Your Atlanta Realtor’s Mortgage Series Part 5: Fair Lending is Required by Law

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant’s income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics.

Perky renovation two blocks from Piedmont Park touts a great location and an $850,000 listing price. From the metal roof and central air conditioning system, to the backyard’s artificial turf, this 1930’s Midtown bungalow brings a lot of new things to the table without wrecking the home’s timeless charm. Freshly renovated and painted very blue, the Penn Avenue three bedroom home stands two blocks south of Piedmont Park, on what the Listing Agent enthusiastically declares as the Best Street in Midtown Atlanta. The prettiness of the façade, complete with a front porch and with views to similarly well-kept classic homes, is an Atlanta classic. Inside, you’ll find a highly functional but not sprawling 2,200 square feet. The open floorplan leads to a renovated kitchen and upstairs you’ll find a guest suite, a screened-in back porch (complete with ceiling fans) and a brick patio. The backyard’s small size may be a perk for many intown homeowners. It’s an admirable package, and proof that even this price doesn’t snag an estate in Atlanta’s more desirable neighborhoods anymore.