Through My Lens

Fair Housing Still Matters

by Doreen Spagnuolo, LIBOR CEO

April is Fair Housing (FH) month, so it’s a good time to remember that FH is not a policy, a program or something our industry focuses upon because it’s nice; it’s the law. FH is also good for the entire real estate business and the nation.

The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that protects consumers from housing discrimination because of personal characteristics. FH is not a finished chapter. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2025 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America report showed the 2023 Black homeownership rate had risen to 44.7%, but it still fell significantly behind the 72% white homeownership rate. The Asian rate was 63%, and Hispanic home ownership was at 51%. The fact remains that our industry serves an increasingly diversifying national population, but an unbalance persists in property ownership.

FH advocacy helps address the policies, lending practices, and market forces that continue to create these unequal outcomes. Artificial Intelligence (AI), automated valuations, and digital screening tools raise fresh concerns about unintentional bias and accessibility. Vigilance is needed to ensure innovation doesn’t come at the expense of fairness.

According to our Code of Ethics, REALTORS® "should recognize that the interest of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership.” Upholding FH laws is not only a REALTOR®’s obligation, it protects agents’ and brokers’ reputations, licenses, and the integrity of our businesses. Being FH-minded builds trust and strengthens credibility.

LIBOR continues to press for greater housing equity on several fronts. On April 1, LIBOR, in partnership with Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) and supported by NYSAR, hosted a Fair Housing Conference in Farmingdale, NY. LIBOR members also met with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine in early April to discuss Long Island homeownership issues, including affordability, infrastructure, water quality, and FH. During the meeting, the County Executive presented LIBOR with a proclamation recognizing our FH efforts.

Many of our April course offerings address FH topics and offer members the opportunity to fulfill your 3 hours of DOS Mandated Fair Housing Training. Check the LIBOR calendar for upcoming offerings and, if you miss any, you can always revisit this topic in our free Webinars and many of our free legal updates. NAR also offers some excellent tools to use on social media, in your office, and with consumers to show your advocacy for FH, as does LIRealtor.com.

LIBOR continues to be the force behind the Home for All of Us campaign and website, which has great FH information and resources for industry professionals and consumers. In the past, we’ve used the site to explore the topic of race and protections for people with disabilities. This year, we’re going to focus the campaign on the LGBTQ+ community.

Few professions offer its practitioners the opportunity to change the trajectory of someone’s life. Being a REALTOR® is one of those professions. Where someone lives affects everything – their education, healthcare, job access, and generational wealth. It’s worth taking time to regularly (not just each April), reflect upon how opening doors to everyone to achieve the American Dream represents an opportunity for us to make a lasting impact on our profession and country.