Mack,
Anti Steering Laws came out of racially based discrimination. While "single young professionals' may not be a recognized or protected class, I worry as you do if I said, "neighborhood X or Y would be a good choice" if someone with an agenda may want to create an issue.
Personally, I prefer to play it safe and either avoid the questions or ask them what type of neighborhood would appeal to them. If they said, downtown, clubs & bars, lots of activity, I'd say "you might like Belltown." This would be based on other factors than age or status.

Is the "What are some of the more popular areas of (wherever) for young single professionals to live" a question that anyone can ask? Over the past 60 days I see that same exact question being asked about LOTS of Cities (San Diego, Honolulu, Detroit, Miami, etc.) and the question is identical - "I have the option of 2 cities... I work from home so commute isn't an issue", nearly verbatim from one question to the next. Do you think they are even real questions?

Unfortunately Mack someone can always make a case and take legal action when we attempt to help describe properties or areas suitable for specific groups categorized or described by age. Like you I am very defensive and as innocent that this statement could be it could be contrived by someone that has an axe to grind to prove otherwise. It may be for the same reason in the near distant future the question describing more popular areas for families with children fall under the same category? I hope not
As for now criteria describing price, size, type of property are sure bets and are no risk to agents adding "and we have many fine communities to choose from you only need to select the one that meets your needs best.

Unfortunately Mack someone can always make a case and take legal action when we attempt to help describe properties or areas suitable for specific groups categorized or described by age. Like you I am very defensive and as innocent that this statement could be it could be contrived by someone that has an axe to grind to prove otherwise. It may be for the same reason in the near distant future the question describing more popular areas for families with children fall under the same category? I hope not
As for now criteria describing price, size, type of property are sure bets and are no risk to agents adding "and we have many fine communities to choose from you only need to select the one that meets your needs best.

Unfortunately Mack someone can always make a case and take legal action when we attempt to help describe properties or areas suitable for specific groups categorized or described by age. Like you I am very defensive and as innocent that this statement could be it could be contrived by someone that has an axe to grind to prove otherwise. It may be for the same reason in the near distant future the question describing more popular areas for families with children fall under the same category? I hope not
As for now criteria describing price, size, type of property are sure bets and are no risk to agents adding "and we have many fine communities to choose from you only need to select the one that meets your needs best.

I think that too, Shane, and a while back I was assured by Emily that Trulia doesn't seed the clouds here.

I like to think that I'm not paranoid, just imaginative, but I was thinking about a condo project here in Seattle that was bought up by a neighboring hospital, which paid the condo owners like three times market value. It isn't located where you might think singles would want to live, although it is a fine place to live. Was. Anyway - I'm just thinking that if an agent was on record as telling clients, "Oh, yeah, this part or that part," and they went to sell today and were underwater, and they saw that the owners of the project "over there" sold at double or triple what they paid for it . . .

Besides which - as the armchair urban planners that we all are - isn't there a good argument that a "young single" might benefit from living far enough away from "the crowd" so that they might have a little more privacy and maybe not have to move so quickly when they become a little less single?

I don't think so, we are simply conversing. And probably wasting time at that. Slow day, Mack? My answer--
Q; (above)
A: Often the married vs single status is not know to us as RE pros. What are you really asking? Are you young single and professional yourself?
A: Buyers may buy anywhere they choose. Do you mean, which condo complexes have a certain owner profile as to marriage status? By observation I notice that the Seattle House has people of all ages in the lobby. Not sure a RE pro can answer your question, reliably.
A: Being "Young" ergo age, is not a criteria in RE. What are you really asking? Do you want to be near young people of a certain age?
A: Professional, like what for example? Carpenters? Insurance salespeople? Pharmaceutical salespeople? Post graduate physicians? Hookers?
A: Better you should ask, where are the people buying who don't use deodorant as mattter of culture. So far not a protected class.

Thanks, Dan. I think that, while "familial status" was first included to protect people with children, that it likely extends to single people, and I'd hate to be the guy telling a judge that I steered a single person somewhere just because they were single. Or because they were young. Or gay. Or liked theater!

They're fine questions to ask. Is there a possibility that we're engaging in "steering" by answering them?

I like Annette's answer. If they are from out of town and the are young single professionals then I think it is a logical question for them to ask.

It has made me wonder too:
Why would a prospective buyer be interested in MY opinion of the best place to live in a town:
Have they not lived there or at least visited?
Would they not be interested in where they work, send their kids to school or at least shopping and freeway access?
It seems very silly to me to ask this. Are they buying something, sight-unseen?

Mack, don't get excited, but I agree with you.

That's tricky.
Responding to such a question in this manner would be appropriate:
"Westchase, as reported by TBO Magazine, is popular with many young professionals due to it's close proximity to the Neilson complex which is home to many high tech companies employing over 8,000 workers. The pedestrian trail connecting the park to the community is viewed as a huge asset in addition to the courtyard community gathering for those after hours events.'

"Ybor, a downtown Tamp, historic community, has long been an area favorite with great restaurants, entertainment and arts. Fortune magazine reports one of the 50 fastest growing high tech companies in the nation is located there."

Injecting personal opinion my be problematic. The general public is unaware of the restrictions imposed on real estate professional in regards to commenting or good, best or safe neighborhoods.

Annette Lawrence
ReMax Realtec Group
Palm Harbor, FL