What NAR wants consumers to know about fair housing
Everyone involved in a transaction must steer clear of discriminatory practices, says NAR, warning sellers not to direct their agents to avoid certain buyers.
The National Association of Realtors is continuing its consumer education campaign, this time with a primer on fair housing.
The big picture: "Discrimination hurts all sides of a home transaction," NAR states in the one-page guide, adding that both consumers and agents "depend on strong fair housing laws and practices for our communities and economy to thrive."
What NAR wants buyers to know: Whether or not a buyer is a member of a federally defined protected class, they should receive the same level of service from their agent — and from all parties with a stake in the transaction, including "the seller, the seller's agent, appraisers, lenders, and others involved in your home search and purchase."
NAR also nods to race-based steering — an issue the real estate and lending industries have reckoned with in recent years — noting that buyers "should also expect your agent to provide you with home options in your price range regardless of the racial or ethnic composition of neighborhoods."
What sellers can't do: Don't discriminate against a buyer based on their protected class, NAR clearly states, and warns sellers not to "instruct your agent to conduct a sale any differently" depending on the buyer's race, sex or other characteristics, or "advertise your home to just one or to a limited number of groups."
How agents support fair housing: Agents must follow the law, and they also must abide by the Realtor Code of Ethics, NAR explains. That means they are obligated to "provide equal professional services to all consumers" and "must not discuss the demographic composition of a neighborhood, advertise a property in a way that indicates any preference, limitations, or discrimination for a prohibited reason."
In 2023, the National Association of Realtors began mandating fair housing training for all of its members. The topic of fair housing has also emerged as a prominent discussion point in what has become a heated debate over NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy over the past month.
A steady stream of consumer info: NAR began ramping up its consumer outreach efforts over the summer with information about upcoming industry practice changes, and has since published numerous resources, including seller guides on agent pay, concessions and the choice to list (or not) on the MLS, as well as a buyer guide on compensation and negotiation.