What is steering in real estate practice?

• A. Blocking Sales Based On Price
• B. Providing Identical Services To All Clients
• C. Advertising Neutral Housing Information
• D. Encouraging Or Directing Buyers To Or Away From Certain Neighborhoods Based On Protected Characteristics; Illegal

Answer: (D)

Steering means directing or encouraging a buyer or renter toward or away from certain neighborhoods or types of housing because of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. This narrows a person’s housing options and reinforces segregation, which federal fair housing laws prohibit. In practice, steering shows up when a licensee consistently guides different clients to different areas or discourages looking in areas based on a client’s protected status, rather than presenting all available options that meet the client’s needs and budget. The right approach is to provide complete information about all suitable properties and neighborhoods and to treat every client equally. The other choices describe non-steering discriminatory actions or compliant practice, not the illegal directing described here.