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The Housing Site
Illinois Fair Housing Initiative

Cultural Diversity

REALTORS®

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is active in promoting equal and affordable housing opportunities for all Americans. America is becoming an increasingly multicultural society and the rapidly growing population of minorities and immigrants now consider buying a home to be a top priority. Homeownership is not only a valuable stepping stone toward economic security but it represents the American Dream.

The National Association of REALTORS® actively encourages REALTORS® to be leaders in ensuring a culturally diverse real estate market.

See the National Association of REALTORS® At Home with Diversity Program

REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS®

Fair Housing and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics

Article 10 of the REALTORS® Code of Ethics provides that "REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTORS® shall not be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin."

REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration

I agree to:

  • Provide equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of any prospective client, customer, or of the residents of any community
  • Keep informed about fair housing law and practices, improving my clients' and customers' opportunities and my business
  • Develop advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded; expanding my client's and customer's opportunities to see, buy, or lease property
  • Inform my clients and customers about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws by providing brochures and other information
  • Document my efforts to provide professional service, which will assist me in becoming a more responsive and successful REALTOR®
  • Refuse to tolerate non-compliance
  • Learn about those who are different from me, and celebrate those differences
  • Take a positive approach to fair housing practices and aspire to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law
  • Develop and implement fair housing practices for my firm to carry out the spirit of this declaration
Protected Classes

There are seven protected classes under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988:

  • race
  • color
  • national origin
  • religion
  • sex
  • disability
  • familial status

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial facilities.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program.

In Illinois, sexual orientation was added to the state list of protected classes in January 2005. See Illinois Human Rights Statute.

National Association of REALTORS® Diversity and Fair Housing Kit

Cultural diversity and fair housing programs and initiatives are highlighted in a new information packet from the National Association of REALTORS®. The packet includes tips on training, dealing with multicultural issues, reaching out to leading cultural organizations and communities, and supporting diversity efforts at the state and local level. Learn more about the steps you can take to broaden your business scope by broadening your customer base. For more information or to receive a free packet, e-mail diversity@realtors.org or call 800/874-6500, x1201.