How? By matching up to $100K to the HCA Equity Down Payment Assistance Fund, helping minorities and low- to moderate-income with down payments and closing costs.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Homeownership rates for many minority groups continue to be well below that of whites, and discriminatory policies are often blamed for that. During National Fair Housing Month in April, many housing groups and organizations are bringing the racial housing gap to the forefront and asking others in the real estate industry to support programs that seek to make a change.
Realtor.com® announced it is teaming with the Homeownership Council of America to donate the first $100,000 to the new Equity Down Payment Assistance Fund, for people of color and low- to moderate-income buyers.
Realtor.com says it will match every donation by HCA’s Equity DPA fund through June 30, up to $100,000. It’s asking leaders in the real estate industry to donate to HCA’s Equity DPA fund to help minorities and low- to moderate-income consumers afford down payments and closing costs.
“Survey data shows having enough for a down payment is one of the largest barriers to homeownership and, with this fund, we can directly help people break through to start building generational wealth,” says Mickey Neuberger, chief marketing officer for Realtor.com.
The homeownership rate for Blacks is 43.1%, 48.4% for Hispanics, and 61.2% for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The ownership rate for Whites is 74.4%, realtor.com says.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to not only address [the] disparity in homeownership but bring others alongside to take up the challenge,” Neuberger says. “As a company, we strive to make a positive impact on fair housing issues, but as an industry, we have the power to eliminate it.”
Realtor.com has launched its Closing the Gap Challenge focused on increasing the homeownership rate of racial minorities.
Source: realtor.com®
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