Zillow Research

Hispanic Homeowners Narrow Home Value Gap to Smallest Margin on Record

Hispanic homeowners have made strides in narrowing the home value gap with white homeowners over the past two years, regaining ground lost during the pandemic. The gap is now the narrowest ever observed. 

Hispanic-owned homes are currently worth 11.9% less than homes owned by non-Hispanic white households, down from 12.1% last year and a recent high of 12.4% in December 2021. The gap was as wide as 18% in 2012, following the global financial crisis of 2007–2009, when many minority communities were hit especially hard, setting back progress by several years. The slow climb back continued steadily until interrupted in 2021, but the course has now been corrected.

More of Hispanic homeowners’ wealth is typically tied up in their primary residence, relative to homeowners of other races, so home value fluctuations have an outsize effect on them. There is positive movement toward equity at the local level. More than two-thirds of the 100 largest metro areas saw the home value gap decrease for Hispanic homeowners over the past year. For example, significant reductions were observed in several large Florida markets, including Miami, Orlando and Tampa.

Several metros with larger-than-average Hispanic/white home value gaps also saw their gaps narrow. Of the 40 largest metros with gaps larger than the national average, 31 of them reduced their gap by more than the national average. Los Angeles has the largest home value gap, with 32% lower home values for Hispanic residents compared to white residents. The gap in that metro shrunk by 0.75 percentage points in the past year.

However, while gradual progress is being made in closing the gap, the jump into homeownership remains a significant hurdle for Hispanics. According to Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report, Hispanics represent 18% of prospective buyers, but 13% of successful purchasers. Data from the Homeowners Mortgage Disclosure Act shows that Hispanics face higher fees when purchasing a home, averaging $2,812 compared to the national average of $2,072. Mortgage denial rates are also notably higher for Hispanic borrowers, with 18.8% experiencing denials compared to 10% for non-Hispanic whites, often due to elevated debt-to-income ratios, which account for 38% of denials. 

The housing affordability crisis affects many Americans and is influenced by multiple factors such as housing supply, procedural friction, and the necessity to reduce upfront costs. Implementing policies to lower upfront costs and enhance credit access can effectively dismantle barriers to housing affordability.

The home value gap for Black homeowners has slightly narrowed over the past year as well, to 17.7% from 17.9%. However, the gap remains wider compared to mid-2022 (17.2%) and mid-2007, shortly before the housing bust (16.3%).

Homeownership stands as a cornerstone for building wealth, yet systemic barriers have unfairly hindered many people of color from acquiring homes valued comparably to those of their white counterparts. Efforts to improve access to down payment assistance, credit-building programs, zoning reforms, and affordable housing construction and preservation in desirable areas are also key initiatives to help this progress continue.

 

Typical Home Values by Race and Ethnicity (National)

Race Typical Home Value (based on Zillow Home Value Index) Year-Over-Year Change in Typical Home Value (%) Home Value Gap, Relative to White Home Values (%) One-Year Change in Home Value Gap (Percentage Points) Five-Year Change in Home Value Gap (Percentage Points) 
All $362,143 2.51% -2.9% 0.05pp 0.27pp
Asian $379,919 2.65% 1.9%  0.19pp -0.09pp
Black $306,928 2.69% -17.7% 0.19pp 1.67pp
Hispanic $328,283 2.62% -11.9% 0.14pp 0.83pp
Pacific Islander  $350,176 2.58% -6.1% .011pp 0.91pp
White (non-Hispanic) $372,835 2.46%

 

Hispanic Home Value Gaps Relative to White Home Values by Metro

 

Region  Typical Home Value (Based on Zillow Home Value Index) Year-Over-Year Change in Typical Home Value (%) Home Value Gap, Relative to White Home Values (%) One-Year Change in Home Value Gap (Percentage Points) Five-Year Change in Home Value Gap (Percentage Points) 
United States $328,283 2.6% -11.9% 0.14 0.83
New York, NY $616,961 7.0% -11.8% 0.00 3.12
Los Angeles, CA $757,081 6.2% -32.0% 0.75 1.26
Chicago, IL $277,784 5.8% -21.1% 0.73 2.97
Dallas, TX $308,407 -0.5% -23.8% -0.21 0.48
Houston, TX $262,205 0.2% -23.4% -0.37 0.93
Washington, DC $530,240 3.2% -9.8% -0.05 -0.26
Philadelphia, PA $306,432 5.6% -21.0% 0.73 2.90
Miami, FL $481,455 4.5% -8.2% 1.11 0.73
Atlanta, GA $367,869 2.1% -9.8% -0.17 1.40
Boston, MA $612,730 6.2% -13.7% 0.55 1.79
Phoenix, AZ $382,548 1.3% -20.3% 0.16 1.47
San Francisco, CA $933,036 2.4% -23.1% 0.25 -0.57
Riverside, CA $555,505 5.0% -6.1% 1.07 0.78
Detroit, MI $214,780 4.1% -21.1% 0.16 1.59
Seattle, WA $672,295 3.8% -9.4% -0.25 0.21
Minneapolis, MN $345,525 -0.1% -9.0% -0.13 -0.75
San Diego, CA $789,845 6.0% -20.8% -0.01 -1.37
Tampa, FL $361,364 0.7% -6.0% 0.47 1.24
Denver, CO $534,266 0.3% -10.2% -0.06 0.39
Baltimore, MD $361,431 2.2% -10.0% -0.04 0.60
St. Louis, MO $237,436 3.2% -10.0% 0.26 0.07
Orlando, FL $382,635 1.6% -6.5% 0.28 0.84
Charlotte, NC $354,059 2.3% -10.6% -0.38 1.16
San Antonio, TX $253,056 -3.3% -20.0% -0.58 -2.22
Portland, OR $522,869 0.4% -4.8% 0.05 0.36
Sacramento, CA $545,042 1.9% -6.7% 0.07 1.07
Pittsburgh, PA $212,743 2.9% -1.8% 0.30 0.52
Cincinnati, OH $288,459 3.9% -0.4% 0.18 0.76
Austin, TX $386,620 -4.7% -20.0% -0.12 -0.20
Las Vegas, NV $394,817 6.3% -11.8% 0.15 1.22
Kansas City, MO $259,774 3.1% -16.9% 0.56 4.92
Columbus, OH $301,314 3.8% -6.1% 0.29 1.79
Indianapolis, IN $257,310 2.8% -9.3% 0.33 2.87
Cleveland, OH $197,351 6.3% -19.7% 0.60 1.82
San Jose, CA $1,205,284 8.3% -29.5% -0.19
Nashville, TN $410,933 1.2% -8.4% -0.08 -0.34
Virginia Beach, VA $340,167 4.1% -5.6% -0.02 0.41
Providence, RI $443,424 7.7% -10.6% 0.61 3.17
Jacksonville, FL $351,709 0.0% -5.3% -0.16 -0.20
Milwaukee, WI $302,557 6.4% -16.5% 1.33 3.78
Oklahoma City, OK $188,978 2.9% -22.4% 0.92 2.31
Raleigh, NC $399,795 0.8% -12.1% -0.55 0.20
Memphis, TN $206,021 0.1% -24.5% 0.18 2.20
Richmond, VA $354,300 3.6% -8.1% -0.95 1.93
Louisville, KY $239,268 3.6% -10.2% 0.62 1.26
New Orleans, LA $227,884 -4.9% -10.5% -0.09 -0.38
Salt Lake City, UT $474,847 1.4% -14.3% 0.38 1.57
Hartford, CT $320,684 8.2% -15.1% 0.22 2.69
Buffalo, NY $234,885 5.9% -15.5% 0.28 0.43
Birmingham, AL $214,607 -1.1% -23.6% -0.21 0.86
Rochester, NY $212,113 8.5% -20.5% 1.19 0.88
Grand Rapids, MI $296,116 4.3% -10.1% 0.07 1.77
Tucson, AZ $306,415 2.4% -17.3% 0.29 1.48
Urban Honolulu, HI $837,579 0.2% -9.4% 0.11 1.60
Tulsa, OK $203,248 5.1% -16.6% 0.91 4.17
Fresno, CA $361,363 3.7% -14.8% 0.44 1.77
Worcester, MA $417,878 6.7% -9.3% 0.20 1.97
Omaha, NE $235,734 2.5% -20.6% 0.34 2.91
Bridgeport, CT $476,062 7.1% -28.9% 0.29 1.01
Greenville, SC $282,466 2.6% -5.1% 0.08 0.50
Albuquerque, NM $317,233 3.8% -10.4% 0.37 2.49
Bakersfield, CA $341,373 5.4% -6.7% 0.88 3.11
Albany, NY $326,272 6.0% -3.7% 0.09 0.31
Knoxville, TN $334,875 4.8% -3.6% 0.13 0.40
Baton Rouge, LA $237,438 1.1% -4.5% -0.03 -0.56
McAllen, TX $185,676 4.1% -2.5% 0.49 1.74
New Haven, CT $312,071 8.8% -20.4% 1.07 4.72
El Paso, TX $214,898 3.4% -11.0% -0.06 -0.12
Allentown, PA $298,125 6.1% -12.6% 0.51 3.49
Oxnard, CA $781,421 5.2% -13.9% 0.64 0.78
Columbia, SC $241,786 3.2% -6.6% 0.03 0.12
North Port, FL $386,768 -3.8% -14.1% 0.23 0.76
Dayton, OH
Charleston, SC $429,839 4.0% -6.0% -0.14 -0.09
Greensboro, NC $238,007 3.9% -11.1% 0.48 0.82
Stockton, CA $493,040 2.3% -9.7% 0.18 1.43
Cape Coral, FL $343,382 -3.3% -13.2% 1.59 4.27
Boise City, ID $464,466 2.8% -2.8% 0.07 0.25
Colorado Springs, CO $409,478 0.0% -12.5% -0.32 0.32
Little Rock, AR $185,896 4.1% -20.1% 0.61 -0.95
Lakeland, FL $315,409 -0.8% 0.2% -0.45 -0.86
Akron, OH $197,938 6.9% -12.2% 1.23 2.93
Des Moines, IA $234,000 3.8% -18.2% 0.92 2.30
Springfield, MA $321,597 6.5% -11.5% 0.75 4.91
Poughkeepsie, NY
Ogden, UT $469,761 1.3% -5.6% 0.03 0.28
Madison, WI $404,765 5.4% -2.2% 0.15 1.05
Winston, NC $251,975 4.7% -8.4% 0.43 1.60
Deltona, FL $328,665 0.7% -6.2% 1.42 2.43
Syracuse, NY $216,714 10.6% -11.2% 0.47 0.70
Provo, UT $492,017 0.2% -7.0% -0.11 0.21
Toledo, OH $172,244 5.1% -11.7% 0.69 2.66
Wichita, KS $181,120 7.0% -18.7% 1.02 4.03
Durham, NC $392,000 1.9% -6.1% -0.15 0.19
Augusta, GA $229,761 2.1% -2.6% -0.41 -4.60
Palm Bay, FL $344,506 -1.0% -4.3% -0.03 0.35
Jackson, MS $208,466 -0.6% 0.2% 0.02 0.65
Harrisburg, PA $252,998 4.3% -12.1% 0.87 3.18
Spokane, WA $390,956 0.4% -5.7% 0.02 0.43

 

Methodology

Zillow’s analysis aggregated small-area home values (ZHVI), weighted by estimated counts of homeowners by race and ethnicity of the household head in the American Community Survey, to estimate relative home values and home value appreciation by race.

 

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