Fair Housing / Lending News

          Yes, believe it! Housing discrimination still exists, and housing discrimination has increased in the last few years. Discrimination in our communities continues to be a real problem. In today’s real estate business, however, it is far less evident than more than half a century ago when many people of color were barred from purchasing or renting homes in specific neighborhoods, and  women struggled to get mortgages . Discrimination is not as blatant as in the past--there is modern-day housing discrimination. A renter can return from a rental showing and wonder if the renter has been discriminated against because the apartment is suddenly no longer available or the renter is told you would be “better and happier” in a different neighborhood. That is discrimination without the direct denial we do not rent to "_____________"!  A recent study indicated that overall complaints were 5.74 percent higher in 2022 than in 2021, and the d...

  The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination in the sale, lease, purchase,   investment or loan process, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, and have recently added protection for housing discrimination based on gender  identity and sexual orientation. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)  enforces the Act through the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office (FHEO). However, the  Fair Housing Act does not protect transactions or leases involving for sale or for rent by owner  properties and some owner-occupied buildings. Currently, a bill (the “Equality Act”) is waiting  to pass the Senate, which would amend civil rights law to ban discrimination on the basis of  sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity in credit and housing, employment, public  accommodations, public education, federal funding, and the jury system. This article discusses  certain LGBTQ ho...

  A lack of knowledge by housing providers when it comes to LGBTQ housing rights: June is pride Month. A time when comminutes come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves without discrimination. In housing there is a lack of knowledge by housing providers. The Federal Fair Housing Act protects against discrimination because of Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), however many landlords continue to disregard the law or plainly are not aware of the law. Some states and local governments also protect against discrimination because of a person‘s Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation). Landlords/housing providers can learn more about the laws and obligations under the Fair Housing Act and HUD’s Equal Access Rule with respect to individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ). In 2021, President Biden issued an executive order directing all federal agencies to interpret protections against ...

From redlining to  “pinklining,” a term most people have probably never heard, is hurting women and especially women of color.  The term comes from the 1970's term   redlining . T he term used by governments, agencies, banks and other lenders to deny people of color access to mortgages and credit. Those in charge of public policy and lending practices would draw a redline around certain neighborhoods with high concentrations of minorities and deny them financing and other forms of credit if they lived within those lines. Now, more specifically lenders are using the term "pinklining" ala redlining to identify neighborhoods and deny woman of color the chance to buy homes. Is There a Gender Gap in Home Equity Loans? (investopedia.com)

The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discrimination against tenants with disabilities, and that includes infection with COVID-19. As listed below, many states and local ordinances implemented anti-discrimination laws. Covid -19 infections fall under the disability rules, thus, a potential tenant is protected from disability discrimination. The same rules apply to homeowners’ associations. They cannot force an owner to move because they have COVID-19. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/19/21296312/evictions-eviction-moratorium-chicago-coronavirus-metropolitan-tenants-organization States Banning Evictions:  Illinois  - Governor Pritzker’s order precludes evictions on residential premises. (EO No. 8 -  https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/21288-Gov._Pritzker_Stay_at_Home_Order.pdf )  (EO No. 28 -  https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-30.aspx ) Florida  - issued an order banning writs of possession. ( ...

After a three-year investigation into alleged unequal treatment toward minority homebuyers in Long Island, New York, NY state has announced proposed regulations to combat housing discrimination that would impose certain mandates on brokers, sales people and agents in the real estate industry. The regulations will require real estate brokers to inform prospective home buyers, renters, sellers, and landlords information about the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. The proposed regulations will require real estate brokers to display a notice containing the Human Rights Law protections, with information on how consumers can file complaints.  https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-york-bill-would-require-real-estate-27670/