Update on the Housing Crisis in ZIP Code 53206

Abstract

The housing crisis appears to be unabated in pockets of Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods, based on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data collected federally from lending institutions. A 13-year analysis of mortgage lending in zipcode 53206, one of Milwaukee’s poorest central city neighborhoods, showed continued borrowing and reliance on subprime and high-interest cost loans. In 2006 mortgage borrowing activity continued to rise in zipcode 53206 in contrast to an overall slowdown in the county. The vast majority (85%) of housing loans to owner-occupants in zipcode 53206 were made to single purchasers rather than 2-person co-signers. These trends are consistent with concerns about the largely single-parent families of the neighborhoods seeking out or being targeted for housing loans (including refinancing loans) they can ill-afford.