Which illegal statement would MOST likely be termed steering?

• A. "This house is a great value for any buyer."
• B. "Are you certain you'll be comfortable in this predominantly white neighborhood?"
• C. The seller has no bias.
• D. The price is firm today.

Answer: (B)

Steering happens when a real estate professional tries to influence a buyer’s choice of where to live by implying or signaling that certain neighborhoods are more suitable or off-limits because of protected characteristics such as race or ethnicity. It’s illegal to guide or discourage buyers based on these factors.

The statement that asks, “Are you certain you’ll be comfortable in this predominantly white neighborhood?” directly introduces and relies on racial makeup to shape the buyer’s decision, which is a classic example of steering. It uses demographics to steer the client toward or away from a area, rather than presenting neutral information about housing options.

The other statements don’t direct a buyer based on protected characteristics: describing a house as a great value for any buyer is a general market statement, saying the seller has no bias is a disclosure, and noting that the price is firm is a pricing detail.