At PropStream, we believe every person should have fair and equal access to housing,
whether they’re renting or buying a property.
Everyone should have the opportunity to live or invest in a safe property free of discrimination. Because of this, we are proud supporters of the Fair Housing Act and are committed to helping the real estate professionals who use our platform understand what fair housing means.
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law implemented in 1968 to follow the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prevents discrimination of protected classes when renting or buying a property which can include obtaining a mortgage, getting housing assistance, and more.
The Fair Housing Act supports people based on these protected classes:
Because of the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to perform any of the following actions based on any of the criteria listed above:
And more (find the full list here).
If you’re a real estate professional involved with any stage of the transaction (e.g., agent, investor, lender, appraiser, property manager, title company agent, broker), it’s important to be aware of the laws and regulations set forth by the Fair Housing Act to avoid accidentally violating them.
To become familiar with the laws and regulations that impact you as a real estate pro, we recommend reading through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s resources. To help you get started, we’ve included a few links:
While fair housing is managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on a federal level, individual states may have specific requirements related to fair housing as well. We recommend researching state laws regarding equitable and fair housing for all buyers and renters as well.