Real Estate Articles

REALTOR®: April is Fair Housing Month

Forty years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act, Realtors continue to be outspoken advocates for fair housing, working with home buyers and sellers to ensure they receive equal access to affordable housing and homeownership.

The Fair Housing Act protects the basic right of all Americans to pursue the dream of homeownership, free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin. The National Association of REALTORS® and the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® remain strongly committed to fair housing for all Americans.

“NAR and its 1.3 million members pledge to continue our work educating home buyers and homeowners in our communities about fair housing laws, discrimination and predatory lending practices, making the dream of homeownership viable for all Americans,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Richard Gaylord.

Leanna Hunt, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS, said “Realtors play a vital role in ensuring fair housing for all. They work with buyers and sellers to see that they enjoy the benefits of a housing market that is free from discrimination.”

Hunt said Realtors are working with Congress to make the new FHA and conforming loan limits mandated by the economic stimulus package permanent, so Americans can access affordable financing in all areas of the country, especially in high cost areas like Silicon Valley. Realtors are pushing for a more flexible FHA program, to give more first-time home buyers access to affordable and safe financing options.

Hunt, who is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Palo Alto, said cities have municipal ordinances that require a given share of new construction be affordable to people with low to moderate incomes.

“We are continuing to interface with all municipalities to encourage them to help identify sites for more affordable housing,” said Hunt. “The problem is so much of our value is in the land alone, but certain communities have inclusionary zoning policies which help provide a wider range of housing options than the market provides on its own.”

SILVAR Realtors are also sensitive to meeting the homeownership needs of the region’s diverse society and advancing minority homeownership, said Hunt. The association’s Cultural Diversity and Equal Opportunity Committee offers and promotes variety of programs to help members understand the needs of the diverse groups in the region.

Hunt said buyers or renters who believe they have experienced discrimination, may file a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Complaints must be filed within one year of the alleged discrimination.
 

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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