Subprime Mortgage Lending in the District of Columbia: A Study for the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

Report by Diane Levy, Peter A. Tatian, Kenneth Temkin, Kerstin Gentsch, Barika X. Williams
May 1, 2008

Urban–Greater DC   (Washington, D.C.)

This report, commissioned by the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking, examines the extent of subprime lending in the District of Columbia and the resulting impacts on residents and neighborhoods. The study found that subprime lending was concentrated in predominantly African-American, moderate-income neighborhoods, areas that are now experiencing a sharp rise in home foreclosures. The report recommends a number of actions to protect the city's homeowners and neighborhoods, including stronger monitoring of mortgage lenders, better outreach and education for home owners and home buyers, and creation of a loan fund to help persons refinance out of bad loans.