Why the Poor Pay More

The proverbial American dream of owning a home has become an all-too-real nightmare for a growing number of families. The most vulnerable segments of our society--including minorities, the elderly, and working families--are being victimized by financiers who lure them into commitments they cannot fulfill. Collectively known as predatory lending, these practices include offering higher interest rates than can be justified by the risk, high pre-payment penalties that lock families into exploitative loans, and monstrous balloon payments that often result in default and the loss of the home. The net result can be disastrous: damage to one's credit rating, bankruptcy, and even the loss of lifelong savings. Why the Poor Pay More is an incisive exposure of these practices--how they have evolved, why they have become so prevalent in recent years, and how their negative effects can be quantified--and showcases community efforts to combat them along with outlining active roles that individuals, advocacy groups, financial and legal service providers, and policymakers can play in reversing this destructive trend.