An agent is showing houses to a Hispanic couple who assume they would prefer to live near other Hispanics and only show them houses in the Hispanic part of town. Is this legal?

An agent is showing houses to a Hispanic couple who assume they would prefer to live near other Hispanics and only show them houses in the Hispanic part of town. Is this legal?

• A. No, because this is steering.
• B. Yes, because it's respecting cultural preferences.
• C. No, because it violates zoning laws.
• D. Yes, if they request it.

Answer: (A)

Steering occurs when a real estate professional directs buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic, such as race or national origin. In this scenario, showing only homes in the Hispanic part of town because the clients are Hispanic treats them differently based on ethnicity, which the Fair Housing Act prohibits. Even if clients express a preference to live near others who share their background, the agent cannot satisfy that preference by limiting options to a specific neighborhood. The agent should present a broad range of suitable properties and help the buyers evaluate them on neutral factors like price, size, and amenities, ensuring equal opportunity for all buyers. This isn’t a matter of zoning or a valid exception; it’s illegal steering.

Steering occurs when a real estate professional directs buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic, such as race or national origin. In this scenario, showing only homes in the Hispanic part of town because the clients are Hispanic treats them differently based on ethnicity, which the Fair Housing Act prohibits. Even if clients express a preference to live near others who share their background, the agent cannot satisfy that preference by limiting options to a specific neighborhood. The agent should present a broad range of suitable properties and help the buyers evaluate them on neutral factors like price, size, and amenities, ensuring equal opportunity for all buyers. This isn’t a matter of zoning or a valid exception; it’s illegal steering.