Fair Housing

If you are a current or recent past client of McSharry and Associates, we have discussed Fair Housing with you, generally at or first interaction or very early on in our relationship. We want to take a few moments to share a bit of background so that you better understand why the conversation about fair housing is so important to have.

The real estate industry has a long and honestly terrible history of perpetuating racial discrimination in housing. In 2019, Newsday published the findings of a 3 year investigation into real estate practices on Long Island. Known as Long Island Divided, this report highlighted the discrimination that was occurring in the real estate profession over a half century AFTER the Fair Housing Act of 1968 became the law of the land. The results showed clearly that disparate treatment was given by real estate agents towards clients and customers, depending on their race. Asians were treated differently than white customers 19% of the time; hispanics experienced unequal treatment 39% of the time and black clients a startling 49% of the time. To read more about the investigation, click here.

In June of 2020, New York State began requiring all real estate professionals to discuss fair housing with their clients and to have all parties sign a fair housing disclosure. Additionally all real estate brokerages must now display the NYS Housing and Anti-Discrimination Notice both on their website and in their physical office. To read the notice on our website, click here.

Protected characteristics vary depending based on the national, state and local law. Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex/gender, familial status, disability, religion/creed, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. NYS takes it further and also explicates that one may not discriminate based on all those features as well as marital status age, lawful source of income, status as a domestic violence victim and military status. NYC law adds that it is unlawful to discriminate on alienage/citizenship status, lawful occupation, domestic partnership status. To see a full listing of the protected characteristics, click here.

McSharry and Associates Realty is committed to Fair Housing practices and to treating every client, customer and fellow real estate professional equitably. Please reach out if you ever have any questions or concerns.