94-348 Me. Code R. ch. 8 § 8.05

A. Discriminatory practices in residential real estate-related transactions

It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available such transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

B. Discrimination in the making of loans and in the provision of other financial assistance

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available loans or other financial assistance for a dwelling, or which is or is to be secured by a dwelling, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(2) Prohibited practices under this section include, but are not limited to, failing or refusing to provide to any person, in connection with a residential real estate-related transaction, information regarding the availability of loans or other financial assistance, application requirements, procedures or standards for the review and approval of loans or financial assistance, or providing information which is inaccurate or different from that provided others, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

C. Discrimination in the purchasing of loans

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or entity engaging in the purchasing of loans or other debts or securities which support the purchase, construction, improvement, repair or maintenance of a dwelling, or which are secured by residential real estate, to refuse to purchase such loans, debts, or securities, or to impose different terms or conditions for such purchases, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(2) Unlawful conduct under this section includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Purchasing loans or other debts or securities which relate to, or which are secured by dwellings in certain communities or neighborhoods but not in others because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability of persons in such neighborhoods or communities.

(b) Pooling or packaging loans or other debts or securities which relate to, or which are secured by, dwellings differently because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(c) Imposing or using different terms or conditions on the marketing or sale of securities issued on the basis of loans or other debts or securities which relate to, or which are secured by, dwellings because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(3) This section does not prevent consideration, in the purchasing of loans, of factors justified by business necessity, including requirements of State or Federal law, relating to a transaction’s financial security or to protection against default or reduction of the value of the security. Thus, this provision would not preclude considerations employed in normal and prudent transactions, provided that no such factor may in any way relate to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

D. Discrimination in the terms and conditions for making available loans or other financial assistance

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or entity engaged in the making of loans or in the provision of other financial assistance relating to the purchase, construction, improvement, repair or maintenance of dwellings or which are secured by residential real estate to impose different terms or conditions for the availability of such loans or other financial assistance because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(2) Unlawful conduct under this section includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Using different policies, practices or procedures in evaluating or in determining creditworthiness of any person in connection with the provision of any loan or other financial assistance for a dwelling or for any loan or other financial assistance which is secured by residential real estate because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(b) Determining the type of loan or other financial assistance to be provided with respect to a dwelling, or fixing the amount, interest rate, duration or other terms for a loan or other financial assistance for a dwelling or which is secured by residential real estate, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

E. Unlawful practices in the selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in the selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property to discriminate against any person in making available such services, or in the performance of such services, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term appraisal means an estimate or opinion of the value of a specified residential real property made in a business context in connection with the sale, rental, financing or refinancing of a dwelling or in connection with any activity that otherwise affects the availability of a residential real estate-related transaction, whether the appraisal is oral or written, or transmitted formally or informally. The appraisal includes all written comments and other documents submitted as support for the estimate or opinion of value.

(3) Nothing in this section prohibits a person engaged in the business of making or furnishing appraisals of residential real property from taking into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.

(4) Practices which are unlawful under this section include, but are not limited to, using an appraisal of residential real property in connection with the sale, rental, or financing of any dwelling where the person knows or reasonably should know that the appraisal improperly takes into consideration race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability.