The sale and purchase of a home is one of the most significant events thatan individual will experience in their lifetime. It is more than the simplepurchase of housing, for it directly impacts the hopes, dreams, aspirations,and economic destiny of those involved. It is for this reason that the FairHousing Act and other federal and state laws were enacted to guarantee aright to a national housing market free from discrimination based on race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the saleor rental of property.

Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughoutthe United States. The law makes illegal any discrimination in the sale,lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable, becauseof race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or nationalorigin.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discriminationagainst persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations andcommercial facilities.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respectto any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion,national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of theapplicant's income derives from any public assistance program.

State and Local Laws

State and local laws often provide broader coverage and prohibitdiscrimination based on additional classes not covered by federal law.

The home seller, the home seeker, and the real estate professional all haverights and responsibilities under the law.

For the Home Seller

As a home seller or landlord you have a responsibility and a requirementunder the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing ofproperty on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familialstatus, or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed broker orsalesperson acting as your agent to convey for you any limitations in thesale or rental because the real estate professional is also bound by law notto discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot establishdiscriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental; deny thathousing is available, or advertise that the property is available only topersons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status,or national origin.

For the Home Seeker

You have the right to expect that housing will be available to you withoutdiscrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex,handicap, familial status, or national origin.

a.. Housing in your price range made available to you withoutdiscrimination;
b.. Equal professional service;
c.. The opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices;
d.. No discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing;
e.. No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring ofhousing;
f.. Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures forpersons with disabilities;
g.. Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental,financing, or insuring of a dwelling; and
h.. To be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fairhousing rights.

For the Real Estate Professional

Agents in a real estate transaction are prohibited by law fromdiscriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,familial status, or national origin. A request from the home seller orlandlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rentalcannot legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has developed a Fair Housing Programto provide resources and guidance to REALTORS® in ensuring equalprofessional services for all people. The term REALTOR® identifies alicensed professional in real estate who is a member of the NATIONALASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Not all licensed real estate brokers andsalespersons are members of the National Association, and only those who aremay identify themselves as REALTORS®. They conduct their business andactivities in accordance with a strict Code of Ethics.

The Code of Ethics

Article 10 of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Code of Ethics providesthat "REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person forreasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, ornational origin. REALTORS® shall not be a party to any plan or agreement todiscriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color,religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin."

A REALTOR® pledges to conduct business in keeping with the spirit and letterof the Code of Ethics. Article 10 imposes obligations upon REALTORS® and isalso a firm statement of support for equal opportunity in housing.

Call the Local Board of REALTORS®

Local Boards of REALTORS® will accept complaints alleging violations of theCode of Ethics filed by a home seeker who alleges discriminatory treatmentin the availability, purchase or rental of housing. Local Boards ofREALTORS® have a responsibility to enforce the Code of Ethics throughprofessional standards procedures and corrective action in cases where aviolation of the Code of Ethics is proven to have occurred.

Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the nearestoffice of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD), or by calling HUD's toll free numbers, 1-800-669-9777 (voice), or1-800-543-8294 (TDD).