PRESIDENT’S VIEW
Housing Discrimination? Not in Our House. BY JEFFREY JONES
A
s one of the most diverse states in the country, fair
If you’re looking to deepen your education, consider
housing is one of the pillars of being a New Jersey
completing the At Home with Diversity® certification course
Realtor®. We treat communities fairly because it’s good for
through the National Association of Realtors® or your local
business, but more importantly because it’s the right thing to
board/association. The program helps prepare Realtors® to
do.
work with all potential buyers or sellers no matter their race, religion, gender, handicaps, or sexual orientation. In New
Fair Housing CE Requirement
Jersey, you can earn six CE credits for the class.
Last month, the New Jersey Real Estate Commission mandated that 1 Fair Housing credit will be required for
Other Ways You Can Commit to Diversity
the current continuing education cycle. The NJREC has
Participate in the Fairhaven fair housing simulation developed
waived the $200 processing fee (late fee) until May 31 and has
by NAR. In this new training platform, Realtors® race against
extended the current CE licensing cycle until July 19.
the clock to help their clients buy or sell homes while also walking in the shoes of homebuyers facing discrimination.
We know this is a last-minute addition to the CE requirements,
Start the simulation at fairhaven.realtor.
but we have ways to help you complete them. If you only need the mandated fair housing requirement, New Jersey
According to the Perception Institute, stereotypes we have
Realtors Academy of Continuing Education offers a free
towards people without conscious knowledge are implicit
one-hour course, Complying with the Fair Housing Act.
biases. The Perception Institute developed an implicit bias
Barry Goodman, NJ Realtors General Counsel, covers vital
test so participants could understand the biases and how they
topics you need in your day-to-day business, such as what
impact their everyday life. Take the test and watch the NAR
you can do in your advertising and New Jersey’s Law Against
training video to gain a further understanding of stereotypes
Discrimination.
and how they impact society.
If you need more than the fair housing credit,
For resources and to learn more about diversity and NJ
njrealtorsace.com offers online course bundles and a
Realtors®’ commitment to fair housing,
plethora of single online courses to help you finish your CE
visit njrealtor.com/diversity.
®
®
before the new deadline.
NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | May/June 2021 | 5
