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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

Waters sends letter to HUD and others regarding appraisal bias

Federal Issues House Financial Services Committee HUD Appraisal Fair Lending Discrimination

Federal Issues

On February 22, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee Maxine Waters (D-CA) sent a letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, the Appraisal Subcommittee, the Appraisal Foundation, and the Appraisal Institute regarding appraisal bias and discrimination. The letter, among other things, urged federal regulators and the Appraisal Institute to investigate appraiser misconduct and the possibility of illegal discrimination and highlighted “longstanding racial inequities plaguing America’s home valuation system, particularly in Black-majority communities and other communities of color,” according to the press release. In the letter, Waters noted that during her time with the House Financial Services Committee, the committee has “paid special attention to the racial inequities that continue to plague America’s home valuation system, including through home appraisals, despite the passage of anti-discrimination laws.” She further pointed to “qualitative research” from the National Fair Housing Alliance to shed light on “the ways in which individual appraisers and the appraisal profession help perpetuate systemic and overt racism, highlighting statements made by appraisers as well as policies and practices that continue to be upheld by an appraisal profession that is 97% White.” The letter also provided excerpts from an appraiser’s email as an example of discriminatory practices, in which Waters asserted, “shines a spotlight on the racist stereotypes and harmful lines of thinking prevalent in an industry which systematically devalues the homes of Black people and other people of color.” Waters noted that she will be drafting legislation “to address systemic appraisal discrimination,” recommended that the recipients of her letter conduct pertinent investigations, and urged them to respond to her letter accordingly. Waters also disclosed that the House Financial Services Committee “will convene hearings, advance legislation, and continue working with stakeholders to end housing discrimination and hold the appraisal industry fully accountable.”