Black couple whitewash house to get a better appraisal

 

A Black couple from Loveland, Ohio, said they had to whitewash their house for a better appraisal.  According to a Brookings Institute report, homes in Black neighborhoods receive 23% less valuation compared to non-Black neighborhoods.  Another contributing factor to this inequality is that only 4% of property appraisers and assessors are Black, while 92% are White.  After replacing photos and personal items from a White neighbor, the couple's home was valued at $92,000 higher than the initial figure.  Experts believe this bias, which limits financial returns for Black families, has also led to the racial wealth gap.  In March, Miller and Perotti Real Estate Appraisers settled a lawsuit that accused the company of providing a lower valuation to a Black couple's home in Northern California.