This month, we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the passing of the Fair Housing Act in the United States — an act that gives all Americans the ability to have equal access to housing.
History of the Fair Housing Act
The Great Depression of the 1930s ushered in a wave of housing shortages and homelessness in America. To address this economic threat sweeping across the nation and to increase housing, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Unfortunately, the new policy gave way to housing discrimination. With the purpose of addressing these practices, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
Fair Housing Requirements
Under this act, discriminating due to a person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status in the process of buying, selling, or renting a home is prohibited. Fair housing requirements apply to property managers, owners, landlords, real estate agents, banks, mortgage lenders, and appraisers, among other housing institutions. There are 12 protected classes covered in Virginia’s Fair Housing law. In addition to the eight above, Virginia includes elderliness, disability, source of funds, and military status. The Fair Housing Office receives an average of 180 complaints each year.
REIN MLS, and our member agents, support Fair Housing for our communities, recognizing the importance of the Act and its impact on both the real estate industry and the lives that are touched. Ready to buy? We encourage you to connect with one of more than 9,000 agents to find someone you can trust to advocate for you as you navigate the real estate market. Ready to buy but you’re not sure what you can afford? Check out the mortgage calculator to help estimate possible monthly payments. Download the REIN.com app and put the power of fresh and accurate listing data in the palm of your hand. Available in the App Store and Google Play Store. For local listings you can trust, start with REIN.com.
