RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN HOMEOWNERSHIP and HOUSING WEALTH, 1970–1986

Black couples are found to own a disproportionately low share of aggregate housing wealth in the United States because they are less likely than whites to be homeowners and because black-owned houses have lower market values than white-owned houses. Probability of ownership and house value equations (corrected for selectivity bias) are estimated with national data for 1970, 1980, and 1986. Trends in racial differences in homeownership and house value are identified and reasons for their existence are investigated.