A white homeowner attempted to block the sale of her property after finding out the buyer was Black.
In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Raven Baxter, a 30-year-old molecular biologist and science communicator, detailed her experience of buying a Virginia Beach condo from 84-year-old Jane Walker.
Baxter, who currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, had set up a virtual tour with an agent to view Walker's condo before making an offer. The 30-year-old thought the property was a perfect fit for her.
“It’s a classic home with a ton of character. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and you can walk to the beach. It was like a steal,” Baxter recalled. “I basically put in an offer sight unseen.”
Baxter put down an offer that matched the asking price of $749,000. The offer was accepted and Baxter sent over the down payment and went to visit the home in person.
Baxter encountered Walker as she was leaving the property. Soon after, Baxter said Walker told her agent that she didn't want to sell her home to a Black buyer.
The biologist said her broker called her to break the news.
“You could hear the fear and disbelief in his voice,” Baxter told the Times. “He said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but she doesn’t want to sell the home to you, and it’s because you’re Black.’”
Baxter shared her experience on X, formerly Twitter.
“My real estate agent’s BROKER just called me at 9pm on a Friday to tell me that the seller doesn’t want to sell a house to me because I am BLACK,” she tweeted. “This is after the inspection, contract agreement, down payment. Baby, I’m either buying your house or buying YOUR BLOCK. CHOOSE ONE.”
Despite Walker's request, Baxter's broker and agent told her they would secure the sale.
“Had I not gone to Twitter and received help from people who knew what they were doing, I would have been panicking the entire weekend,” Baxter said. “It was my first time buying a house. I knew my civil rights were being violated. I knew that something illegal was happening, but no one knew what to do.”
After social media users advised her to file a complaint, Baxter said she submitted a discrimination claim to the Virginia Fair Housing Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Barbara Wolcott, the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, RW Towne Realty, the home realty agency that Walker uses, also contacted Baxter in light of the incident.
“In light of the actions of our horribly misguided seller, I feel compelled to send you this email,” Wolcott wrote. “Please be assured that the attitude of this individual is not something that is tolerated by Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty…or anyone within our organization or area.”
The home sale is expected to close this summer.
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