Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin spearheads an initiative to address racial inequities in property valuations, offering new resources and trainings.

NEWARK, N.J. — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today a series of new educational resources and programs as part of the state's Home Appraisal Discrimination Initiative. This initiative, developed by the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) and the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA), aims to educate the public and combat systemic inequities in real estate appraisals across New Jersey.

Launched in January 2024, the initiative is a pioneering state-level effort to address biases in home valuations, aligning with the objectives of Governor Murphy’s Wealth Disparity Task Force and the Biden Administration’s Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal Valuation Equity. It offers comprehensive resources, including a know-your-rights guide on appraisal discrimination, which delineates the signs of such discrimination and explains how to report it.

“A home is one of the most important purchases a family can make, and we know that discrimination in how homes are valued hampers wealth creation and can damage neighborhoods and communities for generations,” said Attorney General Platkin. “My office is committed to eradicating all forms of housing discrimination, and using every tool in our toolbox to accomplish it. Our message is clear: Appraisal discrimination is against the law, we won’t tolerate it, and we will hold violators accountable.”

Participants in the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (NJHMFA) First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program will receive educational materials on how to recognize and report appraisal discrimination. Additionally, the initiative has launched a virtual training titled “Undervalued: The Impact of Home Appraisal Discrimination on New Jersey’s Communities of Color.” The first session attracted over 190 participants, and the next is scheduled for May 29, featuring experts from the State Real Estate Appraiser Board and DCR.

Throughout Fair Housing Month, DCR has been active in raising awareness by hosting and presenting at various events, including sessions with the Newark NAACP and the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Real Estate Conference. These efforts are part of a broader strategy that includes creating an Appraisal Equity Subcommittee and launching an internal DCR Appraisal Discrimination Enforcement Task Force.

For those who suspect appraisal discrimination or professional misconduct by an appraiser, Attorney General Platkin has provided multiple avenues for reporting these issues, ensuring that New Jersey residents have the necessary tools to seek justice and equitable treatment in property appraisals.

Anyone who believes they or someone they know has experienced discrimination in connection with a home appraisal in New Jersey may contact DCR by email at [email protected]. Anyone who believes that an appraiser has committed professional misconduct can contact DCA at 1 (800) 242-5846 within New Jersey or at (973) 504-6200, call the State Real Estate Appraiser Board directly at (973) 504-6480, or visit the DCA website to file an online complaint.