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Course Overview
Course Overview: Fair Housing Act & Source of Income Discrimination
In today’s competitive real estate market, understanding the Fair Housing Act and Source of Income discrimination is not just important—it’s essential. This course will dive deep into these critical topics, equipping you with the knowledge to stay compliant and do business the right way.
The Fair Housing Act is non-negotiable for real estate professionals. It protects individuals in all aspects of housing, ensuring no discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. This applies to buying, selling, renting, financing—everything. We’ll break down what this means in practice, and how to avoid common pitfalls like refusing service, setting different terms, or improper advertising.
We’ll also explore Source of Income discrimination, which is becoming a significant issue across many states. While not a federally protected class, several states have made it illegal to refuse tenants based on their source of income, like housing vouchers (Section 8). Staying ahead of these evolving laws is critical to avoid costly lawsuits and protect your business.
This course includes real-world examples of major brokerages and landlords who faced legal action for non-compliance—don’t let this happen to you. Learn how to handle situations where clients give illegal instructions, and what steps you can take to ensure you and your clients remain on the right side of the law.
Key Takeaways:
• Understand the Fair Housing Act and how it applies to your daily business.
• Recognize Source of Income discrimination and how to comply with state-specific laws. • Learn practical, actionable steps to avoid non-compliance, including handling illegal instructions from clients.
• Stay up-to-date with evolving regulations and ensure your business is always protected.
TRANSCRIPTS
Hey, what’s up, everyone? Let’s talk about something that should be on every real estate professional’s radar—the Fair Housing Act and something a lot of people are sleeping on: Source of Income discrimination. This isn’t just about doing business; it’s about doing the right business. So, stick with me because this is going to be important for your career. Let me set the stage. The Fair Housing Act—if you’re in real estate, you have to know this inside and out. It’s a non-negotiable. This law protects people in all things housing—buying, selling, renting, financing—you name it. And it’s got teeth. It’s illegal to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. And yes, this applies to everything we do—no loopholes, no shortcuts. Here’s what you cannot do under any circumstance: Refuse to rent or sell to someone because of who they are, refuse to negotiate with them, set different terms, or make up excuses to block them out of the market. And here’s a big one—advertising. You can’t say or even suggest any preference based on someone’s race or background. And trust me, this applies to everyone—single-family homes, owner-occupied—you name it. You’re still under the FHA. Now, let’s talk about Source of Income discrimination, because this is where a lot of people are tripping up. Source of Income discrimination is when someone refuses to rent or sell because the buyer or renter is using something like a housing voucher—like Section 8. Now, it’s not a federally protected class, but many states have already made it illegal. And here’s the kicker—whether you know it or not, it’s on you to keep up with these laws. Let me hit you with a real-world example. Just this year in New Jersey, 27 brokerages and landlords got hit with lawsuits for refusing to rent to people using housing vouchers. Some of these are big names, and they’re now paying a massive price for not knowing or following the rules. And that could be you if you’re not staying ahead of this. So, what’s the takeaway here? Here’s what you need to do: First, if your state has Source of Income protections, you absolutely cannot refuse to rent to someone just because they’re using a housing voucher. You can’t advertise things like ‘No Section 8’ or make up excuses not to cooperate with basic program requirements like filling out paperwork or allowing inspections. That’s non-negotiable. And listen up—this is big: Your client’s bad instructions won’t protect you. If a landlord says, ‘I don’t want anyone with vouchers,’ that’s on them, but if you act on that and the law says otherwise, you’re on the hook too. We’re here to serve our clients, but not at the cost of breaking the law. Period. The rules are changing, and they’re evolving fast. You’ve got to stay sharp and stay ahead. Know your local laws. And if you’re ever unsure, tell your clients to get legal advice before making decisions on tenant selection. Fair housing isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of our industry. Stay informed, stay compliant, and keep moving forward. Let’s keep doing business the right way. Thanks for tuning in, and let’s go crush it!
In today’s competitive real estate market, understanding the Fair Housing Act and Source of Income discrimination is not just important—it’s essential. This course will dive deep into these critical topics, equipping you with the knowledge to stay compliant and do business the right way.
The Fair Housing Act is non-negotiable for real estate professionals. It protects individuals in all aspects of housing, ensuring no discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. This applies to buying, selling, renting, financing—everything. We’ll break down what this means in practice, and how to avoid common pitfalls like refusing service, setting different terms, or improper advertising.
We’ll also explore Source of Income discrimination, which is becoming a significant issue across many states. While not a federally protected class, several states have made it illegal to refuse tenants based on their source of income, like housing vouchers (Section 8). Staying ahead of these evolving laws is critical to avoid costly lawsuits and protect your business.
This course includes real-world examples of major brokerages and landlords who faced legal action for non-compliance—don’t let this happen to you. Learn how to handle situations where clients give illegal instructions, and what steps you can take to ensure you and your clients remain on the right side of the law.
Key Takeaways:
• Understand the Fair Housing Act and how it applies to your daily business.
• Recognize Source of Income discrimination and how to comply with state-specific laws. • Learn practical, actionable steps to avoid non-compliance, including handling illegal instructions from clients.
• Stay up-to-date with evolving regulations and ensure your business is always protected.
TRANSCRIPTS
Hey, what’s up, everyone? Let’s talk about something that should be on every real estate professional’s radar—the Fair Housing Act and something a lot of people are sleeping on: Source of Income discrimination. This isn’t just about doing business; it’s about doing the right business. So, stick with me because this is going to be important for your career. Let me set the stage. The Fair Housing Act—if you’re in real estate, you have to know this inside and out. It’s a non-negotiable. This law protects people in all things housing—buying, selling, renting, financing—you name it. And it’s got teeth. It’s illegal to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. And yes, this applies to everything we do—no loopholes, no shortcuts. Here’s what you cannot do under any circumstance: Refuse to rent or sell to someone because of who they are, refuse to negotiate with them, set different terms, or make up excuses to block them out of the market. And here’s a big one—advertising. You can’t say or even suggest any preference based on someone’s race or background. And trust me, this applies to everyone—single-family homes, owner-occupied—you name it. You’re still under the FHA. Now, let’s talk about Source of Income discrimination, because this is where a lot of people are tripping up. Source of Income discrimination is when someone refuses to rent or sell because the buyer or renter is using something like a housing voucher—like Section 8. Now, it’s not a federally protected class, but many states have already made it illegal. And here’s the kicker—whether you know it or not, it’s on you to keep up with these laws. Let me hit you with a real-world example. Just this year in New Jersey, 27 brokerages and landlords got hit with lawsuits for refusing to rent to people using housing vouchers. Some of these are big names, and they’re now paying a massive price for not knowing or following the rules. And that could be you if you’re not staying ahead of this. So, what’s the takeaway here? Here’s what you need to do: First, if your state has Source of Income protections, you absolutely cannot refuse to rent to someone just because they’re using a housing voucher. You can’t advertise things like ‘No Section 8’ or make up excuses not to cooperate with basic program requirements like filling out paperwork or allowing inspections. That’s non-negotiable. And listen up—this is big: Your client’s bad instructions won’t protect you. If a landlord says, ‘I don’t want anyone with vouchers,’ that’s on them, but if you act on that and the law says otherwise, you’re on the hook too. We’re here to serve our clients, but not at the cost of breaking the law. Period. The rules are changing, and they’re evolving fast. You’ve got to stay sharp and stay ahead. Know your local laws. And if you’re ever unsure, tell your clients to get legal advice before making decisions on tenant selection. Fair housing isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of our industry. Stay informed, stay compliant, and keep moving forward. Let’s keep doing business the right way. Thanks for tuning in, and let’s go crush it!
Topics Covered
Course Features
Join Upcoming Live Session
Meet The Instructor
Drew Thompson
Drew is a pioneering business coach with a focus on real estate. As a former top agent, he knows what it’s like to be in the trenches and sell real estate. With over 15 years of industry experience, Drew deeply understands the challenges and opportunities agents face.
Now, as the head coach and head of Real Academy, Drew uses his wealth of knowledge to help agents unlock their potential and achieve extraordinary success. His coaching empowers agents to set ambitious goals, master objection handling, and build genuine client relationships. Drew’s empathetic and results-driven approach ensures every agent can confidently navigate the real estate market and reach new heights.
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