#NNPA BlackPress

Implications of Local Lawsuit Could Exacerbate Racial Homeownership Gap

By Nate Johnson The rate of homeownership in the Black community hovers around 45%, a stark contrast to nearly 75% for White households. There are lawsuits, including a current federal case, that could make this gulf even greater. Strong, dynamic local real estate marketplaces are a cornerstone of community development and economic growth. Local broker marketplaces […]
The post Implications of Local Lawsuit Could Exacerbate Racial Homeownership Gap first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

October 28, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

By Nate Johnson

The rate of homeownership in the Black community hovers around 45%, a stark contrast to nearly 75% for White households. There are lawsuits, including a current federal case, that could make this gulf even greater. Strong, dynamic local real estate marketplaces are a cornerstone of community development and economic growth. Local broker marketplaces – in which real estate agents share all listings openly and transparently with all other agents – help foster healthy competition.

Meanwhile, compensation rules that allow a home buyer’s real estate agent to be paid out of the proceeds from the home sale – instead of out of the buyer’s pocket upfront – help expand access to homeownership and increase the pool of buyers for sellers’ homes.

However, the pending lawsuits could upend these vital local marketplaces. The suits seek to require buyers to pay for the services of their real estate agent directly, rather than having the buyer’s agent fee paid by the seller’s agent at the time of closing. If successful, such a verdict would significantly increase the transaction costs of buying a home – with major repercussions for local economies.

When the commission is shared between the seller’s broker and the broker who brings the home buyer, it gives first-time and low-and middle-income buyers a better shot at affording a home. If buyers had to pay the agent themselves, it would make it harder for many, especially first-time, minority and low/middle-income buyers, to afford a home because they would need more money upfront for the down payment, closing costs and agent fees.

Why it matters

Today, at a time when current high mortgage rates and increasing home prices are keeping aspiring homebuyers on the sidelines, additional out-of-pocket fees would only push homeownership further out of reach for many. If our commission model were to significantly change and buyers were forced to begin paying their agent out-of-pocket, it would create an additional barrier to homeownership for Black, first-time homebuyers who may already struggle to afford a down payment, ultimately worsening the racial homeownership gap across America.

Legal implications and the impact on Black, first-time homebuyers

Black first-time homebuyers have a 50% chance of being a first-time, first-generation homebuyers. This means that they may not have family and friends to rely on for homeownership advice. These buyers critically need a real estate agent to help them navigate the homebuying process since their parents may not be able to offer financial assistance or guidance. Unfortunately, if the lawsuits are successful for the plaintiffs, Black homebuyers will be the people who are most vulnerable to not having representation throughout the homebuying process.

Requiring buyers to pay their agent out-of-pocket would require an estimated $6,765 in additional assets to purchase a $250,000 home. The burden of this commission payment in addition to a down payment will only push homeownership further out of reach for income-restrained buyers and discourage them from seeking professional representation due to the added cost of working with a real estate agent.

At the crux of the lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that because listed-for-sale homes are publicly available online, buyers don’t need a real estate agent, which is a shortsighted opinion. Anyone who has purchased a home for the first time knows it often isn’t a straightforward undertaking – things don’t always appear as they seem – and the process can be overwhelming without support.

There is a lot more that goes into purchasing a home than finding a property you like, and it is one of the most significant – if not the greatest – financial decisions of one’s lifetime. That is why it’s crucial to have professional representation.

History shows that consumers who do not have professional representation always suffer the most. Looking back at the 2008 recession, people of color were disproportionately affected, in part due to lenders who offered predatory loans. Predatory lenders specifically targeted these communities because they were more likely to not have professional representation.

Many people received predatory loan products that they did not need, which ultimately led to more foreclosures and a decline in homeownership. If history were to repeat itself and more people choose to forgo professional representation due to commission fees, we could be looking at a similar outcome in the future.

Worst Case Scenario

So, what’s the worst that could happen? Well, a lot. If the trial verdict results in homebuyers having to pay commissions out-of-pocket, it would significantly increase the transaction costs of buying a home – with major repercussions for local economies:

Income-restrained buyers will be more likely to forgo professional representation when making the biggest financial decision of their lives, setting them up for failure.
The rate of homeownership in the Black community will remain stagnant or even worse, it will decline.
Significantly increasing the up-front transaction costs of buying a home would deter some potential buyers and slow the pace of home sales, at a time when higher interest rates have already chilled the market.
Fewer home sales, which would hurt demand for local businesses adjacent to home buying: appraisers, lenders, home inspectors, contractors and service providers, home improvement stores, and others.

The magnitude of this trial and the devastating impact it could have on aspiring homebuyers cannot be understated. If the plaintiffs were to win, the greater economy would be largely impacted and further divide the racial wealth gap in America.

NAR data shows that significantly fewer low-income households and households of color own their home and are able to build wealth compared to other income and racial/ethnic groups. There should be no reason why we adopt compensation rules that would further exacerbate this issue.

The post Implications of Local Lawsuit Could Exacerbate Racial Homeownership Gap appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post Implications of Local Lawsuit Could Exacerbate Racial Homeownership Gap first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Chicago Defender Staff

Posts by Chicago Defender Staff

Up Next

Georgetown mourns the death of Coach Tasha Butts

Don't Miss

Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Launches New Podcast to Increase Constituent Engagement

Chicago Defender Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY