Black mortgage applicants are denied 84% more often than whites
The Black homeownership rate that ticked up before the pandemic has again begun to fall, spurred by a widening mortgage approval gap between Black and white applicants. A Zillow analysis of data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)1 shows that while overall denial rates have decreased, Black applicants are increasingly more likely than white borrowers to be denied a mortgage. Black applicants are denied a mortgage at a rate 84% higher than that of white applicants — a big jump from 2019, when the disparity sat at 74%. In the
Property is Power: Should You Refinance or Sell?
By Anthony O. Kellum The ongoing question…Should I refinance or sell? Everywhere you look you see, advertisements suggesting: “Lock in the rate!” “Refinance now and save!” Before you know it, you are asking yourself “Should I refinance?” That is a great question and we will explore what the hype is all about as it relates to refinancing. The answer usually comes down to two basic facts. Budget: Avoid accumulating debt as a result of a loan Lifestyle: Downsize living space or access your home equity Whether you ought to refinance
Black Homeownership Is More Expensive According to New MIT Study
Currently, American mortgage rates are at an all-time low. However access to those rates are incumbent upon excellent credit scores and a 20 percent down payment. Previous data has shown that on average, Black Americans have lower credit scores and less savings. New research released by MIT earlier this month indicates that for Black Americans, the dream of homeownership is more costly to become a reality. Inequities in mortgage interest payments ($743 annually), mortgage insurance premiums ($550 annually), and property taxes ($390 annually) 'make it impossible for