2.1 Fair Housing Policy

The Company maintains a strong policy upholding all federal and state fair housing laws and Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and the NAR Code of Fair Housing Practices.  In addition, the Company requires each Agent and staff member to participate in mandatory fair housing education.

Accordingly, the Company prohibits any Agent or staff member from discriminating against any person in the provision of any of the Company's services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

Some prohibited practices which are against this policy and the law include:

1. Refusing to show, sell or rent based on a person being a member of a protected class.
2. Different treatment/disparate treatment to persons of a protected class.
3. Steering – A person shall not encourage or discourage another from moving into any area because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the present residents.
4. Discriminatory advertising that "expresses" a preference for buyers or tenants of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
5. Harassment (i.e., coercion, intimidation, threats or interference with a person's fair housing rights or because a party is abiding by fair housing law).
6. Applying more burdensome criteria to applicants of protected classes.
7. Blockbusting – A person is prohibited from inducing or attempting to induce another to sell or rent a property by making any express or implied representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. 

Agents and staff should be aware that persons with HIV/AIDS are considered handicapped and "familial status" means families with children.

The Company supports the Fair Housing Partnership Resolution adopted by the National Association of REALTORS® and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and encourages its Agents to be guided by the principles contained in the REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration developed by NAR and HUD as one means of promoting fair housing to the public and within the Company itself.  Each Agent and staff member of the Company is required to participate in Board and/or Company education regarding the Partnership.