Geographies Analyzed for Redlining-Home Value Research
Zillow analyzed redlined neighborhoods in the 151 cities, counties or other geographic areas listed here. In three-quarters of them, formerly redlined neighborhoods now have lower median home values than communities that carried different labels.
Black Mortgage Applicants Denied at More Than Twice the Rate of Whites
Overall denial rates for conventional mortgages have fallen for almost a decade, a sign of progress that nevertheless conceals a stark divide in the housing market: Black applicants for conventional mortgages are denied at more than twice the rate of white applicants.
Black and White Homeownership Rate Gap Has Widened Since 1900
In 1900, the gap in the homeownership rate between black and white households was 27.6 percentage points. It's now 30.3 percentage points, the widest among whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians – although the difference between white and Hispanic homeownership rates has more than tripled. Asians have seen the largest gains, although their homeownership rate still lags whites.
Why White and Asian Home Buyers Have an Advantage Over Black, Hispanic Buyers
A white American household could reasonably afford a home almost two-thirds more expensive than a black household in 2017, giving them significantly more flexibility to find an affordable home last year in an incredibly competitive housing market marked by low inventory.
Hispanics and the Homeownership Divide
Although Hispanics say that owning a home is necessary to live the American Dream, only 45.6 percent do -- only slightly above the 40.2 percent who owned homes in 1900. Hurdles include saving down payments, establishing credit scores and finding the right mortgage.
Asians and the Homeownership Divide
Asians have been deeply affected by discriminatory housing policies from the 20th century, including redlining and restrictive racial covenants. Many Asian Americans, especially first-generation immigrants, face cultural barriers to the U.S. style of lending and home buying.
African Americans and the Homeownership Divide
The homeownership gap between blacks and whites has been the same for more than a century. Here's a look at how redlining, minority loan restrictions, government funding of white-only suburbs and other factors account for that stark reality.
Home Values and Rents by Congressional District
Housing costs, both home values and rents, rose nationwide and in a majority of Congressional districts in 2017. Median home values rose last year in 421 of 426 (99 percent) total Congressional districts analyzed by Zillow; rents were up in 295 of 434 (68 percent) total districts analyzed. Use our tool to discover housing costs in your Congressional district.
Rental Options Could Double for Seattle Voucher Holders, Thanks to Higher Ceiling
Seattle voucher recipients could see double the rentals available to them because of an upcoming increase in the value of their vouchers.
Income Doesn’t Determine Whether People Buy Homes, for Now
People will continue to break into the market when and how they can by buying cheaper homes, homes farther out, smaller homes—whatever is feasible. The rub is that as U.S. housing markets continue to burn hot, the feasible options become harder to find for more of us.
