Each year, REALTORS® set aside the month of April to observe National Fair Housing Month. The National Association of REALTORS® works to help create an environment where everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, or national origin, can understand and exercise their rights to choose where they want to live as they seek the American dream of homeownership.
Members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® are also members of NAR and are firmly committed to America's policy of fair housing. "By expanding marketing efforts to reach all populations, valuing diversity, becoming experts on housing programs, and being active in our communities, REALTORS® are on the front lines in making the promise of the Fair Housing Act a reality," said Julia Truesdale Keady, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, all ensure fair housing for everyone. State and local laws also provide broader coverage and prohibit discrimination based on additional classes not covered by federal law.
Home sellers and landlords, home seekers and real estate professionals should all be aware of laws that protect against discrimination and of specific requirements under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Home sellers or landlords cannot instruct the licensed broker or salesperson to convey any limitations in the sale or rental because the real estate professional is also bound by law not to discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental; deny that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
A prospective buyer has the right to expect that housing will be available without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. This includes the right to expect housing in your price range made available to you without discrimination; equal professional service; the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices; no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing; no discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing; reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities; non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling; and to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising fair housing rights.
Real estate professionals are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTORS® conduct their business and activities in accordance with a strict Code of Ethics, which imposes obligations upon them and is also a firm statement of support for equal opportunity in housing.
"REALTORS® cannot legally comply with a request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental," according to Keady.
"Fair housing means opening the doors to homeownership for everyone in America whose goal it is to own a home, regardless of their race, creed, educational or even religious background. REALTORS® are committed to doing just that," added Keady, who is a REALTOR® with Alain Pinel Realtors in Palo Alto.
Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the nearest office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or by contacting HUD at http://www.hud.gov.
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 email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.