Affordable Homeownership

Housing policy since the 1930s has promoted homeownership as a primary means for Americans to build financial security. Yet many policies and practices adopted to guide mortgage lending limit access to this key wealth-building tool for low- and moderate-income households and communities of color. The center’s research on low-income and minority homeowners and renters identifies specific lending practices that enable people to become successful homeowners, demonstrate their creditworthiness, and document the market opportunity that low-income borrowers offer the housing finance industry.

We have been researching and publishing on topics related to affordable homeownership for over twenty years. Areas of research in this field include homeownership counseling; default, bankruptcy and foreclosure; mortgage finance; and housing policy.

Find out more about our signature housing study, the Community Advantage Program Study.