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Office of Fair Housing urges realtors to use unbiased language with clients

April 16, 2010 - As the real estate market continues to work toward its recovery, realtors need to be more tactful than ever before while dealing with prospective homebuyers. In turn, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering advice to help these professionals avoid legal issues while they attempt to boost their sales.

The Watertown Daily Times reports that representatives from the department's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity recently explained the Fair Housing Act to real estate agents in the Buffalo, New York area. This legislation bans discrimination in real estate lending due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and number of children.

During the event, speakers focused on the ways through which brokers may be accused of discrimination when they are speaking to clients. In fact, these professionals may need to refuse to answer certain questions about neighbors, school districts or neighborhood society.

Lance M. Evans, executive director of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors, told the news source that following the National Association of Realtors code of ethics - which addresses fair housing - is "pretty good insurance against lawsuits."

Brokers may also want to check their state's laws concerning discrimination, as regulations may vary by region.

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