In Recognition of National Fair Housing Month, WPAR Cites Best Practices to Promote Fair Housing

March 29, 2010 - PRLog -- April has been designated as National Fair Housing Month and in recognition of this, the Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS® Inc. (WPAR) is offering the New York real estate industry’s best practices for promoting fair housing in dealing with buyers, sellers, landlords and renters.

Dating back to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and following with the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and its amendments in 1974 and 1988, federal protected classes in fair housing legislation include race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender, disability and familial status.

Since 1997, WPAR has endorsed the Fair Housing Declaration put forth by the National Association of REALTORS,® which has been amended to reflect applicable New York State and Westchester County fair housing laws.  

As a result, WPAR strongly encourages individual REALTORS® and member firms to post the Declaration in their offices and practice real estate according to these principals, including:

•   Providing equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or status as a victim of domestic violence of any prospective client, customer, or the residents of any community.

•   Staying informed about fair housing law and practices.

•   Developing advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded.

•   Informing clients about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws.

•   Refusing to tolerate non-compliance.

•   Learning about those who are different and celebrating those differences.

•   Implementing fair housing practices to carry out the spirit of the declaration.

WPAR’s predecessor organization, the Westchester County Board of REALTORS®, championed enactment of the current New York State regulation that requires three hours of fair housing instruction to be included in the 22.5 hours of continuing education needed for real estate license renewal every two years.  

The Association has also developed its own courses to address that requirement: Fair Housing Myth & Reality , updating licensees on the fair housing laws; and New York – Connecticut Reciprocity & Fair Housing, advising licensees who practice in both states about the similarities and differences in their fair housing laws.  

The courses will be offered on April 14 and 19, respectively, at WPAR’s Brewster branch office.  Tuition and reservation information is available on WPAR’s Website, www.wpar.com.

The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS® Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association representing over 7,500 real estate professionals doing business in Westchester County and the surrounding region.  It's predecessor organizations, the Westchester County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. and Putnam County Association of REALTORS® Inc., were founded in 1916 and 1923 respectively. The Association owns and operates the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service that serves more than 900 real estate offices with listings in Bronx, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties.

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The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS®, Inc. (WPAR Inc.), a non-profit trade association, represents 7,500 real estate professionals in Westchester and Putnam Counties. It also owns and operates the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service.