The entire Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® staff has earned the At Home With Diversity® certification. AHWD was designed to help agents excel in the rapidly changing, multicultural real estate market.
“We took this course so we can help our members understand the importance of equal housing opportunity and building their business through diversity and inclusion,” said SAAR CEO Rebecca Grossman.
The Census Bureau shows that Scottsdale residents are 10.2 percent Hispanic or Latino and 4.9 percent Asian. – U.S. Census QuickFacts
The SAAR staff also learned how diversity applies to The Fair Housing Act. “It’s not just about race, ethnicity and gender,” Grossman continued. “It’s about being aware of some of the most common fair housing violations involving familial status and disabilities.”
Familial status covers families with children under the age of 18, pregnant persons, anyone in the process of securing legal custody of a minor, or who has written permission of the parent or legal guardian.
Familial status discrimination includes but is not limited to refusing to rent to families with children, requiring families with children to live in specific areas and imposing overly restrictive rules about children’s use of common areas.
“Listings and other advertising that prohibit children is also considered discrimination,” added Grossman. “We want to make sure our members have every opportunity to earn their AHWD certification and learn how to avoid someone filing a complaint against them.”
SAAR is offering diversity training, with six continuing-education hours, on October 1, 2021. REALTORS® are encouraged to register now.
The Center for REALTOR® Development offers an online version with no CE credits.
More: Fair Housing Resources