Iowa Practice Test → Fair Housing

Iowa Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Fair housing is tested on every real estate exam in the country, but Iowa candidates must know both federal and state-level protections. While Iowa enforces the seven federal protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability), the Iowa Real Estate Commission also tests how these protections apply in Iowa-specific rental, sales, and advertising scenarios. Steering, blockbusting, redlining, and discriminatory advertising are all tested — and candidates who think they know fair housing cold often miss the state-specific extensions or the nuanced application scenarios. Review every question here carefully.

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Iowa Fair Housing — Practice Questions & Answers

108 questions on Fair Housing from the Iowa real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 108.

Q1. A real estate agent who discourages a buyer from purchasing a home in a particular neighborhood by citing the religious composition of the neighborhood is engaging in:

A.Redlining
B.Steering
C.Blockbusting
D.Panic selling

Explanation

Steering is the illegal practice of directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected class characteristics — including religion. This violates the Fair Housing Act regardless of the agent's intent.

Q2. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discriminatory advertising. Which of the following is a permissible advertisement?

A.'Ideal for married couples without children'
B.'Perfect for empty nesters'
C.'3 bedrooms, 2 baths, close to downtown, available immediately'
D.'No Section 8 vouchers accepted'

Explanation

A straightforward, factual property description ('3 bedrooms, 2 baths, close to downtown') is permissible. Advertisements suggesting preferences or limitations based on familial status, race, or any other protected class are illegal.

Q3. Iowa's Civil Rights Act adds which additional protected classes for housing beyond the federal Fair Housing Act?

A.Income level and occupation
B.Sexual orientation and gender identity
C.Height and weight
D.Educational attainment

Explanation

Iowa's Civil Rights Act extends housing protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity, which are not currently protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act.

Q4. Under the Fair Housing Act, a reasonable accommodation for a person with a mental disability might include:

A.Waiving late rent fees for any tenant
B.Allowing an emotional support animal despite a no-pets policy
C.Reducing rent by 50% for all disabled tenants
D.Reserving the best parking space for all tenants

Explanation

Allowing an emotional support animal as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a documented mental disability — despite a no-pets policy — is required under the Fair Housing Act. The tenant may be required to provide documentation of the disability-related need.

Q5. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission enforces Iowa's fair housing laws. To file a complaint in Iowa, the complaint must generally be filed within:

A.90 days of the discriminatory act
B.180 days of the discriminatory act
C.1 year of the discriminatory act
D.2 years of the discriminatory act

Explanation

Under Iowa's Civil Rights Act, a fair housing complaint must generally be filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission within 300 days of the alleged discriminatory act (aligned with the federal HUD complaint period). However, some sources cite 1 year for the Iowa state deadline.

Q6. Blockbusting is defined as:

A.Refusing to make loans in certain neighborhoods based on racial composition
B.Inducing homeowners to sell by making representations about the entry of protected classes into the neighborhood
C.Directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on race
D.Refusing to show properties in certain areas to protected class members

Explanation

Blockbusting (also called panic selling) is the illegal practice of inducing property owners to sell or rent by making statements about the entry or prospective entry of persons of a protected class into the neighborhood, suggesting property values will decline.

Q7. The Fair Housing Act exempts which of the following from its prohibitions on discrimination in residential housing sales?

A.A private individual selling a single-family home without using a broker and without discriminatory advertising
B.A bank refusing to make mortgage loans in minority neighborhoods
C.A real estate agent who belongs to a religious organization
D.A landlord owning 10 or more units

Explanation

The Fair Housing Act provides a limited exemption for private individuals selling a single-family home (that they own) without the use of a real estate broker or agent, and without discriminatory advertising. This is known as the 'Mrs. Murphy exemption' variant.

Q8. Which of the following housing situations is covered by the familial status protection under the Fair Housing Act?

A.A single adult with no children seeking a one-bedroom apartment
B.A family with two minor children being denied housing at a 'no children' apartment complex
C.A retirement community that requires all residents to be at least 55 years of age
D.A landlord who rents only to people who work full-time

Explanation

Familial status protection covers families with one or more children under 18. Refusing to rent to a family with minor children violates the Fair Housing Act's familial status protections. The age 55+ housing exemption may apply to qualifying senior communities.

Q9. Under the Fair Housing Act, a request for a reasonable modification by a person with a disability:

A.Must be paid for entirely by the landlord
B.Can be denied if the modification is too expensive for the landlord
C.Allows the tenant to make structural changes at their own expense in private housing
D.Only applies to units in buildings constructed after 1988

Explanation

Under the Fair Housing Act, a person with a disability has the right to make reasonable modifications to a private housing unit at their own expense (unless there is federal financial assistance). The landlord may require the tenant to restore the property upon vacating.

Q10. Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following actions by a lender is ILLEGAL?

A.Charging higher interest rates based on a borrower's lower credit score
B.Requiring larger down payments from borrowers based on their racial background
C.Declining to lend on properties with structural defects
D.Requiring proof of income for all loan applicants

Explanation

Requiring larger down payments from borrowers based on race violates the Fair Housing Act (and ECOA). Lenders may apply creditworthiness standards uniformly based on financial qualifications, but race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status cannot be factors.

Q11. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it applies to commercial real estate requires:

A.All commercial buildings to provide accessible entrances and facilities for persons with disabilities
B.Only new construction to meet accessibility standards
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