Special offer

Is declaring a declining market redlining?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with ERA Heavener Realty Co.

Hello everyone,

This is my first attempt at blogging.  So, please forgive any newby indiscretions.  At any rate, I am an broker in Jacksonville, FL, and duval county was recently designated a declining market by FREDIMAC.  I am curious as to whether any enterprising young lawyer has attempted to classify this as redlining, and as such create a class action lawsuit for those whose LTV requirements are being changed to include an additional 5% down payment.  I am not sure about other places but the majority of the foreclosures in Jacksonville are in a specific area of town that Mortgage companies have to be careful about redlining.  Whether intentional or not if the result of declaring a city or zip code is that minorities are disproportionately unable to secure financing it seems it could be construed as redlining.

Thanks,

Matt Heavener