Legal & Compliance
Equal Housing Opportunity
Horizon Realty Group · Northeastern North Carolina · Updated April 2026
The sale and purchase of a home is one of the most significant events anyone will experience. It includes the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and economic destiny of those involved — and every person deserves to pursue it without discrimination.
The Law
Multiple layers of federal law protect housing rights in the United States. Below is a plain-language summary of the primary statutes that govern our practice.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property. There are no exceptions. This statute predates all subsequent fair housing law and remains fully in force.
Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968)
Declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States. Makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale, lease, or rental of housing — or to make housing otherwise unavailable — on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Title III prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodation and commercial facilities. Real estate professionals have obligations under this statute in how they conduct business and in the facilities they operate.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Makes discrimination in any aspect of a credit application unlawful on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or reliance on public assistance. This applies to financing conversations in which a licensee may be involved.
North Carolina State Law
North Carolina fair housing statutes and the NC Real Estate Commission's rules may provide broader protections than federal law and prohibit discrimination on additional bases. We comply fully with all applicable state and local requirements.
Protected Classes
Under federal law and the NAR Code of Ethics, the following characteristics may never be used as a basis for discrimination in any real estate transaction, professional service, or employment practice:
Sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under NAR's Code of Ethics (Article 10) regardless of whether they are explicitly covered by applicable state law.
Rights & Responsibilities
Fair housing obligations fall on all parties in a real estate transaction.
As a seller or landlord, you are required by law not to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of property on the basis of any protected class. You cannot instruct your agent to convey limitations on your behalf — the agent is independently bound by the same laws. Specifically, you cannot:
- Establish discriminatory terms or conditions of sale or rental
- Deny that housing is available when it is
- Advertise the property as available only to persons of a certain class
- Instruct a licensee to act in any discriminatory manner
You have the right to expect housing will be available to you without discrimination or limitation based on any protected class. This includes:
- Housing in your price range made available without discrimination
- Equal professional service from all licensees
- The opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices and locations
- No discriminatory limitations on financing, appraising, or insuring of housing
- Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities
- Freedom from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights
Agents are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of any protected class in any aspect of a real estate transaction. A client's request to act in a discriminatory manner cannot legally be fulfilled — and our agents will not fulfill it. Period.
REALTOR® Commitment
Travis Old is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and is bound by NAR's Code of Ethics — a standard that exceeds federal law in several respects.
"REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity."
— Article 10, NAR Code of Ethics
In November 2020, NAR's Board of Directors extended the application of Article 10 to discriminatory speech and conduct outside of members' real estate practices. Standard of Practice 10-5 states that REALTORS® must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs against members of any protected class.
For the full NAR resource on equal opportunity housing, visit the source article directly:
The definitive NAR reference on fair housing rights, responsibilities, and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics commitment.
If You Suspect Discrimination
If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, you have two primary avenues for filing a complaint:
Contact Your Local Board of REALTORS®
The Albemarle Area Association of REALTORS® accepts complaints alleging violations of the Code of Ethics. Local boards have a responsibility to enforce the Code through professional standards procedures and corrective action where violations are proven.
Contact HUD — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Complaints alleging housing discrimination may be filed with HUD at hud.gov or by contacting your nearest HUD field office. HUD accepts complaints under the Fair Housing Act and has authority to investigate and enforce.
Contact Horizon Realty Group Directly
If you have a concern about how you were treated by anyone representing Horizon Realty Group, contact Travis Old directly at (252) 202-4945 or travis@horizonrealtync.com. We take these concerns seriously and will respond promptly.
Our Pledge
Horizon Realty Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
This is not a compliance checkbox. It is a condition of how we do business — every transaction, every client, every time.
Content adapted from the National Association of REALTORS® with attribution. For the full NAR resource, visit nar.realtor/fair-housing. Horizon Realty Group is a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage. This page does not constitute legal advice. For legal questions regarding fair housing rights, consult a licensed attorney.