Florida Broker Practice Exam

Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT a valid reason to refuse to sell property?

1. Economic income

2. Color and race

3. Marital status

4. Age

The correct answer is: Economic income

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The correct answer indicates that economic income is not a valid reason to refuse to sell a property. An individual's income level does not fall under the protected classes defined by the Act and thus can be considered a legitimate reason to assess a buyer's ability to purchase property. In contrast, reasons such as color, race, marital status, and age are explicitly protected characteristics under various fair housing laws. Refusing to sell based on these factors constitutes discrimination and is illegal under the Fair Housing Act. Such protections ensure that everyone has equal access to housing opportunities, regardless of their personal attributes. Therefore, the refusal based on economic income stands out as the only option not grounded in protected classes under the Fair Housing regulations.