Measuring Housing Discrimination: Findings from Innovative Methods and Future Directions

2M Research will be holding a final briefing for the HDS Innovative Methodology Project on December 5, 2024 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM.

The final briefing will include presentations from three research teams describing their innovative methodologies for researching housing discrimination and results.

Discrimination in Refinance Appraisals

Co-PIs: Dr. Luis Lopez, Dr. Moussa Diop, Dr. Brent Ambrose, Dr. James Conklin, and Dr. Edward Coulson

Researchers use FHA mortgage refinance data to test whether the race of the borrower or appraiser affects the difference between the appraised value of the home and an estimate of the home value based on Automated Valuation Models.

Hidden Biases: Selective Advertising in the Rental Housing Market

Co-PIs: Daniel Gold, Dr. Lu Han, and Dr. Christopher Timmins

Researchers use data from Dwellsy, a rental listing platform, to identify properties that contain listed and selectively unlisted units. The researchers link this information with data from InfoUSA to determine the race of individuals that move into listed and unlisted units that turnover in the past year. Next, the researchers use statistical models to test whether race affects the likelihood of moving into a listed or unlisted rental unit. Further analysis measures the degree to which this form of discrimination steers minority renters into neighborhoods with lower-quality amenities.

Discriminatory Lending Practices

Co-PIs: Dr. Sherri Smith and Dr. Errol Williams

Researchers use mortgage data from MLS and HMDA to test whether the race of the borrower affects the time to close and cost to close on mortgage loans and discuss how this form of discrimination exists in Houston area.

After the presentations an expert panel will discuss the methods and their potential applications for future research on housing discrimination and enforcement of fair housing laws. This briefing is open to virtual attendance from the public and will include time for Q&A from the audience.

Additional Information

Thursday, December 5, 2024
1:00 pm-5:00 pm EST
Virtual Event