Fair Housing on the Georgia Real Estate Exam
Federal and Georgia fair housing law for the salesperson exam — 7 protected classes, steering, blockbusting, and enforcement in Georgia.
Fair housing appears on every Georgia real estate exam in both the national and state sections. Here's what you need to know.
Federal Fair Housing Act: 7 Protected Classes
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National Origin
- Sex
- Disability/Handicap
- Familial Status
Georgia Fair Housing Additions
Georgia's Fair Housing Law (Title 8, Chapter 3) generally mirrors federal law. Georgia does not add significant additional protected classes at the state level beyond the 7 federal classes, though local ordinances (Atlanta, for example) may add sexual orientation and gender identity.
Key Prohibited Practices
Steering: Directing buyers or renters toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected class. Extremely common exam question.
Blockbusting: Inducing sales through protected class panic. Also called "panic peddling."
Redlining: Refusing financing based on geographic area's racial composition.
Discriminatory advertising: Using language or images that indicate preference based on protected class.
GREC and Fair Housing Violations
A Georgia real estate licensee who violates fair housing laws faces: - GREC disciplinary action: Suspension, revocation, or fine - HUD complaint: Within 1 year of the act - Private lawsuit: Within 2 years - DOJ action: In pattern-or-practice cases
GREC can discipline licensees for fair housing violations independently of HUD — meaning a licensee can lose their license in Georgia even if the federal case doesn't result in a penalty.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA requires reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities: - Landlords must allow reasonable modifications to the premises (tenant pays for modifications) - Landlords must grant reasonable accommodations in rules/policies - New multi-family buildings (4+ units) built after 1991 must have accessible features
The ADA is separate from the Fair Housing Act but covers similar protections.
Common Georgia Exam Scenarios
Q: A Georgia real estate agent tells a buyer, "You'll be more comfortable in a different part of town." This is most likely: A: Steering — directing a buyer based on a perceived protected class characteristic.
Q: A landlord refuses to rent to an applicant who uses a wheelchair and asks for a first-floor unit. This is: A: A Fair Housing violation — disability is a protected class. The landlord must provide reasonable accommodations.
Q: Which act specifically requires accessible design in newly constructed multi-family buildings? A: The Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 (which added disability and familial status as protected classes and imposed accessibility requirements for new construction).
[Practice fair housing questions at CARealestate.com/states/georgia](https://carealestate.com/states/georgia)
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