Mortgage Lending in Homogenous Neighborhoods

A new study examines mortgage lending practices in racially homogenous neighborhoods for clues about how those neighborhoods differ from the aggregate, national market.

1 minute read

August 29, 2019, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Gold Coast and Old Town

James Andrews1 / Shutterstock

A new study, available online, examines the racial contours of the U.S. subprime lending boom, foreclosure crisis, and recovery surrounding the Great Recession.

"Existing studies reveal general lending patterns in these periods but fail to scrutinize racially homogeneous neighborhoods where outcomes often diverge from aggregate trends," writes author Tyler Haupert, a graduate student at Columbia University, in the abstract to differentiate the study from previous research.

The study uses data from 2005 and 2015, and finds a commonality to the pre-recession market and the post-recession market: "the gap between white borrowers’ comparatively high application approval rates and minority borrowers’ lower approval rates grows as the proportion of white residents in a target neighborhood increases."

The big takeaway: the racially homogenous neighborhoods function differently than the aggregated experience of the housing market.

The study is available in its entirety online, published by the Housing Policy Debate journal.

Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Housing Policy Debate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Two people on bikes in red painted bike lane with bus in traffic lane next to them.

Understanding Road Diets

An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.

April 17 - Momentum Magazine

Aerial view of large warehouses across from development of suburban single-family homes in Jurupa, California with desert mountains in background.

New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution

A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.

April 17 - Black Voice News

Purple Phoenix light rail train connected to overhead wires at sunset.

Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension

The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.

April 17 - Arizona Republic