Closing the Gap in Homeownership: Re-Writing the Rules Against Mortgage Discrimination

by Anna DeSimone

Closing the Gap to Homeownership lights the way for homebuyers to step beyond bias and reach toward equitable homeownership. The book is a valuable resource for fair housing advocates, homebuyer counselors, educators, realtors, and mortgage lenders. Readers will learn about modern-day redlining, digital redlining, reverse redlining, and what’s being done to protect consumers by enforcement agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Packed with statistics and eye-opening facts, readers will learn about racial disparities in home affordability, multicultural population and homeownership trends. Tables for every U.S. state list homeownership rates and mortgage denials by race and ethnicity. Other state tables list home appreciation rates, appraisal valuations, and expanded state legislation to protect consumers based on income, ancestry, and LGBTQ+ status.

Innovative mortgage programs are explained for noncitizens, self-employed borrowers, flexible credit, and streamlined documentation, along with qualifying steps and worksheets. National resources are included for affordable mortgages, down payment assistance, and housing partnership agencies.

Self-advocate your way to your new home! This book empowers people to speak up, how to ask the right questions, and how to get the right answers. Included are federal provisions of the Qualified Mortgage Rule, Fair Housing Act, and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2024

About the author

Winner of 5 national book awards, Anna DeSimone lights the way for helping consumers make informed decisions about buying, building, and financing a home that is affordable and sustainable.

She is author of Housing Finance 2020 (Hipooteca 2020 in Spanish), Welcome to the Agrihood, and Live in a Home that Pays You Back.

She has been featured in numerous articles on the topic of homeownership by Apartment Therapy, Axios, Bankrate, Forbes.com, Fox Business News, MarthaStewart.com, Money Magazine, MSN Money, NextAdvisor, The Simple Dollar, U.S. News & World Report, and the Washington Post.

Anna's books, articles, and podcasts can be seen on her website: annadesimone.net

A nationally respected expert on fair and responsible lending, Anna's publications for housing industry professionals is available on the site: housingresearchpress.com