This presentation accompanies a three-hour real estate continuing education course offered by HER Realtors and certified for three hours of core continuing education by the Ohio Division of Real Estate.

The course covers:
The current and future housing markets.
Why many people do not consider purchasing a house.
The history of fair housing laws (federal, state, and local).
What is allowed/not allowed in an agent's real estate practice.
Which exemptions or exceptions are in the fair housing laws.
How to handle clients who refuse to negotiate.
What is reasonable accommodation and what is the real estate agent's responsibility?
The signs of steering.
How familial status factors in fair housing complaints.
A closer look at blockbusting, steering, and redlining.
What is "unintentional discrimination" and how to avoid it.
Group discussion.
Marketing best practices in light of fair housing laws.
Questions and Answers taken from the NAR Handbook on Fair Housing.

Who is your neighbor?
Demographic facts about the Columbus, OH area.
Trends in the US.

From Fannie Mae: Why do minorities not purchase homes?

Review the provisions of fair housing laws.
Discuss the historical background of the enactment of laws/amendments.

What can an agent do/say?
Use of the fair housing logo.
The company's commitment to fair housing.

What are the exceptions/exemptions to fair housing laws?
Qualified senior housing
"Mrs. Murphy's" exemption

What happens when a seller refuses to negotiate with a potential buyer based upon the buyer's race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin?
What's the agent's response?
Why is refusing to negotiate harmful?

What does it mean to make "reasonable accommodation" for a disabled person? What situations arise when reasonable accommodation is not made?

Steering happens when a real estate agent determines where a buyer wants to live.
We are not in the business of determining where someone should want to live.
Show all properties that meet the client's qualifications.

Key considerations:
Families with children under 18
Pregnant women
Lending
Combination of familial status and steering

More in-depth look at some illegal practices

The practice of contacting homeowner to get them to sell because "undesirable elements" are moving into the neighborhood.
Why it is illegal.
What is the language used by agents practicing blockbusting.

Choosing and showing properties based on a person's race, color, religion, etc.
Advertising targeted to members of one of the protected classes.

Practiced by lenders and insurance companies.
Discourages home ownership in certain neighborhoods, hurts the economic stability of neighborhoods and discourages members of protected classes from creating wealth for themselves and their families through property ownership.

Watch and discuss the video "Unintentional Discrimination." What kinds of things do real estate agents say or do without thinking about them?

Discuss in small groups:
What changes have you seen in your local markets? (people, housing stock, etc.)
How does diversity change real estate markets?
Have you had an experience working with a client who is different from you? What did you learn?

Marketing must be in compliance with fair housing laws.
Examples of advertising/marketing that does not comply with fair housing laws.
Discuss Ohio Association of Realtors Advertising White Paper

Can you advertise to a niche market? (religious group, senior citizens, African Americans, etc.)
What agents must do if they market to a niche.

Use of the equal housing logo in advertising and marketing.
Prospect and market to a broad audience in addition to a niche market.

From the National Association of Realtors "Fair Housing Handbook"

Summary of major points covered.