Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is a protected class?
Correct Answer
C) Familial status
The federal Fair Housing Act protects: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Familial status refers to families with children under 18.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
C is correct because familial status is explicitly protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. This protection ensures that families with children under 18 cannot be discriminated against in housing, covering policies that might exclude children or families.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Age
A is incorrect because age is not a federally protected class under the Fair Housing Act. While some states protect against age discrimination, the federal law does not include age in its protected classes.
Option B: Marital status
B is incorrect because marital status is not a federally protected class under the Fair Housing Act. California does protect marital status, but this question specifically references the federal Fair Housing Act.
Option D: Sexual orientation
D is incorrect because sexual orientation is not a federally protected class under the Fair Housing Act. While California prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, this is not part of the federal protections.
Deep Analysis of This Practice Of Real Estate Question
Understanding protected classes under the Fair Housing Act is fundamental to ethical real estate practice and legal compliance. This concept matters because fair housing violations can lead to severe penalties, lawsuits, and loss of license. The question tests knowledge of federal protected classes, which serve as the baseline for all states. California has additional protected classes, but federal protections apply nationwide. To answer correctly, one must recognize that familial status (families with children under 18) is explicitly protected, while other options may be protected in some states but not federally. This question challenges students who might confuse federal protections with California-specific additions or misremember the exact list of protected classes. Understanding these protections connects to broader knowledge of fair housing violations, advertising guidelines, and ethical business practices in real estate.
Background Knowledge for Practice Of Real Estate
The Fair Housing Act was enacted in 1968 as part of the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Familial status was added in 1988 through the Fair Housing Amendments Act. This protection recognizes that families with children often face discrimination through 'adults only' policies or restrictions on children's activities. The protection applies to families with at least one person under 18 living with a parent, legal custodian, or designated representative.
Memory Technique
acronymRFNSFD (Race, Familial Status, National Origin, Sex, Disability, Religion, Color)
Remember the federal protected classes using this acronym. Note that Familial Status comes before National Origin in this mnemonic to help recall it's included.
Exam Tip for Practice Of Real Estate
When questions ask about federal protected classes, remember the core seven: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Don't confuse these with state-specific protections.
Real World Application in Practice Of Real Estate
A real estate agent shows an apartment to a family with two young children. The landlord mentions that the building has a 'quiet adult environment' and suggests they might prefer a different property. The agent recognizes this as potential discrimination based on familial status. The agent properly explains that families with children are protected under federal law and cannot be steered away from housing based on the presence of children. This scenario illustrates how understanding protected classes helps agents recognize and prevent discriminatory practices in their daily work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on Practice Of Real Estate Questions
- •Confusing federal protected classes with California-specific additions like sexual orientation and marital status
- •Misremembering the exact list of protected classes and including or excluding key protections like familial status
- •Assuming all protected classes are the same across all states rather than recognizing federal vs. state protections
Related Topics & Key Terms
Related Topics:
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
Many states and localities have fair housing laws that expand upon the protections offered by the federal Fair Housing Act.
Protected classes are groups of people who are legally shielded from discrimination based on specific characteristics.
Fair housing laws apply to a broad range of activities related to housing, including sale, rental, financing, and advertising.
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