Housing inequality is now a more timely topic than ever. Back in 2019, there were almost 6.5 million Black homeowners in the United States, putting the Black homeownership rate at 42 percent, as low as it was in the 1960s. Meanwhile, the rate of white homeownership was 73 percent, according to the National Community Reinvestment … Read more
When Abbie Wise and Steph Alexander bought their first home in Tukwila, Washington, in September 2021, they didn’t know what to expect. From the outside, the process seemed opaque and tedious; luckily, they worked with a real estate agent who was also a friend and ex-co-worker, and one whose agency just so happened to specialize … Read more
Mili Mansaray Contributor Mili Mansaray is a writer whose work covers everything from porch paint colors to voting rights. She received a degree in journalism and Africana studies from New York University, where she served as a staff writer for Washington Square News. Since graduating in May 2020, she has also been published in The … Read more
In the U.S., homeownership isn’t just part of the “American Dream” or an exemplar of financial success — it’s a proven method of building generational wealth and securing access to high quality public services like education. But a new study put out by the Urban Institute reports that when compared with white mortgage applicants, who … Read more
In the summer of 2020, during widespread Black Lives Matter protests, the Houston Board of Realtors made headlines for its decision to stop using the term “master” in property listings to describe a main bedroom or bathroom. “Primary” would be the new adjective of choice. The reason? The word “master” can refer to a male … Read more
Racial segregation in cities and towns across America is not a relic of the past — it’s an issue with roots that sink deep into the country’s foundation, leaving behind a legacy of discrimination and inequality that continues to the present day. One very visible part of its legacy is red-lining: Look at a demographic … Read more