Legal Considerations for Roommates vs. Normal Tenants

[Anthony McDougle]

First of all -- I apologize if this is in the wrong section.

I recently purchased a house, hoping to rent out the rooms for a while, to kill two birds with one stone -- start on the path to being a RE investor, and find a place to live. Unfortunately, duplexes in my area (Charlotte, NC) are in areas I'd rather not live.

I originally had some people I know lined up to move in, but they backed out once the house was purchased. That's fine, I'll find someone else.

I understand that, when a prospective tenant applies, you cannot legally reject them for a lot of reasons (race, age, they have a family, whatever). Does that still apply if I'm looking for a roommate? Not that I'd turn someone down for being a certain race or whatever, but as a 20-something recent grad, maybe I don't want to live with an older couple or a family with a small child, as one example, right? What are the constraints here, are they the same/similar as if I was renting an investment property?

Thanks!