Reference no: EM133515743
On a Saturday morning, REALTOR® B, answered an e-mail from Buyer C, a recent college graduate who was moving into the city to take her/his first teaching job at Northwest High School. Buyer C was married, had two young children, and was a veteran. After working with Buyer C to determine whether her/his family could afford a three-bedroom home in the $240,000 range, REALTOR® B described available properties near Northwest High School and set up appointments to show houses to Buyer C. That afternoon, REALTOR® B showed Buyer C and her/his spouse three houses in neighborhoods near the high school. On Monday, at a faculty meeting, Buyer C met Buyer D, who was also moving into the city to take a teaching position at the same high school and who was also in the market for a home. Buyer D was married with two young children and was also a veteran. Buyer C told Buyer D of REALTOR® B's knowledge of the market and VA financing and how helpful she/he had been. Buyer D called REALTOR® B's office that afternoon and asked for REALTOR® B. REALTOR® B met Buyer D and determined Buyer D could also afford a home in the $240,000 range. Buyer D told REALTOR® B that she/he was also a new teacher at Northwest High School and had been referred by Buyer C. Buyer D was black.
REALTOR® B showed Buyer D houses in several neighborhoods undergoing racial transition but did not show Buyer D homes in neighborhoods near the high school. Buyer D asked about houses closer to Northwest High School. REALTOR® B replied that she/he had no knowledge of any homes in that area for which Buyer D could qualify. The next day, Buyer D, while visiting Buyer C, discussed her/his problems in finding a home near the high school and learned that REALTOR® B had shown Buyer C several homes near the high school.
1. How does this situation make you feel?
2. How would you, in your role, deal with this situation?
3. What are the potential legal implications for REALTOR® B in this case?
4. How does fair housing law apply to the actions of REALTOR® B in showing homes to Buyer D?
5. Should REALTOR® B have shown Buyer D homes near Northwest High School, even if he believed that Buyer D would prefer the home in the other neighborhood?
6. How could REALTOR® B have prevented discrimination in this situation?
7. What steps could the National Association of REALTORS® take to promote fair housing practices among its members?