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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

6 months 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.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.