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A
Helping a buyer pick paint colors
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B
Directing prospective buyers or renters toward or away from neighborhoods, properties, or housing options based on protected class characteristics (race, color, religion, etc.) — a Fair Housing Act violation, regardless of intent
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C
Driving clients to view properties
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D
Negotiating contracts
Why this is the answer
STEERING: an illegal practice under the federal Fair Housing Act and state fair housing laws. Definition: directing buyers or renters toward or away from specific neighborhoods, properties, or housing options based on protected class characteristics. EXAMPLES of illegal steering: (1) An agent telling a Black family 'You might be more comfortable in this other neighborhood' (steering away from a predominantly white area); (2) Showing certain ethnicities only certain properties; (3) Telling a family with children 'You probably wouldn't want to live here — there aren't many kids in this neighborhood' (steering away based on familial status); (4) Telling Muslim buyers 'There's not much mosque presence in this area' as a way to steer them to a different area; (5) An agent showing different properties to buyers of different races, even if both qualify for similar properties; (6) Refusing to show a property to certain types of buyers. STEERING is illegal even when: (a) The agent's INTENT is to be 'helpful' (e.g., helping a family find people 'like them'); (b) The agent is responding to what they think the buyer wants; (c) The buyer didn't ask about demographics. WHY STEERING IS HARMFUL: (1) Perpetuates housing segregation; (2) Reduces opportunities for protected classes; (3) Violates federal civil rights law; (4) Erodes property values and educational opportunities in segregated neighborhoods; (5) Creates broader social and economic harms. SAFER PRACTICE: (1) Show ALL properties matching the buyer's stated criteria (budget, size, features, preferred general areas); (2) Don't make demographic judgments about who 'belongs' where; (3) Don't make statements about racial, ethnic, or religious composition of neighborhoods; (4) If buyer asks about demographics, redirect: 'I can show you crime statistics, school ratings, and other data — that's what the law allows me to discuss'; some agents provide a CENSUS or other resource for buyer to research themselves; (5) Treat all clients equally; (6) DOCUMENT showings to demonstrate non-discriminatory practice. RELATED FAIR HOUSING VIOLATIONS: BLOCKBUSTING (encouraging panic sales by claiming neighborhood is changing demographically); REDLINING (refusing loans/insurance/services based on neighborhood demographics). PENALTIES: HUD complaint, federal civil suits (damages up to $50,000+ per violation), state human rights commission action, license discipline. State portion exam tests fair housing concepts including steering, with emphasis on state-specific protected classes and remedies.
Source: Real Estate State Portion, Steering