Driving Change: Keeping Fair Housing at The Fore
April is Fair Housing Month. From my perspective, this is not a month for celebration, but for commitment to practices that foster fair housing. Housing discrimination is a reality. It has financial and emotional impacts that leave deep wounds. The results from several years of testing, as reported in the 2019 Newsday “Long Island Divided” story, were staggering and disheartening. The testing indicated that Black buyers faced unequal treatment 49% of the time, Hispanic buyers 39%, and Asian buyers 19%. White testers received roughly 50% more listings compared to their Black counterparts. In many instances, minority testers were not even aware they were being steered toward neighborhoods with higher minority populations.
I want to believe we have made progress in the last six years. I want to believe that we have committed to eradicating discriminatory practices in real estate. We have stepped up our educational requirements and strengthened our teaching standards, and those are laudable and important. However, I am concerned about the walking back of diversity initiatives over the last couple of years, initiatives that support fair housing, and what impact that may have on the positive strides we have made. Moving beyond compliance to true inclusivity is how we turn fair housing from a policy into a promise.
I’m also concerned about maintaining a transparent marketplace, where all buyers and renters, regardless of race, ethnicity, and all applicable protected classes, have access to listed property. The benefits are obvious. Sellers and landlords benefit from wider exposure, and buyers and tenants have more choice. But more importantly, transparency reduces the opportunity for bias, whether intentional or not. OneKey MLS plays a vital role in that transparent marketplace. It’s something we have taken for granted for years, and we can’t afford to take it for granted anymore. Transparency isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of a fair housing marketplace and the responsibility of every real estate professional.
I don’t drive as much as I used to, especially long distances. When I did, I would often use cruise control, so I didn’t have to constantly monitor my speed. The problem with cruise control is it can also make you complacent, less aware of the traffic around you. If you are not careful, it can lull you into a false sense of security.
In our daily lives, I think we also find different forms of cruise control. We develop routines and systems that allow us to perform tasks even when not fully engaged. We rely on scripts and talking points that we have memorized. However, just as with cruise control, there are risks. Every situation we deal with may have similarities, but they also have nuances and differences. Systems and routines can be effective and beneficial, but only when we engage them with intention and are fully present. Fair housing demands intention because when we operate on ‘cruise control,’ we risk allowing bias to steer the outcome.
When asked about the importance of fair housing, I think Mark Boyland, Chair of the OneKey MLS Board of Managers, said it best, “To truly support fair housing, the OneKey MLS Community needs to prioritize transparency and continuous education. By holding each other accountable and sharing resources that highlight equitable practices, we ensure that every person, regardless of their background, has a clear, fair path to homeownership. It’s about moving beyond compliance and making inclusivity the standard for every transaction.”
Not just this month, but every month, not just today, but every day, let’s commit to staying fully engaged in upholding the principles of fair housing, prioritizing transparency and holding each other accountable. Fair housing isn’t a moment to observe; it’s a standard we must choose to uphold every single day. It’s not just our responsibility but also our obligation as real estate professionals.