Buying and selling real estate is one of the most significant events that any one person will experience in their lifetime. It is for this reason that the Fair Housing Act and other laws were enacted to guarantee that no one is discriminated in any real estate transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

VanderMorgan Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act, which generally prohibits discrimination in the housing market; and we fully support and promote the absence of such discrimination.

All parties involved in a real estate transaction, including the Seller, Buyer, and Real Estate Professional have rights and responsibilities under the law.


The Home Seller

As a home seller or landlord, you have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed broker or salesperson acting as your agent to convey for you any limitations in the sale or rental because the real estate professional is also bound by law not to discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental; deny that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.


The Home Buyer

You have the right to expect that housing will be available to you without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

This includes the right to expect: 
Housing in your price range made available to you without discrimination; 
Equal professional service; 
The opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices; 
No discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing; 
No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing; 
Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities; 
Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling; and 
To be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights 

The Real Estate Professional

Agents in a real estate transaction are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. A request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional.


If You Suspect Discrimination

Call the Local Board of REALTORS® - Local Boards of REALTORS® will accept complaints alleging violations of the Code of Ethics filed by a home seeker who alleges discriminatory treatment in the availability, purchase or rental of housing. Local Boards of REALTORS® have a responsibility to enforce the Code of Ethics through professional standards procedures and corrective action in cases where a violation of the Code of Ethics is proven to have occurred.

Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the nearest office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or by calling HUD's toll free numbers, 1-800-669-9777 (voice), or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD).


Read more about the Fair Housing Act by visiting HUD's website at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm.