I thought it would be good to pass along some tips to help you stay in compliance with the Fair Housing laws. As you are aware, a Fair Housing complaint can be filed against you if you do not comply. Hope these tips help.

8 Tips for Fair Housing Compliance

1. Educate sellers about fair housing laws and explain what they mean in the transaction.

2. Treat all prospective buyers in substantially the same way. Use the same approach and manner to greet people, show homes, qualify prospects, obtain listings, conduct open houses, present purchase offers, keep records, and follow up with prospects.

3. Use forms or checklists to standardize the questions you ask and the information you request from prospective buyers.

4. Market your property to a diverse group of prospective buyers. Avoid using exclusionary words or pictures. Any marketing plan that indicates a preference or limitation or discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin violates the Fair Housing Act.

5. Allow prospective buyers to select their own preferred neighborhoods. Never "steer" prospects toward or away from any neighborhood, however subtly. Offer every prospect a variety of housing choices.

6. Contact local fair housing organizations and REALTOR^® associations for information about fair housing compliance and compliance self-testing. Fair housing guidance is posted online at NAR's Library at www.realtor.org/library/index.html; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and The National Fair Housing Advocate.

7. Be vocal and proactive in expressing your own personal commitment to fair housing.

8. Include a statement in your advertising stating that your company doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status. A statement isn't absolute protection against liability for noncompliance, but it can be used as evidence of your company's commitment to fair housing.

TIP: You can't control the prejudices of others, but discriminating in any way, even at the request of a seller, is illegal. If a seller wants you to discriminate, walk away from the transaction.

Remember, if an action has the EFFECT of discrimination, no matter how innocent the INTENT, you could be found guilty of violating the Fair Housing laws. So be aware, act ethically, and treat everyone the same. And I hope you'll never have a Fair Housing complaint filed against you.

See you next week.

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