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 prospective buyers or renters towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. By refraining from mentioning or showing other affordable apartment units to the minority family, the licensee is limiting their housing options based on their race.
A) Yes, the licensee has practiced redlining.
Redlining refers to the practice of denying services, typically financial, to residents of certain areas based on racial or ethnic composition. In this case, the licensee's actions do not exemplify redlining, as they did not deny access to financial services or outright refuse to show properties; instead, they selectively guided the family towards certain neighborhoods.
B) Yes, the licensee has practiced fair housing.
Fair housing laws are designed to prevent discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. The licensee's failure to inform the family about other affordable housing options violates these principles, clearly indicating that the licensee did not practice fair housing.
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 instilling fear that racial or ethnic minorities will move into the neighborhood. While this is a form of discrimination, the scenario described does not involve inducing panic or selling properties but rather focuses on the selective showing of apartments, which is steering.
D) No, the licensee has practiced steering.
Steering involves guiding prospective buyers or renters towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their protected characteristics, such as race. In this case, the licensee has engaged in steering by purposefully not showing the minority family other affordable apartments in different areas, which is a discriminatory practice.
Conclusion
The licensee's actions clearly demonstrate steering, as they limited the family's options based on their racial identity. The other options do not accurately describe the licensee's behavior, reinforcing that steering is a violation of fair housing laws and is illegal. This highlights the importance of providing equal housing opportunities regardless of a person's race or ethnicity.