The history of housing discrimination—from redlining to exclusionary zoning—has robbed generations of Black families of the ability to build and sustain wealth through homeownership.
Even now, many Black homeowners face threats not only from predatory lending and gentrification but from a quieter danger: The loss of homes due to unclear ownership, missing wills and fraudulent transactions.
The struggle to own and keep a home remains one of the most pressing issues for Black America.
State of Black Homeownership
According to the National Fair Housing Alliance’s State of Equitable Homeownership 2025 report, recent gains in Black and Latino homeownership have started to slip. In the second quarter of 2025, the Black homeownership rate dropped to 43.9%, marking the steepest year-over-year decline since 2021. By contrast, the white homeownership rate remains a towering 74%—a 30-point gap that translates directly into intergenerational inequality.
Home Loss Horror Stories
For generations, Black families have seen their homes taken, undercut or stolen through systemic neglect and outright exploitation.
A 2025 USA Today investigation recounted how George and Rachel Houston, a Black couple who moved to Washington State in 1946, lost the home they built after the local school district threatened condemnation. The district paid them $44,630 for the land, never built the promised school and later sold the property for over $186,000 to a private developer.
“My mother and father got robbed,” said John Houston, who is the 71-year-old son of George and Rachel. “We got robbed. There’s nothing left for us.”
Houston’s story echoes that of countless others—from the Reels brothers (Melvin and Licurtis) in North Carolina, who were jailed for defending their family land, to the Jones family (Billy Jones, Brenda Jones, Michael Jones, Willie Jones Jr. and J.T. Jones) in Alabama, whose farmland was converted into a university parking lot.
Even in Houston, the patterns persist.
Mileen Anderson, owner of Anderson Title Company, has seen numerous cases of title fraud and “owner financing” schemes gone wrong.
“In one case, a man made payments every month to someone who said he’d sell him a house through owner financing,” Anderson explained. “But the seller kept the money and stopped paying his own mortgage. Because the buyer didn’t go through a title company, he had no protection. The lender didn’t even know who he was.”
How Black Families Lose Their Homes
Brandon Cofield, public probate administrator for Harris County, said the biggest culprit is a lack of planning.
“What ends up happening is you have something called heir’s property or tangled titles,” he said. “There hasn’t been a deed properly transferred, and now multiple individuals have ownership interests. Maybe one responsible person is paying the taxes, but the title’s still in the great-grandparent’s name. They can’t sell, can’t get repair assistance, can’t access benefits. The property just gets stuck.”
“When families lose their property, it’s not just a personal tragedy. It impacts the whole neighborhood.”
Brandon Cofield
A recent Tarrant County study found four times more heirs’ property cases in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods—areas that also showed 30 times the tax foreclosure rate of white neighborhoods.
“When families lose their property, it’s not just a personal tragedy,” Cofield said. “It impacts the whole neighborhood—causing blight, safety issues and the loss of generational wealth.”
Anderson agreed, stressing that failing to prepare a will or transfer title leaves the door open to chaos.
“If you want to decide who’s going to get your property, you need to do that ahead of time,” she said. “Waiting until the end is too late.”
Bigger Picture: Discrimination and Devaluation
For decades, discriminatory policies have stacked the deck against Black homeowners.
- Redlining in the 1930s restricted loans in Black neighborhoods, fueling a cycle of disinvestment.
- Devaluation continues today, as Black-owned homes are appraised for less than comparable homes in white areas.
- Predatory lending during the 2008 subprime crisis devastated Black communities, doubling their foreclosure rates compared to white homeowners.
And while gentrification is often packaged as “revitalization,” it frequently forces longtime residents out through rising taxes, rents, and property values.
Knowledge Gap
Many homeowners are unaware of how to protect themselves from scams and title fraud. That’s why the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation launched its “Know Your Rights” panel recently, drawing residents from across Houston.
“This is for homeowners who just need the information,” said Naseeka Cox, the CRC’s program director. “There’s a lot of activity in the housing market right now, and we want our people educated and well-equipped to deal with these challenges.”
Kathy Flanagan-Payton, the CRC’s president, added, “We don’t want people to keep getting victimized by scam artists or predatory practices. Our goal is informed decision-making—so people can maintain and protect their homes.”
Real-World Lessons
Homeowner Rondy Whitfield learned firsthand the critical importance of this knowledge.
“When my mother passed, a community service at our church helped me get legal and will services,” said Whitfield. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been prepared. Now that I’m married, I know how important it is to have everything in place for the next generation. Knowledge is power.”
Attorney Nakketta Archie of Archie Law PLLC urged families to start with a simple but often-avoided step: Talking.
“Have the conversation,” she said. “Talk to your loved ones about your wishes. We avoid it because death spooks us—but that’s where it all starts,” said Archie.
How to Protect Your Home
Experts offered several key steps every homeowner should take:
- Work with a title company. “They make sure liens are clear, taxes are paid and the seller actually owns the home,” Anderson said. “Title insurance protects you if something fraudulent happens.”
- Create a will. “If you don’t decide what happens to your property, the state will,” Anderson warned. “And Texas law might give it to people you never intended.”
- File a transfer-on-death deed. Cofield called it “an inexpensive, effective way—around $36—to ensure the property goes to the right person.”
- Stay in touch with family. Ensure that everyone is aware of your wishes, and collaborate to prevent tax liens or foreclosure.
- Avoid predatory lenders. “Some lenders act like payday loan companies,” Cofield said. “They’ll do more damage than good.”
Wealth Transfer Ahead
Cofield emphasized that probate judges in Harris County, such as Judge Pamela Medina and Judge Fran Watson, have been proactive in educating residents about estate planning.
“We’re entering what economists call the Great Wealth Transfer,” Cofield said. “Between $80 and $120 trillion in assets will pass hands by 2048. The question is—are we ready to receive?”
Where to Get Help
For Houston-area homeowners seeking guidance, several organizations offer support and education:
- Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation – Housing, title fraud prevention and legal resources.
- Anderson Title Company – Title and closing services for homebuyers and sellers.
- Harris County Office of Public Probate Administration – Assistance with heirs’ property and probate cases.
- Archie Law PLLC – Estate planning and wills for homeowners.
- Houston Volunteer Lawyers – Free or low-cost legal assistance for property and probate issues.
