What Everyone Should Know About Equal Housing Opportunity
The sale and purchase of a home is one
of the most significant events that an individual will
experience in their lifetime. It is more than a simple
purchase of housing, for it directly impacts the hopes,
dreams, aspirations, and economic destiny of those involved.
It is for this reason that the Fair Housing Act and other
federal and state laws were enacted to guarantee a right to a
national housing market free from discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and
national origin.
The Law
All real estate advertised herein is
subject to the law. All persons are hereby informed that all
properties advertised on RealtyToWeb.com are available on an
equal housing opportunity basis.
The Code of Ethics
Article 10 of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS® Code
of Ethics provides that REALTORS® shall not deny
equal professional services to any person for reasons of race,
color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national
origin. REALTORS®
shall not be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate
against a person or persons on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
A REALTOR®
pledges to conduct business in keeping up with the spirit and
letter of the Code of Ethics. Article 10 imposes obligations
upon REALTORS®
and is also a firm statement of support for equal
opportunity in housing.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits
all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of
property.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a national
policy of fair housing throughout the United States. The law
makes illegal any discrimination in the sale, rental of housing,
or in any other type of real estate transaction because of race, color, religion,
sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with
disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial
facilities.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes
discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit
application on the basis of race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the
applicant's income derives from any public assistance
program.
State and Local Laws
State and local laws often provide
broader coverage and prohibit discrimination based on
additional classes not covered by federal law.
The Responsibilities for the Seller, Buyer
and Realtor
The seller, buyer, and realtor all have
rights and responsibilities under the law.
For the Seller
The seller or landlord has a
responsibility and a requirement under the law not to
discriminate in the sale, rental or financing of property on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial
status, or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed
broker or salesperson acting as your agent to convey for you
any limitations in the sale or rental, because the real estate
professional is also bound by law not to discriminate. Under
the law, a seller or landlord cannot establish discriminatory
terms or conditions in the sale, rental or falsely 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.
For the Buyer
As a buyer you have the right to expect
that housing will be available to you without discrimination
or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, or national origin.
For the Agent
An Agent in any real estate transaction
is prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national
origin. A request from the seller or landlord to act in a
discriminatory manner in connection with a sale or rental of real property cannot
legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional.
