This post was updated Apr. 14, 2025.
Tool Kit is a recurring column on Inman that pulls together resources for agents who want to dive deeper on specific subjects or team leaders and brokers looking for educational content on timely topics for trainings.
New agents face many challenges in the first year of their career, but learning to be a knowledgeable professional for all of their potential clients is essential. Understanding, identifying and then enacting fair housing practices ensures that consumers can get consistent service and opportunities in their homeownership journey.
This isn’t your mother’s fair housing kit; this is the nitty gritty of what you need to know and why you need to know it because fair housing isn’t a negotiation — it’s the fabric that weaves together the American dream for all.
In this Tool Kit, new agents will find access to essential educational resources from a variety of sources, perspectives and, of course, experts.
The National Association of Realtors has your basics covered
Fair housing is more than just taking the tests and completing the required education. It kind of works the way reading comprehension does; you will have to take what you have learned, use it as a tool to help your clients and make sure you do not have any unintentional bias that may limit their home purchase or selling journey.
NAR offers a great tool set, but they also have a comprehensive field guide. Here you can find videos to watch, the latest news on fair housing, specific case studies, consumer guides and learn how to take action if you believe that fair housing guidelines have been violated.
- Videos: Watch and learn when you have a quick break
- NAR ACT!: ACT! is NAR’s cornerstone fair housing initiative supporting Accountability, Culture Change, and Training to advance fair housing in our industry
- Consumer guide: Information designed for you to help educate consumers
- How to report: Contact information for HUD and other authorities
Takeaway: Don’t overlook resources, consume at a regular pace, and check back often for news updates. Make sure to have the consumer guide handy and build that into your meetings with clients so they know that you are an agent who takes fair housing seriously.
Real-world examples: Agents who crossed the line
In November 2019, Newsday unveiled its three-year investigation into serious discrimination issues in the Long Island, New York, area. Using a specially trained group of “testers” and putting 93 agents and brokerages up against their fair housing training, what they uncovered is shocking.
Both personally and professionally, I learned more about fair housing from this investigation than from much of my previous training because the testers, the agents, and the real estate all looked very familiar and, in some cases, revealed the weaknesses of “traditional” sales coaching.
Full interactive research: You can read about the investigation, see maps, and testimonials.
Documentary: Here’s a great 41-minute watch. Every broker or team leader should have a pizza party, share this with their agents, and discuss it afterward. (Bonus points if you watch it independently.)
Takeaway: Consumers face many barriers, and it’s your job to ensure that you do not add to the problem but act as a guide to help them reach their goals.
Know the data: Housing isn’t always fair
For many new agents, it’s hard to understand fair housing because they may not have any personal or first-hand experience with discrimination issues. Understanding the data and personal experiences around fair housing is essential to be able to help all of your clients equally.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury conducted a study about the wealth gap and financial security differences for minorities regarding housing and building wealth.
Figure 1. Racial Homeownership Gaps Over Time
Notes: Figure displays the proportion of all households that are homeowners. Hispanic includes anyone of Hispanic ethnicity regardless of race. Other includes people who are Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native and those who report two or more races. Source: U.S. Census Bureau data via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The U.S. Census Bureau does a great job collecting data on a variety of topics that will interest new agents about housing. With everything, including affordable housing, rentals and new construction, you can see what types of housing different areas of the country need or where they are having a shortage.
This is helpful in understanding how fair housing issues are also local and regional issues in many different ways.
Takeaway: Eat your statistics for breakfast every day. New agents should be reading national, state and local housing trend data to understand their area and the housing needs of the customers they serve.
Real estate is local, and fair housing is an essential issue in every neighborhood across the country.
Pitfalls and pointers from the field
When it comes to fair housing, you need to pay special attention to the advice you receive from others. As a new agent, it’s difficult to discern whether advice is coming from a seasoned agent who is trying to help you learn how to close a deal or an agent who is used to blurring the lines of fair housing to complete a sale.
Beware! When in doubt, talk to your broker. In addition, many state associations offer legal hotlines as a membership perk, where you can talk to an attorney about a potential issue that has cropped up.
From marketing to customer service to preparing a home for sale, there are fair housing tasks and potential snags that a new agent can encounter along the way.
Our experts have written many articles about essential fair housing news, tips and examples that will come in handy as you approach your first purchases, listings and rental deals.
In Inman’s fair housing topic category you will find news and service articles about the latest fair housing issues.
Some great essential reads are:
- How to talk to sellers about offers
- How to know if your low appraisal is a Fair Housing Issue
- How to make sure your listing description does not violate Fair Housing
- Soft skills every new agent will need to help with Fair Housing issues
- Fair housing issues in an anti-DEI climate
- 8 fair housing terms that every new agent should know by heart
- A deep dive into the relationship of DEI and fair housing
Takeaway: Understanding DEI and fair housing impact is critical for new agents, especially if you do not have first-hand experience with working with the public. An awareness of culture, heritage, respect, language differences and more can help ameliorate friction and miscommunications.
Listening to experts, and learning talking points will help you become more confident in helping the public and having successful interactions. Clients’ needs are not one-size-fits-all, and a knowledgeable agent will be ready to pivot into strategies to help meet them where they are.
Challenging times and creating opportunity
If you are a new agent in 2025, you face many hurdles. Low inventory, lack of affordability and high interest rates create barriers for even well-qualified buyers. Creating pathways for buyers and sellers who may face discrimination issues means that their agent needs to advocate and champion their goals during the transaction.
It’s critical that you leave politics out of fair housing to make sure that you are serving all of your clients. As a new agent, if you feel that you will struggle to provide the same service to all customers, you need to reevaluate working with the public.
Per the NAR Realtor Code of Ethics, Realtors are tasked with helping all people find a home, not just those they like to work with.
One of the biggest pitfalls many new agents, and even seasoned agents, can fall into is believing that they can operate outside of fair housing without some type of reaction. This could mean lawsuits, negative media coverage, reputation management or even losing their license.
As a trainer and instructor, I see new agents struggling with this, especially in this hot political climate, and my best advice is to make sure you really love people and working with the public. Having a heart for helping others find a home means believing all people should have equal opportunity.
Rachael Hite is a seasoned housing counselor and thought leader in the real estate industry, known for her extensive expertise across business news journalism, retirement housing, and affordable housing initiatives. Connect with Rachael on Instagram and Linkedin.
