Fair HousingIntermediateNorth Carolina Exam

Under the Fair Housing Act, an advertisement that specifies 'Christians preferred' is:

ALegal as a personal preference statement

BIllegal because it expresses a preference based on religion, a protected classCorrect

CLegal if the owner lives on the premises, though specifics can vary by situation

DLegal only for single-family homes

Why Illegal because it expresses a preference based on religion, a protected class Is Correct

Answer B: Illegal because it expresses a preference based on religion, a protected class

Advertising a preference for or against any person based on a protected class — including religion — is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act, regardless of property type or owner-occupancy.

Exam Tip: Fair Housing

Fair Housing questions test both federal (Fair Housing Act of 1968) and state-level protected classes. The federal protected classes are race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Many states add additional protections.

Key Fair Housing Terms in This Question

Fair Housing Act

Federal law prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.

People Also Study

Key Terms to Know

Fair Housing Act

Federal law prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.

Steering

An illegal practice where a real estate agent directs buyers toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on the buyer's race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics.

Redlining

An illegal practice where lenders or insurers deny services or charge higher rates in certain neighborhoods based on the racial or ethnic composition of those areas.

Adverse Possession

A doctrine by which a person can gain legal title to another's land by openly, continuously, and adversely occupying it for a statutory period.