Final answer:
Seamus's letter is a fair housing violation and an example of blockbusting, which is a discriminatory and unethical practice that leverages fear and prejudice to manipulate property values. Such actions were outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, but discriminatory practices still persist.
Step-by-step explanation:
The letter sent by Seamus to the residents of Maywood Park constitutes a fair housing violation as it is a form of discrimination against Mormons by suggesting that their presence would decrease property values. This act is reflective of a reprehensible practice known as blockbusting, where real estate agents and speculators instigate fear among white homeowners about minority groups moving into their neighborhood, causing them to sell their homes at reduced prices. Such businesses then sell the properties to minority families at inflated prices due to the limited housing options available to them.
Blockbusting escalated white flight and contributed to the continued practice of residential segregation, depriving minority groups of equitable housing opportunities and damaging community cohesion. These practices were outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, but remnants of such discrimination continue to exist in more clandestine forms. Seamus's letter not only violates licensing laws but also encourages unethical business practices by leveraging fear and prejudice for financial gain.