7
3 exam questionsLow Priority
Fair Housing, ADA, environmental laws, and other federal/state regulations.
Quick Explanation
5 min readFederal fair housing laws protect 7 classes: Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Familial Status, and Disability. Remember RCRNSFD. Blockbusting (panic peddling) and steering are illegal. Redlining is refusing loans based on neighborhood demographics.
Key Points — What Matters for the Exam
1
7 Federal Protected Classes: Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Familial Status, Disability2
Memory trick: RCRNSFD or 'Real Color Really Never Seems Fully Defined'3
Blockbusting = inducing sales by suggesting minorities are moving in (illegal)4
Steering = directing buyers toward/away from areas based on protected class (illegal)5
Redlining = refusing loans in certain areas based on demographics (illegal)6
Exemptions: owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units (Mrs. Murphy exemption)Memory Trick
RCRNSFD: Race, Color, Religion, National origin, Sex, Familial status, Disability. 'Really Cool Real Estate Never Stops Feeling Discriminatory' (if you violate it).
Common Trap Answers — Don't Fall For These
Age is NOT a federal protected class (though some states protect it)
Sexual orientation is NOT a federal protected class
The Mrs. Murphy exemption only applies if owner lives in the building
Key Terms for This Unit (3)
Fair Housing Protected Classes
Federal: Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Familial Status, Disability (RCRNSFD).
Blockbusting
Inducing homeowners to sell by suggesting minorities are moving in. Illegal under Fair Housing Act.
Steering
Directing buyers toward/away from neighborhoods based on protected class. Illegal.