Examining racial bias in home appraisals: Screening of ‘Our America: Lowballed’

Co-hosted by Brookings and the National Fair Housing Alliance

Thursday, January 12, 2023, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST
The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW

Brookings requires all staff and visitors to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 via vaccines approved by the FDA or WHO. After submitting your registration here, please proceed to the provided link on the confirmation page to complete the registration process by verifying your vaccination information.

Recent Brookings analysis from Senior Fellow Andre M. Perry and Nonresident Senior Fellow Jonathan Rothwell found that about 10% of homes in majority-Black neighborhoods are affected by the direction of appraisal bias compared to homes in neighborhoods with few Black residents. This devaluation, powerfully illustrated in the ABC Owned Television Stations’ documentary “Our America: Lowballed,” results in limiting wealth accumulation and intergenerational wealth for homeowners in majority-Black neighborhoods. Reporter and executive producer Julian Glover profiles incidents of appraisal discrimination experienced by families whose home values jumped as much as $500,000 as a result of “whitewashing” their homes, known as staging white friends or acquaintances to stand in during an appraisal. Adding to this body of research on appraisal bias, a comprehensive analysis led by the National Fair Housing Alliance reveals systemic barriers in appraisal standards and appraiser criteria suggesting the need for reforms.

On Thursday, January 12, Brookings Metro and the National Fair Housing Alliance will co-host a screening of an excerpt of the documentary “Our America: Lowballed” and will feature speakers discussing racial bias in the home appraisal process, the effects on majority-Black neighborhoods, and what reforms and rules can be implemented at the federal level to remove discrimination from every stage of the home valuation process.

Live ASL Interpretation will be provided at this event. To request additional services or reasonable accommodation, please email Karen Slachetka at KSlachetka@brooking.edu.