The Houston Chronicle reports that a combination of factors are making homeownership opportunities more accessible to low and moderate income households and minorities.
More and more working-class families "are discovering they can buy a piece of the American dream as three factors converge to make homeownership more affordable and accessible than ever: historically low interest rates, billions of dollars set aside by banks for mortgages targeted to minorities and immigrants, and more churches and church-related community development corporations getting involved in providing shelter for body, as well as soul....When mortgage rates drop, even if lenders were to get the same profit margin as before, they can enlarge the opportunity for the traditionally underserved market....Lenders are giving mortgages to clients who are usually surprised they're qualified....The big change: more relaxed underwriting standards using nontraditional methods of tracking credit and assessing risk....Nationwide, statistics are beginning to show inroads to homeownership by minorities."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Homeownership more attainable to more families

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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