Question 68

Blockbusting because the broker received a high number of listings for one day.

This scenario illustrates blockbusting, as the broker actively encouraged homeowners to sell their properties by suggesting that the neighborhood's character was changing due to the presence of families with young children, resulting in a sudden influx of listings.

A) a broker decided to seek additional listings there. The broker went door-to-door suggesting that homeowners who enjoyed living in their quiet neighborhood might wish to sell now and move to a different area where there would not be so many noisy children. The broker listed four homes during this marketing campaign. This was an example of

This option does not directly answer the question as it describes the broker's actions without labeling them. While it outlines the broker's door-to-door campaign, it fails to identify the concept of blockbusting explicitly, which is crucial to understanding the implications of the broker's behavior.

B) Steering, because the broker is guiding owners to another neighborhood.

Steering refers to directing individuals toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. In this case, while the broker is suggesting homeowners move, the focus is more on the influx of families and the resulting market changes rather than on race or protected classes, making this option incorrect.

C) A good marketing plan, because the broker was successful in educating sellers.

While the broker's actions did result in obtaining listings, framing it as a "good marketing plan" overlooks the ethical implications of the approach taken. The broker's strategy involved instilling fear about the neighborhood's desirability, which is not a responsible or ethical marketing tactic, thus making this option incorrect.

D) Blockbusting because the broker received a high number of listings for one day.

This option accurately identifies the broker's actions as blockbusting. The sudden increase in listings, spurred by the broker's tactics, highlights the exploitation of homeowners’ fears about changing neighborhood dynamics, characteristic of blockbusting practices.

E) Blockbusting because the broker persuaded owners to list because of an influx of a protected class.

This option is partially correct but misdirects the focus. While the broker's actions indeed leverage the presence of families, the primary aspect in this case is the broker's encouragement leading to a rapid increase in listings, rather than specifically targeting a protected class.

Conclusion

The correct answer, D, effectively encapsulates the broker's unethical practice of blockbusting, aimed at capitalizing on the fears of existing homeowners regarding neighborhood changes. Other options either mischaracterize the broker's actions, fail to recognize the ethical implications, or do not address the core concept of blockbusting directly. Thus, D is the definitive choice that aligns with the scenario presented.