As the homebuying season gets underway, fair housing remains a key focus for real estate professionals. Ensuring equal access to housing benefits everyone, strengthens communities, and expands homeownership opportunities.
At Realtor.com, we are committed to supporting agents with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate fair housing practices effectively. Whether you prefer to listen, read, or watch, this updated fair housing resources toolkit has something for you.
Listen: podcast episodes
There’s some excellent fair housing content to tune into this year. Here are a couple of podcast series worth adding to your rotation.
Fair Housing Insiders (Fair Housing Institute) is a go-to for case-based, practical training. Standout 2026 episodes include “Top 3 Fair Housing Risks for Property Managers in 2026,” covering assistance animal fraud and delayed accommodations; “Case Files: HUD Finds Racial Bias in HOA Voucher Ban”; and “The $145K Cost of Ignoring a Law Change,” a deep dive into source of income compliance failures. It’s free to subscribe, and new episodes drop regularly.
The Advocacy Scoop (NAR) takes agents inside the policy work of the National Association of REALTORS®, with regular updates on fair housing legislation and advocacy.
Read: books
Practical compliance and operations
The Fair Housing Handbook, available through the REALTOR® Store, is one of the most comprehensive industry resources available, offering actionable guidance for brokers and agents, including office procedures, self-assessment questionnaires, and a thorough grounding in federal regulations.
The Fair Housing chapter of Real Estate Brokerage Essentials is specifically designed to help agents and brokers avoid non-compliance and maintain robust fair housing programs.
Because fair housing laws vary by state, it’s also worth consulting the most recent edition of your state’s official real estate law guide, such as the 2026 California Real Estate Law Book, for the specific statutes governing your license.
History and systemic context
Understanding the history of housing discrimination helps agents recognize and combat bias in contemporary practice.
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein remains a definitive text on how government policy and the real estate industry played a foundational role in the segregation of America. Its follow-up, Just Action by Richard and Leah Rothstein, translates that history into practical strategies agents can act on today. Read our Q&A with the author on how you can fight housing discrimination.
Race for Profit by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor examines how the real estate industry and banking systems have historically undermined Black homeownership — essential context for understanding modern equity challenges.
Evicted by Matthew Desmond, while focused on the rental market, is invaluable for understanding the housing instability faced by families with limited resources.
For a deeper dive into the legal framework, The Right to Fair Housing: Cases, Statutes, and Context by Florence Wagman Roisman offers a rigorous examination of the evolution of fair housing law, including protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
For more picks, check out our roundup of 9 peer-recommended fair housing books.
Watch: film and documentary fair housing resources
Our America: Lowballed and A Matter of Place (Fair Housing Justice Center) both investigate racial bias in home appraisals and the real cost of discriminatory valuations for Black homeowners and wealth-building.
Owned: A Tale of Two Americas traces the history of redlining and racial covenants through the stories of real people navigating today’s housing market — essential viewing for any agent who wants to understand how past policies shape the present-day real estate market.
Priced Out examines how gentrification has displaced long-term residents in communities of color, a timely watch for agents navigating conversations around affordability and development.
Certifications and training
NAR now requires all REALTOR® members to complete at least two hours of Fair Housing/Anti-Bias training, a standalone requirement separate from Code of Ethics training. The requirement began January 1, 2025, with a deadline through December 31, 2027, and members who don’t complete it by the deadline risk suspension and ultimately termination of their membership. Here are three NAR-approved ways to fulfill it:
- Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing is a 3-hour certificate course using interactive exercises to help agents recognize and interrupt implicit bias in their daily practice.
- At Home With Diversity® (AHWD) is a one-day NAR certification available online or in person, covering diversity sensitivity, fair housing laws, and strategies for working with multicultural clients.
- Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation is an online, scenario-based training that places agents in real-world fair housing dilemmas and provides personalized feedback.
Turning insight into action
As a real estate professional, you play a vital role in promoting fair housing and ensuring equal access for all homebuyers. Engaging with these resources helps you deepen your knowledge, challenge bias, and advocate for a more inclusive market. Together, we can keep the fair housing movement moving forward.
FAQs about Fair Housing in Real Estate
What is the Fair Housing Act?
The Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, and disability. It also bars redlining and discrimination in financing, insurance, and other housing-related services.
What properties are not covered under the Fair Housing Act?
Limited exemptions apply to owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, single-family homes sold or rented without a broker, and housing operated by religious organizations or private clubs for their own members. These exemptions do not apply when a real estate professional is involved, and they do not override state or local fair housing laws, which are often broader.
What is the REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration?
It’s a public pledge available to NAR members affirming their commitment to equal professional service for all clients, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
How does the Fair Housing Act address advertising in real estate?
The Act explicitly prohibits advertising that expresses a preference for or against persons based on their membership in a protected class. This covers all channels (e.g., MLS listings, print, digital, and social media). Keep marketing language focused on the property, not the people you imagine living there.
