Black Americans Face Challenges in Achieving Homeownership, but Help is Available
By: Crissinda Ponder
Economic disparities are still a pain point in many communities across the United States, especially in terms of homeownership.
The homeownership rate among white Americans is 73.2%, according to the latest Residential Vacancies and Homeownership quarterly report from the U.S. Census Bureau — significantly higher than the homeownership rates for all other racial groups. The lowest among these is the black homeownership rate, at 41.1%.
To better illustrate what some of those disparities might be, LendingTree, the nation’s leading online loan marketplace , has taken a look at how race impacts homeownership rates in the nation’s 50 largest metros.
This study focuses on homeownership trends among black Americans. While it varies from metro to metro, our analysis found that black Americans tend to own a disproportionately low number of homes relative to their overall population.
Key findings
In each of the nation’s 50 largest metros, black Americans own a disproportionately small percentage of homes.
Americans who identify as black make up an average 15% of the population in each of the metropolitan areas featured in our study, but they only own an average of about 10% of owner-occupied homes.
Black Americans own the smallest percentage of homes relative to their overall population in Memphis, Tenn.
Although they make up nearly half (47%) of the total population and are the largest racial group in Memphis, black Americans only own about 35% of the owner-occupied homes in the metro area.
Homeowners who identify as black own the largest percentage of homes relative to their total population in San Jose, Calif.
Black Americans account for only 2.33% of San Jose’s overall population. The percentage of homes owned by black homeowners is nearly 1.5%, which is still a disproportionately small percentage.
Black Americans have the lowest incomes of any racial group in the nation’s 50 largest metro areas.
Across the metropolitan areas featured in our study, the average median household income for black Americans is $41,571. This is more than $30,000 below the average median household income for white Americans. It’s also nearly $6,000 less than the incomes of Americans who identify as Native American or Alaskan Native. Because lenders evaluate a potential borrower’s income, this can pose challenges when it comes time to qualify for a mortgage.
5 metros where black homeownership is lowest relative to overall population
Below we shed light on the five metropolitan areas of the 50 we studied that have the lowest percentage of homes owned by black Americans relative to their total population.
Memphis, Tenn.
- Percentage of black residents: 46.51%
- Percentage of black owner-occupied homes: 34.78%
- Difference between population and owner-occupied homes: -11.73%
- Median household income for black residents: $35,309
New Orleans
- Percentage of black residents: 34.56%
- Percentage of black owner-occupied homes: 24.84%
- Difference between population and owner-occupied homes: -9.72%
- Median household income for black residents: $30,851
Milwaukee
- Percentage of black residents: 16.37%
- Percentage of black owner-occupied homes: 7.15%
- Difference between population and owner-occupied homes: -9.22%
- Median household income for black residents: $28,928
Baltimore
- Percentage of black residents: 28.71%
- Percentage of black owner-occupied homes: 19.60%
- Difference between population and owner-occupied homes: -9.11%
- Median household income for black residents: $52,124
Virginia Beach, Va.
- Percentage of black residents: 30.01%
- Percentage of black owner-occupied homes: 21.51%
- Difference between population and owner-occupied homes: -8.50%
- Median household income for black residents: $44,494
Metros with the largest difference between % of owner-occupied homes and % of the population for Black Americans
Taking advantage of homebuying programs
Our analysis shows that overall, there’s a disparity in percentages between the population of black Americans and the share of black owner-occupied homes in the 50 largest metros. There may be several ways to increase homeownership among underserved communities; one of them is by raising awareness about the available homebuying programs on both a national and local level.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers an online resource for consumers who are interested in learning more about homeownership options in their state. See HUD’s local homebuying programs directory for more information.
There are also government-backed and private entities with homebuying programs that cater to low-income buyers.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans
Certain types of conventional loans — mortgages that are eligible for purchase by government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac — are reserved for low- to moderate-income borrowers who are either first-time or repeat homebuyers.
Fannie Mae’s HomeReady mortgage program requires a 3% down payment and a minimum 620 credit score. Private mortgage insurance is required, but it is cancellable once you reach 20% equity in your home.
Freddie Mac’s Home Possible program also requires 3% down and private mortgage insurance that can be canceled once you reach 20% equity. But unlike Fannie Mae’s HomeReady program, you might be able to qualify for the program without a usable credit score, but you’d need to contribute at least a 5% down payment.
FHA loans
The Federal Housing Administration, which is overseen by HUD, insures FHA loans provided by approved mortgage lenders. FHA loans give consumers the opportunity to buy a home at a lower barrier of entry, including homebuyers with bad credit.
In most cases, you’ll need a minimum 580 credit score and 3.5% down payment. You may qualify with a credit score as low as 500, but your required down payment jumps would jump to a 10% minimum. There’s also a mortgage insurance premium requirement that sticks around for the life of the loan unless you put down at least 10%.
Other programs
Additional homebuying programs include USDA loans , which are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service. USDA loans are meant to assist borrowers looking to buy a home in a designated rural area. Depending on the loan type, there may be no required down payment.
Read our guide on homebuying programs for a rundown of other available options.
Methodology
This study ranks the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) by the difference between the percentage of owner-occupied homes that are owned by residents who identify as black (and no other racial group), and the percentage of the population that identifies as black (and no other racial group) in that metro area. This is possible in all segments, in the products and services offered, in the distribution of news, in politics and even in the development of online games. The latter, for example, use not always legal methods of implementation, unblocked slope has become one of the scandalous and most famous examples far beyond the online gaming segment.
The further the difference is from zero, the more disproportionate the number of black owner-occupied homes is in that metro area.
We based our analysis on homeownership, income and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.
Please note that the data in the study are estimated, so the margin of error is +/-5%.
Credits: Crissinda Ponder | Lending Tree
