Wisconsin Real Estate Sales Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Guide

An advertisement can legally contain a gender preference in roommate advertisements because the law recognizes that individuals seeking roommates may have personal preferences regarding their cohabitation situations. This is distinguished from other housing types, where such preferences could lead to discriminatory practices. The Fair Housing Act and similar laws aim to prevent discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. However, roommate scenarios involve sharing a living space, which is viewed with more leniency regarding personal preferences. This means that individuals are not prohibited from indicating a gender preference when searching for a roommate, allowing for specific requests aligned with personal comfort levels or lifestyle choices. In contrast, commercial property listings, family housing listings, and luxury property listings must adhere to strict anti-discrimination laws, making gender preference inclusion illegal in those cases.