Subsection 36-05 of the Fair Housing Act addresses the issue of discrimination in residential real estate. This law says that it's illegal for any individual or corporation to engage in discriminatory practices when engaging in real estate transactions. This means that decisions can't be made based on a person's race, sex, nationality, religion, age, marital status or handicap. This law applies to both buyers and sellers. This protects prospective buyers from being discriminated against both in looking for a property and securing the financial instruments to purchase it. Additionally, a financing company can't discriminate when an individual seeks loans for improvements and repairs. The only factors that a seller or lender may consider in making their decision are legitimate business concerns. For more information about discrimination in residential real estate, contact a real estate lawyer in your area.
