For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
(a) "Discriminate" and "discrimination" include any difference in treatment of individuals or groups in the sale, lease, rental, or financing of housing units or real estate or housing accommodations because of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national or sectional origin, sex, marital status or handicap.
(b) "Financial institution" means any person or firm regularly engaged in the business of lending money or guaranteeing loans on real property.
(c) "Handicap" means a determinable physical or mental condition of an individual or a history of such condition which may result from disease, accident, condition of birth, or functional disorder which constitutes a physical or mental limitation.
(d) "Michigan Civil Rights Commission" means the Civil Rights Commission created by the Constitution of 1963.
(e) "National origin" includes the national origin of an ancestor.
(f) "Owner" includes the lessee, lessor, sublessee, sublessor, assignee, assignor, managing agent or other person having the right of ownership or possession or the right to sell, rent or lease any housing accommodation or any part thereof.
(g) "Person" includes an individual, association, corporation, joint apprenticeship committee, joint stock company, labor union, legal representative, mutual company partnership, receiver, trust, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, unincorporated organization, any other legal or commercial entity, the state or any other governmental entity or agency.
(h) "Real estate broker or salesperson" means a person, whether licensed or not, who, for or with the expectation of receiving a consideration, lists, sells, purchases, exchanges, rents or leases real property; who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any of these activities, or who holds himself or herself out as engaged in these activities; who negotiates or attempts to negotiate a loan secured or to be secured by mortgage or other encumbrances upon real property; or who is engaged in the business of listing real property in a publication or a person employed by or acting on behalf of any of these.
(i) "Real property" includes buildings, structures, real estate, lands, tenements lease-hold, interest in real estate corporation, condominiums and hereditaments, corporeal or incorporeal or any interest therein.
(Ord. 261. Passed 10-12-78.)