Fair Housing

# Fair Housing — Real Estate Practice > Exam relevance: Fair Housing appears within the "Practice" section, which carries 13% of the national exam (~10–13 questions). Expect 3–5 questions specifically on fair housing concepts, protected classes, prohibited acts, and exemptions. Getting these right is straightforward once you learn the patterns. --- ## The Seven Federal Protected Classes — 42 USC §§3602, 3604 The Fair Housing Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-284; codified at 42 USC Chapter 45) and its 1988 amendments established the federal framework. Section 3604 prohibits discrimination *"because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin"*; Section 3604(f) adds handicap/disability — bringing the total to seven. You must know the protected classes cold: | Acronym | Protected Class | Statute | |---|---|---| | R | Race | 42 USC §3604 | | C | Color | 42 USC §3604 | | N | National Origin | 42 USC §3604 | | R | Religion | 42 USC §3604 | | S | Sex | 42 USC §3604 | | F | Familial Status | 42 USC §3604 | | D | Disability (Handicap) | 42 USC §3604(f) | A helpful mnemonic: "Real Color Never Requires Special Defense Feelings" — or simply drill Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Familial Status, Disability. Statutory definitions (42 USC §3602): - Familial status: *"one or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with—(1) a parent or another person having legal custody"* — also includes pregnant women and those in the process of gaining legal custody of a…