88. A licensee shows a minority family affordable apartment in a racially mixed neighborhood. The family then inquiries about other areas of the city. The licensee knowingly refrains from mentioning or showing the family other affordable apartment units in other parts of the city. Has the licensee acted legally?
Answer: D
No, the licensee has practiced steering.
The licensee has acted illegally by engaging in steering, which involves directing potential homebuyers or renters to or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. This practice is a violation of fair housing laws.
A) Yes, the licensee has practiced redlining.
Redlining refers to the discriminatory practice of denying services to residents of certain areas based on racial or ethnic composition. While the scenario involves discriminatory practices, it specifically describes steering rather than redlining, making this option incorrect.
B) Yes, the licensee has practiced fair housing.
Fair housing refers to the legal principle that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Since the licensee's actions of withholding information about other affordable units are discriminatory, this option is incorrect.
C) No, the licensee has practiced blockbusting.
Blockbusting is a practice where real estate agents induce homeowners to sell their properties at low prices by suggesting that racial minorities are moving into the neighborhood. While this is also a discriminatory practice, it does not accurately describe the actions of the licensee in this scenario, who did not induce sales but rather withheld information, making this option incorrect.
D) No, the licensee has practiced steering.
Steering is the practice of guiding prospective homeowners or renters towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. The licensee's failure to present other affordable housing options to the minority family demonstrates this illegal practice, confirming that this option is correct.
Conclusion
The licensee's actions constitute steering, which is a violation of fair housing laws aimed at promoting equal access to housing for all individuals regardless of their race or ethnicity. All other options mischaracterize the nature of the licensee's actions, thereby failing to accurately address the legal implications of the scenario presented.