The National Association of Realtors is an advocate for fair housing.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is raising awareness for fair housing to celebrate the 44th anniversary of  the Fair Housing Act, which was introduced in 1968.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap when it comes to buying a home. NAR is incorporating its support of the Fair Housing Act with support of its Realtor Code of Ethics.

“NAR strongly encourages its members to work with their local municipalities or counties as they conduct fair housing planning activities,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “Realtors live and work in their communities and are committed to implementing strategies to stop discriminatory behavior and promoting important issues such as inclusion, diversity and fairness in the housing market.”

NAR offers many training courses for Realtors and Realtor associations providing education and ethics training on the the topics of diversity, fair housing and business planning development in a full-day certification course. In addition, NAR’s Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity program offers Realtors education, grants, programs and events related to fair housing and diversity. The grants help Realtor associations acquire leadership roles in their communities, by utilizing three initiatives: diversity, smart growth and housing opportunity grants.

“Realtors embrace our country’s racial and ethnic diversity and strive every day to make the benefits of homeownership accessible to everyone,” said Veissi. “Anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream. Realtors work tirelessly to uphold fair housing laws in their local communities and provide equal professional service to everyone.”