You are if you are using any personal biases to suggest to a buyer where he/she might want to live or not live.
Agents use different approaches to engage in unlawful steering such as:
- Recommending homes to clients for consideration
- Editorializing about areas the client should or should not consider
Often, the agent makes these types of decisions based on personal prejudices or biases about the buyer. Under the Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1974, 1988, and 1995, steering is an illegal activity.
Steering takes place when locational choices are made for a buyer based on:
- The race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, sex, or handicap of the buyer
- Changes in the composition of the community
Agents can avoid steering when their clients and customers, not the agents, set the parameters of a home search.
Consider adopting the Equal Professional Service Model for your firm.