Okay...I know in my profile I stated that I wouldn't bore everyone with RE stats...mortgage rates, etc. But, I came across another blog just a bit ago, and it got me thinking about the real estate laws in other states. It was interesting that in Michigan, a handicap or disability are defined differently than they are in Florida.
In Florida, with regard to real estate ONLY, I could not find in our statutes anything that breaks down handicaps into sub categories. Here, we adhere to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination when selling or renting residential property when based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap status (physical or mental), familial status, or national origin. ("FRESH CORN" was our memory tool to help us remember these seven classes (less the vowels)). No where does it state that the type of handicap could be in question.
In Michigan, as per the blog I read, the state defines the word "disability" in a whole new way, with regard to a real estate transaction.
As a woman who is married to someone that is disabled, I am really disturbed that in some states disabilities can be scrutinized <<in a real estate transaction>>. I won't go into detail about my husband's disability, but it would seem to me that discriminating against someone with ANY disability should be against federal law! In Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, no one in these seven protected classes can be discriminated against.
I wonder, since I am not an attorney, or a resident of the State of Michigan, what type of legal system they have. If disabilities can be scrutinized, what else are they doing? Maybe people of certain height and weight will be next? It's a terrible thing when a disability can be used against you. I am truly not belittling the people of the state of Michigan, really I'm not.
I guess I will stay in Florida. It is warm here, and I won't have to worry that my husband's disability will keep us from buying or renting a house (if we ever needed to do so).
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