HUD TO BEGIN NATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF MORTGAGE LENDING DISCRIMINATION

HUD will investigate charges that 22 lenders have unfairly denied U.S. government-backed mortgages to qualified applicants. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) filed a Fair Housing complaint with HUD against 22 lenders offering FHA-guaranteed loans. Lenders include Nationstar Mortgage and PHH Mortgage. The NCRC said the lenders were only providing mortgages to borrowers with credit scores higher than the 580 minimum required by the FHA, a move it said disproportionately affects African-Americans and Latinos. Read the December 8, 2010 Reuters article. Read the December 8, 2010 HUD Press Release.

NATIONAL LENDER WITH BALTIMORE AREA BRANCHES SETTLES DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT

PrimeLending Resolve Allegations of Lending Discrimination; 5 Branches in Baltimore Area

PrimeLending, a national mortgage lender with 168 offices in 32 states, has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African-American borrowers between 2006 and 2009. The settlement was filed on December 9, 2010, in conjunction with a complaint made by the Justice Department. Brought under the federal Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the complaint alleges African-American borrowers nationwide were charged higher prices on retail loans through PrimeLending’s branch offices - of which 7 in Maryland, including 2 in Baltimore County.

In 2006-2009, PrimeLending charged African-American borrowers higher annual percentage rates of interest for prime fixed-rate home loans and for home loans guaranteed by the FHA and VA than it charged white borrowers. The settlement requires PrimeLending to pay $2 million to the victims and use non-discriminatory loan pricing policies, monitoring, and employee training. Read the December 9, 2010 Article.

Welcome to this Fair Housing Maryland Blog edition of Fair Housing E-News! This newsletter is produced by the GBCHRB as a public service. More info/resources: http://www.gbchrb.org. To read this issue of Fair Housing E-News, click here: fhnews10dec.pdf. Just a few of the December headlines are:

Over 60% of Hispanics Say Discrimination Is a Major Problem.
Read the October 28, 2010 Times article.

Baltimore City Again Sues Wells Fargo For "Racist, Predatory Lending Practices." As reported in The Baltimore Sun on October 23, 2010.

Maryland-Based Innershore Enterprises / Marlow 6 Theater To Pay $20,000 For Disability Discrimination As Concession Manager Fired for HIV Condition.
Read the November 22, 2010 Press Release.

Three Men Charged in Albuquerque, N.M., with Federal Hate Crimes Related to Assault of Disabled Navajo Man. Read the November 12, 2010 DOJ Press Release.

Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Hilton Worldwide Over ADA Violations at Hilton Hotels and Major Hotel Chains Owned by Hilton.
Read the DOJ November 10, 2010 Press Release.

Justice Department Makes the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design Available Online. Read the November 10, 2010 Press Release. www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm.

HUD Charges Vicksburg, Mississippi Rental Property Manager & Owner With Race Discrimination. Read the HUD charge.