South Carolina Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Fair housing is tested on every real estate exam in the country, but South Carolina candidates must know both federal and state-level protections. While South Carolina enforces the seven federal protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability), the South Carolina Real Estate Commission also tests how these protections apply in South Carolina-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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South Carolina Fair Housing — Practice Questions & Answers
82 questions on Fair Housing from the South Carolina real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 82.
Q1. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discriminatory advertising. Which of the following newspaper headlines would be a violation?
Explanation
Advertising that expresses a preference for buyers or renters of a particular religion ('ideal for Christian families') violates the Fair Housing Act's prohibition on discriminatory advertising. All real estate advertising must be written without reference to protected class characteristics.
Q2. Under the Fair Housing Act, a housing provider who makes a 'reasonable accommodation' for a person with a disability is:
Explanation
The Fair Housing Act requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when they are (1) requested by a person with a disability, (2) necessary to provide equal opportunity, and (3) reasonable (not causing undue burden or fundamental alteration).
Q3. Which South Carolina agency investigates fair housing complaints at the state level?
Explanation
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission enforces the South Carolina Fair Housing Law and investigates complaints of housing discrimination at the state level. Complaints may also be filed with HUD at the federal level.
Q4. A landlord advertises apartments as 'perfect for young professionals.' This statement:
Explanation
The phrase 'young professionals' may imply a preference against families with children (familial status) or older adults (age). Fair housing best practices require advertising language to describe the property's features, not the intended occupant demographic.
Q5. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on which of the following protected classes?
Explanation
The federal Fair Housing Act (1968) prohibits discrimination based on 7 protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability (handicap).
Q6. South Carolina's Fair Housing Law provides protections that are:
Explanation
South Carolina's Fair Housing Law mirrors and reinforces federal protections. States may add protections beyond federal law, though they cannot provide less protection than the federal Fair Housing Act.
Q7. Which practice involves a real estate agent directing buyers of a particular race to specific neighborhoods?
Explanation
Steering occurs when an agent directs prospective buyers or renters toward or away from specific neighborhoods based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.
Q8. A lender that refuses to make loans in certain geographic areas based on the racial composition of those areas is engaging in:
Explanation
Redlining is the illegal practice of refusing to make loans or provide insurance in specific areas based on the racial or ethnic composition of those areas, violating the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
Q9. Under the Fair Housing Act, which exemption allows an owner of a single-family home to sell without a broker without complying with all fair housing provisions?
Explanation
The Mrs. Murphy exemption applies to owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units. The owner may discriminate based on protected classes ONLY when selling without using a broker or discriminatory advertising.
Q10. Which of the following is a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act for a person with a disability?
Explanation
A reasonable accommodation is a modification to rules, policies, or services to allow a person with a disability to have equal housing opportunity. Allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets policy is a classic example.
Q11. Blockbusting in South Carolina real estate refers to:
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