Buying
Protection When Buying Property

Everyone Should Be Protected When Buying Real Property
The concept of fair housing is not new to Realtors®. In point of fact, the Code of Ethics to which every Realtor® subscribes represents one of the most comprehensive commitments of affirmative action ever developed in an industry or profession.

Article 10 of the Realtor® Code of Ethics states that "Realtor® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. 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 or national origin."

The Board of Directors of the National Association of Realtors® approved a Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (VAMA) and recommended that it be adopted by its Member Boards and its Realtor® Members. This action was the culmination of many years of sustained effort by Department of Housing and Urban Development officials and committees of the National Association in support of its traditional commitment to equal opportunity in the acquisition and use of real property in America.

The VAMA reflects the positive and voluntary foundation of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. The goal of the VAMA is "to provide information that will enable minority buyers to make free choice of housing location." This positive formulation is consistent with the aspiration of the Preamble of the Code of Ethics to "...identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public..." The VAMA promotes this idea through a wide variety of education, promotion and advertising. While the VAMA is consistent with the Code of Ethics, it does involve a commitment beyond that required by the Code.

The Honolulu Board of Realtors® has signed the VAMA, and the principal brokers of member firms are constantly urged to sign the agreement. To date, over half of member firms have signed. Adoption of the Agreement enables the Realtor® to demonstrate compliance with the Fair Housing laws. The commitment of a Board and its members to voluntary affirmative marketing reduces the need, and therefore the demand, for coercive action by local government. It permits the Board to assume a position of leadership in the solution of fair housing problems because it signals the commitment to their solution in today's real estate marketplace.

Should you or someone you know suspect that there has been a violation of fair housing laws of Article 10 of the Realtor® Code of Ethics, you should contact the Honolulu Board of Realtors® immediately to file a complaint. Only by strict enforcement of our own rules can the Board maintain the atmosphere and climate of fair housing for all Americans that is the ultimate goal of Realtors® everywhere.