Top 10:

1. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. is believed to be what pushed the passing of the Fair Housing Act in April 1968. Find out more in the short clip called “7 Days.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lualCTZT2S0

 

2. The Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) is responsible for redlining, which continues to have an impact on neighborhoods. This group was comprised of real estate agents and appraisers.

 

3. If homes in new developments were to be FHA/VA insurable, they HAD to have restrictive covenants, thus locking people of color out of buying in those areas.

 

4. The “hangover effect” of redlining can be seen and felt in our neighborhoods today. While this happened in the past, it was not left there. Take a look at the redlining maps and reflect on what those areas are like today. Lansing’s redlining map: https://www.canr.msu.edu/redlining/lansing

 

5. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics did not adopt the Fair Housing Act until 1974, 6 years after it passed.

 

6. “The Plunder of Black Wealth in Chicago,” from the Samuel Dubois Cook Center on Social Equality in May 2019 quantifies the cost of housing discrimination. The report found the typical price markup on homes for black Americans was 84%. https://socialequity.duke.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Plunder-of-Black-Wealth-in-Chicago.pdf

 

7. Asking people to participate and intentionally making space for them is the best way to be inclusive.

 

8. Using checklists and uniformity when talking with clients can help agents stay away from unintentional fair housing violations. (I.e. steering, discussing school districts and crime) Check out the Newsday “Long Island Divided,” documentary for examples of how agents can get into trouble: https://youtu.be/wqN-D3f49fE

 

9. Implicit bias is real: Even well-intentioned individuals can hold unconscious biases that can impact their decision-making. It’s important to recognize and address these biases in order to create a more equitable workplace. NAR Bias Override video: https://www.nar.realtor/videos/bias-override-video-series-part-1-what-is-implicit-bias

 

10. One of the best ways to bridge the homeownership gap is to actively recruit new REALTORS® from marginalized communities AND/or support them with training, financial assistance to work to tear down barriers.

 

April 2023 Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS® Industry Update on April 20, 2023.

Thank you to presenters:

-Matt Difanis: Broker-Owner of RE/MAX Realty Associates
-Jeff Bone: 2023 President, Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS®