At Newrez, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build stability and wealth through homeownership. That’s why we’re committed to creating inclusive, supportive spaces and offering compassionate guidance to help all homebuyers, including LGBTQ+ homebuyers, navigate the path to owning a home with confidence.
Barriers Facing LGBTQ+ Borrowers
Research into the socioeconomic status of LGBTQ+ people is limited, so it can be hard to get a full picture of the challenges faced. But the data we do have is striking: LGBTQ+ individuals are nearly 20 percentage points less likely to own a home than their non-LGBTQ+ peers1—a gap that suggests economic, social and systemic barriers.
LGBTQ+ identifying people experienced higher rates of poverty than non-LGBTQ+ people, per a study from the UCLA Williams Institute in 2020.2 This could create financial barriers for some LGBTQ+ people who want to become homeowners.
When LGBTQ+ individuals approach lenders, they may encounter discrimination or fear that they will be discriminated against. Nearly 30% of respondents who identified as transgender and non-binary report feeling that they have experienced discrimination in housing or lending contexts according to a realtor.com survey.3
Legal Protections for LGBTQ+ Homebuyers
In 2021, the scope of the Fair Housing Act was expanded to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This update prohibits discrimination in mortgage origination and other housing-related services, helping to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals have equal access to the resources and opportunities needed to achieve homeownership.
Promoting Inclusive Mortgage Practices at Newrez
We believe every mortgage borrower deserves to be treated with empathy, dignity, and the highest level of service. We strive to take intentional steps to create a truly inclusive experience.
Here are a few practices we’ve put in place to help ensure LGBTQ+ borrowers feel seen, respected, and supported throughout their homeownership journey:
- Displaying Visible Allyship:
We want all of our borrowers to feel that they belong. We depict people from all walks of life in our marketing materials—because homeownership doesn’t just look one way. - Providing a Diverse Stack of Loan Products:
Newrez offers loan products for many different circumstances—including affordable lending products that accommodate lower down payments and individuals rebuilding their credit. - Transparent Communication:
At Newrez, you won’t be treated like a number. We stand apart from the lending crowd by providing individualized attention from loan experts who truly care about finding great solutions for borrowers. If you have questions about anything, our pros make it easy to understand—helping lower another barrier to homeownership. - A Culture of Acceptance:
Celebrating our differences and amplifying a variety of perspectives are part of what makes Newrez great. Read on to learn about Pride at Newrez.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Team Members
Newrez’s Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) is where LGBTQ+ employees and allies can connect, support each other, and drive meaningful change both within our workplace and in our communities. This ERG was instrumental in winning Newrez a PRISM Award from National Mortgage Professional in 2024.
Donnie Gravley, Senior Director of HR Operations at Newrez and Chair of the Pride ERG, explained that it's critical to create an inclusive environment at Newrez.
“Through educational events, storytelling and advocacy, we foster a culture where everyone feels empowered to bring their full selves to work,” he said.
Newrez and our Pride ERG support LGBTQ+ communities by:
- Donating more than $14,000 to the Trevor Project®, a nonprofit benefitting LGBTQ+ youth, since 2020
- Creating training to help managers understand how to support transgender employees
- Hosting seminars to educate employees on LGBTQ+ history, the use of pronouns and beyond
- Representing Newrez in Pride parades in several cities nationwide
Closing the Gap
By embedding inclusive practices into each step of the lending process, we can help close the LGBTQ+ homeownership gap—one borrower at a time. From offering equitable access to loan products to fostering welcoming, affirming environments, our commitment goes beyond policy—it’s about people. Because homeownership should be within reach for everyone.
This Pride Month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, and we renew our pledge to support inclusive homeownership for all.
Happy Pride from all of us at Newrez!
The Trevor Project® is a registered trademark of The Trevor Project, Inc. and is not affiliated with Newrez LLC.
References:
1 LGBTQ+ Homeownership in the United States - American Economic Association
2 LGBT poverty dropped to 17% during the COVID-19 pandemic - Williams Institute
3 Housing Discrimination’s Impact on Transgender People - Homemade
