Federal Statute
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property. There are no exceptions. This statute predates all subsequent fair housing law and remains fully in force.
Legal & Compliance
Equal Housing Opportunity
Our commitment to every buyer in Edenton and Chowan County. Horizon Realty Group · Northeastern North Carolina
Buying in Edenton means navigating a historic district, a thin resale market, and financing programs with strict eligibility rules. Every buyer who walks through that process deserves equal access to professional service, honest information, and the full protection of the law — without exception.
FAIR HOUSING STATEMENT
We Are an Equal Housing Opportunity Provider
Horizon Realty Group is committed to the Fair Housing Act and all applicable federal, state, and local fair housing laws. We do not discriminate. Full stop. That commitment applies equally whether you're buying a contributing historic property on East King Street or an entry-level home in Chowan County.
The Law
Multiple layers of federal and state law protect housing rights in the United States. Below is a summary of the primary statutes governing real estate transactions.
Title VIII · 1968
Fair Housing Act
Declares a national policy of fair housing. Makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale, lease, or rental of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Title III
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodation and commercial facilities. Governs how real estate professionals conduct business and operate facilities.
Federal Finance
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Makes discrimination in credit applications unlawful on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or reliance on public assistance.
NCREC Jurisdiction
North Carolina State Law & Commission Rules
North Carolina fair housing statutes and NC Real Estate Commission rules provide full state-level protections. Buyers and sellers in Chowan County transact under NCREC jurisdiction, and our practice reflects that fully with strict compliance with all state and local requirements.
Protected Classes
Under federal law and the NAR Code of Ethics, the following characteristics may never be used as a basis for discrimination in any real estate transaction or service:
Federal & State Law Protected Classes
RaceColorReligionNational OriginSexHandicap / DisabilityFamilial Status
NAR Code of Ethics Extended Protections (Article 10)
Sexual OrientationGender Identity
Sexual orientation and gender identity are explicitly protected under NAR's Code of Ethics (Article 10) across all professional real estate activities.
Rights & Responsibilities
Fair housing obligations apply across every role in a North Carolina real estate transaction.
For Sellers & Landlords
You are required by law not to discriminate in sale, rental, or financing terms. You cannot instruct an agent to convey limitations — agents are independently bound by law. Specifically, you cannot:
- Establish discriminatory terms or conditions
- Falsely deny housing availability
- Advertise limitations based on protected classes
- Instruct a licensee to act discriminatorily
For Buyers & Renters
You have the right to expect housing without discrimination or unlawful limitation. This includes:
- Equal access to housing in your price range
- Equal professional service from all licensees
- Broad choice of locations & neighborhoods
- Nondiscriminatory financing & appraising
- Reasonable disability accommodations
- Protection from harassment or intimidation
For Real Estate Professionals
Agents are strictly prohibited from discriminating in any aspect of a transaction. A client's request to act in a discriminatory manner cannot legally be fulfilled — and Horizon Realty Group will not fulfill it. Period.
REALTOR® Commitment
Travis Old is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NC Broker #334264) and is bound by NAR's Code of Ethics — a standard that exceeds federal law.
"REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons..."
— Article 10, NAR Code of Ethics
Standard of Practice 10-5 explicitly prohibits REALTORS® from using harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs against members of any protected class in all real estate and public activities.
Official Reference: National Association of REALTORS® Fair Housing Guide
Read the complete guide on rights, responsibilities, and Code of Ethics standards at nar.realtor/fair-housing.
If You Suspect Discrimination
If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, you have three primary options for action:
Option 1 · Local Board
Albemarle Area Association of REALTORS®
Edenton transactions fall under AAAR jurisdiction. AAAR accepts and investigates complaints alleging violations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics through formal professional standards procedures.
Option 2 · Federal HUD
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
File a federal Fair Housing Act complaint directly online or through your regional HUD office with full authority to investigate and enforce.
File HUD Complaint →Option 3 · Direct Broker Contact
Horizon Realty Group — Travis Old
If you have any concern regarding your treatment by anyone at Horizon Realty Group, contact Travis Old directly. We take all concerns seriously and respond immediately.
Our Pledge
Horizon Realty Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for equal housing opportunity. We support an affirmative marketing program free of barriers based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
In a market as layered as Edenton's — with its historic overlay, USDA eligibility boundaries, and long-term legacy buyers — this pledge is not abstract. It governs every transaction, every client, every time.
This is not a compliance checkbox. It is a condition of how we do business.
Content adapted from the National Association of REALTORS® with attribution. Visit nar.realtor/fair-housing for full resources. Horizon Realty Group is a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage (Firm License #C21624, Travis Old NC Broker #334264). This page does not constitute legal advice.