The Fair Housing Act
Can a homeowner legally refuse to sell a home to a potential buyer?
The Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, covers housing discrimination. This law prohibits housing discrimination by real estate firms and homeowners. This means that homeowners may not refuse to lease or sell property based on race, religion, gender, color, or national origin. In some localities, special housing discrimination ordinances of laws also cover sexual orientation. This does not mean, however, that sellers must sell their home. It means that you could take legal action if the seller refuses to sell and you believe it was due to decimation.