Final answer:
Promoting a neighborhood as predominantly of one religion is illegal under the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which bans discrimination in housing based on religion. Offering rent discounts to senior citizens is generally legal. Nevertheless, housing discrimination still exists in less overt forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under federal Fair Housing law, promoting a neighborhood as a predominantly Christian community is illegal. This form of advertising is deemed discriminatory as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
While offering discounts on rent to senior citizens is generally permissible under the Fair Housing Act as a type of lawful age-based preference, suggesting that a community caters to one religious group over another excludes potential tenants or buyers on the basis of religion, which clearly violates the act's protections meant to foster inclusive housing opportunities.
Despite the legal protections in place, studies have shown that discrimination based on these characteristics, including race and ethnicity, persists in common practices, sometimes in more clandestine ways. HUD studies reveal that realtors showed Black and Asian homebuyers fewer homes compared to White homebuyers, illustrating the ongoing challenges in enforcing fair housing regulations.