Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership

<article class="post-937378 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-937378"><span class="entry-date">February 13, 2024</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership</h1><div class="shareBlock"><div class="shareTitle">Share</div><div class="shareIcons"><a aria-label="Twitter Share Link" class="twitter solid display-inline-block" data-tracking="Post,Social Post Link Clicked,Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Bridging+the+Gaps+on+the+Road+to+Homeownership&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Fbridging-the-gaps-on-the-road-to-homeownership%2F" target="_blank"><span class="force-hidden">Twitter</span></a>
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</div></div><div class="post-tax post-category"><span></span><a href="../category/realtor-blog/index.html" rel="tag">Realtor Blog</a></div><div class="post-tax post-post_tag"></div></div><div class="entry-content"><div><img alt="Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership Simplifying The Market" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://media.agentaprd.com/sites/222/20240213-Bridging-the-Gaps-on-the-Road-to-Homeownership.webp" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" width="358"/>
<p>Homeownership is a major part of the <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/01/15/homeownership-is-still-at-the-heart-of-the-american-dream/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Dream</a>. But, the <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/01/05/achieving-your-homebuying-dreams-in-2024-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">path</a> to achieving this dream can be quite difficult. While progress has been made to improve fair housing access, households of color still face unique challenges on the road to owning a home. Working with the right real estate experts can make all the difference for diverse buyers.</p>
<p>It’s clear that achieving homeownership is more challenging for certain groups because there’s still a measurable gap between the overall average U.S. homeownership rate and that of non-white groups. Today, Black households continue to have the lowest <a href="https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/currenthvspress.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">homeownership rate</a> nationally (<em>see graph below</em>):</p>
<p><a href="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/KeepingCurrentMatters/content/images/20240212/20240213-Homeownership-Rate.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/KeepingCurrentMatters/content/images/20240212/20240213-Homeownership-Rate.png"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Homeownership is an important part of building household <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/11/07/homeowner-net-worth-has-skyrocketed/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wealth</a> that can be passed down to future generations. <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2023-snapshot-of-race-and-home-buying-in-the-us-03-02-2023.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">According</a> to a report by the <em>National Association of Realtors</em> (NAR), almost half of Black homebuyers in 2023 were first-time buyers. That means many didn’t have <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/01/09/ways-your-home-equity-can-help-you-reach-your-goals/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home equity</a> they could use toward their home purchase.</p>
<p>That financial hurdle alone makes buying a home more challenging, especially at a time when affordability is a major concern for first-time buyers. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist at NAR <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-29/housing-affordability-crisis-hits-us-black-buyers-particularly-hard?embedded-checkout=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">says</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“It’s an incredibly difficult market for all home buyers right now, </em><strong><em>especially first-time home buyers and especially first-time home buyers of color</em></strong><em>.” </em></p></blockquote>
<p>Because of these challenges, there are several <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/12/12/down-payment-assistance-programs-can-help-pave-the-way-to-homeownership/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">down payment</a> assistance programs specifically aimed at helping minority buyers fulfill their homeownership dreams:</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://3by30.org/homeownership-101/get-help-buying-a-home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3By30</a> program offers valuable resources for Black buyers, making it easier for them to secure a down payment and buy a home.</li>
<li>For Native Americans, <a href="https://downpaymentresource.com/homebuyer-resource/highlighting-42-native-american-homebuyer-assistance-programs-in-honor-of-native-american-heritage-month/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Down Payment Resource</a> highlights 42 U.S. homebuyer assistance programs across 14 states that make homeownership more attainable by providing support with down payments and other costs.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fanniemae.com/casa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fannie Mae</a> provides down payment assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers living in Latino communities.</li>
</ul>
<p>Even if you don’t qualify for these programs, there are many other federal, state, and local options available to look into. And a <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/12/07/why-you-need-to-use-a-real-estate-agent-when-you-buy-a-home/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">real estate professional</a> can help you find the ones that best meet your needs.</p>
<p>For minority homebuyers, the challenges that remain can be a point of pain and frustration. That’s why it’s so important for members of diverse groups to have the right team of experts on their sides throughout the homebuying process. These professionals aren’t only experienced advisors who understand the market and give the best advice, they’re also compassionate educators who will advocate for your best interests every step of the way.</p>
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
<p>Connect with a real estate professional to make sure you have to make sure you have <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/10/30/a-real-estate-agent-helps-take-the-fear-out-of-the-market/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the information</a> and support you need as you walk the path to <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/12/08/your-homebuying-adventure-infographic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">homeownership</a>.</p>
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