Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
Which is NOT a class protected by the FEDERAL Fair Housing Act (though some states add it)?
Answer: A. Source of income, sexual orientation, age, and marital status are not in the seven federal classes, though many states/localities protect them.
Question 2 of 5
The owner of a single family home sells it himself, without an agent or discriminatory advertising, and refuses to sell to a buyer because of her religion. Under federal law this is:
Answer: B. The Fair Housing Act's FSBO exemption (owner of ≤3 single-family homes, no agent, no discriminatory ads) can cover religion-based refusal — distasteful but exempt. RACE would never be exempt (1866 Act). Many states remove these exemptions — federal question, federal answer.
Question 3 of 5
A 55+ community meeting HOPA requirements refuses to rent to a couple with a 10-year-old. This refusal is:
Answer: B. Qualified HOPA senior housing (62+ all residents, or 55+ with the 80% rule and published policies) is EXEMPT from familial-status protection — the one lawful 'no kids' housing.
Question 4 of 5
How many classes are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act?
Answer: C. Seven: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability (handicap).
Question 5 of 5
Guiding buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected class is:
Answer: A. Steering channels people to/from areas by protected class and is illegal under fair housing law.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
What you need to know
HUD and DOJ actively prosecute landlord harassment cases. Sex discrimination also covers unequal treatment of women in lending (once common: discounting a wife's income) and, under current interpretations, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Property managers must train staff, take complaints seriously, and never retaliate against complainants — retaliation is an independent violation even if the underlying claim fails.
Sexual Harassment & Hostile Housing: FAQs
Is Sexual Harassment & Hostile Housing on the real estate exam?
Yes. Fair Housing & Ethics is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
