Fair housing is the right to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination. Federal, state, and local fair housing laws protect people from discrimination in housing transactions such as rentals, sales, lending, and insurance.
Equal opportunity gives equal access to all persons and grants the “equal opportunity” when it comes to renting or purchasing.
- The Fair Housing Act protects homebuyers from discrimination as they get a mortgage, rent a home, buy a home, seek housing assistance, or participate in other housing-related activities.
- The Fair Housing Act prevents discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or familial status.
- REALTORS® can reference NAR's Code of Ethics for information on upholding fair housing ideals.
NAR opposes discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. This policy is embodied in NAR's Code of Ethics. NAR also authorizes sanctions in response to a finding that a member has violated any fair housing law, including local and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. NAR policy is to support equal opportunity on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and the NAR Code of Ethics was amended in 2010 and 2013, to include this updated policy in the Code of Ethics.
