OBSTACLES BETWEEN LATINOS AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
Homeownership Alliance recently conducted a study, through Bendixen & Associates, on Latino attitudes toward banking and homeownership.  The study surveyed two focus groups in Alabama and Nevada.

Homeownership Alliance President Rick Davis stated, "The future of the housing market rests heavily on the economic success of minorities."

Latinos specified language barriers, fears of bank fees, minimum opening deposits, and the lack of proper identification, as being major deterrents to opening bank accounts.

The survey's results were not unlike those fromthe recently released Real Estate Center survey which focused on attitudes and behaviors of various ethnic groups toward the home-buying process.

"Latinos are relationship driven.  Although this is a time-consuming process, relationship-building is key to meeting their needs," states Real Estate Center Associate Director Gary Maler.

For highlights of the Real Estate Center study, click here.

C.A.R. RESEARCH
During the first quarter of 2002, California Association of REALTORS® conducted a mail survey of randomly selected members.   The purpose of the survey was to provide a better understanding of real estate practitioners and the internal operations of the firms with which they are associated.  The study includes demographic information about C.A.R. members.  To access the survey, click here.  It is also available with graphs in pdf format.

THE PUBLICPOLICY INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA RELEASES STUDY, "CALIFORNIA'S NEWEST IMMIGRANTS"
A study released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) compared California's immigration numbers of 2000, with those of 1990.  The study found that 26 percent of California's population is foreign-born, as compared to 22 percent in 1990.  According to the U.S. Census, 2.8 million new immigrants arrived in California between 1990 and 2000.  46.2 percent of new immigrants were born in Mexico, compared with 38.2 percent in 1990.  A full copy of the report can be obtained from the Pacific Council through its website at: http://www.pacificcouncil.org.

CENSUS BUREAU RELEASES "THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION:  2000" REPORT
The U.S. Census Bureau released in December, 2003, a new brief titled "The Foreign-Born Population: 2000."  The report documents cities with the highest percentage of foreign-born residents.  Of six cities of 100,000 or more where foreign-born residents constitute a majority of the population, four are in California.  Those cities are Glendale (54.4 percent), Santa Ana (53.2 percent), Daly City (52.3 percent), and El Monte (51.4 percent).  Los Angeles had the second largest population of foreign-born residents with 1.5 million, New York had the largest with 2.9 million.  For more information, visit http://www.census.gov.


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