The best part of being a real estate associate isn’t the paperwork, or the paycheck. Across the board, NextHome associates consistently tell us that the best part of being in real estate is the ability to change lives for the better – putting Humans Over Houses®.
The humans we serve as real estate professionals come from all walks of life, corners of the globe, and many diverse cultural backgrounds. Unfortunately in the housing sector, minority groups have faced remarkable challenges. Each diverse person brings unique perspectives to their transaction. That’s why each April, we commemorate Fair Housing Month.
Fair Housing Month shines a light on the April 11, 1968 passage of The Fair Housing Act. With the stroke of a pen, Lyndon B. Johnson made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful. This wide-ranging legislation protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status.
More than 55 years later, NextHome is also committed to shining a light on fair housing. Every NextHome broker, owner, and associate is encouraged to complete the At Home With Diversity Certification through the National Association of REALTORS®. To show our commitment, NextHome covers the cost of this course.
Today, more than 850 NextHome members have completed the training.
In February, NextHome members were led through this training by Robert Morris, who shaped much of the curriculum over the years. With more than 38 years of real estate sales and education experience, Robert is an international speaker, certified instructor, and consultant who holds numerous professional designations.
Throughout the course, Robert helped each NextHome member learn about the subtleties of U.S. Fair Housing Law, assessing the impact of diversity in local markets, business etiquette for specific cultures, crafting an inclusive business plan, the ability to earn the trust of diverse clientele, and more.
This training is vital. Until we listen to minorities with the intent to understand, fair housing for some will continue to be out of reach.
According to the latest Fair Housing Report from The National Fair Housing Alliance, the number of housing discrimination complaints increased significantly in 2021, despite the fact there were fewer agencies reporting complaint data. With seven fewer agencies reporting, there were 31,216 housing complaints in 2021, an 8.7 percent increase over the number of complaints filed in 2020. And although they are seldom enforced, racially restrictive covenants can be found on the books in nearly every U.S. State.
By offering the best training opportunities possible, NextHome is committed to ensuring our members have the full expertise and tools they need to navigate an ever-changing multicultural marketplace. With these tools and training at their fingertips, NextHome members can focus on what they do best: putting humans from all walks of life in great houses.