Know your Rights as a Home Buyer

As you purchase any property you should know your rights as a home buyer. Several laws have been put in place to protect you from scams, excessive fees, discrimination, predatory lending, and malicious business practices.

Fair Housing Laws:
The Fair Housing Act 1968: Protects home buyers from discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of homes. For more information on the Fair Housing Act from HUD's website click here.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

Architectural Barriers Act of 1968

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972

Fair Housing-Related Presidential Executive Orders (from HUD's Website):
Executive Order 11063: Prohibits discrimination in the sale, leasing, rental, or other disposition of properties and facilities owned or operated by the federal government or provided with federal funds.

Executive Order 11246: As amended, bars discrimination in federal employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Executive Order 12892: As amended, requires federal agencies to affirmatively further fair housing in their programs and activities, and provides that the Secretary of HUD will be responsible for coordinating the effort. The order also establishes the President's Fair Housing Council, which will be chaired by the Secretary of HUD.

Executive Order 12898: Requires that each federal agency conduct its program, policies, and activities that substantially affect human health or the environment in a manner that does not exclude persons based on race, color, or national origin.

Executive Order 13166: Eliminates, to the extent possible, limited English proficiency as a barrier to full and meaningful participation by beneficiaries in all federally-assisted and federally conducted programs and activities.

Executive Order 13217: Requires federal agencies to evaluate their policies and programs to determine if any can be revised or modified to improve the availability of community-based living arrangements for persons with disabilities.