Civil rights groups warn private listings could widen housing inequities

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), about 90% of home sellers in the United States are white. That demographic disparity reflects a complicated history. For much of the 20th century, redlining, racial covenants, and other race-based practices, as well as unequal access to credit, prevented millions of families of color from becoming homeowners. In 2024, there were more than 32,000 reported acts of housing discrimination in our country — showing that discrimination in housing remains a present-day problem, not merely a feature of the past. Consider the following: The median age of a home seller is 24 years older than the median age of a first-time homebuyer. America’s first-time homebuyers are roughly three times more likely to come from communities of color than the owners of those properties. The average net worth of a homeowner is 43 times the average net worth of a renter. These demographic realities show that any policy changes that favor sellers over buyers, effectively favor much older, less diverse, and considerably wealthier communities. Thoughtful industry change is needed At a time when homeownership has become increasingly difficult for millions of A...