Final answer:
An agent can be sanctioned for blockbusting, a discriminatory practice outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which involves exploiting racial fears to manipulate housing prices for profit. It remains a significant issue affecting racial dynamics in housing and can also impact broader socio-economic opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
An agent can be sanctioned for any behavior that is a violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act, including scare tactics or blockbusting. Blockbusting is the practice where real-estate agents and speculators induce panic selling by homeowners in an ethnically homogenous neighborhood by suggesting that minority families are moving in, triggering 'white flight' and thereby allowing them to purchase homes at reduced prices. These homes are subsequently sold to minority families often at inflated prices, due to their limited housing options.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal to discriminate in selling or renting housing, but despite its passage, instances of discrimination persist, sometimes taking on more covert forms such as differential treatment in showing homes or conducting credit checks. Discrimination in housing can have broader implications, including contributing to employment discrimination, as access to housing can affect the ability to live in communities with better job opportunities and schools.