Black History Month, Real Estate, and the Truth in Between

  Black History Month, Real Estate, and the Truth in Between

By Malcolm Davis, HomeVets Realty

Black History Month is often framed as a celebration—and it should be. But it’s also a reckoning. Especially in real estate, where the story of Black Americans is not just about success and resilience, but about exclusion, lost opportunity, and systems that were designed to keep ownership out of reach.

Real estate has always been one of the most powerful tools for building generational wealth in America. That’s the good. The hard truth is that for much of our history, Black families were intentionally locked out of that opportunity.

The Bad We Have to Acknowledge

For decades, Black Americans were legally and systematically denied access to homeownership. Redlining, racially restrictive covenants, discriminatory lending, and appraisal bias weren’t accidents—they were policy. Entire neighborhoods were labeled “high risk” simply because Black families lived there. Veterans came home from war eligible for benefits on paper, but blocked in practice. Families who could afford homes were told “no,” or steered away, or charged more for worse terms.

The result wasn’t just fewer homes owned—it was fewer chances to pass down wealth, stability, and security. When we talk about today’s racial wealth gap, real estate is a major reason it exists.

Ignoring that history doesn’t make it go away. Understanding it is the first step toward fixing what remains broken.

How Far We’ve Come

Here’s the part that matters too: progress is real.

Today, Black homeownership exists in every market, at every price point, and across every profession. Black investors are building portfolios. Black agents, lenders, appraisers, and brokers are reshaping the industry from the inside. Laws now exist to protect buyers from overt discrimination, and access to information is broader than it’s ever been.

Programs like VA loans, FHA financing, down payment assistance, and first-time buyer education have opened doors that were once sealed shut. Technology has leveled parts of the playing field. Representation has improved. Conversations that were once avoided are now happening openly.

That matters. It counts. And it’s worth recognizing.

The Work That’s Still Needed

Progress doesn’t mean the job is done.

Black homeownership rates still lag behind national averages. Appraisal gaps persist. Credit standards, lender overlays, and lack of financial education continue to disproportionately impact Black buyers—especially first-generation homeowners. In many markets, historically undervalued neighborhoods are now being “rediscovered,” often without the people who lived there benefiting from the appreciation.

Homeownership is still harder than it should be for too many qualified buyers.

And part of the challenge isn’t just policy—it’s trust. When families have been burned by systems for generations, hesitation is understandable. That’s why education, transparency, and advocacy matter just as much as financing.

Why This Matters to Me

As a real estate professional and as someone who works closely with veterans and families trying to build something lasting, I don’t see real estate as just transactions. I see it as access. I see it as protection. I see it as a chance to change a family’s trajectory.

Black History Month isn’t about dwelling on the past—but it is about telling the truth about it. Because when we understand where the gaps came from, we’re better equipped to close them.

The goal isn’t to rewrite history. It’s to stop repeating it.

Looking Forward

The future of real estate should be fairer, more informed, and more inclusive—not because it sounds good, but because it strengthens communities and the economy as a whole. Homeownership should be achievable for people who’ve earned it, not limited by outdated assumptions or invisible barriers.

We’ve come a long way. That deserves recognition.

But we still have work to do. That deserves commitment.

And if Black History Month reminds us of anything, it’s this: progress only happens when we’re willing to face both the good and the bad—and keep moving forward anyway.

—
Malcolm Davis
HomeVets Realty