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This past week, David Palmer’s 2024 Co-Learning Plan project received additional attention from Outlier Media. Palmer’s CLP focuses on understanding the demographic composition of Michigan’s licensed appraisers and the critical role they play in shaping the real estate market.
As reported in Outlier Media, Palmer’s study reveals stark racial disparities in the appraisal industry. 95% of appraisers in Michigan are white, while only a small fraction of Detroit’s appraisers reside in the city, contributing to inequities in home valuations that disproportionately affect Black homeowners. The study aligns with ongoing national concerns over the lack of diversity in the profession and its impact on fair housing practices. Palmer emphasizes how “appraising is an incredibly subjective process,” and when appraisers lack knowledge of the communities they assess, it exacerbates long-standing challenges like Detroit's infamous “appraisal gap,” where Black-owned homes are undervalued by nearly 45% compared to white-owned homes.
David Palmer's project, presented at the 2024 Innovate Michigan! Summit, delves into public data from 1990s to 2020s, offering a detailed analysis of Michigan's appraisers to better understand whether they represent the communities they serve. By bringing this data to light, the project seeks to provide a foundation for better policymaking, aiming to address the systemic inequities in home appraisals across the state.
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