Elmhurst real estate firm, agent settle steering claims

A suburban real estate firm and a former agent have agreed to pay $120,000 to settle allegations that they illegally steered home buyers toward some neighborhoods and away from others based on race and national origin.

The federal government filed the civil lawsuit last year against Elmhurst-based RE/MAX East-West and former agent John DeJohn. It claimed they steered a Hispanic tester toward homes in predominantly Hispanic or African-American neighborhoods.

The suit said a white tester was steered toward homes in predominantly white neighborhoods.

The defendants didn't admit liability but did agree to pay $120,000 to the National Fair Housing Alliance to settle the lawsuit. The suit originated as a complaint filed by the Alliance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.