure if it would offend anyone. But I went and said it anyway.

If you think about it, REAs live or die based on their image and appearance of professionalism. So they are probably more likely to be somewhat petty and shallow when it comes to things like casual dress. Not saying it applies across the board but more of as a tendency.

[lniles]

Sorry to digress. Thanks for the clarification on whitebread. I like "whitebread" but the ol' standard "cracker" seems to be making a comeback too.

[Critter]

Iniles, you crack me up!!

[Anonymous]

It is very hard to talk about these things without Al Sharpton getting involved.

I would say Whitebread doesn’t carry a negative connotation like Cracker. Orange County is whitebread. That’s not a bad thing. Its a very nice place to live. Riverside … not so much.

[bub]

You can call me white bread or you can call me white trash or you can call me cracker.

Just DON”T call me Sir! I’m not that old!

[Author]

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