
Homeowners who are selling their houses this spring have an opportunity to promote fair housing. Here are some things you can do:
- Be open to accepting different types of financing, like FHA and VA.
- Treat offers that include downpayment assistance the same as you would treat offers where the buyer has cash for a down payment. That cash may be coming from family, which is just another form of assistance.
- Do not favor an offer because it is coming from the kind of person you want to sell your house to. Fair housing means that you don’t get to choose who buys your house based on Race, Religion, Familial status, etc.
- Your neighbor does not have a say in who you sell your house to. Be kind to people who wish to purchase your home, and if your neighbors give you a bad time, move out in the dead of night and leave no forwarding address.
If you get an offer and it comes with a letter from the buyers, do not read the letter. Your agent will be happy to let prospective buyers know that what you want for your home is the best terms possible, not a letter.
Homebuyers should put their best foot forward and let the offer speak for itself. Home sellers appreciate clean, fair offers.
For homeowners, fair housing is all about looking at the buyer’s offer instead of looking at the buyer. It is also about being open to different types of financing.
In Minnesota, there’s a significant racial disparity in homeownership, with white households having a much higher homeownership rate than Black households. While approximately 77% of white households own their homes, only about 29% of Black households do, according to the Minnesota Housing Partnership. This disparity is one of the largest in the nation. Which is why every month should be fair housing month.
If you are a fair housing nerd, here is some reading: The Color of Law
Fair housing rules and laws in Minnesota, and where to get help if you have been discriminated against.
Fair housing and deed restrictions
Fair Housing and Love Letters