Homeownership an Uphill Battle for Black New Yorkers

Black home buyers face an array of challenges when trying to buy homes, leading to a widening gap between Black and white homeowners.

1 minute read

September 2, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Coronavirus Social Distancing

rblfmr / Shutterstock

An article by Stefanos Chen highlights the challenges faced by Black homeowners in New York City, as well as the successes some have had as a result of their perseverance in the face of systemic barriers and rising housing costs. "The pandemic has compounded the challenges of an already difficult housing market, particularly for Black home buyers, who face a range of additional obstacles, and it threatens to widen the gap between Black and white homeownership to levels not seen since housing discrimination was made illegal five decades ago."

This sets up a worrying trend, as "[h]omeownership is often the largest source of intergenerational wealth for families. In 2015, the median net worth for white households was $139,300, and $156,300 for Asian households, compared to just $19,990 for Hispanic households, and $12,780 for Black households, according to a census report." In New York, the number of Black homeowners dropped by 10 percent between 2002 and 2008, with the decline continuing until at least 2017.

"New York is one of the most segregated cities in the country, and Black residents don’t always benefit from fast-rising prices in racially divided communities undergoing gentrification," writes Chen. "But after decades of discriminatory housing policies, some of the city’s Black homeowner enclaves persist in part because they remain cultural hubs for people of color."

Friday, September 17, 2021 in New York Times

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today