February is for lovers and you may be asking, what's love got to do with housing?  Well, according to NAR's 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the share of married couples has decreased to 61 percent this year, down slightly from 63 percent last year. The share of single females dipped slightly to 17 percent, and single males held steady at 9 percent. Unmarried couples rose slightly to 9 percent this year from 8 percent last year. When it comes to home purchasing power, dual incomes from married couples and unmarried couples had stronger purchasing power than single buyers. The report also reveals that in 2019, unmarried couples were the most likely to rent a home before making a purchase at 55 percent. 

But what about fair housing? What if, along the way, you are denied an opportunity to rent a home or apartment, or given false information about a rental? If it's because of your marital status, you are likely a victim of illegal housing discrimination. It is also illegal for landlords or other housing providers to treat in-place residents or their guests unfavorably because of their marital status.

Marital Status Discrimination occurs when rental advertising expresses a preference for married couples. Other examples include setting curfews or overnight restrictions for single residents, requiring unmarried couples to show that they have joint bank accounts or other evidence of a long-term relationship, or refusing to rent to roommates, unmarried couples, or single parents because the housing provider prefers married couples as tenants.

Realtors® recognize the significance of the Fair Housing Act and are committed to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property, regardless of age, ancestry, color, learning disability, marital status, national origin, physical disability, mental disability, race, religious creed, sex,　gender identity or expression,　and sexual orientation.

For more information about the 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, go to easternctrealtors.com. To file a　housing　complaint, contact the Commission for Human Rights and Opportunities at 1-800-477-5737. Because fair housing is love.