DEI & Fair Housing

DEI & Fair Housing

 

The Mid Jersey Association of REALTORS® (MJAR) seeks to encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion in membership, association involvement, and leadership opportunities, and to promote fair housing. To make the most impact in this area, MJAR provides education and information on fair housing and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) to meet member needs. Thanks to MJAR’s 2023 DEI Committee for their leadership in developing this page filled with resources. Should you have suggestions for resources to add, send an email to Events@MidJerseyAOR.com.

National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics, Article 10: Realtors® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Realtors shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

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NAR's Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation

Fairhaven is a new fair housing simulation training for Realtors® that uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate. Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents working against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven while confronting discrimination in the home-buying process. Learners will also walk in the shoes of a homebuyer facing discrimination. The training provides customized feedback that learners can apply to daily business interactions. Start the Fair Haven Simulation here.

NAR's At Home with Diversity Certification

The At Home with Diversity (AHWD) certification course, providing NJ and PA CE credit, is an educational experience designed to present a picture of the changing face of the real estate industry. More importantly, the class teaches Realtors how to work effectively with – and within – a rapidly changing multicultural market. Diversifying your clientele means learning the practical skills and tools to expand business and effectively service all cultural groups. More information.

The AHWD application fee, normally priced at $75 has been discounted to $40 to Realtors® as a part of the Right Tools, Right Now Program. Take advantage now through December 31, 2023.

Find an AHWD-certified Realtor®

NAR's Bias Override Series

Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing is a NAR certificate course that helps real estate professionals interrupt stereotypical thinking to avoid fair housing pitfalls and provide equal professional service to every customer or client. Participants will learn about the mind science of identity, study how implicit bias can result in fair housing violations, and engage in interactive exercises to enhance communication skills and business relationships with clients of all backgrounds.

 This three-hour classroom course may qualify for CE credit. Classroom and live virtual versions of the course are posted as scheduled. Check back often for newly scheduled offerings on NAR’s Center for Realtor Development page here.

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Watch these videos by NAR – No CE Offered

Bias Override: Part One: What is Implicit Bias?

Bias Override: Part Two: Unintended Violations

Bias Override: Part Three: Strategies to Interrupt Implicit Bias 

Explore this Section

 

New Fair Housing Training Requirement – NAR Adds a Three-Year Training Cycle

 

New Jersey

New Jersey Realtors Resources

Multicultural Real Estate Groups

For information on how to contact these local associations and chapters, visit NAR’s directory of multicultural real estate organizations here.

 

Asian Realtors Association of America Founded in 2003, AREAA is a nonprofit professional trade organization dedicated to promoting sustainable home ownership opportunities in Asian American communities by creating a powerful national voice for housing and real estate professionals that serve this dynamic market.

LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance Founded in 2020, influential real estate professionals and allies joined with other members of the LGBTQ+ community to create a new voice in real estate. With chapters across North America, the Alliance are an all-inclusive and all-embracing organization acting as a leading advocate in real estate and housing policy, working on behalf of all LGBTQ+ people and their housing needs.

 

 National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals NAHREP’s mission is to advance sustainable Hispanic home ownership by educating and empowering the real estate professionals who serve Hispanic home buyers & sellers. The group advocates for public policy that supports the association’s mission, facilitating relationships among industry stakeholders, real estate practitioners and other housing industry professionals.

National Association of Real Estate Brokers – Realtists Formed in 1947 by chartered African American real estate professionals seeking equal housing rights, NAREB has participated in meaningful legal challenges and has supported legislative initiatives that ensure the availability of fair and affordable housing for all Americans.

Women’s Council of Realtors – With a current female membership of 62% in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), many unfamiliar with the organization may ask, “why do we need a Women’s Council?” The answer lies in the history of organized real estate, with NAR going back over 110 years and Women’s Council over 80 years. Women’s Council exists because, for the first 20 years of its existence, women were barred admission from many local Realtor® associations, so a separate group was created. In turn, a “women’s division” was formed at the Annual Convention in Milwaukee in November 1938.

Fair Housing

Resources from NAR

Other Resources

Updates & News About Fair Housing & Diversity

Federal Housing Administration Launches New Resources to Remove Language Barriers for Borrowers
Multi-language translations of single family mortgage documents offer new resources for lenders and servicers when working with borrowers with limited English proficiency. Read more.
During Pride Month, HUD Launches Initiative to Address LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the launch of a new LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness Initiative, which will partner with local communities, service providers, and directly-affected young people to address barriers to housing and shelter access for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) youth. Nearly 40 percent of all youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQI+, and these disparities are especially pronounced for transgender youth and other Black and brown LGBTQI+ youth. Read more.
Biden-Harris Administration to Save Native American Homebuyers an Average of $500 in the First Year on Mortgage Payments Through Fee Reductions
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Office of Native American Programs, announced reductions to both the Upfront Loan Guarantee fee and the Annual Loan Guarantee fee charged to homebuyers who obtain a Section 184 Indian Home (Section 184) loan. Read more. 
HUD Makes $22.5 Million in Funding Available to Public Housing Authorities for Jobs Plus Program
Funding will help public housing residents gain employment and education opportunities. Read more. 
NJ Division on Civil Rights and Department of Education Announce Joint Statement on School-Based Anti-Bias Initiatives and the Law Against Discrimination

To address the rising tide of bias and hate, many schools across our State have adopted anti-bias initiatives, policies, and curricula that recognize and value the identities and experiences of students from historically excluded communities. In general, these measures are consistent with the goals of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)—to prevent and eliminate discrimination. Read more.