Black couple win discrimination case after their house value was lowballed

The case offers a glimpse into the ways housing assessments are riddled with systemic racism, exacerbating inequalities

When Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-Austin had their home assessed by an appraiser in 2020, they learned it was worth $995,000. So the Black couple, who purchased their home in December 2016 and spent thousands in renovation costs over the years, decided to get a second opinion. They “white-washed” their property and had a white friend pose as the homeowner. Weeks later, a different appraiser assessed the house’s value at $1,482,500.

The couple sued for discrimination.