Consumer complaint received 2020-11-19
Company: PulteGroup, Inc.
State: TX
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: FHA mortgage
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage

Complaint:
After digesting what transpired today along with my initial fears of racism and several conversations with XXXX I wholeheartedly believe that I am a victim of disparate treatment which is illegal. 

After careful recollection along with several red flags I have caught throughout my conversations with XXXX I have arrived at this determination based off of the following : Steering - XXXX has said several times to me that the home I want to purchase is too expensive, ( why mention this? ) too expensive for who, a XXXX woman? How is she determining this ... I want to make it clear that the home is not expensive, I just need help like many other minorities with the down payment. 

Also, during our call today while I was still in shock about XXXX 's recent revelation regarding the DPA purchase price requirements, I expressed to XXXX the idea of negotiating the purchase price to meet the down payment requirement, where she steered me away from the request of negotiating, expressing that due to the market they are most likely not going to reduce the price, How would XXXX know what the Pulte sales teams are willing and not willing to do? What negotiation data is she using to support this claim? This discouragement is because I am a XXXX woman. 

Insulted, I requested to speak to a manager, where XXXX assumed that my conversation with her manager would consist of me asking him to change state and federal laws on my personal behalf regarding down payment assistance. XXXX stated " my manager can't change the DPA requirements. '' Disparaging - On a separate occasion XXXX used choice phrases such as, " I seemed to be knowledgeable '' about the down payment assistance program but in actuality I sensed her subtle racism from the beginning and was doing my best to look up as much information on my own to ensure that I wasn't being purposely locked out of critical details because I am a XXXX woman. 

XXXX assumed and expressed to me " I know that you are frustrated '' where in reality I was just severely disappointed that my fears of discrimination were being revealed in real time. To add further insult to injury XXXX admitted that she could have done her due diligence regarding sharing critical information about DPA requirements but she didn't. My question is why? Is it because I am a XXXX woman? 

Disparate Treatment - From the start of this process the Pulte sales and mortgage team including XXXX XXXX have always been aware that I was seeking down payment assistance in addition to the county in which the home is being built however it's apparent XXXX withheld critical information because of my race. ( see attachments ) I plan to file a complaint with the Attorney General of Texas, the CFPB, Fair Housing, and XXXX to ensure my remaining experience with Pulte Mortgage is legal, fair and just. XXXX I accept your offer and no longer wish to work with XXXX, please transfer my application to a new loan consultant. 

Also XXXX expressed that I only have two DPA options in Texas however you mentioned that you would share all known Texas DPA programs with me and I look forward to that email. 

Lastly, I plan to meet with my realtor this evening to discuss a plan of action and will reach back out to you after the holidays.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation