There are many legislations that the federal government has passed to ensure the protection of the home buyer, seller and the home owner. Below is a list that we thought might be useful for you to know or at least recognize in case of a violation. We have also included the name of the government agency that is responsible for the enforcement of these regulations.

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

States that any ?places of public accommodation? are required to have modifications to allow for persons with disabilities so as not to inadvertently discriminate against them. This calls for communication aids and the removal of physical barriers that would allow for access to the establishment. This act can be satisfied with things such as ramps and restrooms built specifically for the handicapped. U.S. Attorney General?s Office.

Black Lung Revenues Act (1981)

This act deal with two subject, first about a property that is rented to family members, and secondly, about shared-equity mortgages. For the real estate rented to family, there are two tax advantages given: the first allows for deductions due to depreciation related to accelerated cost recovery, and the second is a list of other tax losses available. For the shared-equity mortgage, it states that family members can be involved with shared-mortgage equity but still receive all the tax benefits that a group of unrelated participants would receive. Internal Revenue Service.

Clean Air Amendments Act (1970) and Amendments (1977)

This act allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the pollution of the environment more closely and gives any citizen, or groups of citizens, the right to sue polluters and even the government if they have been wronged in this area. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency.

Clean Water Act (1972 and 1977)

This act regulates the discharge waste by instituting restrictions on pollution and standards in the treatment of waste and water quality. Environmental Protection Agency.

Coastal Zone Management Act (1972 and Amendment (1976)

This act is an attempt to restore and preserve the coastline for posterity by making such preservation a national policy. This is done by helping coastal states do their best to wisely mange the use of their coastline with a focus on retaining the beauty of the coast while preserving cultural values and economic development. Department of Commerce.

Community Reinvestment Act (1977)

This act?s purpose is to encourage the accommodation of the middle and lower class? credit needs. Federal Reserve System (FRS), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Comptroller of Currency, Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Condominium and Cooperative Abuse Relief Act (1980)

This act was established to regulate the conduct of condominiums and cooperatives so that the middle and lower classes along with the elderly and the handicapped are not taken advantage of. It also ensures that the tenants of such organizations receive fair treatment and helps those who have been abused. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Consumer Credit Protection Act (1960)

This act requires that credit reports be accurate and that if there is some information on the report that is inaccurate, this act allows the consumer to make the changes necessary to correct the report. This act also requires that the report be confidential kept and given only to authorized parties. This act also allows the consumer to have access to the terms used to make sure that they are informed about the use of their credit report. The Truth-in-Lending Act (I) and the Fair Credit Reporting (VI) both affect mortgage lending and are included in this act. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)

This act, also known as the Kemp-Roth, influences real estate by attempting to decrease taxes on rental income by allowing the depreciation of property to be used as a write-off. Internal Revenue Service.

Emergency Home Finance Act

This act established the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) whose purpose is stimulate the market by creating a secondary mortgage market which will serve specific groups of people more fully, such as veterans. Federal Home Loan Bank Board

Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings Act (1976) Controls were placed on developers of commercial and residential real estate demanding that certain standards were met regarding building energy use. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974) and Amendment (1976) This act ensures consumers that their sex or marital status will not affect the availability of credit, and the amendment furthers this by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, age color, religion are national origin. It also requires lenders to notify the consumer of the decision made regarding a loan application of within 30 days, along with a reason. Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Comptroller of Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve System.

Fair Housing Laws

This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap in the sale or rental of any real estate property, and in the financing of such properties, along with any transaction related to real estate. Department of Housing and Urban Development.