An equal housing opportunity statement

By Joe Zekas

Services for Real Estate Pros with YoChicago / New Homes Magazine

February 11, 2007 01:21 AM

I'm somewhat stunned by my inability to locate a fair housing statement here. I've tried, and I can't.

So, at least on my own behalf, I'm supplying a variation of the one I use on my other sites.

I'm doing that as a firm statement that I detest the express and implied religious preferences that others express here, and my participation here in no way implies support or approval for them. Those preferences have no place in a public real estate venue - our society as a whole disclaims them.

The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination." It is illegal to advertise discriminatory terms or conditions, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Applicable state and local laws may also make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, citizenship, marital status, military discharge status, presence of minor children, pregnancy, sexual preference, source of income, student status, and other personal characteristics.

You should consult your personal attorney as to the applicability of these laws and of any exceptions that might apply to you or your advertising. It may, for example, be acceptable for a person advertising for a roommate to state a gender preference.

I support both the letter and the spirit of these laws.

Complaints alleging housing discrimination may be filed with your local fair housing office or the nearest office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or by calling HUD's toll free number, 1-800-699-9777 (voice), or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD). HUD may also be contacted on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/atyourservice.cfm.

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Blanca Cholewczynski

U - Oak Brook, IL

XCO

Joe, I have the ECOA logo in my profile. I wasn't sure if I had to also add the statement on it, do you think is more effective to put a post about it or just one disclosure in your profile should be enough?

Feb 11, 2007 02:25 AM

Joe Zekas

YoChicago / New Homes Magazine - Chicago, IL

Blanca,

Looks to me like it's covered in your profile.

I'm reassured to see that some people are thinking of this issue, although it's more appropriately handled at a site-wide level. We can't all be alert all the time.

Just a disclaimer that I stopped practicing law 30 years ago.

Feb 11, 2007 06:17 AM

Joe Zekas

YoChicago / New Homes Magazine - Chicago, IL

If you don't grasp the concept that calling yourself the "Christian Real Estate Network" is advertising a discriminatory preference, you need more than an explanation of my position from me.

You need a remedial reading program, for starters. And, you very badly need a competent attorney.

Your whole reason for existence, as you make clear in your "about us," is to "assist people in finding Christian real estate agents..." You have a letter from your president - does your president have a name? Do you have a name?

I have a serious problem with any form of discrimination, not just religious discrimination.

What's off limits is not a question of what's in my mind. It's a matter of law. You should familiarize yourself with the law and the prevailing interpretations of it. You should have done that long ago.

I'd be happy to assist you to this extent: provide me with your name and address and I'll have HUD and the Department of Justice contact you and explain the fair housing laws to you. Tell me what real estate boards you and your members belong to, and I'll have them contact you and give you an education.

If you're unwilling to provide that information, I'll assume that you're not just in business to discriminate, but that you're ignorant scum. I suspect you already know what the law is, and don't give a damn about it. That's what accounts for your studied and thorough anonymity.

Am I the only one here who finds it shocking that AR hasn't shut this person's account down?

Feb 11, 2007 04:05 PM

Joe Zekas

YoChicago / New Homes Magazine - Chicago, IL

Justin,

My post was not directed solely, or even primarily against you. If you've read my posts, as you've seen from my comments, I don't operate by indirection.

Of course I read your post on "affinity marketing." Call it whatever you want, I believe you're engaged in illegal discrimination. You assist people who only want to work with Christians, and you're not discrimianting?

You've told me who you are and where you are. According to the state of California licensee lookup site "Justin Smith" does not hold a real estate license. CREN does. Are you also the corporate president or just president of the "network?"

You seem to be marketing oriented. Curious that you're not touting your RE/MAX "clearances" on your site. If you are, I couldn't find it. Curious that you didn't cite your HUD review in the forums on your site where fair housing issues were raised and given the same fuzzy evasion you're giving here.

I have no interest in any dialog with bigots of any sort, including religious bigots, especially bigots who have difficulty understanding plain English: "advertise any preference ..."

I have no interest in having my posts soiled with your bigotry.

What else is assisting people who want to do business only with Christians than aiding people who refuse to do business with an agent because s/he's Jewish or Muslim or Hindu? Assisting bigotry is bigotry, and it's disgusting.

You're repulsive and I would prefer that I never hear from you again. I will delete any further comments you make on any of my other posts, as I've noted on another post you soiled. The service you offer has no place in our society, and will have no place on my posts. It makes my flesh crawl to think that I could be a venue for your marketing.

You can continue to comment here if you wish, where my position on you is clear. I will not respond further.

Feb 11, 2007 05:53 PM

Joe Zekas

YoChicago / New Homes Magazine - Chicago, IL

To all ActiveRainers,

I began this post with a simple statement of the fair housing laws that embody the spirit of America, and which almost all of us now take for granted. I don't view the principle of fairness embodied in those laws as debatable in any way. That principle is an article of faith to me, but not, as you can see to all.

In the 60s, in Milwaukee, I participated in a number of open housing marches led by a courageous priest, Father James Groppi, who remains to this day one of my heroes. I watched religious people of all faiths being spat upon and subjected to ugly, racist epithets, and ended each walk relieved that none of the rocks and bottles had hit me, and that none of the shotgun-waving whackos had gone any further than waving.

If you don't understand the ugly reality that's often behind the innocuous-sounding preferences expressed above and elsewhere here, you need to find someone who can explain it to you.

Feb 12, 2007 12:21 AM

Tim Maitski

Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage - Atlanta, GA

Truth, Excellence and a Good Deal

Joe, I read this initially before the exchange got started. I came back here after I read your post that you are leaving because of this. I just wanted to chime in to voice my opinion.

I grew up in a Catholic family and I married a Jew. I see first hand how offensive it is to put yourself out as a Jewish agent or a Christian agent. Personally, I avoid anyone who uses religion as a basis for attracting business.

I think the Fair Housing Laws are pretty clear. They are there for a reason. There might be some technicalities about how to get around the spirit of the law but I think that is a huge cop out. My teachings say that you can say that you are a Christian but you can't say that you are a Chistian real estate agent. I don't like either one. Housing is a special area where the spirit of the law is to create equal housing and to not have anything having to do with certain protected groups come into play in the process.

I did a post a few months back about a ficticious group called SWEARA, Straight White European American Realtor Association, agents who know all about white people and want to network with other white people. Christian Real Estate Network to me is the exact same thing, offensive and inappropriate in the housing industry.

Feb 15, 2007 01:16 AM

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers

Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ

Coldwell Banker Realty

Joe - This may come as a surprise / shock to you - but I wholeheartedly agree with your position on this. Of course, I wouldn't have delivered the message in the same way! :-) Tony

Feb 15, 2007 12:20 PM

Joe Zekas

YoChicago / New Homes Magazine - Chicago, IL

Tony,

It comes as no surprise at all that you believe in fairness. My sense of that is why I reached out to you further.

Feb 15, 2007 12:46 PM