By Sam P.K. Collins, The Washington Informer Over the Past five months, Texas and Arizona have sent 9,400 migrants to the District of Columbia on buses. While some have gone on to connect with loved ones in other cities, many migrant families currently call the nation’s capital home. Those temporarily living at two District hotels […]
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inWord In Black
Free and reduced meal no longer automatic, public schools now accepting applications year round
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor We are still in a global COVID-19 pandemic, but with many returning to pre-pandemic routines, most school schedules across the nation have also returned to the pre-pandemic area. That means that school meals nationwide are no longer automatically free. Parents must now sign up and qualify for free school lunches, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Seven tips for selling your property
By Kara Thompson, Special to the AFRO, kthompson@afro.com Selling your home can be something that takes a lot of time, energy and effort, especially if you’re a first time seller. But luckily, you don’t have to do it on your own. Whether you’re downsizing or upsizing, moving across the country or down the street– these […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Ten practical tips for aspiring first time home buyers
By Kara Thompson, Special to the AFRO, kthompson@afro.com Purchasing your first home is a daunting task, but it’s also one of the best long-term investments you can make. The Mortgage Bankers Association regards homeownership as a major asset that helps families obtain, grow and pass down wealth from generation to generation. However, the homebuying process […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Women Elevating Women conference provides a collaborative platform where women can learn how to successfully grow and scale their businesses
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The multi-cultural, multi-ethnic Women Elevating Women (WEW) conference, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, returned to D.C. this past weekend to bring women business owners and executives together to discuss and share strategies for success and economic empowerment. Launched in 2018, the conference cultivates a […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s legislative conference returns to D.C.
By AFRO Staff The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation recently announced that its Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) will resume in-person programming Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, after a two-year virtual presentation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 51st ALC will return to its longtime home at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Muriel Bowser unveils $10M plan to increase Black homeownership
By Jamila Bey, Word In Black Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a $10 million Black Homeownership Fund this year as part of the District’s 2023 budget that seeks to tackle long standing racial disparities. With the goal to increase Black homeownership and helping longtime residents to be able to stay in their home, Bowser has created […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Black DMV homeowners ban together to build equity
By Aja Beckham, Word In Black Ownership Matters, a collective of Black homeowners, established a tradition to gather for an annual photoshoot on June 18 in front of Fredrick Douglass’s historic home in Southeast. “About 150 folks came together in front of Fredrick Douglass’ house take a big group photo,” said Gregory Jackson, founder […]
Posted inNational News
Black millennials are trying to close the gap in homeownership
By Nicole D. Batey, Special to the AFRO, nbatey@afro.com Millennial buyers are the primary driver of Black homeownership in the U.S. Housing market right now. Many are leaving rental life behind to purchase their first home or investment property in pursuit of having equity and building wealth. According to Realtor.com estimations, there will be at […]
Posted inNational News
It’s not easy getting a home loan – racial bias makes it nearly impossible for many Blacks
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia In data released earlier this year from the Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, major disparities exist in home loan approval rates between African Americans and Whites. Nationally, the purchase mortgage denial rate for Black homebuyers is twice as high as the denial rate for the overall […]
Posted inNational News
We’re still here: the AFRO highlights the importance of Black homeownership, Black realtors and housing policy
By Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper, AFRO Publisher When I was a young child, my mother, my brother, my sister, and I made weekly trips to the “country,” as we called our grandparents’ home. It took nearly an hour to travel from our West Baltimore home, near Elgin Avenue and Poplar Grove Street, to the end […]
Posted inSponsored
YOUR JOURNEY HOME
By Michelle Fields-Hall, Director, Community Lending, George Mason Mortgage, LLC With the economic challenges brought on by COVID and interest hikes, borrowers have discovered that rental prices have increased. However, there are still great ways to turn the dream of homeownership into reality! ABOUT GEORGE MASON MORTGAGEGeorge Mason Mortgage helps individuals and families reach their home […]
