86. Multi ethnic families were beginning to move into a neighbourhood that had previously been all one ethnicity. A local broker passed out flyers to homeowners that said 'sell now before its too late! we have beautiful new homes with attractive financing and good schools.' These flyers would likely be viewed by the courts as
Answer: B
These flyers would likely be viewed by the courts as blockbusting.
Blockbusting refers to the practice of inducing homeowners to sell their properties by instilling fear that minority groups will soon be moving into the neighborhood, leading to a decline in property values. The local broker's flyers suggest urgency and a need to sell before it is "too late," which aligns with the definition of blockbusting.
A) good marketing.
While the flyers may appear to be a marketing strategy aimed at encouraging homeowners to sell, the underlying implication of urgency and fear associated with demographic changes negates any positive marketing intentions. Good marketing should not rely on fear-based tactics, particularly those that exploit racial or ethnic changes in a community.
B) blockbusting.
This option accurately describes the situation. The flyers suggest that homeowners should sell quickly due to the arrival of multi-ethnic families, which is a classic example of blockbusting. This practice is illegal and unethical, as it manipulates homeowners' fears about property values based on race or ethnicity.
C) redlining.
Redlining refers to the discriminatory practice of denying services, typically financial, to residents in certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. The flyers do not indicate a refusal to provide services; rather, they attempt to encourage sales based on fear of demographic changes, which is not redlining.
D) steering.
Steering involves guiding prospective homebuyers towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. The flyers do not directly relate to guiding buyers but rather attempt to persuade current homeowners to sell. Thus, steering is not the correct interpretation of the broker's actions.
Conclusion
The correct answer is blockbusting, as the flyers explicitly seek to exploit racial changes in the neighborhood to induce homeowners to sell their properties out of fear. Other options like good marketing, redlining, and steering do not accurately reflect the tactics used by the broker, which hinge on fear and urgency rather than fair and ethical practices in real estate.