Bank to pay $7,500 for denying loan to lesbians
The case against Bank of America was the first of its type since the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new anti-discrimination rules.
Bank of America has agreed to pay $7,500 to settle allegations that it refused to grant a loan to a lesbian couple because of their marital status and sexual orientation.
The case is the first of its type since the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a new rule requiring equal access to housing in HUD programs regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That rule says lenders cannot base decisions about loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
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"The HUD Equal Access Rule means just what it says: One’s sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status is not a legitimate basis on which to deny a mortgage," John Trasviña, HUD’s assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity, said in a news release. "Members of the housing industry should take note of this settlement agreement. HUD will enforce its regulations to make sure its programs are truly open to all qualified families."
The rule also applies to all other housing program administered by HUD.
It’s not unusual for unmarried couples -- or other people who are unrelated, such as business partners -- to seek a mortgage together.
In this case, two women, who were not identified in the HUD press release, were seeking to buy a home together in South Daytona Beach, Fla., using an FHA-backed mortgage. Because one did not have a job, her mother agreed to be a co-signer.
Everything went fine until one business day before the closing, HUD said, when "BOA denied the mortgage because it did not consider the loan applicant and the co-applicant directly related because the applicant and her partner were not married."
Bank of America agreed to pay HUD $7,500, update its training programs and remind its employees they are prohibited from discriminating against FHA loan applicants on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
There was no immediate comment from Bank of America, but HUD praised the lender for "taking immediate corrective action after HUD notified BOA of the violation."
FHA mortgages are routinely granted to unmarried couples, though it’s important to make sure both people are legally protected. You can read more about FHA mortgages here.
For all those sanctimonious people contributing to this article, this wasn't directly about a "lesbian couple" per say, it was about 2 people that applied for a mortgage who were denied because they were not married. The same thing would have resulted if a straight unmarried couple had applied for a loan.
People talk as if they have the religious right to determine who owns a home in this country. Why don't you live the way you see fit and allow others to do the same! LET GO AND LET GOD!
Gah! Learn to read, people!
The lesbian couple referenced in the article above (denied a home loan) are NOT the same lesbian couple as in the above video (want out of their lease due to hate crimes.)
The couple referenced in the article above are NOT the same as the couple in the state-of-Kansas-vs-sperm-donor article.
The couple referenced in the artice above did not benefit financially from this settlement. BofA is paying the fine to HUD, because HUD prohibits discriminating against FHA loan applicants based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, andthat is what BofA did, in denying the loan because the two applicants were "not related."
I feel that the worst comments on this articles are full of conservative religious idiots that need to stop crying to their god because the world isn't way they want it to be! Someone should shut them up and bring them a dictionary so we can properly define "Discrimination" to their uneducated, single minded faces. Explain that to your god.
and since I made this comment, I have to come to realize that I discriminated against you because of your belief in a fairytale. Now do you realize how painful discrimination can be?! Do you hate me because I called your god fake? Well, its the same stuff your doing to gays and lesbians. Can your puny minds see the differences between respect and discrimination? NO. You half witted automatons will never figure it out until something cataclysmic happens that makes the good people of the public notice just how crazy you are.
I like how this homo (short for homosexual) site is so liberal and anti-conservative. Soon, according to your help-the- minority, thinking won't the republicans need help with their cause ?
I just don't get why MSN doesn't just call itself a democrat site instead of pretending to be a legit journalism site.
Admit it
B of A also accepts the un-verified Mexican ID's!@
How about todays Exec Order: proclaimed that "immigrants" aka The Race=666=LaRaza ills illegally knowingly in the USA can REMAIN and with their "families" aka heathen breeders via sperm donor exponetials from womb to tomb whom are not only welcomed but rewarded ALL whileUS Military US Citizens of Genertions are sent as to be disposed of on foreign soil while this gov aka TRAITORs WITHIN rward our continued PLAGUE INVADERS...dispose of us dba the USA the founders and ancestry who buillt this nation.
EVIL vs One Nation Under GOD
About Teresa Mears
Teresa Mears is a veteran journalist who has been interested in houses since her father took her to tax auctions to carry the cash at age 10. A former editor of The Miami Herald's Home & Design section, she lives in South Florida where, in addition to writing about real estate, she publishes Miami on the Cheap to help her neighbors adjust to the loss of 60% of their property value.
msn real estate is social
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