Housing and lending discrimination is something common that occurs when an individual attempts to buy or rent a home, but also when they try to buy homeowner’s insurance or a mortgage. Millions of complaints are still filed each year through nonprofit fair-housing agencies and other local and state agencies.

Housing discrimination isn’t always obvious, and is something that is still prevalent today in our society.

Sarah, a young mother, in Toledo, OH, was searching for a house where she and her daughter could live for a reasonable price. After searching for months, she found a two-bedroom condo that they could live in. When she called the rental office, her excitement grew as she listened to the description of it. However, this anticipation was quickly killed when she was informed that children were not allowed in the complex. Sarah, who worked for Toledo Fair Housing Center, knew that the “no kids” policy was illegal. After a testing investigation and discovered the rental company was illegally discriminating. Sarah filed a formal complaint and the rental company is negotiating a settlement.

Joseph had lived in his apartment in Takoma Park, Maryland, for over five years when the management was turned over to a new company. All of the tenants in the units were African American. Shortly after the turn-over, the new management evicted all tenants except for one who was allowed to live in a basement and was limited to building access from a side entrance to the apartment complex. Though the landlord claimed massive renovations, leading to increased rent, these renovations were completed within a week and new tenants moved into the building, none of whom were African American.  Joseph’s local fair housing center was able to discover that all of the company’s other units were managed in the same way and demonstrated the same discrimination. Joseph filed a complaint against the new management’s illegal behaviors.

Leah and her husband Brad were looking for a new place to live in San Jose, California. Leah is blind and is guided by her Seeing Eye dog to get around. After finding a promising listing in the local paper, the couple decided to make an appointment to meet with management and see the property.  When they were showed around the apartment, the couple were pleased by what they saw and made an appointment to apply for the apartment. However, when they met with the owner, she promptly informed them that they were not allowed to have any pets and “if [she] let [them] have one, everyone will want one.” Though the couple explained that their dog was a service animal, the owner would not compromise. She allowed them to fill out the application, without any intention of renting to the couple. Leah and her husband filed a complaint to a federal court to make sure that others in their situation would not fall under the same discrimination and the couple won a settlement from the owner who would not rent to them.

The following activities are not permissible under the Fair Housing Act when based on discrimination:

• Refusal to sell or rent housing
• Refusal to negotiate with an individual for housing
• Making housing unavailable to an individual
• Setting different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental
• Providing different housing services or facilities
• False denial that housing is available for inspection, sale or rental
• Persuading owners to sell or rent for one’s own profit
• Denial of access to a facility or service related to the sale of housing
• Refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules or services if necessary for a disabled person to use housing
• Refusal to allow a disabled person to make reasonable accommodations to his/her dwelling
• Threat towards anyone making a fair housing complaint
• Refusal to provide municipal services, property insurance or hazard insurance for dwellings, or providing such services or insurance differently

It is important for you to be aware of your rights and to utilize the laws that have been set in place. Most individuals who are discriminated against in housing are not aware, or take no action to prohibit it. If this problem is not stopped little by little, it will continue to exist and thousands of others for generations to come will continue to experience discrimination.

If you need to report a complaint, include the following information: your name and address, the name and address of the person your complaint is against, the address of the housing involved, a short description of the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated, and the date(s) of the alleged violation.

If you need to reach your local HUD office, call 1-800-669-9777, TDD 1-800-927-9275 or visit HUD.gov.

To identify the private housing enforcement office in your area, call 202-898-1661 or visit the National Fair Housing Alliance.

Remember we are here to help you purchase a home in Bryan College Station, Texas. Aggies Don’t Discriminate!”

Thanks!

David

PS – David Whitener, I never forget you have a choice when choosing a Realtor to represent you in Bryan/College Station. 

The City of College Station is ranked by The Business Journals as the brainiest city in Texas among those with populations between 50,000 and 100,000. Some 28 percent of College Station residents hold a bachelor’s degree and another 28.23 percent have a graduate or professional degree. A lot of this has to do with Texas A&M faculty as well as so many Aggies staying here after graduation!

The Business Journals ranked 483 mid-sized U.S. cities using 2009 U.S. Census Data. The rankings were based on the percentage of population with each level of educational attainment.  Not only were we #1 in Texas, but College Station ranked No. 31 nationally.

So, next time someone makes an Aggie joke, make sure and let them know that they are actually making fun of the smartest city in all of Texas!

Unfortunately a lot of times we don’t realize that there are those in our community who don’t know where their next warm meal will come from, where they will sleep, or if their children will be warm enough this winter!  We don’t see it a lot, but it does exist more than you could even imagine!

This year, my kids and I decided that we would like to help those who are less fortunate than the majority of us in Bryan/College Station. We have started a coat/blanket drive in Castlegate with the donations going to the Twin City Mission!  What started as a small project has taken flight.  My daughter and I printed out about 100 fliers and asked a few of her friends to help us pass them out in our subdivision!  The kids have all gotten so into it that it has amazed me!  They just light up when people ask about how to donate!  Now it is on the Castlegate website and on Facebook!

It’s very simple if you want to get involved!  We are taking donations at 2445 Newark Circle today from 4-6 and tomorrow 9-11 am!  All you have to do is drive up to the curb and we’ll grab them from you.  If that time isn’t convenient, you can call me at 979-229-0919 and we can pick them up.  You can also drop them by the Century 21, Beal offices located at 404 H University Drive East at your leisure.

The kids are waiting to take your Coats and Blankets to give to the less fortunate!

We have a lot to be thankful for Aggieland, so let’s get out there and make this winter a little warmer for our Brazos Valley Neighbors!

For more information, give Farrah Spears a call at 979-229-0919

For more information about Castlegate and any home in Bryan/College Station, give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919.

Farrah Spears

979-229-0919

For all your real estate needs, Call Farrah B Spears at 979-229-0919

Their mantra is…”When They Come Back, We Give Back!”  What better way to say thank you to our troops this Veteran’s day than sporting a pair of boots just like theirs? So join in the growing chorus of musicians, entertainers, athletes and other celebrities and get YOUR boots on!  I laced up my boots in support and and next week,  November 14-19th,  you can support the campaign in various ways!

1. If you are a student, stop by my office at 404 H University Drive East(beside Cenare and across University Drive from the FOX and Hound) and show your student id for your FREE “I do it with my boots on” T-shirt to be worn at the game on November 19th. My office is open Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30.

2.  Stop by the photo booth in front of the giant Aggie Ring on game day(November 19th) and join the national Boot Campaign facebook movement. *Surprise Aggie celebs will be there!

3. Head to the Shiner sponsored tailgate outside Reed Arena for FREE BEER!  (must have your valid drivers license and your Boot Campaign tee shirt on!)

What better way to say thanks this Veteran’s day than to Walk a Mile in Their Boots and support our troops!   Click on the link to find out more about this year’s Aggieland Boot Campaign! http://www.bootcampaign.com/aggie.html or give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919!  Thanks again Veterans!  God Bless America!

For all your real estate needs, call Farrah B Spears at 979-229-0919

For this and all real estate tips, call me, Farrah Spears at 979-229-0919

My friend and Mary Kay Sales Director, Ashley Virnau, told me about something she and Mary Kay are doing to raise funds to go towards breast cancer research via the Mary Kay Ash Foundation.  It’s simple, all you do is lend your face, receive a complimentary facial, and a donation will be made to the Mary Kay Ash Foundation!  Also, for every Party held within Ashley’s unit, they will donate $20 to the Mary Kay Ash foundation!  This is a win/win as you get to have an amazing facial while supporting something that will one way or another effect us all!

To book your facial, call Ashley Virnau at 979-220-7281

For all your real estate needs, call Farrah Spears at 979-229-0919

Farrah Spears

Realtor, Century 21 Beal

979-229-0919

farrahs@century21bcs.com

Tonight is National Night Out in Bryan/College Station, so get out and meet your neighbors.  We live in one of the safest cities in the country, however crime still does occur, so what can we do to curb the small amount of crime that rears it’s head every once in a while….get to know your neighbors!  Tonight is the night to do just that.  There will be National Night Out parties in different parks and subdivisions around the cities, so look for the signs.  If your subdivision does not have a party tonight, then just get out and meet your neighbors so that you know who belongs and who doesn’t .  There is no better way to stay safe than to get to know the people who live around you, so get out there Aggieland and meet your neighbors!

For all your real estate needs, give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919

Farrah Spears

979-229-0919

farrahs@century21bcs.com

Here’s the list:

1. In general, you are eligible to exclude the gain from income if you have owned and used your home as your main home for two years out of the five years prior to the date of its sale.
2. If you have a gain from the sale of your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 on a joint return in most cases).
3. You are not eligible for the exclusion if you excluded the gain from the sale of another home during the two-year period prior to the sale of your home.
4. If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return.
5. If you have a gain that cannot be excluded, it is taxable. You must report it on Form 1040, Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.
6. You cannot deduct a loss from the sale of your main home.
7. Worksheets are included in Publication 523, Selling Your Home, to help you figure the adjusted basis of the home you sold, the gain (or loss) on the sale, and the gain that you can exclude.
8. If you have more than one home, you can exclude a gain only from the sale of your main home. You must pay tax on the gain from selling any other home. If you have two homes and live in both of them, your main home is ordinarily the one you live in most of the time.
9. If you received the first-time homebuyer credit and within 36 months of the date of purchase, the property is no longer used as your principal residence, you are required to repay the credit. Repayment of the full credit is due with the income tax return for the year the home ceased to be your principal residence, using Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit. The full amount of the credit is reflected as additional tax on that year’s tax return.
10. When you move, be sure to update your address with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service to ensure you receive refunds or correspondence from the IRS. Use Form 8822, Change of Address, to notify the IRS of your address change.

I hope these tips can help make you life a little easier when taxes come due.  For help selling your home and everything that comes along with it, give me a call @ 979.255.1839.

Clay Lee – Realtor

Century 21 Beal, Inc.