I HAVE A DREAM

You may be wondering why a real estate blog would post something about Martin Luther King? Many people are not aware of how much Martin Luther King helped the lives of home buyers, sellers, and real estate agents.

Martin Luther King’s death gave Congress the last push needed to pass the Fair Housing Act in 1968. The Fair Housing Act was put into place to ban racial discrimination in housing. You cannot be refused the rental or purchase of a house based upon your race.

It didn’t happen overnight. Believe it or not, it still can and does come up. Last year the National Association of Realtors passed a ban on all Pocket Listings. Pocket listings are listings held off-market by a real estate agent that shares that information with whomever they so choose. Studies have shown that the last people to hear about Pocket Listings were people of color.

A large number of homes are sold off the market. Oftentimes the agent with the pocket listing is double-ending the sale. The ban on Pocket Listings began on January 1, 2020. Implementation begins on May 1, 2020.

As professionals we’re tasked with making people aware that discrimination based on race is not acceptable. We must refuse to work with anyone that wants to do so. I’m proud to be a part of this ongoing history.

Share this:
Mark Danforth Lomas

Recent Posts

Santa Barbara Open Houses August 16th & 17th, 2026

Your ultimate guide to this weekends Open Houses Santa Barbara for August 16th & August…

2 weeks ago

Viva la Fiesta! Santa Barbara’s 103rd Celebration Returns!

¡Viva la Fiesta! Santa Barbara’s 103rd Annual Celebration Returns August 5–9, 2026The spirit of Santa…

2 weeks ago

Market Update: A Snapshot of June 2026

The June 2026 real estate data for Southern Santa Barbara County offers a fascinating look…

4 weeks ago

Santa Barbara’s State Street Blues

The Santa Barbara’s State Street Blues. It’s the first time in history a city might spend…

1 month ago

Celebrating the 4th of July and America’s 250th Anniversary

Your guide to Santa Barbara's Fourth of July Weekend! It is no secret that as…

2 months ago

Santa Barbara’s Real Estate Market: Key Factors & Trends

Recent market data highlights an encouraging shift for those tracking long-term housing costs. We are…

2 months ago