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Practice Of Real EstateFair_housingHARD

A licensee consistently shows African American buyers homes only in predominantly minority neighborhoods, even when those buyers express interest in listings elsewhere. A colleague argues this practice is acceptable as long as no one is formally refused a showing. Which of the following best evaluates that argument under Illinois fair housing law?

Correct Answer

D) The argument is incorrect because steering — directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic — independently violates fair housing law without any formal refusal.

Steering is an independent fair housing violation under the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604(a)) and the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/3-102). A licensee who channels buyers into or away from neighborhoods based on race, national origin, or another protected characteristic violates the law regardless of whether a formal refusal to show or sell ever occurs. The Illinois Department of Human Rights and HUD both treat steering as a prohibited practice, and IDFPR can discipline a licensee's real estate license for engaging in it.

Answer Options
A
The argument is correct because fair housing violations require a written or verbal refusal to show or sell property.
B
The argument is correct because a licensee's neighborhood recommendations are protected professional judgment under Illinois license law.
C
The argument is partially correct — steering based on race is prohibited, but only if the licensee also makes discriminatory statements in advertising.
D
The argument is incorrect because steering — directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic — independently violates fair housing law without any formal refusal.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

advertisingdifficulty_5fair_housingfederal_fair_housing_basics_in_illinois_contextfederal_fha_ilillinois_statescenariosteering

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