Fair Housing Guidelines

When buying or selling a home is more than a transaction, it is a long-term goal to create a financial future.  Agents and homeowners have the right to process transactions free from discrimination.  Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing and housing-related transactions.  This is based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability or family status. When discrimination occurs, it hurts all sides of home transactions and hinders the possibility of homeownership and creates economic inequality.  Realtors, home buyers and sellers depend on fair housing laws so communities and the economy can thrive.  A buyer and seller have the right to expect to receive professional services regardless of protected racial and ethnic characteristics.  This includes treatment from your agent, seller, appraisers, lenders and other miscellaneous people involved in buying and selling property.  Seller cannot discriminate based on buyer’s color, race, sex, national origin, religion, disability or familial status.  Also the seller cannot instruct their real estate agent to act different based prior reasons and cannot limit number of groups.  Remember realtors have a Code of Ethics which means they must provide professional services to their consumers and cannot discuss the demographic composition of neighborhoods, or advertise properties in way that indicate preference, limitations or discriminates for a prohibited reason.