Black-owned banks first
OneUnited, Industrial, Liberty, Citizens Trust. They originate FHA and conventional mortgages without the appraisal-bias problems documented in the white-bank market.
The bias study
Brookings, NCRC, and Freddie Mac all confirm Black appraisals come in 8–15% below comparable white appraisals. White-bank loans can be re-appraised; do it.
Pre-approval letter
Get one before house shopping. It tells sellers you're real.
The closing
Title insurance is required. Use a Black-owned title agency where possible — they catch racial-restrictive covenants in old deeds that white agencies often miss.