Fair Housing on the North Carolina Real Estate Exam
Federal fair housing law plus NC additions for the provisional broker exam — protected classes, steering, enforcement, and accessibility requirements.
Fair housing questions appear in both the national and state sections of the NC exam. North Carolina adds one protected class beyond the federal seven.
Federal Fair Housing Act: 7 Protected Classes
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National Origin
- Sex
- Disability/Handicap
- Familial Status
North Carolina Fair Housing Act Addition
North Carolina's Fair Housing Act (NCGS Chapter 41A) adds: - Marital status — cannot discriminate based on whether someone is single, married, divorced, widowed, or separated
This is the most tested NC-specific fair housing fact: NC has 8 protected classes (7 federal + marital status).
Prohibited Practices
Steering: Directing buyers or renters toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected class. North Carolina exams emphasize that steering is a violation even when the agent believes they're helping.
Blockbusting: Inducing sales by suggesting protected class members are moving in and values will decline.
Redlining: Refusing loans or insurance in geographic areas based on racial composition.
Discriminatory advertising: Any ad that indicates preference based on a protected class.
Accessibility Requirements (Disability)
Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, new multi-family residential buildings (4+ units) built after March 1991 must have: - Accessible entrance (at least one accessible building entrance) - Accessible common areas - Doors wide enough for wheelchairs - Accessible features in units (accessible routes, usable kitchens/baths) - Reinforced bathroom walls for grab bar installation
These requirements are tested in NC's national section.
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications
Reasonable accommodation: A change in rules, policies, practices, or services that enables a person with a disability to use and enjoy housing. - Example: Allowing a service animal in a no-pets building
Reasonable modification: A physical change to the premises that enables a person with a disability to use and enjoy housing. - The tenant pays for modifications - The landlord can require restoration at end of tenancy
Enforcement in NC
- NC Human Relations Commission: Handles state-level complaints
- HUD: Federal enforcement
- Complaints with HUD or the NC commission: within 1 year
- Private lawsuits: within 2 years
NCREC can also discipline licensees for fair housing violations independently of HUD enforcement.
[Practice fair housing questions at CARealestate.com/states/north-carolina](https://carealestate.com/states/north-carolina)
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