Photo from HUD Equal Opportunity Website

On my way into the office this morning, I was reminded of something that recently occurred on a listing appointment.  There’s a neighborhood that is adjacent to a religious building.  When I meet with owners to list their houses, I am frequently requested to advertise their house is close to this structure.

Unfortunately, I cannot advertise this fact in the RMLS™ listing nor in any newspaper advertisements.  It is against Federal law and pertains to not only selling but also renting of properties. When posting listings into RMLS™, Realtors® are reminded with a ‘pop up screen’ of words written in red that we cannot use in describing properties.

Our RMLS™ home page also says: “All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status, or an intention to make such preference or discrimination. State of Oregon law prohibits discrimination based on marital status.  This website will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.”

For sale by owners and landlords are bound by this law as well.  Perhaps you weren’t aware of this, didn’t think this law applied to you, or thought it only applied to Realtors®!  There recently was a lawsuit against craigslist where a property owner made discriminatory remarks about a home they were selling.  If you don’t know what these descriptive words are, perhaps you should become familiar with this law.  One more reason to hire a Realtor!®

(For more local and national real estate news, click on my monthly newsletter – JUNG’S JOURNAL – on my website www.bettyjung.com).