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Homebuyers, Know Your Rights, Pending Changes to the Hosuing Law:

 

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, ornational 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 homebuyer statistics, warning signs of housing discrimination when buying a home, steps to take/resources to contact if facing a situation of housing discrimination, and a few frequently asked questions. If fearing discrimination in the homebuying process, the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) has agents to assist in the process: https://naglrep.com/?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed. If one also fears discrimination in obtaining a mortgage lender, one can contact their local Fair Housing Authority:https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners/FHAP/agencies?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed  

LBGTQ Homebuyers: Know Your Rights

Certain warning signs for LGBTQ-buyers include:

• A mortgage lender who isn’t upfront about rates,

• A real estate agent who refuses to represent you and does not state why,

• A seller who suddenly claims their house is off the market,

• Financing is difficult to obtain, especially compared to nearby non-LGBTQ

couples, and

• Being turned away from a rental property that still contains vacancies.

If facing housing discrimination, one can take action in the following ways:

• File a complaint with HUD online or call 800-669-9777 (or 800-877-8339 for hearing

impaired): https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online[1][1]complaint?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed.

• File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau online: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed.

• Call the Lambda Legal help desk: https://lambdalegal.org/helpdesk/?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed.

• Contact a local American Civil Liberties Union: https://www.aclu.org/about/affiliates?mf_ct_campaign=yahoo-synd-feed.

Statistics on LGBTQ homebuyers:

• LGBTQ buyers are more likely to be purchasing a home for the first time compared to non-LGBTQ buyers (National Association of Realtors).

• 46% of LGBTQ renters fear discrimination when purchasing a home (NAGLREP).

• LGBTQ buyers mortgage approval rates were 3-8% lower than non-LGBTQ buyers

in 2019 (Iowa State University).

• LGBTQ buyers paid more for financing ($86 million per year, collectively), than non[1][1]LGBTQ buyers (Iowa State University).

• The LGBTQ homeownership rate is 49%, compared to the national average of 66%

(NAGLREP).

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