100 Questions and Answers About Buying a New Home A home is a financial asset and more: it's a place to live and raise children; it's a plan for the future; it's an investment in your community. That's why we at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development want all Americans to have an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of owning a home. To become a first-time homebuyer, you need to know where and how to begin the homebuying process.

If you, as an individual or family, are seeking housing, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of:

• race
• color
• national origin
• religion
• sex
• familial status: Children under 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, or people trying to get custody of someone under the age of 18.
• disability: mental and/or physical.

The term "housing" includes the following:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20410-2000
January 9, 1995

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

MEMORANDUM FOR: FHEO,Office Directors, Enforcement Directors, Staff, Office of Investigations, Field Assistant General Counsel

FROM: Roberta Achtenberg, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity, E