Sheldon Goldseker, a Baltimore real estate executive and the founding chairman of a foundation that has given millions of dollars to hundreds of local institutions, was remembered this week as a generous, community-minded leader who pursued the betterment of Baltimore without seeking the limelight. He died Friday at 82.

Racial bias in home appraising can harm individuals by making home purchases more expensive or refinancing unattainable, but when compounded on the community level, it can have profound impacts on minority communities’ ability to build wealth. Using newly available federal data, this report finds evidence of systemic appraisal bias that undervalues homes in predominantly Black communities in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties.