What should I do if I believe I may have experienced discrimination with my property appraisal?

Appraisal discrimination is illegal under federal law. The Fair Housing Act prohibits appraisers from discriminating against you on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, disability, age, or your receipt of income derived from public assistance programs. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits appraisers from discriminating against you on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract); because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program; or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. If you think you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the state agency that regulates appraisers. To find out which agency to notify, contact the Appraisal Complaint National Hotline. The hotline doesn't handle the complaints, but will refer you to the appropriate authority. You may fill out a form on the link to the hotline provided above or call the toll-free number 1-877-739-0096.

You may also file a complaint with a state or federal financial regulatory agency if you think your lender discriminated against you by relying on a biased appraisal.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal for appraisers to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, disability, or disability. You may file a fair housing complaint directly with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, online at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint or by calling 1-800-669-9777.