April is Fair Housing month

The Fair Housing Act, enacted in 1968, has been recognized every April by the National Association of Realtors through events and educational initiatives that shed light on housing discrimination and segregation. Fair Housing Month serves as a renewed commitment from Realtors nationwide to promoting equal access to housing opportunities.

Accountability, Culture and Training (ACT)
The National Association of Realtors remains a leading advocate for Fair Housing. On January 8, 2020, its leadership convened in Washington and unanimously approved the latest Fair Housing Action Plan.

The Association reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Fair Housing for all in the following press release, outlining the key elements of the plan and its vision for 2020 and beyond. The plan, released by NAR in 2020, states:

NAR’s latest Fair Housing Action Plan, abbreviated ‘ACT,’ emphasizes (A)ccountability, (C)ulture Change, and (T)raining in order to ensure America’s 1.4 million Realtors are doing everything possible to protect housing rights in America.  Among other things, the plan specifically commits NAR to:

• Work closely with State Association Executives to ensure that state licensing laws include effective fair-housing training requirements and hold real estate agents accountable to their fair housing obligations;
• Launch a Public-Service Announcement Campaign that reaffirm NAR’s commitment to fair housing, and how consumers can report problems;
• Integrate fair housing into all Realtor conferences and engagements (to include a fair housing theme throughout the May Midyear Meeting;
• Explore the creation of a voluntary self-testing program, in partnership with a fair housing organization, as a resource for brokers and others who want confidential reports on agent practices so they can address problems;
• Create more robust fair housing education, including unconscious-bias training, and education on how the actions of Realtors shape communities.
• Conduct a national study to determine what factors motivate discrimination in sales market
• Profile leaders who exemplify the best fair housing practices and workplace diversity
• Develop materials to help Realtors provide consumers with information on schools that avoids fair housing pitfalls.

Fair Housing History in the Realtor Organization
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) was founded in 1908. In 1913, it introduced the Realtor Code of Ethics, aiming to uphold a standard of professionalism comparable to that of doctors and attorneys at the time.

Obtaining a real estate license is only the first step in launching a real estate career. While not legally required, becoming a Realtor enhances an agent’s expertise, professionalism, and industry knowledge. Those who choose to become Realtors join the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a network of over a million members nationwide. Every Realtor commits to upholding a strict Code of Ethics.

The National Association of Realtors has long been a leader in advocating for Fair Housing. Article 10 of the Code of Ethics clearly outlines a Realtor’s responsibilities and obligations in this area. As housing issues and needs evolve, the Code of Ethics is updated annually. While Realtors are required to understand and follow the code, it is equally important for the public to be aware of its principles. This ensures that consumers know what to expect in terms of service and recognize which questions a Realtor cannot ethically answer. Additionally, the Code of Ethics includes Standards of Practice that guide Realtor conduct.

Article 10 of the Realtor Code of Ethics:
Realtors shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Realtors shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

Realtors, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

• Standard of Practice 10-1
When involved in the sale or lease of a residence, Realtors shall not volunteer information regarding the racial, religious or ethnic composition of any neighborhood nor shall they engage in any activity which may result in panic selling, however, Realtors may provide other demographic information. (Adopted 1/94, Amended 1/06)

• Standard of Practice 10-2
When not involved in the sale or lease of a residence, Realtors may provide demographic information related to a property, transaction or professional assignment to a party if such demographic information is (a) deemed by the Realtor to be needed to assist with or complete, in a manner consistent with Article 10, a real estate transaction or professional assignment and (b) is obtained or derived from a recognized, reliable, independent, and impartial source. The source of such information and any additions, deletions, modifications, interpretations, or other changes shall be disclosed in reasonable detail. (Adopted 1/05, Renumbered 1/06)

• Standard of Practice 10-3
Realtors shall not print, display or circulate any statement or advertisement with respect to selling or renting of a property that indicates any preference, limitations or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Adopted 1/94, Renumbered 1/05 and 1/06, Amended 1/14)

• Standard of Practice 10-4
As used in Article 10 “real estate employment practices” relates to employees and independent contractors providing real estate-related services and the administrative and clerical staff directly supporting those individuals. (Adopted 1/00, Renumbered 1/05 and 1/06)

The real estate industry is rapidly evolving in all aspects. The National Association of Realtors prioritizes Fair Housing for all and remains at the forefront of ongoing progress and improvement.

Duane graduated with a business degree and a major in real estate from the University of Colorado in 1978. He has been a Realtor^® in Boulder since that time. He joined RE/MAX of Boulder in 1982 and has facilitated over 2,500 transactions over his career. Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, e-mail duaneduggan@boulderco.com, call 303.441.5611 or boulderco.com.

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