Legally, race must not be a factor in mortgage lending in the United States. However, persistently high rates of loan denials and low rates of African American homeownership tell a different story. A 2019 Lending Tree report revealed nearly 1 in 10 borrowers get denied a mortgage. It also found other discrepancies by race and ethnicity. For instance, black borrowers have the highest denial rates, at 17.4%. Non-Hispanic white Americans have the lowest rates of denial, at 7.9%. Nevertheless, there are ways to improve your chances of getting approved for a mortgage at a fair interest rate. According to Business Insider, start by enrolling in a HUD-approved pre-purchase home-buyer education workshop. Clean up your credit report by correcting any errors on it. Pay everything on time, and ensure your score is above 760. Get your debt-to-income ratio under 36%, and amass several thousand dollars in cash savings to cover closing costs. Good luck!
