The Importance of the FHA and Protected Classes

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), familial status, and disability. The FHA applies to all housing, including rental housing, home sales, and mortgage lending.

The FHA is important because it helps to ensure that everyone has equal access to housing. This is important for home buyers and sellers because it means that they can compete on an equal playing field and that they will be treated fairly.

Here are some specific examples of how the FHA protects home buyers and sellers:

  • A landlord cannot refuse to rent to someone because of their race or religion.
  • A real estate agent cannot steer a buyer away from a certain neighborhood because of their national origin.
  • A lender cannot deny a mortgage to someone because they have a disability.

The FHA is also important because it helps to prevent housing segregation. When people are discriminated against in housing, they are more likely to live in segregated communities. This can have a number of negative consequences, such as limited access to good schools and jobs.

For home buyers, the FHA is important because it helps to ensure that they have a fair chance to find a home and that they will not be discriminated against. For home sellers, the FHA is important because it helps to ensure that they have a fair chance to sell their home and that they will not be discriminated against.

Protected Classes

The FHA protects the following classes of people:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)
  • Familial status
  • Disability

Familial status refers to having children under the age of 18 living with you. Disability refers to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against in housing, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD will investigate your complaint and, if they find that you have been discriminated against, they will work to resolve the matter.

L.A. Fisher Real Estate Investment Company and the FHA

At L.A. Fisher Real Estate Investment Company, we take the FHA very seriously. We respect the rights of all and we are committed to providing our clients with equal access to housing. We understand that the FHA is an important law that helps to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to find a home and that they will not be discriminated against.

We are proud to serve clients from all walks of life. We believe that everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable place to live. If you are looking for a real estate agent who will respect your rights and help you achieve your housing goals, please contact us today.