LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

HUD 2012 Housing Discrimination Study: Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities

HUD just issued its study of incidence and forms of discrimination experienced by black, Hispanic, and Asian renters and homebuyers.

The study finds that "minority homeseekers are told about and shown fewer homes and apartments than whites", as a result of more than 8,000 tests conducted in 28 metropolitan areas.

Clearly discrimination still exists in housing. However, the study takes pains to explain that differing circumstances of classes of people in housing does not equal discrimination. Instead, the discrimination is only present when it causes the resulting disability in housing.

Real estate agents should read the Executive Summary, understand discrimination and be mindful to weed out such practices as we always strive to bring professionalism to our field.