In the United States, homeownership provides economic stability, wealth accumulation, and intergenerational mobility. However, achieving equitable homeownership faces systemic discrepancies and discriminatory practices, including disparities in loan denials based on race. This study, utilizing 2021 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data from Massachusetts and Worcester County, investigates disparities in mortgage approval using exploratory and regression analyses with key creditworthiness factors and debt-to-income ratios. The findings contribute to discussions on fair lending and inform policy initiatives on fostering equitable access to homeownership.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sheehan, Alexandria

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 118197
• E-project-030324-161542

Keyword

• disparities in mortgage denials
• race
• Worcester County
• Massachusetts
• Housing
• debt-to-income ratio

Advisor

• Smith, Alexander D.
• Somasse, Gbetonmasse B.

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-03-03

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Economic Science

Source

• E-project-030324-161542

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-04-22