Black homeownership climbed in 2019, but still lags far behind homeownership rates for the entire country.
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey [pdf] show a sudden reversal of the trend of black homeownership—which increased from 40.6 percent in Q2 of 2019 to 42.7 percent in Q3 and 44 percent in Q4. The increase in black homeownership still lags far behind the country's total homeownership rate of 65.1 percent in Q4, which reached the highest rate since 2013.
Sarah Strochak, Laurie Goodman, and Sheryl Prado provide analysis of the recent data, focusing specifically about the sudden improvements in black homeownership, which they describe as, "the highest recorded level since 2012 [which] represents an 8 percent increase (or 3.4 percentage points) over six months."
The ongoing crisis of black homeownership has been well documented, including by other researchers from the Urban Institute, so what should the public make of this sudden improvement? The article presents a methodology for understanding the implications of the data, before presenting the conclusion that despite the improvement in black homeownership rates, the numbers still lag far behind, and require "much work" to be done.
Read the full story: Is the Sudden Increase in Black Homeownership Too Good to Be True?
Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.
Half of Altadena’s Black Homes Lost or Damaged in Eaton Fire
The community has higher Black homeownership rates than most of Los Angeles, but now faces an uncertain future as residents struggle to rebuild.
Richmond Program Promotes Black Homeownership
Economic Mobility and Black Homeownership Pilot identified barriers to homeownership and provides homebuyers with down payment assistance and counseling.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic Place Names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority