A Black professor who studies housing discrimination had his house appraised: $472,000. He then did a “whitewashing experiment,” removing indications of Blackness, and had a white colleague — another professor — stand in. The appraisal? $750,000. nyti.ms/3QVJP4P
@nytimes If you don't post both of the appraisals, this is nothing more than propaganda.
@nytimes Could also go the classist angle since towing cars away that don't work from your front yard will also do the same
@nytimes It was done in same week I presume?
@nytimes This is nuts. I work in real estate and do home valuations all the time having zero knowledge or interest in what ethnicity occupants are. It is irrelevant. Home values are based on location, condition, style, age, appeal, configuration, and amenities.
@nytimes I know how appraisals work. Usually done without homeowner present, and based on sold comparable properties, location, age, style, condition of home's exterior and interior, beds, baths, amenities. We have inconsistencies because of recent hot market and high vs low priced solds
@nytimes The home appraisal biz (in my experience) is an unregulated joke - completely biased, based loosely on comps and ‘feel’. Unless you spend many thousands on the appraisal, they won’t even stand behind their number. Insane that banks put lending faith in this system.
@nytimes First, tell us what “white washing experiment and removing indications of blackness” means here. We need more context. Was the property more appealing after said whitewashing? Was it an improvement and enhanced curb appeal? A before and after?
@nytimes So can I hire a black couple to hang around my place when the local tax assessor comes by?