April is Fair Housing month and there is no better time to remind everyone (including For Sale by Owners) that Fair Housing is not just a concept, is not just the right thing to do, but it is also a law that applies to everyone – not just REALTORS.
From HUD.gov:
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).
Read the entire Fair Housing Act
The following information is also provided by HUD:
What Is Prohibited by the Fair Housing Act?
In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap:
- Refuse to rent or sell housing
- Refuse to negotiate for housing
- Make housing unavailable
- Deny a dwelling
- Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
- Provide different housing services or facilities
- Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
- For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
- Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.
It’s sad and unfortunate in this day and age that there are still sellers who don’t want “certain people” to purchase their homes.
Consider this your official reminder that the only color that matters during a home sale is green – can the purchaser afford to buy your home on terms that are acceptable to you both.
For more information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!
