Preparing for millions of minority homebuyers The future is not guaranteed

Didier Malagies • July 12, 2021


Since day one of my mortgage career, my main role was to help Hispanic borrowers with responsible lending. For the past 21 years, I have been deeply entrenched in truly understanding the unique needs and cultural nuances of homebuyers with diverse backgrounds. Being an active originator helps me keep a pulse on the market and the current issues borrowers face every day on their journey to homeownership.


Minority mortgage-ready millennials


I interact daily with first-time buyers and buyers of diverse backgrounds and continue to help them achieve the dream of homeownership. In my role as national vice president of multicultural lending, I’m involved at a high level with the executive leadership team here at New American Funding, providing input regarding what is really going on at the “street-level” and being the liaison between our sales force and executive leadership.


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are now 60.6 million Hispanics in America. That is almost 19% of the entire US population. And according to Freddie Mac, in 2019, there were 8.3 million Hispanic mortgage-ready millennials, or as we like to call them at New American Funding, “Hispennials”. The Hispanic market presents a tremendous business opportunity now and for years to come if approached correctly. Despite the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the Hispanic homeownership rate increased to 49% in 2020, compared to 47.5% in 2019, per the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals’ 2020 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report.


According to the Urban Institute, all future homeownership growth will come from non-White households, with Hispanics accounting for 70% of homeownership growth over the next 20 years. Per Freddie Mac, in the 31 largest MSAs, there are over 1.7 million Black millennials who would qualify for a mortgage. New York City, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Chicago each have more than 100,000 Black residents ready for homeownership.


And according to a November 2020 report released by the National Association of Realtors, 5% of homebuyers during the first three quarters of 2020 were Black, compared to 4% in 2019. Despite a 1% increase, U.S. Census data shows Black millennials raised the homeownership rate for African Americans more than 2% over the same time frame. The homeownership rate for Black Americans grew to 47% during the second quarter of 2020 compared to 44% during the first quarter.



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By Didier Malagies • March 18, 2026
That Redfin data point—$13 trillion in housing wealth held by Americans 70+—is a big deal, and it ties into several powerful trends reshaping the housing and mortgage markets. What’s driving this record wealth? 1. Long-term home price appreciation Older homeowners bought decades ago at much lower prices and have benefited from massive appreciation, especially post-2020. 2. Low mortgage leverage Many in this age group either: Own their homes outright, or Have very small remaining balances So their equity = real wealth , not just paper gains. 3. Aging in place Instead of downsizing, many are staying put longer, allowing equity to continue compounding. Why this matters (big picture) 1. Supply constraint in housing Fewer older homeowners are selling, which: Keeps inventory tight Supports higher home prices This is one reason younger buyers are struggling to find affordable homes. 2. Wealth inequality across generations Younger generations: Face higher home prices Have less access to equity Meanwhile, older Americans control a disproportionate share of housing wealth. Implications for mortgage and lending 1. Rise of equity-based lending This trend directly fuels growth in: Reverse mortgages (HECMs) HELOCs Cash-out refinances That $13T is largely untapped liquidity . 2. “Living off equity” becomes more common With concerns around: Social Security stability Inflation More retirees are using housing wealth as: Income supplementation Emergency reserves 3. Intergenerational wealth transfer We’re seeing more: Parents helping kids with down payments Early inheritance strategies using home equity The hidden risk This isn’t risk-free: If home prices flatten or fall → equity shrinks Property taxes + insurance (especially in places like Florida) can pressure fixed-income retirees Liquidity is still “locked” unless accessed strategically Bottom line That $13 trillion figure isn’t just a stat—it represents a shift in where wealth lives in America : Housing is now the primary balance sheet asset for older Americans It’s becoming a retirement tool , not just a place to live And it’s quietly shaping everything from housing supply to lending innovation  Didier Malagies nmls212566 DDA Mortgage nmls324329
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