For real estate professionals, fair housing laws are more than just a legal requirement—they are foundational principles that define ethical practice, build client trust, and protect the integrity of the industry. From the way listings are marketed to how clients are treated, these laws shape every facet of the modern real estate market. “Real estate professionals and consumers depend on strong fair housing laws and practices for our communities and economy to thrive. Discrimination distorts the housing market and closes the door on the American dream of homeownership for qualified buyers,” says the National Association of REALTORS®.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 is the bedrock of anti-discrimination policy in real estate. It prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Later amendments added disability and familial status to the list of protected classes. Additionally, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), mandates accessibility in certain housing types and public accommodations, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ensures fair lending practices. Along with these federal-level requirements, there are various state and local ordinances, which may add further protections such as sexual orientation, source of income, or veteran status.
In addition to these laws, the Fair Housing Administration, also known as the Office of Housing within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, exists to ensure that homeownership is more accessible. “The Fair Housing Administration (FHA) works to guarantee that every person has an equal opportunity to obtain housing based on their qualifications and preferences, rather than circumstances beyond their control, by outlawing discriminatory practices like redlining, guiding, and refusing to negotiate,” says the Louisiana Association of REALTORS®. Fair housing compliance is a necessity for brokers, agents, property managers, and lenders. These essential regulations shape the market by preventing practices such as exclusionary marketing of homes, improving client-agent interactions by ensuring equal treatment of buyers, and protecting buyers and renters from discriminatory screening processes when they are being evaluated as applicants.
Along with these initiatives, NAR, requires REALTORS to utilize resources and certifications for Fair Housing Training. “REALTORS® are required to complete Fair Housing / Anti-Bias Training upon becoming a member, and every 3 years thereafter, coinciding with the Code of Ethics training timeline,” says NAR. These trainings are available through NAR, and NEFAR offers several courses such as At Home with Diversity (AHWD), Fair Housing and You, and Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing, among others. These necessary trainings will help you become a more professional REALTOR and more desirable to work with.
NAR stresses the importance of Fair Housing Laws, saying “Our economy, our communities, and the American people suffer when discrimination and segregation artificially constrain homeownership and limit the intergenerational wealth it builds. NAR is firmly committed to the enforcement of fair housing laws and to policies that remove historic and systemic barriers to homeownership for all qualified buyers.” These laws have helped and will continue to allow the real estate industry to be a better and safer space for all as long as they are being upheld.
