Fair housing is more than just a legal obligation. Fair housing is a cornerstone of ethical real estate practice. As a REALTOR®, your responsibility is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to housing opportunities, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or other protected characteristics under federal, state, and local laws. Upholding fair housing standards not only builds trust with clients but also strengthens the reputation of the real estate profession as a whole. There are many ways to be sure that you are upholding fair housing laws, but these are just some of the best fair housing practices every REALTOR® should follow.
Become Familiar with the Law
Familiarize yourself with the Fair Housing Act, as well as any applicable state and local fair housing laws. The federal law prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes, but state and local laws often expand protections. Keeping current with legislation and legal interpretations is essential for compliance.
Create a Game Plan for Everything
Make sure to create and follow a protocol for working with all clients. This includes consistent methods for things such as pre-qualifying buyers or renters, providing property listings, responding to inquiries, conducting showings, and more. Consistency helps avoid unintentional discrimination and protects you legally and ethically, while making sure that you give your clients their best possible experience.
Be Aware of Language
Be cautious with the language used in marketing materials, listings, and conversations. Describing homes using terms like “perfect for families,” or “safe neighborhood,” although they may seem harmless and like valuable information to buyers, can be seen as discriminatory or suggest preferences and biases that you may have as an individual. Instead, focus on objective property features, such as “three-bedroom home with fenced yard,” or “located in a gated community,” to help buyers see how the home could be perfect for them. Avoid marketing in a way that suggests a property is suitable only for certain groups.
Continue Your Education
Fair housing compliance isn’t a one-time lesson. Engage in ongoing training to stay informed about evolving best practices and implicit bias awareness. NEFAR offers several fair housing courses, as do Florida Realtors, and the National Association of REALTORS. In April alone, NEFAR has already hosted two fair housing-related courses, with two more to come (At Home with Diversity on April 29 & Expanding Housing Opportunities on April 30).
Create and Inclusive Marketing Plan
Ensure marketing and advertising efforts reach a broad and diverse audience. Use inclusive imagery and multiple advertising platforms to avoid appearing to target or exclude specific groups. Specifically, posting on all different social media platforms makes it a lot easier to reach audiences of a variety of age groups, cultures, etc.
Work to Identify Implicit Bias
We all carry unconscious biases. Being aware of these and actively working to decrease their influence in your professional behavior can dramatically improve client interactions and decision-making. Do your best to identify your own personal biases and make a conscious effort to educate yourself to remain neutral on matters that you may not have a full understanding of or be able to relate to. There are also courses you can take, such as NAR’s Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing, that can help you with this.
At the end of the day, fair housing is not just about avoiding discrimination. It’s about creating an inclusive, respectful, and professional environment where every client feels welcomed and valued. By adopting these practices, REALTORS® not only stay compliant but also become champions of equitable housing opportunities for all. Demonstrate a commitment to fair housing to influence clients, colleagues, and community members, to do the same.
