Which of the following is a class protected under ECOA but not under the fair housing act?

The correct choice is age, as it is a class protected under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) but not under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The ECOA was established to ensure that all consumers have equal access to credit, and it specifically prohibits discrimination in lending based on several factors, including age. This means that lenders cannot refuse to provide credit based solely on a person's age, as long as they meet relevant criteria.

In contrast, the Fair Housing Act focuses primarily on discrimination related to housing and does not include age as a protected class. Instead, it covers categories such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap (disability).

The differentiation between these two pieces of legislation highlights the specific areas they address—ECOA is concerned with credit and lending practices, while the FHA is focused on housing and real estate transactions. Thus, age is uniquely protected under the ECOA, making it the correct answer.