verb
- to engage in blockbusting; to induce property owners in a neighborhood to sell their homes quickly, often by exploiting racial or ethnic fears, typically to profit from resale
Usage: third person singular present tense of 'blockbust'; often considered unethical or illegal; historical practice, particularly in mid-20th century United States
Examples
- Real estate agents were accused of blockbusting neighborhoods by spreading rumors about demographic changes.
- The practice of blockbusting devastated many communities during the 1960s and 1970s.
- Fair housing laws were enacted to prevent developers from blockbusting residential areas.
- He blockbusts properties by purchasing them at low prices from fearful sellers and reselling them at a profit.
- The documentary exposed how unscrupulous investors blockbust entire neighborhoods.