THE MINORITY HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP, HOME FORECLOSURE, AND NATIVITY: EVIDENCE FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the interplay between nativity and both homeownership and foreclosure in Miami-Dade County, Florida at both the individual and community levels. We estimate the likelihood of individual-level home ownership based on place of birth and year of entry to the U.S., and separately estimate community-level foreclosures based on the demographic composition of neighborhoods. Results confirm previous work: all subgroups, except Cubans, are less likely to be homeowners than white, non-Hispanics and only Cuban neighborhoods had foreclosure rates significantly lower than rates in white, non-Hispanic neighborhoods. Nativity has a stronger effect on homeownership than on foreclosure levels.