Carlette Duffy, a black woman from Indianapolis, decided to take advantage of the housing boom in 2020 to refinance her home and purchase her grandparents’ house close by. So when she got her home appraised, the value went up by over $100,000 by hiding her identity. Carlette removed all evidence that she’s black from her home, put away family photos, and didn’t specify her race on her new appraisal forms.
Black Woman Carlette also had a white man seated in her home amid the appraisal so that the company would think it was him who owned the house.
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“I took down every photo of my family from my house. I took every piece of ethnic artwork out.” Carlette told Fox 50 News. She added: “I got choked up even thinking about it now because I was so excited and so happy, and then I was so angry that I had to go through all of that just to be treated fairly.” This revelation emerged after Carlette heard Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) Executive Director Amy Nelson spoke to a community group about racism in home appraisals. She thoroughly read the issue and decided to determine if racism was the main reason for her low appraisals.She planned to use the equity to purchase her grandparents’ home close by.
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In particular, Carlette had bought the home for $100,000 in 2017. Even though it was completely renovated after a fire, her valuations had returned at $125,000 and $110,000, leaving her with very little equity. “When I challenged it, it came back that the appraiser said they’re not changing it,” Carlette explained. For her latest appraisal, Carlette observed that the comps or comparable home that companies used to determine the value of her home changed with the third appraisal. The first two used houses in historically Black neighborhoods that were over a mile away, and the third used houses nearby that were similar to hers. The black woman used the third appraisal to get a loan and bought her grandparents’ a home.With a house value up to $100K, Carlette decided to determine if racism was the main reason for her previous low appraisals.
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But then, she isn’t giving up on getting answers. So far, Carlette has filed complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with assistance from the FHCCI, alleging discrimination. “I’m doing this for my daughter, and I’m doing this for my granddaughter so that when they come against obstacles, they will know that you can stand up; you can say that is not right,” Carlette explained.The black woman filed complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with assistance from the FHCCI, alleging discrimination.
However, according to The New York Times, Black Americans often struggle more than their white counterparts to be approved for home loans, and the specter of redlining continues to drive down home values in black neighborhoods. Even though home appraisers are bound by the fair housing act of 1968 not to discriminate, it didn’t work for Carlette.
The Home Valuation Has Gone Viral And Here’s How People Have Since Reacted:
