Question 68

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

This situation exemplifies blockbusting, as the broker's actions were driven by creating fear among homeowners regarding the presence of families with young children, leading to a significant 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 describes the broker's actions but does not specify the terminology correctly. While the broker's strategy led to new listings, it lacks the clear identification of blockbusting as the driving force behind the campaign aimed at instilling fear among homeowners.

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

Steering refers to the practice of directing individuals toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on protected characteristics. In this scenario, while the broker does suggest a move, the primary issue at hand is the instillation of fear regarding families in the neighborhood, which aligns more closely with blockbusting than steering.

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

While the broker may have executed a marketing strategy that yielded results, labeling it as a "good marketing plan" overlooks the unethical implications of the actions taken. The broker's approach was manipulative and aimed at exploiting homeowners' fears rather than genuinely educating them about the market.

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

This option correctly identifies the broker's actions as blockbusting. By leveraging the emotional response of homeowners to the influx of families with children, the broker successfully garnered multiple listings in a short period, showcasing the unethical practice of encouraging owners to sell based on fear.

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

While this option touches on a component of blockbusting, it inaccurately frames the situation by focusing on the protected class aspect without directly addressing the fear-based tactics employed by the broker. This choice does not fully encapsulate the primary motivation behind the broker's actions.

Conclusion

The correct answer, D, accurately reflects the unethical practice of blockbusting as the broker utilized fear to increase listings. Other options either misidentify the nature of the actions taken or fail to address the underlying motivations effectively. The broker's strategy demonstrates a clear example of exploiting demographic changes for financial gain, which is the essence of blockbusting.