SEATTLE – Most people say they have experienced housing discrimination, with younger generations, renters, LGBTQ+ people and people of color more likely to say fair housing is an issue facing them and their families, according to a recent Zillow survey of 26 major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Although fair housing laws — which ensure equal and nondiscriminatory access to housing — have been in place for nearly 60 years, discrimination remains a stubborn factor in housing, Zillow’s latest Housing Aspirations Report shows.
The survey found a majority of respondents (57%) reported experiencing some kind of housing discrimination, with groups such as LGBTQ+ populations reporting discrimination at higher rates. However, overall, only 42% of respondents reported that fair housing impacts them or their families, highlighting how much work is needed to continue to educate people about their rights under fair housing laws.
“April is Fair Housing Month, and this research shows how far we have to go to make housing fair and accessible for all,” said Manny Garcia, senior population scientist at Zillow. “Over half of respondents report experiencing housing discrimination. Fair housing issues are more likely to be top of mind for younger generations, likely attributable to their higher likelihood of moving, renting and buying a home more frequently than older generations, given their current stage of life.”
Seventy percent of respondents agreed that owning a home is necessary to achieve the American dream, and nearly 80% reported that owning a home is critical to building and passing on generational wealth. However, exclusionary housing policies and practices, plus a tight supply of housing and a variety of other factors, have prevented aspiring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) homeowners from purchasing homes at the same rate as their white counterparts: While 74.5% of white households own their homes, only 46% of Black and 49% of Hispanic households own theirs.
According to Zillow’s research, one of the most significant obstacles preventing potential home buyers from accessing homeownership is saving for a down payment. Addressing the down payment barrier for first-time home buyers can help more people of color access the benefits homeownership offers and can help close the homeownership gaps between Black, Hispanic and white households.
Methodology
In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of adults ages 18 and older, Zillow Group Population Science conducted a representative survey of more than 12,000 adults across 26 metros. The survey was fielded in March and April 2024.
Sampling & weighting
Results from this survey are representative of adults in each metropolitan area. To achieve representativeness, ZG Population Science used a two-pronged approach. First, the initial recruitment to the sample was balanced to all adults from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) on the basis of age, relationship status, income, ethnicity/race, education and sex. Additional targeted subgroups were sampled based on all key household demographic characteristics. Second, statistical raking was used to create calibration weights to ensure that the distribution of survey respondents matched each metro’s population with respect to a number of key demographic characteristics.
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