Angela Mackinnon

CMI Mortgage #217909

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The Impact of Gender and Race on Mortgage Approval Rates

July 1, 2025 by Angela Mackinnon

Addressing Inequity in Lending
The mortgage approval process is a critical step in the path to homeownership. While lending guidelines are designed to promote fair and consistent evaluation, studies have shown that disparities persist based on gender and race. These differences raise important concerns about equal access to credit and the long-term effects on wealth building, community development, and financial equity in the United States.

Understanding the Approval Process
Mortgage approval decisions are based on a range of factors, including credit history, income, employment, debt-to-income ratio, and property value. In principle, these criteria are applied uniformly. However, when outcomes differ significantly across demographic groups, it suggests that deeper systemic issues may be influencing the process.

Disparities by Race
Data has shown that applicants who identify as Black, Hispanic, or Native American are more likely to be denied mortgage loans than White or Asian applicants, even when controlling for key financial variables. In many cases, these applicants are also offered less favorable loan terms, such as higher interest rates or increased fees.

The reasons for these disparities are complex and include factors such as historical redlining, lower rates of intergenerational wealth, unequal access to financial education, and ongoing discrimination within the housing and lending industries. While fair lending laws are in place, enforcement and accountability remain challenges in ensuring consistent application.

Disparities by Gender
Gender also plays a role in mortgage lending outcomes. While the approval rate gap between male and female applicants is narrower than that seen across racial lines, disparities still exist. Single female applicants tend to be approved at lower rates than single male applicants and are more likely to receive higher-cost loans.

Contributing factors may include differences in income, employment patterns, and credit profiles, but bias cannot be ruled out.

Intersectionality: The Overlapping Effects of Race and Gender
For individuals who experience both racial and gender bias, such as Black or Hispanic women, the impact can be even more pronounced. These borrowers may face a compounded disadvantage in the approval process and in the terms they are offered. Addressing the mortgage gap therefore requires a nuanced approach that recognizes how multiple aspects of identity influence financial outcomes.

Long-Term Impact on Wealth and Housing Stability
The effects of unequal mortgage approval rates extend far beyond the individual applicant. Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools for building wealth in the United States. When certain groups are systematically excluded or disadvantaged in the lending process, it limits their ability to accumulate equity, achieve financial stability, and pass wealth on to future generations.

Efforts Toward Equity and Fair Lending
Financial institutions, regulators, and advocacy groups have taken steps to address lending disparities. These efforts include increased transparency in lending data, enhanced training on fair lending laws, and expanded outreach to underserved communities. The use of alternative credit scoring models and community reinvestment programs are also gaining attention as ways to promote equity.

However, meaningful progress requires a sustained commitment to identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices, both overt and subtle. Equal access to credit is not only a matter of compliance but also a moral imperative and an economic necessity. Expanding fair access to mortgage lending helps create stronger families, healthier communities, and a more equitable future for all.

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Fair Lending, Homeownership Access, Mortgage Equity

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 30th, 2025

June 30, 2025 by Angela Mackinnon

With the passing of the previous busy weeks of rate decisions, this week features the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation report in the PCE Index, which has shown that inflation has come in hotter than expected for the month of May. This likely cements the Federal Reserve’s decision to take no action until later and further confirming most economists’ predictions. The consumer confidence has also taken a hit as it has further declined again for the month of May, indicating there is still significant apprehension within the markets and consumers alike. This is accompanied by Consumer Spending data, which met expectations, as many consumers had already begun pulling back on spending in response to tariff policies before many of those measures were paused.

PCE Index
In an updated forecast, Federal Reserve officials now expect inflation, as measured by the core personal-consumption expenditures (PCE) index, to jump to 3.1% by the end of the year, up from a rate of 2.5% in April.

Consumer Spending
Americans cut spending in May after buying lots of new cars and other goods earlier in the year to beat U.S. tariffs, underscoring how ongoing trade wars are disrupting the economy. Personal spending fell 0.1% last month, the government said Friday. It was the first decline since January.

Consumer Sentiment
The ongoing trade wars haven’t faded from public view. Consumer confidence fell in June, as Americans grew more pessimistic about the future of the economy and their ability to find a job. The index of consumer confidence declined to 93 last month from 98.4 in May, when the Trump administration dialed back the highest U.S. tariffs.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey Index
• 15-Yr FRM rates saw a decrease of -0.07% for this week, with the current rates at 5.89%
• 30-Yr FRM rates saw a decrease of of -0.04% for this week, with the current rates at 6.77%

MND Rate Index
• 30-Yr FHA rates saw a decrease of -0.19% for this week, with the current rates at 6.22%
• 30-Yr VA rates saw a decrease of -0.19% for this week, with the current rates at 6.23%

Jobless Claims
Initial Claims were reported to be 236,000 compared to the expected claims of 246,000. The prior week landed at 246,000.

What’s Ahead
Non-farm Payrolls, Job Data, Manufacturing PMI Data will be the largest reports out for next week. The most important data reflecting the impact of tariffs has already been released.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Financial Report, Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates

From Pre-Approval to Closing What to Expect in the Mortgage Journey

June 27, 2025 by Angela Mackinnon

June is National Homeownership Month, making it the perfect time to understand the full path to homeownership. If you are planning to buy a home, especially for the first time, knowing what to expect during the mortgage process can take away much of the stress. This guide walks you through each step and highlights how working with the right mortgage professional keeps everything on track.

Step One: Pre-Approval
The first and most important step in your mortgage journey is pre-approval. This is where a lender reviews your income, credit, debt, and assets to determine how much home you can afford. You will provide documents like pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements. A pre-approval gives you a clear budget and shows sellers that you are a serious buyer.

Getting pre-approved during National Homeownership Month is a smart move. It sets you up to take advantage of the busy summer buying season when more homes are available and families want to move before the school year starts.

Step Two: House Hunting and Making an Offer
Once you are pre-approved, you can confidently shop for a home. With your budget in hand, you and your real estate agent can focus on properties that meet your needs and price range. When you find the right one, your agent will help you make an offer.

A strong offer backed by a pre-approval letter shows sellers that you are ready and able to purchase. This can be a deciding factor in competitive markets.

Step Three: Loan Processing and Underwriting
After your offer is accepted, you officially begin the mortgage loan process. Your lender will gather more documentation and begin verifying all the details. This part of the journey includes ordering the home appraisal and reviewing your financial file in depth.

The underwriter is the key decision-maker in this stage. They assess your risk level and decide whether to approve the loan. This step can feel slow or stressful, but as your mortgage originator, I help keep the process moving by staying in close contact with both you and the lender.

Step Four: Loan Approval and Closing Preparation
Once the underwriter approves your loan, you are almost there. You will receive a closing disclosure with your final loan terms and costs. You will need to review and acknowledge this document at least three business days before closing.

During National Homeownership Month, this is the moment when buyers start to see the finish line. It is also when I double-check that all documents are accurate and that nothing is missing before you sign.

Step Five: Closing Day
Closing is the final step. You will sign your loan documents, pay your closing costs and down payment, and finally get the keys to your new home. This is the most exciting moment in the entire journey and one worth celebrating.

By knowing what to expect and working with a trusted mortgage professional, you can turn a stressful process into a rewarding milestone. National Homeownership Month is a great reminder that preparation and expert support make all the difference in achieving your homeownership goals.

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Mortgage Journey, National Homeownership Month, Pre-Approval To Closing

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  • The Impact of Gender and Race on Mortgage Approval Rates
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 30th, 2025
  • From Pre-Approval to Closing What to Expect in the Mortgage Journey

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