How Can We Narrow the Black Homeownership Gap?
By Chuck Bishop, Head of Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo Home Lending Despite ongoing challenges due to the pandemic, Black Americans joined the many homebuyers looking for a space to call their own during the past year. But even against that backdrop, the homeownership gap for the Black community remains significant, and concerns remain about the overall effect the pandemic-slowed economy and historic challenges will have on long-term homeownership goals. During Black History Month, and throughout the year, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges the Black community faces when
Zillow Finds Remote Work Could Help Black Renters Become Homeowners
The rapid rise in pandemic-driven telework could make first-time homeownership most broadly accessible to black renters compared to other renters, based on factors including income, the makeup of local industries, geography and more, a November Zillow analysis suggests. Zillow research found that, of the nearly 2 million U.S. renters who are able to take advantage of heightened telework options and could afford monthly payments on homes in less-expensive areas outside of their current metros, Black renters benefit far more than other renters. In large metro areas where typical starter
Black households earned 61 cents for every dollar of White median incomes
Nationally in 2018, Black households earned 61 cents for every $1 of White household median income. Further, the Black/White median household income gaps ranged from 87 cents per dollar in Maine and Hawaii, down to 32 cents per dollar in the District of Columbia. The disparity in median translates into 22% of all Black Americans living in poverty, a gap of 13% compared to Whites who are poor. Wisconsin’s gap is 23%. “In noting the socioeconomic indicators of median income, poverty rates and health insurance rates, I found