Real estate agent response to Hispanic/Latino clients: Homophily, local demographic, and regional differences
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We conduct a large‐scale correspondence experiment across 11 US states to assess differential treatment of Hispanic/Latino clients by real estate agents. The experiment covers an area with a wide range of underlying Hispanic/Latino population and a subject pool of agents that is ethnically diverse. We find that agents respond to White clients at an 8.43% higher rate than they do to Hispanic/Latino clients, a difference that is statistically meaningful at the one‐percent level. We find strong evidence of homophily—Hispanic/Latino agents and White agents are more likely to respond to clients that match their own ethnicity. Differential treatment also varies by geography and the underlying ethnic composition of the areas in our sample.
Source: Real Estate Economics
Authors: Andrew Hanson, Zackary Hawley
Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, Texas Christian University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,400
OpenAlex ID: W4415568026