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lzinga

US Government Open Data MCP

hud_fair_market_rents

Read-only

Retrieve HUD Fair Market Rents for any county, metro area, or state to determine Section 8 voucher amounts. Shows monthly rent by bedroom count from efficiency to four bedrooms.

Instructions

Get HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) for a county, metro area, or entire state. Shows monthly rent by bedroom count (efficiency through 4-bedroom). FMR determines Section 8 voucher amounts.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
stateNoTwo-letter state code for state-wide FMR data (e.g. CA, TX)
entity_idNoCounty FIPS or CBSA code for specific area FMR (get from hud_list_counties)
yearNoFiscal year (e.g. 2024). Defaults to current year.
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations indicate readOnlyHint=true, which is consistent. The description adds context about the data content (bedroom counts, Section 8) but does not disclose behavioral traits like pagination, rate limits, or data freshness. Adds some value beyond annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences efficiently convey purpose and usage context. Front-loaded with the verb 'Get' and resource, no wasted words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given no output schema, the description provides useful context about the output (monthly rent by bedroom count) and application (Section 8 vouchers). However, it could be more explicit about output structure and year parameter behavior.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, so the description adds no new parameter meaning. It repeats that entity_id can come from hud_list_counties, which is already in the schema. Baseline score of 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states it retrieves HUD Fair Market Rents for a geographic area and specifies the data includes monthly rent by bedroom count. It is specific about the resource and function, though it does not differentiate from sibling tools like hud_list_counties.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description does not provide guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives, nor does it mention prerequisites or limitations. For example, it does not direct the user to first obtain entity_id from hud_list_counties.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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