Practice and Disclosures, 25% of the examination
Protected characteristics
Personal characteristics that fair housing and civil-rights laws prohibit housing providers and licensees from using discriminatorily.
Also called: Protected classes
Federal protections include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. California protections are broader and include ancestry, marital status, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, medical condition, genetic information, age, military or veteran status, citizenship, primary language, and immigration status. Statutory definitions and limited exceptions matter, including qualifying senior housing. The exam expects candidates to know the federal floor and recognize that California goes further.
See also
Test the distinction
A relevant question from Practice and Disclosures, selected because its facts or explanation use this concept.
A buyer asks an agent whether a neighborhood is 'good for families like ours.' What is the correct response?
Written to DRE's published topic list. Not a real examination question, since reproducing those is a misdemeanor under B&P Code section 123.
Primary sources
Use these authorities when a course summary, forum answer, or older flashcard conflicts with the current California rule.