Black Homeownership Is at a Crisis Point - We’re Mobilizing for Change

Lydia Cutrer
Nov 18
3 min read

Personal Reflections from the 2025 NAREB Summit & SHIBA Report

A group of real estate professionals poses together at a conference, showcasing camaraderie and networking opportunities.

Why This Black Homeownership Summit Mattered

I had the opportunity to attend the 2025 National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Black Homeownership Summit, where Realtist members from across the country came together to tackle one of the most urgent challenges we face today: the state of Black homeownership in America.

This year’s summit was hosted at Dillard University, an HBCU rich in legacy and leadership. We were welcomed with the incredible voices of Dillard’s renowned choir — a beautiful reminder of why this work matters so deeply.

But behind the celebratory backdrop was a sobering truth:

Black homeownership is in decline, and we must act with urgency and intention.

The Data Is Clear: We’re Still Behind

According to the 2025 State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report:

Black homeownership stands at 45.8%, lower than it was in 2004 (49.1%)
White homeownership remains steady at 74.3%
The resulting homeownership gap is now 28.5%, one of the widest in modern U.S. history

Even in cities where Black homeownership rates appear stronger — like New Orleans, which ranks 4th nationally at 49% — the gains may be short-lived.

In his “Black Power Scorecard” presentation, Dr. Andre Perry pointed out:

New Orleans’ Black homeownership is in the 87th percentile compared to other Black communities, but its median household income ranks in the 28th percentile.

This makes Black homeowners in the city vulnerable — especially if incomes don’t keep pace with inflation or appraisal bias continues to prevent wealth from transferring across generations.

The Mortgage System Is Still Broken

Behind the scenes, the mortgage lending system is failing Black buyers in multiple ways:

In 2024, only 7.3% of mortgage originations went to Black borrowers — despite strong demand
16.5% of Black applicants are denied, compared to just 6.6% of White applicants
Many lenders mask rejections under vague categories, resulting in 39% of Black applicants failing to secure a mortgage due to denials, withdrawals, or closed files

This is particularly devastating for younger buyers:

Only 33% of Black millennials are homeowners, compared to 65% of their White peers
Despite being ready and motivated, access and trust are still lacking

Where Do We Go From Here?

At the summit, I connected with Realtists from across the country. We shared strategies, tools, and solutions to build stronger businesses — and to better support the communities we serve.

Key themes included:

Expanding shared equity models
Driving community reinvestment
Advancing local organizing
Demanding transparent lending practices
And ending appraisal bias

One of the most powerful messages:

Housing isn’t just about property. It’s about health, family, education, and safety.

When people have homes they can afford, schools improve, relationships stabilize, crime drops, and wealth grows.

Final Thoughts: We Need Bold, Local Action

This crisis is rooted in generations of policy failures and structural inequity. But that doesn’t mean it’s immovable.

What I’m taking with me:

✅ The numbers don’t lie — but neither do our stories
✅ Local innovation matters — if it’s working somewhere, we need to amplify it
✅ Collective action is essential — no one solves this alone