Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.2504
Application for financial assistance or financing; prohibited practices; nonapplicability of MCL 37.2504(1)(b).
Operative Text
Sec. 504. (1) A person to whom application is made for financial assistance or financing in connection with a real estate transaction or in connection with the construction, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, or improvement of real property, or a representative of that person, shall not do any of the following: (a) Discriminate against the applicant because of the religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, or marital status of the applicant or an individual residing with the applicant. (b) Use a form of application for financial assistance or financing or make or keep a record or inquiry in connection with an application for financial assistance or financing that indicates, directly or indirectly, a preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination as to the religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, or marital status of the applicant or an individual residing with the applicant. (2) A person whose business includes engaging in real estate transactions shall not discriminate against a person because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, or marital status, in purchasing loans for acquiring, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling or in making or purchasing loans or providing other financial assistance secured by residential real estate. (3) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to a form of application for financial assistance prescribed for the use of a lender regulated as a mortgagee under the national housing act, 12 USC 1701 to 1750g, or by a regulatory board or officer acting under the statutory authority of this state or the United States.
Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, MCL § 37.2504, prohibits lenders, financiers, and real estate businesses from treating applicants differently based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, or marital status. This applies both to the decision to grant or deny financing and to the forms and records used during the application process. Federally regulated mortgage lenders using application forms prescribed under the National Housing Act are exempt from the record-keeping restriction in subsection (1)(b).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and developers who seek financing partners or work with lenders should be aware that MCL § 37.2504 governs how those lenders must conduct themselves throughout the application process. Compliant lenders avoid any application forms, records, or inquiries that signal a preference or limitation tied to protected characteristics. Operators who facilitate financing arrangements benefit from working with institutions that maintain non-discriminatory documentation practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under MCL § 37.2504, applicants for housing-related loans or financial assistance have the right to be evaluated without regard to protected characteristics such as race, national origin, familial status, or sexual orientation. Someone who believes a lender violated this provision may consider filing a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or raising the violation through available civil rights enforcement channels. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand what documentation or steps may be relevant to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation