Since the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 raised the national consciousness about race and discrimination, dozens of Black homeowners have alleged bias in home appraisals. Some have filed lawsuits.
Appraisals are supposed to be independent reports that estimate market value so lenders can measure risk. But the accuracy of the appraisal depends on an appraiser’s expertise and familiarity with the area, according to a White House report. The appraisal industry is one of the nation’s least diverse professions. The vast majority of home appraisers are white, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When their properties are undervalued, Black and Latino homeowners often pay more for their mortgage, get a smaller payout when they sell and are less able to tap home equity lines of credit, Harris said, contributing to the widening racial wealth gap.
Homes in neighborhoods of color are appraised at far lower values than in white neighborhoods in every major metropolitan area, according to data analysis provided exclusively to Bloomberg City Lab by University of Illinois Chicago sociologist Junia Howell.