Jane Chen’s focus on showing homes in the Asian section of town exemplifies which practice?

Jane Chen’s focus on showing homes in the Asian section of town exemplifies steering. Steering is an unethical practice in real estate where agents guide prospective buyers towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. This behavior can limit the housing options available to individuals and is contrary to fair housing laws, which mandate that all buyers should have equal access to housing opportunities regardless of their background.

When a real estate agent focuses exclusively on a particular demographic, such as showing homes only in areas predominantly populated by that demographic, it indicates a conscious effort to steer clients based on their identity. This practice is considered discriminatory and violates the principles of fair housing, which aim to provide equal treatment to all individuals in the housing market.

Understanding steering is crucial to ensure compliance with fair housing laws, which promote diversity and equality in housing access. In contrast, market segmentation and target marketing are legitimate marketing strategies aimed at efficiently reaching specific consumer groups without implying discriminatory practices based on protected characteristics. Fair housing compliance ensures that agents operate within the law to prevent discriminatory actions like steering.