Minnesota Practice TestFair Housing

Minnesota Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Fair housing is tested on every real estate exam in the country, but Minnesota candidates must know both federal and state-level protections. Minnesota extends fair housing protections beyond the seven federal protected classes, adding additional categories under state law that are specifically tested on the MN state exam. 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.

Practice Questions

Minnesota Fair Housing — Practice Questions & Answers

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

Q1. The Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibits housing discrimination based on all of the following EXCEPT:

A.Sexual orientation
B.Familial status
C.Political opinion
D.National origin

Explanation

While the MHRA provides extensive protections including sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, and disability, political opinion is not a protected class in Minnesota housing law.

Q2. Redlining is the illegal practice of:

A.Drawing property boundaries incorrectly on a survey
B.Denying loans or insurance to neighborhoods based on racial or ethnic composition
C.Refusing to show properties to minority buyers
D.Advertising only to certain racial groups

Explanation

Redlining is the discriminatory practice of denying mortgage loans, insurance, or other services to neighborhoods based on the racial or ethnic composition of the area, regardless of individual creditworthiness.

Q3. A landlord may legally ask a prospective tenant for all of the following EXCEPT:

A.Employment history and income verification
B.Credit history
C.Whether the applicant plans to have children
D.Rental history and references

Explanation

Asking whether an applicant plans to have children is a question about familial status and could constitute illegal discrimination. Landlords may not ask about protected class characteristics.

Q4. Under the Fair Housing Act, an aggrieved person may file a complaint with HUD within:

A.30 days
B.90 days
C.1 year
D.2 years

Explanation

An aggrieved person must file a fair housing complaint with HUD within one year (365 days) of the alleged discriminatory act.

Q5. The Minnesota Human Rights Act adds which protected class NOT covered by the federal Fair Housing Act?

A.Race
B.Sex
C.Sexual orientation and gender identity
D.Religion

Explanation

While the federal Fair Housing Act protects 7 classes, the Minnesota Human Rights Act adds sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in housing, among other additional protections.

Q6. A landlord in Minnesota refuses to rent to a family with three children, citing a 'two persons per bedroom' policy. This may be:

A.Permissible if applied uniformly
B.Illegal familial status discrimination if the policy is not a reasonable occupancy standard
C.Legal under HUD guidelines in all cases
D.Required by Minnesota building code

Explanation

Overly restrictive occupancy policies can constitute familial status discrimination. HUD's 'Keating Memo' uses two-plus-one per bedroom as a reasonable guideline. Stricter limits may be discriminatory unless justified by specific housing conditions.

Q7. Blockbusting (panic peddling) is the illegal practice of:

A.Buying properties at below-market prices from distressed sellers
B.Inducing owners to sell or rent by representing that persons of a protected class are moving into the neighborhood
C.Refusing to accept offers from minority buyers
D.Advertising properties exclusively in ethnic media

Explanation

Blockbusting is the illegal practice of inducing property owners to sell by suggesting that the entry of protected class members will cause property values to decline, exploiting racial or ethnic fears.

Q8. Steering in real estate is the illegal practice of:

A.Directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on their protected class characteristics
B.Refusing to show properties listed above the buyer's stated budget
C.Representing both buyer and seller in the same transaction
D.Failing to disclose material defects

Explanation

Steering is directing buyers or renters toward or away from particular neighborhoods based on their race, religion, national origin, or other protected class characteristics, perpetuating segregated housing patterns.

Q9. Under the Fair Housing Act, a person with a disability has the right to:

A.Demand structural modifications be made at the landlord's expense
B.Request reasonable modifications to the premises at their own expense
C.Be exempt from all rental criteria
D.Occupy any unit regardless of lease terms

Explanation

Tenants with disabilities have the right to make reasonable modifications to their dwelling at their own expense. The landlord may require restoration of the premises to original condition when the tenant vacates.

Q10. A newspaper advertisement that states 'Perfect for empty nesters — no children' would likely violate the Fair Housing Act because it:

A.Discriminates based on age
B.Discriminates based on familial status
C.Violates free speech protections
D.Is only prohibited in Minnesota, not federally

Explanation

Advertising that discourages families with children from applying violates the Fair Housing Act's prohibition on familial status discrimination. Ads must not express preferences for or against any protected class.

Q11. A Minnesota real estate licensee who receives a fair housing complaint from a client should:

A.Ignore it if they believe it has no merit
B.Advise the client of their right to file a complaint with HUD or the Minnesota Department of Human Rights
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