2014

STATE OF HISPANIC
HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC
HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ Table of Contents ]
Executive Summary

Section 1

Hispanic Population and Household Formation Trends

Section 2

The Role of Hispanics in the Nations Economy

Homeownership
Labor Force Participation & Income
Education
Entrepreneurship & Purchasing Power

Section 3

Barriers to Hispanic Homeownership

Tighter Mortgage Credit

The Impact of the CFPB and QM on Credit Availability
Down Payments and Loan Costs
Lack of Affordable Homes
Knowledge Gaps and Professional Infrastructure

Section 4

Consumer Attitudes and Preferences

Fannie Mae National Housing Survey

Hispanic Millennials and Other First-Time Buyers

Section 5

Unique Hispanic Segments and Consumer Nuances

10

Hispanic Mobile Purchasing Trends

Higher-Income Latinos

Section 6

The Economic Impact of Immigration Reform on Homeownership

11

Section 7

Conclusions

12

End Notes

13

Appendix

15

2015 Policy Positions

17

Editor: Gary Acosta, Co-Founder & CEO, NAHREP

Authors: Alejandro Becerra & Marisa Calderon
Contributors: Zaba Rashan, Nayeli Pelayo, and Gerardo Jerry Ascencio
Special acknowledgements and thanks: Mark Hugo Lopez, Jeffrey Passel and the Pew Research Center
Design: Green Park Agency, Inc.

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) is a non-profit trade association founded in
1999. The association has 20,000 members that include real estate agents, brokers, mortgage professionals, and settlement
service providers. NAHREPs mission is to advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership in America by educating and
empowering real estate professionals who serve Hispanic homebuyers and sellers, advocating for policy that supports the
organizations mission, and facilitating relationships between industry stakeholders and housing professionals.

591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 720

San Diego, CA 92108
TEL: 858-622-9046
www.nahrep.org

Established in 2012, the NAHREP Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to advance sustainable
Hispanic homeownership through strategic engagement in efforts focused on financial literacy, education, and
community development.
The State of Hispanic Homeownership Report is a publication of NAHREP and the NAHREP Foundation.

[ Executive Summary ]
This years edition also analyzes data sets over broader periods of
time to provide a comparative analysis of this past year and of
historical data. Because the Hispanic market is more than just a
collection of individual consumers with discrete market-specic
behaviors, the association evaluates research from within and
outside of the housing industry. This holistic approach to analysis
of trends, motivators, and other data is key in identifying barriers
that impede homeownership, and market factors that can foster
an environment for homeownership gains.

The 2014 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report (SHHR) is

a publication of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate
Professionals (NAHREP) and the NAHREP Foundation.
In this fth installment, the report highlights the homeownership
growth and household formation rates of Hispanics as well as
their educational achievements, entrepreneurial endeavors, labor
force prole, and purchasing power in the United States.

Hispanic Homeownership Growth

The Numbers
YEAR

RATE OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP

NUMBER OF HISPANIC
OWNER HOUSEHOLDS

ANNUAL CHANGE IN THE NUMBER

OF HISPANIC OWNER HOUSEHOLDS

percent

units

unit change

2000

46.0%

4,242,000

2001

47.3%

4,497,000

+255,000

2002

47.0%

4,912,000

+425,000

2003

46.7%

5,172,000

+260,000

2004

48.1%

5,448 ,000

+276,000

2005

49.5%

5,852,000

+404,000

2006

49.7%

6,095,000

+243,000

2007

49.7%

6,303,000

+208,000

2008

49.1%

6,319,000

+16,000

2009

48.4%

6,253,000

-63,000

2010

47.5%

6,196,000

-56,000

2011

46.9%

6,321,000

+125,000

2012

46.1%

6,668,000

+347,000

2013

46.1%

6,756,000

+88,000

2014

45.4%

6,810,000

+54,000

Table A. Hispanic homeownership rate and total owner households from 2000 through 2014.
The Hispanic homeownership rate is the percentage derived from owner households in
comparison to the total number of overall households.

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Hispanics achieved modest gains in net new owner households

this past year. However, the number of net homeownership gains
for Hispanics has slowed over the past three years from an
increase of 347,000 in 2012 to a notably smaller increase of
54,000 in 2014.
In the last year the rate of homeownership for Hispanics has
dropped from 46.1 percent in 2013 to 45.4 percent in 2014. The
decrease was due in part to the growth in Hispanic household
formations. While the net growth of owner households was
positive, total household formations grew at a faster pace causing
the overall drop in the Hispanic homeownership rate.
Prior to the Great Recession, Hispanics were outpacing the national
average in homeownership gains. From 1994 to 2005 the national
homeownership rate increased by ve percentage points but
Hispanics gained nearly seven percentage points over that same
period of time.
From 2000 to 2014, Hispanics accounted for 50 percent of the net
growth of overall owner households in the country. A 2014 study
by the Urban Institute projects that Hispanics will account for 55.5
percent of new homeowners from 2010 to 2020. The report also
suggests that even higher Hispanic homeownership growth could
be achieved under a stronger economy and policies that expand
credit to lower- and middle-income Hispanics.

Hispanic Population Trends and

Household Formations
Looking forward, the Hispanic population is expected to reach
nearly 120 million in 2050, more than double what it is today. Since
1970, the Hispanic population has grown 592 percent. By comparison,
the U.S. population overall has grown 56 percent over the same
period. Between 2000 and 2010 alone, Hispanics made up more
than half of U.S. population growth.
Between 2013 and 2014, several states experienced substantial
increases in Hispanic populations including Texas (451,000)
California (371,000), Florida (293,000), and Georgia (103,000),
which had the fourth largest net growth of Hispanics in the
country.
Household formation growth is one of the most important predictors
of potential homeownership gains. In 2014, the number of Hispanic
households grew by 320,000, accounting for 40 percent of total
U.S. household formation growth in that year alone. Hispanics hold
the largest share of household growth for any racial or ethnic
population group in the country and are expected to account for
seven million of the nation's 17 million new households between
2010 and 2025. In terms of household composition, Hispanic
households are more likely to be comprised of married couples

2014

with children. Hispanic households are also more likely than

non-Hispanic households to have a multi-generational component
where parents reside with their adult children.

Employment and Income

Hispanics continue to drive the growth of the nations workforce.
Between 2000 and 2014, Hispanics accounted for 65 percent of
the growth in the U.S. labor force. Nearly one million young
U.S.-born Latinos enter adulthood each year, contributing to Latino
labor force and U.S. labor force growth.
In 2013, Hispanics were the only major population group to lower
their poverty rate and boost their annual household income, which
grew by 3.5 percent. The annual median household income of
Hispanics jumped 3.5 percent, up from $39,600 in 2012 to $41,000
in 2013, while their poverty rate fell more than two percentage
points to 23.5 percent. In 2013, 57 percent of Hispanic households
earned over $40,000, 41 percent earned over $50,000, and 13
percent earned over $100,000.
The purchasing power of Hispanics is $1.5 trillion, roughly equal to
that of Canada. It is projected to grow to $2.0 trillion by 2020.

HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS GREW

+320,000
2014

Hispanic Homeownership Growth

40%

OF TOTAL
U.S. HOUSEHOLD
GROWTH

In 2014, the number of Hispanic households

grew by 320,000, accounting for 40% of
total U.S. household growth.

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Origin: U.S. Census Bureau

Homeownership Barriers and

NAHREP Agent Survey

HISPANIC PURCHASING POWER

2015

2020

$1.5

TRILLION

$2.0

According to a survey of 100 of the leading Hispanic real estate

agents in the country, nearly 60 percent said that tighter mortgage
credit was the most signicant barrier to Hispanic homeownership.
Respondents ranked affordability as the second most signicant
barrier. NAHREP Agents also cite inventory shortages as being a
leading barrier to Hispanic homeownership driven by underwater
homeowners, Zombie foreclosures, and modest levels of new
construction.
In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau implemented
the Qualied Mortgage (QM) rule as well as new rules for
mortgage servicing and loan ofcer compensation. The new rules
are designed to enhance consumer protection in the mortgage
market. However, industry organizations and housing advocates
have expressed concern about their effect on credit availability
especially for minorities and other underserved markets. While the
collection of data is still very early, lenders report that the new
rules have created a formidable increase in their cost to originate
mortgages which is being passed on to consumers.

TRILLION

CANADA

Conclusion
The purchasing power of Hispanics is $1.5
trillion, roughly equal to that of Canada, and is
projected to grow to $2.0 trillion by 2020
Origin: Nielsen & Selig Center for Economic Growth

Consumer Attitudes and

Buyer Nuances
Hispanics still maintain strong enthusiasm for homeownership.
Nearly half of Hispanic renters (48 percent) say now is a good time
to buy a home, however concerns over qualifying for a mortgage
are discouraging some buyers from moving forward with a
purchase transaction.
Of those who did make home purchases in 2014, Millennials
represented the largest group with 32 percent of all buyers.1
Hispanics account for more than one in ve Millenials..2

The story for Hispanic homeownership in 2013 was that

homeownership growth was positive but lower than in previous
years due primarily to a shortage of affordable housing inventory
and competition from cash investors. In 2014, the story was
similar, however access to reasonably priced low down payment
mortgages was most likely the primary reason for the modest
homeownership gains. The positive news is that population
growth, income trends and consumer attitudes continue to
support a highly optimistic outlook for Hispanic homeownership.
The Hispanic population is now widely recognized as the key driver
for growth in the overall housing sector. Accordingly, the barriers
that are impeding Hispanic participation in homeownership have a
substantial impact on all segments of the housing industry.
Perhaps the most concerning data point of 2014 was that rst
time home buyers represented the smallest percentage of overall
home sales (33 percent) in any year since 1987. Most housing
experts believe that a healthy and sustainable housing market
would need that number to be closer to 40 percent. Despite the
challenges, Hispanic real estate agents expect 2015 to be a
breakout year, with 65 percent of the top agents surveyed forecasting
a stronger year for Hispanic homebuyers.

Thirteen percent (38 million) of people in the United States now

speak Spanish. This is an increase of 121 percent since 1990.
Nearly 60 percent of U.S. Spanish speakers also speak English
very well. 3

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ Section 1 ]

Hispanic Population and Household Formation Trends

The 2014 SHHR examines developments in population growth,
household formation, educational advancement, labor force
prole, and other demographic data collected from the Latino
community to serve as key indicators in homeownership. Past and
present demographic trends provide a forecast on the role Latinos
play in the future of the housing market. Hispanic is a term
generally used to refer to individuals of historic Spanish ancestry
and used broadly by the Census Bureau or other government
entities for purposes of demographic analysis. Latino is generally
recognized as a cultural moniker used primarily by members of the
community to which it refers. Throughout the report the terms
Hispanic and Latino are used interchangeably, since the
community represented by the terms also use them in this way.
The 54 million Hispanics in the U.S. today comprise 17 percent of
the countrys total population, up from ve percent in 1970. Over
the last 20 years, the number of Latinos under the age of 18 has
increased by 107 percent. This population rise is most evident in
17 states where Latinos make up at least 20 percent of the
kindergarten population, more than doubling the amount of states
from a decade ago.4 While immigration was a primary driver of
U.S. Hispanic growth prior to 2000, recent growth is due almost
exclusively to higher U.S. birth rates. If this trend continues as
anticipated, Hispanics are expected to account for at least 31
percent of the overall U.S. population by 2060. 5

People of Mexican origin, account for two-thirds (34 million) of the

nations Latinos. Those of Puerto Rican origin are the second
largest group at 4.9 million (not including the 3.5 million on the
island of Puerto Rico). The other top ve Hispanic origin groups
with more than 1 million people each include Cubans, Salvadorans,
Dominicans, Guatemalans and Colombians.
Between 2013 and 2014, several states experienced substantial
increases in Hispanic populations including Texas (451,000),
California (371,000), Florida (293,000), Georgia (103,000), Arizona
(96,000), and North Carolina (95,000).
The number of Hispanic households grew from 9.2 million in 2000
to 15 million in 2014, a growth rate of 63 percent. In contrast, the
number of non-Hispanic households in the U.S. grew from 93.4
million in 2000 to 100.4 million in 2014, an increase of only 7.5
percent. In 2014, the number of Hispanic households grew by
320,000, accounting for 40 percent of total U.S. household formation
growth in that year alone. Latinos hold the largest share of
household growth for any racial or ethnic population group in
the country.
The median age of the Hispanic population is 27 years, ten years
younger than the overall U.S. population. Hispanic households are
twice as likely as those of non-Hispanic Whites to be comprised of
a married couple with children. Hispanics average 3.51 persons
per household versus 2.5 persons for non-Hispanic Whites.

HISPANICS IN THE U.S. TODAY

17%

U.S. POPULATION

1 MILLION - Colombian
1 MILLION - Dominican
1 MILLION - Cuban

54 MILLION
4

34 MILLION - Mexican

1 MILLION - Guatemalan
1 MILLION - Salvadoran
4.9 MILLION - Puerto Rican
Origin: Pew Research Center

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ Section 2 ]

The Role of Hispanics in the Nations Economy

Homeownership
Hispanics achieved a modest net increase of 54,000 owner
households in 2014 (see Table A). Since 2010 Hispanics have
realized a net increase of 614,000 owner households, which
accounted for half of the total net homeownership growth in the
U.S. during that period.
From 2000 to 2014, the number of Hispanic owner households
grew 62 percent from 4.2 million to 6.8 million. In comparison, the
total number of owner households in the U.S. grew from 69.2
million in 2000 to 74.4 million in 2014, a growth rate of only 7.5
percent. Hispanics are expected to account for 180,000
220,000 new homeowners per year between 2010 and 2020, and
even more in the subsequent years. In that same timeframe, the
Urban Institute estimates Hispanics will account for 55.5 percent
of new homeowners nationwide.6

Recent studies by Fannie Mae7, Rutgers and Emory University8

show that immigrants fared far better than the U.S.-born
population in the aftermath of the housing crisis. Although U.S.
homeownership rates declined after the housing crisis, the
homeownership rate of immigrants actually increased in the midst
of the recession from 52.4 percent in 2006 to 54.3 percent in 2012.
The studies also estimate that immigrants will account for as
much as one-third of new homeowners by 2020 due to
demographic shifts, migration to the suburbs and other factors.9
According to Harvards Joint Center for Housing Studies,
homeownership correlates with increases of as much as $10,000
in net wealth for each year that a home is owned.10 By contrast,
renters do not commonly experience gains in wealth.

AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE

GROWTH IN OWNER-OCCUPIED UNITS IN THE U.S.

+0.3%

Percentage Changes in the Growth of

Owner Households in the U.S. from 2000 to 2014

NON HISPANIC

+3.5%
HISPANIC

10.0%
ALL

8.0%

HISPANIC
NON HISPANIC

6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0%
-2.0%

ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Origin: US Census Bureau, Homeownership Data, Fourth Quarter 2014

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Labor Force Participation and Income

Between 2000 and 2014, Hispanics accounted for 65 percent of
the growth in the U.S. labor force. By the end of 2014, the rate of
Hispanic labor force participation was 66 percent, more than three
percent higher than the overall U.S. national average.
From the fourth quarters of 2011 to 2014, the Latino
unemployment rate fell from 11.3 percent to 6.5 percent. This is
only slightly higher than the nations unemployment rate of 5.6
percent. Current estimates indicate that by 2050, one in three U.S.
workers will be Hispanic.
In 2013, Hispanics were the only racial or ethnic group to show a
demonstrable shift in income and poverty rates. The median
household income of Hispanics jumped 3.5 percent, from $39,600
in 2012 to $41,000 in 2013, while their poverty rate fell more than
two percentage points to 23.5 percent. Hispanics experienced
increases in overall income with 57 percent of Hispanic
households earning over $40,000, 41 percent earning over
$50,000, and 13 percent earning over $100,000.11
Among Hispanic business owners, 57 percent earn incomes
greater than $50,000. These households are two and a half times
as likely to earn in excess of $150,000.12 Nearly 30 percent of
Latino small business owners earn more than $100,000.

Education
The high school dropout rate of Hispanics reached a record-low 14
percent in 2013, compared with 32 percent in 2000. In 2013,
Hispanics achieved a high school graduation rate of 79 percent,
their highest rate in over 30 years. Hispanic college enrollment
rates increased 45 percent from 2008 to 2012, with 2.4 million
students participating as of 2012. Hispanics accounted for 19
percent of total college enrollments in 2013.13

HISPANIC STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE

2008

2010

2012

+ 45%

6 YEARS

The number of Hispanic students enrolled in

college increased more than 45% over the
last 6 years

POVERTY RATE

_ 2%

Origin: Pew Research Center

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

HISPANIC STUDENTS COMPLETING COLLEGE

+ 3.5%

LATINO

DROPOUT RATE

CUT IN HALF
SINCE 2000

2012

$39,600

MEDIAN INCOME

2013

2000

$41,000
Origin: U.S. Cenus Bureau

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

NOW

79%

Graduation
rate in 2013

Origin: Pew Research Center

Entrepreneurship and
Purchasing Power

HISPANIC BUSINESS IN 2014

In 2014, Hispanic businesses employed more than 2 million

workers and contributed nearly $500 billion in total revenue to the
nations economy.14 The number of U.S. Hispanic-owned
businesses has nearly doubled from a decade ago, up from 1.7
million in 2002 to more than 3.2 million in 2014.

$500 BILLION

New business creation by Hispanics is occurring two times faster

than the current national average, and enterprises launched by
Latinas are increasing at a pace six times the national average.

REVENUE TO THE
U.S. ECONOMY

> 2 MILLION
WORKERS EMPLOYED

Hispanic purchasing power is now estimated at $1.5 trillion, an

increase of 50 percent since 2010.15 This rise is anticipated to
reach in excess of $2 trillion by 2020.

Origin: Geoscape, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

[ Section 3 ]

Barriers to Hispanic Homeownership

As of December 2014, the share of home purchases by first-time
homebuyers was 33 percent, a level well below its historical
norm of 40 percent. According to Bill Cosgrove, MBAs incoming
Chairman, without rst-time homebuyers, you dont have move-up
buyers, and you dont have a healthy real estate market. 16 Other
obstacles to homebuyers include:

Tighter Mortgage Credit

Latinos as borrowers may have different
underwriting needs. They may have multiple
family members living together, multiple
wage earners contributing to household
income, or they may be self-employed or hold
more than one job. Adequate underwriting
for these borrowers, who are a key
demographic driving homeownership
demand, requires prudent judgment and
keen understanding of their ability to pay, if
we are to expand credit access successfully
to a greater number of well-qualied and
creditworthy homebuyers.
David Stevens, CEO,
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

2014

Over the past six years, access to credit has been more challenging
that any time in recent history. In a 2015 NAHREP survey of 100 of
the top Latino Real Estate Agents in America, 60 percent of
respondents stated that the top barrier to Hispanic homeownership
in the current market is Access to Credit.
In 2013, Hispanics were turned down for home loans at twice the
rate of non-Hispanic White borrowers and were more than twice
as likely to pay a higher price for their loans. In October 2014, the
average FICO score for all mortgage loans was 726 and 683 for
FHA loans. Historically, credit scores of 700 were typical for
conforming loans with the most competitive rates and fees. Credit
score models used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA continue
to exclude more progressive products and versions available in the
market today. A Federal Reserve study showed that married
individuals and immigrants perform better on their loans than
predicted by their conventional or non-traditional credit scores.17
The results are particularly pertinent for Hispanics since both
categories are relevant to the community. The ndings also
support the increased use of alternative credit scoring systems
that also take into account multiple wage earners and income
from more than one job.
According to the Urban Institute, as many as 1.2 million additional
mortgage loans would have been made annually since 2012 if
normal standards had been in place before the housing bubble
occurred.18 Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics,
also points out that more than 10 million renters now have the
nancial capacity to become homeowners but cannot do so
because of the higher credit scores required by lenders.

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Studies estimate that as many as 13 million borrowers, many of

them rst-time homebuyers, with a credit score between 580 and
640 had been unable to get a loan. Tighter underwriting and
increased mortgage insurance premiums by FHA resulted in a
nearly 50 percent contraction of purchase mortgage loans during
the rst 10 months of 2014 (481,000) compared to 949,000 during
the same period in 2010.

13

MILLION

BORROWERS UNABLE
TO GET A LOAN

CREDIT SCORE

580

640

The Impact of the CFPB and QM on Credit Availability

Much has been made of the potential effects of the implementation of Qualied Mortgage (QM) and
Ability-to-Repay (ATR) Rules on the availability of credit. Their true impact wont be known until later in
2015 when the 2014 HMDA data is released. The initial reactions have been mixed. In a report released
mid-2014, the Urban Institute indicated that it had seen almost no impact in the government-sponsored
enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) or government agency (Ginnie Mae) market since the
January 2014 effective date19 The report contends that credit standards were already so stringent that
the additional imposition of QM rules had surprisingly little impact. 20
Industry participants typically offer a different perspective. With changes to the servicing rules for
example, when a loan goes into default, the resulting actions require the addition of costs to the servicer.
The trepidation associated with dealing with these costs affects how aggressive a lender will be when
extending credit. Loans for properties under $100,000 have also precipitously declined with the
implementation of QM. With the costs for servicing a $500,000 loan or a $100,000 being equal, it stands
to reason that there would be a shrinking desire on the part of lenders to originate low dollar loans
because of the cost that now exists to service those loans. This is especially worrisome for Latinos and
other rst-time home buyers where lenders may nd smaller loans less economically viable.

Down Payments and Loan Costs

Today, Hispanics and other rst time homebuyers continue to
make small down payments and are disproportionately affected
by upfront fees charged by the GSEs, like loan level price
adjustments (LLPAs) and higher Guarantee Fees (g-fees). The
GSEs use LLPAs to effectively charge borrowers more for their
mortgage if they think the borrowers present a higher risk of
default. For instance, a borrower with a slightly lower FICO score
and a low down payment will pay a substantially higher interest
rate for their loan than other borrowers.
Of the approximately 6.5 million Hispanic owner households in
2012, more than 2.5 million (39 percent), made a down payment of
5 percent or less, as compared to 29 percent for all U.S.
households. The improving housing market and economic
conditions recently prompted the FHA to reduce its mortgage
insurance premiums by 50 basis points. In 2014, Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac announced that they would be reintroducing a
conventional 3 percent down payment option. While these moves
are intended to make nancing options more available to sidelined

buyers, the GSEs will likely have to take additional steps to

increase access to credit by reducing LLPAs and g-fees.

2012 HISPANIC AND U.S. DOWN PAYMENT AMOUNTS

39%

29%

HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS

ALL U.S HOUSEHOLDS

DOWN PAYMENT NOT GREATER THAN

5%

Origin: US Census Bureau

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Lack of Affordable Homes

Top Hispanic real estate agents continue to rank inventory
shortages in many markets as a primary barrier for prospective
Hispanic homebuyers. One reason for this shortage is that a
substantial number of homes across the U.S. are vacant but not
on the market.21 About 2 million of these homes are in some state
of the foreclosure process. Investors have also converted
thousands of formerly owner-occupied homes into rentals.
Additionally, while condominiums have traditionally served the
homeownership needs of entry-level buyers in many markets,
rising prices and enhanced nancing restrictions have made it
more difcult for many Hispanics in California and Florida to
purchase them.
Negative equity is another reason for inventory shortages in
markets like Nevada, Florida, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. A RealtyTrac report estimates that slightly more than seven million

homes nationwide have negative equity.22 While new investor

activity reduced substantially in 2014 rst time buyers still had
difculty competing with investors who were able to purchase
properties with all cash.

Knowledge Gaps and

Professional Infrastructure
Many prospective Hispanic homebuyers lack accurate information
about the home buying process. Language barriers and limited
experience can exacerbate an already complicated process. It is
generally believed that the number of Hispanics or culturally
competent individuals employed in counseling, real estate and the
mortgage industries are much lower that what is needed in the
market. This is especially true in markets in the South and the
Midwest where Hispanic population surges have occurred
only recently.

[ Section 4 ]

Consumer Attitudes and Preferences

Fannie Mae National
Housing Survey
Fannie Maes National Housing Survey reports detailed attitudinal
feedback from consumers regarding their perspective on issues
related to the housing industry. Results from their 2014 survey
indicate Hispanics hold an optimistic economic outlook but have
reservations about buying a home because of tight credit conditions:
Most Hispanics (58 percent) say they expect their personal
nancial situation to improve, despite the fact that only a third
of them say the economy is on the right track
Nearly half of all Hispanics (48 percent) say this is a good time
to buy a home.
Two-thirds of Hispanics state that they would likely buy a home
rather than rent if they were going to move. A majority of Hispanics
prefer homeownership to renting and are largely motivated by the
quality of life benets they associate with homeownership.
At 93 percent, Hispanics prefer owning a home as a good
place for the family, to raise children, and to achieve control
over ones living space

2014

At 86 percent as the best way to achieve feeling engaged in

the community
At 84 percent, as the best way to build up wealth and as the
best investment

Hispanic Millennials and Other

First-Time Buyers
Hispanics account for more than one in ve Millennials in the
country. While they share many traits of non-Hispanic Millennials,
they diverge in some notable areas.
Seventy percent of Hispanic Millennials indicate having a personal
relationship with their bank is important, as compared to 65
percent of non-Hispanic Millennials. They reference innovation,
community engagement, and availability of nancial education as
important features when selecting a nancial institution.23
Although more than 40 percent of Hispanic Millennials are bilingual,

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

Hispanic Millennials and Other First-Time Buyers

are bilingual, only 11 percent consider Spanish-language services
an important factor when choosing a nancial institution. 24
On average, they have lower debt levels ($10,000 less than
non-Hispanic Millennials). A large percentage of Hispanic Millennials
(45 percent) live with their parents, and 22 percent contribute to
paying half of household costs (compared to 9 percent of
non-Hispanic Millennials). 25
While Hispanic Millennials note a desire to own a home, only 21
percent indicate near term plans to obtain a mortgage. When
asked why, 46 percent cite affordability as an impediment to
homeownership, in contrast with non-Hispanic Millennials

(37 percent). Another 32 percent indicate they have insufcient

savings for a down payment, in contrast with 23 percent of
non-Hispanics.26 These results suggest an opportunity for lenders
to educate this population segment regarding down payment
requirements and the overall affordability of homeownership.
Renters with means are an acknowledged population of potential
homeowners. In 2013, there were 2.8 million Hispanic renter
households (36 percent) earning over $40,000, 1.5 million (19
percent) earning over $60,000, and more than 400,000 (5 percent)
earning over $100,000. This data indicates that 24 percent of
Hispanics currently renting earn incomes that are at or above the
median income for rst-time homeowners.

[ Section 5 ]

Unique Hispanic Segments and Consumer Nuances

Hispanic Mobile Purchasing Trends
In 2014, U.S. Hispanic spending via mobile devices (smartphone
and/or tablet) reached $10.1 billion annually. Annual mobile
spending per-capita over the past year was $313 among Hispanics,
compared to $253 among non-Hispanics.27 While the consumer
spend alone is signicant, their engagement patterns differentiate
Hispanics from other consumer segments. For example, Hispanics
are more likely than non-Hispanics to have mobile buying
decisions influenced by online product reviews, product ratings by
experts, social media ads, and videos about products.
In terms of mobile device usage, recent Nielsen research indicates
72 percent of Hispanics own smartphones and use them to
access multi-media28 More than 70 percent of Hispanics access
Facebook via a mobile device, with Latinas (76 percent) engaging
more frequently through this medium. Online video streaming has
also emerged as a primary consumption source for Hispanics.
Most (84 percent) younger Hispanics access YouTube via a mobile
device. Based on their high usage of subscription and
non-subscription streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and
YouTube, mobile video must be a core component of any
marketing strategy aimed at effectively reaching Latinos.

2014 ANNUAL MOBILE SPENDING

$253

NON HISPANIC

10

2014

Higher-Income Latinos
The fteen million higher-income Latinos, earning $50-100K
annually, comprise 29 percent of the U.S. Hispanic population and
contribute $500 billion (nearly 40 percent) in spending power.
Their impact to the U.S. economy is projected to reach $680 billion
in 2016. Since 2002, the total number of higher-income Latinos
increased steadily and by 2010 had doubled. By 2050, they will
account for 35 million of the total U.S. Hispanic population.
Higher-income Latinos are avid technology users. More than two
thirds of them spend $1,000 or more a year in online shopping.
According to Monica Gil, Senior Vice President Nielsen, one of the
most compelling attributes of this cross-segment is their consistent
level of optimism about safety, well-being, and wealth creation.
This optimism, condence, and increased spending make this
segment an imperative to the U.S. economy and prestige brands." 29

HIGHER-INCOME LATINOS

29%

$ 100,000
$ 50,000

OF HISPANICS

$313
HISPANIC

$500 BILLION IN SPENDING POWER

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ Section 6 ]

The Economic Impact of Immigration Reform on Homeownership

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University
estimates the economic contributions of the 11 million
undocumented immigrants in the U.S. could be a signicant relief
to the nations housing recovery if they were legally integrated into
the U.S. economy. Historically, immigrants have played an important
role in housing, especially during the last two decades. Since 1994,
immigrants have accounted for about one third of net new household
formations. In 2014, immigrants owned 11.2 percent of all owner
occupied homes, up from 6.8 percent in 1994, accounting for 27.5
percent of owner household growth over this period.30 The
Research Institute of America forecasts that by 2020 Hispanic
immigrants will achieve a 50 percent rate of homeownership.

like: Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, St. Louis,

and Lansing, Michigan have all implemented program initiatives to
appeal to immigrant workers.

President Obamas recent Executive Action defers deportation for

three years for people who came to the U.S. as children and for
parents of children who are citizens or legal permanent residents.
It is also expected to raise the wages of undocumented
immigrants by eight to nine percent. 31

IF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BOUGHT HOMES

NAHREP calculates that if three million undocumented immigrants

were to buy homes, $500 billion in real estate transactions and an
additional $233 billion in origination fees, real estate commissions,
home improvements and related consumer spending could be
generated over the next ve years. Home purchases by newly
legalized immigrants have the potential to create an additional
$180 billion in indirect consumer spending based on the average
$60,000 in associated purchases estimated by the National
Association of Realtors.32
The Bipartisan Policy Center observes that immigration reform
may accelerate growth in the housing sector through increased
demand for housing units. It estimates immigration reform would
increase spending on residential construction by an average of
$68 billion annually over a 20-year period.
Jacob Vigdor, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Duke
University, estimates that the 40 million immigrants in the U.S.
were responsible for a $3.7 trillion increase to U.S. housing over
the past decade. Undocumented immigrants living in the United
States for 10 years or longer achieved a 45 percent homeownership rate in 2008. According to Vigdor, attracting 100,000 new
immigrants per year would grow U.S. housing wealth by $80
billion annually.
Several cities in the U.S. have carried out programs to attract more
immigrants in order to revive their local economies, stabilize
declining communities in rural and metropolitan areas, and
mitigate the losses of jobs and population. In the Midwest in cities

2014

The Bipartisan Policy Center expects immigration reform to

expand the U.S. labor force by 8.4 million, grow the nations economy
by an additional 4.8 percent, and reduce cumulative federal decits
by nearly $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years. GDP growth is
estimated between $83 and $150 billion yearly, with immigrant
worker contributions between $10,000 and $17,000 annually
per-capita.

2020

+
2015

$500 BILLION $233 BILLION

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

FEES AND OTHER SPENDING

IMMIGRATION REFORM & RESIDENTIAL

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING

$68

BILLION
ANNUALLY

OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS

IMMIGRATION REFORM & INDIRECT

CONSUMER SPENDING

$60,000

PER HOUSEHOLD
AVERAGE

TOTAL CONSUMER
SPENDING

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

$180 BILLION

11

[ Section 7 ]
Conclusions

The primary indicators for Hispanic homeownership growth,

including household formations, income and consumer attitudes,
were uniformly positive. Top producing Hispanic real estate agents
reported that tight credit combined with affordability gaps prevented
2014 from being stronger for Hispanic homebuyers. The effects of
new regulations designed to provide stronger consumer protection
have clearly had an impact on credit availability especially for rst
time buyers though it is not yet clear in what capacity. The
pendulum, however, appears to be slowly moving back toward the
center. In the past few months, FHA began the process of rolling
back increases to Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP), in order to
begin stimulating more buyer activity. After posting several
consecutive protable quarters, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have
begun refocusing on their duty to serve affordable markets.
Mortgage lenders also seem to be more willing to lend more

aggressively as several lenders lowered their minimum credit

score requirements. While Hispanics remain poised to drive
homeownership growth for the next several decades, with only a
few exceptions there is little evidence that the industry as a whole
has done much to address the unique nuances of many Hispanic
homebuyers.
Despite a myriad of challenges, interest rates remain low and the
economy continues to improve - prompting the top Latino real
estate agents in the country to predict that 2015 will be exceptionally
strong for Hispanic homeownership. The business opportunities
remain enormous for mortgage lenders, real estate companies
and builders who develop relevant products and viable sales and
distribution strategies for the wave of Hispanic homebuyers.

consistent access to reasonably priced, low down

payment mortgages

an increase in affordable housing inventory

Hispanic
Homeownership
Growth
Depends On

improved access to homebuyer education

and counseling

balanced consumer protection laws

public policy that favors homeownership outcomes

a more diverse and culturally competent

housing workforce

12

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ End Notes ]
1

NAR Generational Survey: Millennials Lead All Buyers, Most Likely to Use Real Estate Agent. National Association
of REALTORS, 11 March 2015. Web.
<http://www.realtor.org/news-releases/2015/03/nar-generational-survey-millennials-lead-all-buyers-most-likely-to-use-real-estate-agent>.

Hispanic Millennial Project. Sensis, Think Now Research, and Cultural Outreach Solutions, 2013. PDF le.
<http://aws.sensisagency.com/hmp_wave_1_nal.pdf>.

U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanic Americans by the Numbers. Infoplease. Web.

Krogstad, Jens Manual. A view of the future through kindergarten demographics. FactTank: News in the Numbers.
Pew Research Center, 8 July 2014. Web.

<http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html>.

<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/08/a-view-of-the-future-through-kindergarten-demographics/>.

Ibid.

ElBoghdady, Dina. Could Obamas immigration initiative boost the housing market? Wonkblog. The Washington
Post, 21 November 2014. Web.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/21/is-immigration-reform-the-housing-markets-big-hope/>.

Homeownership Rate Gap Between Immigrants and the Native-Born Population Narrowed Faster During the Last
Decade. Fannie Mae Housing Insights, 4.5. Fannie Mae, 25 August 2014. PDF le.
<http://www.fanniemae.com/resources/le/research/datanotes/pdf/housing-insights-082514.pdf>.

Mundra, Kusum and Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere. Immigrant Homeownership during the Great Recession and Beyond:
Role of Birth Networks. Rutgers University, 14 June 2014. PDF le.
<http://kmundra.newark.rutgers.edu/les/2014/06/MundraOyelereImmigrantHomeownershipBirthNetworksJune_14_2014.pdf>.

Lerner, Lawrence. Professor Looks at How Immigrants Weathered the Housing Bust Better Than Others Rutgers
University, 19 March 2015. Web.
<https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/news/professor-looks-how-immigrants-weathered-housing-bust-better-others>

10

Herbert, Christopher E., McCue, Daniel T., and Rocio Sanchez-Moyano. Is Homeownership Still an Effective Means of
Building Wealth for Low-income and Minority Households? (Was it Ever?). Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard
University September 2013. PDF le. <http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/jchs.harvard.edu/les/hbtl-06.pdf>.

11

DeNavas-Walt, Carmen and Bernadette D. Proctor. Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013. United States
Census Bureau: September 2014. PDF le.
<http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf>.

12

Hispanic Businesses and Entrepreneurs Drive Growth in the New Economy. U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and
Geoscape, 2014. PDF le. <http://www.geoscape.com/HBR/pdf/Geoscape_HispanicBusinessOwners_FINAL.pdf>.

13

Krogstad, Jens Manual and Richard Fry. More Hispanics, blacks enrolling in college, but lag in bachelors degrees
Pew Research Center. 24 April 2014. Web.
<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/24/more-hispanics-blacks-enrolling-in-college-but-lag-in-bachelors-degrees/>

14

Ibid.

15

A Fresh View of Hispanic Consumers. Insights. The Neilsen Company, 15 April 2014. Web.
<http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2014/a-fresh-view-of-hispanic-consumers.html>.

16

Collins, Brian. Incoming MBA Chair Sets Sights on Attracting First-Time Buyers. National Mortgage News, 3
November 2014. Web.
<http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/origination/incomng-mba-chair-sets-sights-on-attracting-rst-time-buyers-1043043-1.html>.

17

Report to the Congress on Credit Scoring and Its Effects on the Availability and Affordability of Credit. Federal Reserve
Board: August 2007. Web.
<http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/rptcongress/creditscore/executivesummary.htm>.

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

13

[ End Notes ]
18

Goodman, Laurie, Zhu, Jun Zhu and Taz George. Where Have all the Loans Gone? The Impact of Credit Availability on
Mortgage Volume. Urban Institute, 13 March 2015. PDF le.
<http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/413052-where-have-all-the-loans-gone.pdf>.

19

Lane, Ben. Urban Institute: Qualied Mortgage Impact Overblow. New Rules have only slightly slowed mortgage
lending. Housingwire. 21 August 2014. Web.
<http://www.housingwire.com/articles/31125-urban-institute-qm-impact-is-overblown>

20

Ibid.

21

Kolko, Jed. All Those Vacant Homes. Trulia Trends. Trulia, 6 November 2013. Web.
<http://www.trulia.com/trends/2013/11/vacancy-rate/>.

22

Blomquist, Daren. Seriously Underwater Properties Decrease by 2.2 Million in 2014, Down 5.8 Million From Peak
Negative Equity in Q2 2012 RealtyTrac. 21 January 2015. Web.
<http://www.realtytrac.com/news/mortgage-and-nance/year-end-2014-underwater-home-equity-report/>

23

Hispanic Millennial Project. Sensis, Think Now Research, and Cultural Outreach Solutions, 2013. PDF le.
<http://aws.sensisagency.com/hmp_wave_3_nancial_Feb15.pdf>.

24

Ibid.

25
26

Ibid, Hispanic Millennial Project. Wave 1.

27

Hispanic Mobile Purchasing Trends Report. Zpryme and ThinkNow Research, December 2014. Web.

28

The Digital Consumer Report. Nielsen. February 2014. Web.

Ibid, Hispanic Millennial Project. Wave 3.

<http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2014/the-us-digital-consumer-report.html>

29

Oleaga, Michael. Upscale Latinos Contribute 40 Percent of Hispanics Trillion Dollar Spending Power, Says Report
Latinpost. 30 April 2014. Web.
<http://www.latinpost.com/articles/11510/20140430/upscale-latinos-contribute-40-percent-hispanics-trillion-dollar-spending-power.htm>

30

Masnick, George. 11+ Million Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S. Could Be Important for the Housing Recovery.
Housing Perspectives. Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University: 5 January 2015. Web.
<http://housingperspectives.blogspot.com/2015/01/11-million-undocumented-immigrants-in.html>.

31

ElBoghdady, Dina. Could Obamas immigration initiative boost the housing market? Wonkblog. The Washington
Post, 21 November 2014. Web.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/21/is-immigration-reform-the-housing-markets-big-hope/>.

32

Bauman, Susana C. Five Economic Issues Could benet U.S. Latinos and the Economy in 2014. VOXXI, 18 January
2014. Web. <http://voxxi.com/2014/01/18/economic-issues-benet-us-latinos/>.

33

Immigration Reform: Implications for Growth, Budgets, and Housing. Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2013:
Page 7. PDF le.
<http://bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/les/BPC_Immigration_Economic_Impact.pdf>.

34

Vigdor, Jacob L. Immigration and the Revival of American Cities: From Preserving Manufacturing Jobs to Strengthening
the Housing Market. Americas Society/Council of the Americas, September 2013. PDF le.
<http://www.renewoureconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/revival-of-american-cities.pdf>.

14

35

CAP Immigration Team. The Facts on Immigration Today. Center for American Progress, 23 October 2014. Web.

36

Preston, Julia. Ailing Midwestern Cities Extend a Welcoming Hand to Immigrants New York Times. 6 October 2013.
Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/07/us/ailing-cities-extend-hand-to-immigrants.html?_r=0>

37

Ibid, Bipartisan Policy Center, Pg. 24.

<https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/>.

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

[ Appendix ]
NAHREP Agent Survey
NAHREP conducted a nationwide survey of the top Latino agents in the U.S. during Q1 2015.
100 total agents participated.
Top Agents averaged 83 transactions in 2014.

Q.

Rank the following barriers to Hispanic homeownership in order of significance with 1 being the
most significant barrier and five being the least significant:

1. Access to Credit
2. Affordability
3. Down Payment
4. Inventory
5. Lack of information about the home buying process

Q.

As compared to 2014 Hispanic homebuyer activity, do you expect 2015 to be:

65%
31%
4%

Stronger
About the Same
Weaker

Q.

What do you consider to be the most significant housing news of the past year?

Reduction of FHA premiums

Historic low interest rates
Major reductions in foreclosure and short sale activity
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increasing maximum LTV to 97 percent
Appointment of Julian Castro as HUD Secretary

Q.

What percentage of your clients are Hispanic?

11%
27%
62%

Less than 30%

30% - 50%
More than 50%

Q.

35%
34%
15%
9%
7%

As compared to 2014, are you seeing an increase in the number of buyers ages 24 35 years old?

65%
26%
9%

Yes
About the same
No

2014

STATE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

15

2 01 5

POLICY
POSITIONS

591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 720

San Diego, CA 92108
TEL: 858-622-9046 FAX: 619-719-4899
www.nahrep.org

Overview
The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) annually reevaluates its
position on a number of key policy issues which have a direct impact on the Associations ability to accomplish
its mission. In 2015, the renewal of affordable housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) is of
such critical near term importance that NAHREP is compelled to issue this Call to Action to regulators and
policymakers.
An executive summary of NAHREPs Call to Action and Policy Priorities are listed below:

2015 CALL TO ACTION

RENEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS
Last year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) proposed new and higher affordable housing goals for
the GSEs that would apply during years 2015 2017. The proposed goals must be nalized as soon as
possible in order to appropriately address the needs of rst-time and other underserved markets.
In 2013, data from the federal government shows that Hispanic mortgage applicants experienced denial rates
for conforming loans at twice the rate of their white counterparts: 22 percent for Hispanics and 11 percent for
whites. Disproportionate denials for conforming GSE loans force Hispanic borrowers into loan programs
where the costs may be higher than a GSE conforming loan. In some cases, creditworthy borrowers are denied
access to homeownership, further broadening the wealth gap.
Homeownership is broadly understood to be the engine behind small business formation and wealth creation.
When the government is engaged in the mortgage industry, it should be for the purpose of serving a need not
adequately served by the private market.

POLICY PRIORITY
ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR HOMEBUYERS
Narrow denitions of creditworthiness make it especially difcult for minority and rst-time borrowers to qualify
for and obtain a mortgage. Government regulators should address market factors that are restricting access to
credit for minority borrowers.

POLICY PRIORITY
INVENTORY DISPOSITION
To ensure community development and opportunities to build generational wealth in Hispanic and other diverse
communities through owner-occupied homeownership, the laws, regulations and business practices associated
with single-family property REO disposition should provide ample opportunity for sales to Owner Occupants
BEFORE making the property available for sale to investors.

POLICY PRIORITY
IMMIGRATION REFORM

2 015

POLICY
POSITIONS

Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform to provide permanent legal status to the 11.2 million
undocumented individuals who already live and work in the U.S. Immigration reform is needed to allow these
immigrants to fully participate in the economy, including homeownership. This reform should include
provisions for addressing a pathway to citizenship, deportation relief, and immigrant and non-immigrant
work visas.

17

Call to Action

Renew Affordable Housing Goals for

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

Overview
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is required by law to establish affordable housing goals for
single-family and multifamily mortgages purchased by the two Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs),
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The goals established by the FHFA fall into the following categories

Single-family purchase goal for

1.
2.
3.
4.

low income families;

families residing in low income areas;
very low income families;
mortgages for families residing in low income census tracts or for moderate income
families in minority census tracts;
5. renancing of mortgages for low income families;

Multifamily goals inclusive of

6. a purchase goal for the purchase of multifamily loans affordable to low income families;
and
7. a subgoal for the purchase of multifamily loans to very low income families.
Last set in 2012, Affordable Housing Goals expired at the end of 2014 and the GSEs are currently operating
without consideration of specic goals for serving underserved markets.
The FHFA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on September 11, 2014 that
would set the affordable housing goals for 2015 through 2017. The proposed rule would update the
benchmark levels for each of the individual housing goal categories and would also establish a new housing
subgoal for small multifamily properties that are affordable to low income families. The comment period
closed on October 28, 2014 and the agency received close to 150 comments from advocacy organizations,
trade associations, private citizens, and academic institutions. The FHFA has not yet issued a nal rule with
the new goals.

Why is this a concern?

A September 2014 analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data by the Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council observed that in 2013, Hispanic mortgage applicants experienced denial
rates for conforming loans at twice the rate of their white counterparts: 22 percent for Hispanics and 11
percent for whites. The data also revealed that Hispanic borrowers received just 7.3 percent of all purchase
mortgage originations in 2013, despite the fact that Hispanics represent 17 percent of the U.S. population.
Disproportionate denials for conforming GSE loans force Hispanic borrowers into FHA and VA loan programs
where the costs may be higher than a GSE conforming loan. Even more concerning, some creditworthy
borrowers are denied access to homeownership, further broadening the wealth gap.
Homeownership is broadly understood to be the engine behind small business formation and wealth creation.
When the government is engaged in the mortgage industry, it should be for the purpose of serving a need not
adequately served by the private market.

NAHREP Policy Recommendation:

The affordable housing goals must be sufciently high in order to address the disparity in lending to minority
groups. The goals proposed by the FHFA are a step in the right direction and NAHREP urges the agency to
implement the proposed affordable housing goals for 2015 through 2017 as soon as possible.

2015

POLICY
POSITIONS

18

Policy Priority

Access to Credit for Homebuyers

Overview
Since the onset of the nancial crisis and mortgage meltdown, borrowers have been required to overcome
increasingly stringent credit standards in order to qualify for a home loan. Narrow denitions of creditworthiness make it especially difcult for minority and rst-time borrowers to qualify for and obtain a mortgage. In
this environment of tight credit, government support of the mortgage market provided by the FHA, VA, USDA,
and Ginnie Mae is critical in providing Hispanic consumers with access to affordable credit. The GSEs also
play a crucial role in the U.S. housing nance system by facilitating a secondary market and connecting
domestic and global capital to the U.S. housing nance market.
While the housing market and economy are on a path to recovery, we must protect government programs
from efforts to diminish their role in the affordable housing market and seek additional avenues to improve
access to affordable housing. Congress should take whatever action is necessary to ensure the government
programs have the resources and support necessary to continue their affordable housing activities.

Why is this a concern?

Government regulators should address market factors that are restricting access to credit for minority borrowers.
1. Credit Scoring Models: Traditional credit scoring models, like the widely used Fair Isaac
Corporation (FICO) model, produce individual borrower credit scores that help lenders and
investors determine if a borrower is a good risk and at what price. Traditional models generally do
not capture transactions outside the conventional banking payment systems. This omission puts
unbanked borrowers at a disadvantage, since their good payment history using cash
transactions are not considered in their credit score.
2. Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPA) and Guarantee Fees: The GSEs use LLPAs and Guarantee
fees to effectively charge borrowers more for their mortgage if the GSEs think there is a higher risk
of default. For instance, a borrower with a below average FICO score and a low down payment will
pay a substantially higher interest rate for their GSE loan than other borrowers. This approach has
a disproportionately harmful impact on rst-time and low income borrowers. In addition, housing
market and economic conditions have improved to the point where LLPAs and Guarantee fees are
now punitively high. The FHA recognized that and recently reduced its annual mortgage insurance
premium by 50 basis points.
3. Representation and Warranty: Originators remain concerned about representation and warranty
liability and litigation risk from their participation in the governments various mortgage programs.
As a result, many originators have adopted underwriting overlays that are more stringent than the
governments underwriting standards. The overlays make it much harder for minority borrowers to
qualify for a loan.

NAHREP Policy Recommendation:

Alternative credit scoring models (other than FICO) may provide for additional extension of credit
to millions of consumers in a safe and sustainable manner. Entities extending credit should be
required to use best in class credit evaluation tools, including alternatives like Vantage Score, that
are determined to be safe, sound, fair and responsible.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should eliminate LLPAs and introduce more cross-subsidization into
its Guarantee fee structure, given the unfair impact of imperfect credit scoring models, the strong
credit performance of their mortgages, and their affordable housing mission. Alternatively, LLPAs
should be reduced across the board by at least 50 basis points, similar to the FHA reduction.

19

NAHREP: Policy Issue

Inventory Disposition

Overview
The Census Bureau reported at the end of 2010 that there were approximately 10 million single-family
VACANT residential properties in America. Essentially, America was on sale. But unfortunately, many
prospective single-family owner occupants were not able to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon,
because an abundance of these properties were sold to institutional investors or absentee landlords for cash.
The traditional single-family owner occupant (often rst-time) homebuyer simply never had a chance to buy
these properties as their bids that in almost every case required nancing were passed over for cash offers
and more rapid closings. This situation resulted in less available inventory in many areas in the U.S. and also
resulted in severe increases in rents due to a shortage of inventory making homeownership unattainable for
those traditional single-family owner occupant buyers. This problem manifested itself through the general
listing of property for sale, bank sales of REO inventory, FHA sale of foreclosures, and Fannie and Freddie sale
of property.

Why is this a concern?

Single-family property REO disposition strategies that prioritize opportunity to absentee investors
disenfranchise Hispanics who currently represent 50 percent of the net homeownership growth in the U.S. and
are projected to increase to more than 55 percent by 2020.
To ensure community development and opportunities to build generational wealth in Hispanic and other
diverse communities through owner-occupied homeownership, the laws, regulations and business practices
associated with single-family REO property disposition should provide ample opportunity for sales to Owner
Occupants BEFORE making the property available for sale to investors.

NAHREP Policy Recommendation:

FHA and the GSEs should implement a First Look period of no less than 90 days from the listing
of the property for sale. This First Look period allows sufcient time for prospective owner
occupants to participate in purchasing available properties and still allows investors an opportunity
to acquire properties on the open market.
The FHA and the GSEs should only utilize asset disposition strategies that include strong
provisions designed to maximize the opportunity for owner occupants to keep or purchase a home.
For example, the FHFA recently implemented a distressed loan sale program with provisions
designed to help borrowers remain in their home through modied loan terms, or in the case of
vacant homes, prioritize a sale to an owner occupant. The FHA should include similar provisions in
any distressed loan sale program, and all loan sale programs should be periodically evaluated for
effectiveness and possible further enhancements.

2015

POLICY
POSITIONS

20

Policy Issue:

NAHREP Calls for Lawmakers to Pass

Immigration Reform
Overview
While the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. has stabilized over the past few years, 11.2 million
undocumented individuals remain in the U.S. without permanent status. This gure has remained relatively
stable since 2012 and represents nearly 4 percent of the overall U.S. population. The vast majority of these
undocumented immigrants are Hispanic, with more than 50 percent coming from Mexico.
In the last Congress, the Senate passed a bill for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. However, a companion
bill was stalled in the House with little likelihood of being brought up for a vote, despite strong public sentiment
to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. While NAHREP is generally supportive of the Presidents
Immigration Accountability Executive Action which should provide a temporary reprieve from deportation for
nearly 5 million undocumented individuals, these immigrants remain without permanent status and unable to
fully contribute to the economy.

Why is this a concern?

Pew Research Center estimates indicate that 5.1 percent of the U.S. labor force is comprised of unauthorized
immigrants. They pay taxes, purchase goods, and generate housing expenditures. However, they often must
do so at a higher cost, existing in a shadow economy where they are at risk of being exploited due to
their status.
NAHREP has calculated that if three million undocumented immigrants were to buy homes, $500 billion in real
estate transactions and an additional $233 billion in origination fees, real estate commissions, and related
consumer spending would be generated over the next ve years. These estimates are based on previous
homeownership rates among foreign-born households. In 2011, for example, 52 percent of foreign-born
householders owned their homes. Home purchases by newly legalized immigrants would generate an
additional $180 billion in indirect consumer spending based on the average $60,000 in associated purchases
estimated by the National Association of Realtors.
The impact of immigration reform on Hispanic homeownership would be felt in states with large Hispanic
populations, including California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois, Texas, New York, and New
Jersey. Hispanic homeownership would also signicantly increase in states that have been experiencing the
greatest population growth within the past decade, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and
other states in the South.

NAHREP Policy Recommendation:

Deportation Relief: Until a permanent resolution exists for the 11.2 million undocumented individuals
in the U.S, deportation relief must be an active component of any executive action or piece of
legislation.
Immigrant Visas: Current visa caps are antiquated and do not address the backlog of legitimate
requests to immigrate to the country, as well as legitimize unauthorized persons already in the
country. Reforms should provide status for undocumented immigrants and address the current
backlog of family and employment-based visa applications.
Non-immigrant visas: Work related visas and guest worker programs should be an essential
element to an overall reform package. The explicit inclusion of legal residency would enable
qualication for various nancial instruments, including mortgages, further aiding the
housing recovery.
Pathway to Citizenship: A permanent solution that enables those who seek status and choose to
become U.S citizens.

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STATE OF HISPANIC
HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 720

San Diego, CA 92108
TEL: 858-622-9046 FAX: 619-719-4899
www.nahrep.org