Author: Damjan Milenkovic

When we hear the word “crime,” the first thing that comes to our minds is probably murder or another form of violent crime. However, a considerable percentage of all crimes are not violent, as property crime statistics show. Property crime doesn’t usually entail violence but is serious nonetheless.

Property crimes are crimes against our property. These can make us feel unsafe in our own homes, where we should feel the safest, and can rid us of our possessions and valuables of monetary and sentimental value.

Property crimes happen often, but how often? And how to prevent them? Keep reading, as we’ll find out together.

Top 10 Property Crime Stats (Editor’s Choice)

• Only 32.5% of property crimes were reported in 2019.
• 42.7% of property crimes in 2019 happened in the South.
• In 2020, 83% of Republicans thought the crime had increased nationally.
• Gangs are responsible for only 10% of graffiti vandalism.
• Only 25% of Americans have home security systems.
• A typical burglary lasts less than 12 minutes.
• One-half of arsonists are underage.
• 32.7% more burglaries occur in rented homes.
• More than $13 billion worth of merchandise gets shoplifted every year.
• In 2020, New Mexico had 696.8 burglaries per 100,000 residents.

US Crime Statistics

Every year, we get the annual reported crime data from the FBI and the Bureau of Justice. Unfortunately, we have no data on the crimes that don’t get reported. The figures from 2019 show that the FBI reported 2,109.9 property crimes (per 100,000 people) and 379.4 violent crimes.

According to both sources, the most common form of property crime in 2019 was theft.

1. 12.8 million American households were victims of one or more property crime types in 2019.

(BJS)

Property crime is theft or destruction of another’s property without using force or the threat against a victim. Different types of property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, arson, vandalism, and trespassing.

The rate of property crime has dropped since 1990, but there is more property crime in the US than violent crime.

Property crime victimization rates decreased by 6% from 2018 to 2019, as stated in BJS’s Criminal Victimization 2019. Burglary rates were the lowest since 1993 and were 22% lower than in 2018.

2. According to FBI data, property crime rates fell by 55% between the early 1990s and 2019.

(Pew Research Center)

Moreover, they fell by 71% between 1993 and 2019, while the violent crime rates fell by 74%. However, both the violent and property crime rate have been in a steady decline over the years.

The steepest decreases were in the rates of burglary (-69%), motor vehicle theft (-64%), and larceny/theft (-49%), while the robbery, out of all violent crime types, showed the most decline (-68%).

3. 41.0% of violent crimes and 42.7% of property crimes in 2019 happened in the South.

(FBI, FBI)

Violent crime statistics show that this part of the US also had 48.7% of all murders committed in the US. Moreover, the South had the most significant population concentration, so, it’s logical there will be more crime overall.

The Northeast had the least crime of any type; only 13.1% of violent crimes and 10.9% property crimes. Nevertheless, property crime decreased by 5.3% in the West, 10.3% in the Midwest, 9.3% in the South, and 5.7% in the Northeast.

4. In 2020, 83% of Republicans and Republican-identifying people thought that the crime had increased nationally.

(Pew Research Center, Gallup, Statista)

Moreover, 2020 crime statistics imply that at least 60% of Americans believe there is more crime on the national level than the year before, despite the crime rates going downward.

Even though the opposing party is more likely to say crime has increased, only 73% of Democrats and Democratic-identifying individuals thought that crime was up.

The perception of the decline in the local crime rate probably comes from people spending more time at home due to the pandemic and not seeing many outsiders in their neighborhoods. The BLM protests (some of which turned violent or ended up in looting or arson) could have made the impression that crime is up nationwide.

5. Property crime statistics indicate that only 32.5% of property crimes get reported.

(Pew Research Center)

Most crimes in the US don’t get reported to the police, and most reported crimes are not solved. The reasons for not reporting a crime vary. There have been cases where an offended knew an offender and was afraid of getting them in trouble. The fear of reprisal is also a widespread reason. Many people feel that police wouldn’t do much, if anything, to help, and some believe that the crime was too trivial to report.

According to the FBI clearance rate, most reported crimes go unsolved. Moreover, property crime statistics from 2019 show that only 17.2% of reported property crimes got cleared, while the police solved 45.5% of violent crimes.

6. 29% of Americans are afraid to walk alone in the local area at night.

(Gallup)

This is a decrease from 37% in the previous year and approximately matches the previous low of 30% recorded only twice in the last 50 years, in 2017 and 2001.

7. In the first six months of 2020, the number of property and violent crimes has declined.

(FBI)

This is based on the information that 12,206 law enforcement agencies submitted to the FBI. The property crime rate declined by 7.8% when compared to the data from the first half of 2019. However, motor vehicle theft increased by 6.2%. The cities with less than 10,000 inhabitants saw the most significant decrease (14.2%) in property crime.

8. Theft, burglary, and robbery experienced a decline of more than 50% worldwide during the pandemic.

(United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

The property crime statistics from 2020 show that social distancing impacted the crime, and the decline was more significant in the countries where lockdown was stricter. However, the decrease in crimes may be due to reporting fewer crimes and criminal justice institutions being affected by the pandemic. In fact, property crime was lower in the middle- and high-income countries.

Yet, the lack of financial stability could increase property crime after the pandemic. Some population groups (those who lost their home or job) could be more motivated to engage in criminal activities to secure some form of income.

9. Vandalism statistics show that it is a felony in some states if the damage is worth more than $1000.

(Criminal Defense Lawyer, Houston)

Vandalism is a misdemeanor when a destroyed property isn’t worth a lot. This little mishap can get you anywhere from probation or community service to a year in the local jail.

If damage to a property is more serious (or, in some states, if a motor vehicle gets vandalized), it is considered a felony—you can end up in state prison and pay up to $25,000 in fines.

Burglary Statistics 

Burglary includes forcible or unlawful entry into another person’s property and stealing something from them. On the other hand, criminal trespassing is related to being on someone else’s property without permission. Funnily enough, burglary includes an attempted entry and attempted stealing, and even the intention to steal.

10. 1,117,696 burglaries happened in the US in 2019.

(Alarms, SafeWise, FBI) 

House burglary statistics warn that every 30 seconds, someone breaks into someone’s home. That is the result of people not taking precautions to protect their homes. Carelessness is a real problem, and many people don’t have safety measures. For example, windows are open even if the house is vacant.

Some owners may leave posts on social media about vacationing, which indicates the house is empty. Burglars are very experienced when it comes to smelling out places that are not protected. They quickly notice signs there is no alarm or that an owner is away.

11. Home security system statistics show that only 25% of US citizens have a home security system in place.

(SafeWise, Alarms)

The FBI crime analysts have explained that almost all home burglaries are preventable. It is only necessary that an owner installs some kind of security system. Check out our recommendations for the best door locks, security cameras, and motion sensor lights for your home to find out how to fend off intruders.

In a survey conducted among burglars, 83% said they looked for an alarm, and 60% said they wouldn’t break into someone’s home if there were an alarm.

12. Burglary facts point out that most break-ins happen during the day (between 10 AM and 3 PM) when owners run errands or are at work.

(Alarms, SimpliSafe, ADT)

Burglars are usually not one of those movie types, dressed in all black, with a hood concealing their face. On the contrary, they generally dress in plain clothes to fit right in and don’t attract unwanted attention. They sometimes even knock on the front door or ring a bell to see if an owner is at home.

Besides the preferable time of day for a burglary, residential burglary statistics explain that burglars also prefer the summer months—the weather is warm, and most people are on vacation (maybe there is also a window open).

The average rate of household burglary is 11% lower during the winter. Therefore, February is the month when the lowest number of burglaries occur.

13. The average burglar is a male in his early 20s.

(Alarms)

These youngsters are usually addicted to drugs or are in some sort of debt or financial crisis. While serial burglars most commonly target strangers, amateurs tend to break into houses they know. Based on property crime stats, desperate amateurs commit around 85% of burglaries. So, the possibility of someone you know burglarizing your home is pretty probable.

14. The FBI burglary statistics show that burglary usually lasts from 90 seconds to 12 minutes.

(FBI, SecurAlert)

Although burglaries don’t often involve violence or a threat with a weapon, victims are traumatized for a long time. The uneasy feeling of not being safe in their own homes and fear that a perpetrator could return are prevalent among victims.

Burglars typically steal valuable items such as cash, jewelry, drugs, weapons (predominantly guns), and small electronic devices—smartphones, Ipads, Ipods, tablets, and similar. Facts about stealing also state the average loss is around $2,661. These items attract burglars because it is easier and quicker to carry away smaller items and pawn them on the streets.

15. The average rate of arrests for burglaries in the US is only around 13%.

(SecurAlert)

Most burglaries don’t have witnesses since they usually happen when homeowners are away.  Also, not many perpetrators leave physical evidence or fingerprints. This means that the police don’t have anything to work with, and you will most likely have to say goodbye forever to your stolen possessions. On the other hand, burglary facts show that the burglar is very likely to re-offend.

16. More than $13.3 billion worth of property has been reported stolen in the US, but the police recovered only 28.9% (about $3.9 billion).

(FBI)

Motor vehicles (stolen locally) have the highest value of both stolen ($5,752,240,315) and recovered property (56.1% of all stolen property value—$3,228,870,193). Meanwhile, property crime statistics show that out of all stolen notes ($1,423,559,757), only 2.6% were recovered. 

The second-lowest percent of recovered property value goes to jewelry and precious metals, as authorities recovered only 3.5% of the stolen value of $1,057,763,740 in 2019. In third place are televisions, radios and stereos, with the recovery rate of 4.3%.

17. In 2020, New Mexico had the highest burglary rate by state—648.8 burglaries per 100,000 residents.

(Statista)

Oklahoma was a close second, with 613.3 burglaries, and Arkansas came third, counting 523.1 burglaries per 100,000 citizens.

On the other hand, the safest states were New Hampshire and Virginia, the first having 103.3, and the latter having 133.5 burglaries.

If you plan to move, don’t forget to look at the list of the safest cities and those not so safe.

Arson Statistics

The FBI defines arson as deliberately or maliciously setting fire to personal or someone else’s property, with or without intent to defraud.

Fire is regarded as arson only when all other causes are excluded (e.g., proof that the fire was not accidental). Proving arson may be challenging, but getting an arsonist prosecuted is even harder, and not many arsonists end up doing time for the crime.

Motives are various—profit, revenge, political or religious extremism, vandalism, excitement, possible concealment of another crime, attention-seeking, mental illness (pyromania), and similar.

18. Arson statistics in the US show that the number of these offenses was 19.2% higher in the first half of 2020 than in the first half of 2019.

(FBI)

The FBI’s Preliminary Uniform Crime Report offers insight into the crime rates in the first six months of 2020. Information about arson offenses in the US is different from other property crime types in the FBI’s UCR Program.

Arson offenses were up in the entire US. The increase was most prominent in the West (28.0%) and the lowest in the South (10.2%).

19. 4,947 white Americans got arrested for arson in the United States in 2020.

(WebMD, Statista, FBI)

Property crime statistics reveal that about 90% of all arsonists are male, and they are usually white. A total of 6,291 persons were arrested for arson-related offenses in 2019. Out of those, only 1,553 were African American. In addition, law enforcement agencies apprehended only 125 Asian offenders.

20. The average arson damage amounted to $16,371 in 2019.

(FBI, Statista)

Motor vehicle arson damage was $8,057 on average. The most damage occurred in arsons of industrial structures ($190,336). The single-occupancy residential category also suffered a lot of damage—$30,308 on average.

Interestingly, while industrial structure arsons caused the most damage, police solved only 24.1% of these cases.

21. Juvenile arson statistics report that 50% of arsonists are younger than 18.

(WebMD)

FBI and US Fire Administration statistics indicate that half of the arsons are committed by underage persons, while the rest of the arsonists are primarily in their late 20s.

The primary motive of juvenile arsonists is anger. Considering that most arsonists are mentally disabled, and most profiled arsonists have an IQ below average (70–90) and fewer means of expressing emotion and anger, it is clear why this combination is fatal.

When older people commit arson, it is most likely a crime motivated by financial profit, such as insurance.

22. FBI’s property crime statistics show that 33,395 arsons were reported in 2019, 4.9% less than in 2018.

(FBI, Statista)

In the FBI report FY 2019, 42.2% of arson involved structure, residential, public, or storage. Furthermore, 35.2% of reported arson destroyed crops, timber, fences, and similar. The mobile property accounted for 22.6% of arsons. In 2019, arsonists set 8,898 motor vehicles on fire.

23. In 2019, about 21.1% of arsons got cleared.

(PI Now, Statista)

Even if arson is responsible for billions of dollars in lost or damaged property each year, not many arson-related fire investigations lead to arrests.

Property crime facts state it is hard to prove arson. The evidence, most likely, went up in smoke (pun intended) or was destroyed while firefighters were putting out the fire using water and chemical foam.

The principal witnesses are firefighters or first respondents. That is why an investigator—usually a knowledgeable ex-firefighter or a trained professional—will ask them about the smoke color, the possible odor of an accelerant, and the condition of windows/doors.

Theft Statistics

All crimes where someone unlawfully takes away another person’s property are considered theft (synonymous with larceny).

The gravity of the conviction for this crime depends on the stolen property’s value. “Petty theft” is considered a misdemeanor, and “grand theft” is a felony and can cost you many years of your life.

24. In 2020, 4,606,324 larceny-theft cases were reported in the US.

(Statista, Statista)

Larceny-theft statistics show that these numbers are lower than the ones in 2019 when 5,152,267 thefts were reported. Theft, like all other property crimes, has been on a steady decline since the early 1990s. The highest figures were in 1991, when people reported 8,142,228 thefts.

Stealing items from motor vehicles (except motor vehicle accessories) is the most common type of larceny-theft; car burglary statistics have reported 1,046,216 cases.

25. In 2019, the larceny arrest rate for minors was highest in Nebraska (952 arrests).

(Statista)

The lowest larceny arrest rate (for every 100,000 persons in the age group of 10–17) was in West Virginia—only 33 persons under 18 got arrested. Alabama, North Dakota, and Montana also show high larceny arrest rates—808, 747, and 724 detained minors, respectively.

26. Out of all the crimes that get reported, 79.5% are motor vehicle thefts.

(Pew Research Center)

As reported by property crime stats, other commonly reported property crimes include trespassing/burglary (48.5%), personal thefts/larcenies (30%), and household thefts (26.8%).

However, the clearance rate was higher for violent crimes. Law enforcement officers cleared only 18.4% of larcenies/thefts, 14.1% of burglaries, and 13.8% of motor vehicle thefts.

27. Shoplifters lift more than $13 billion worth of merchandise annually.

 (HG.org Legal Resources)

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) gives us insights into shoplifting statistics.

First, the profile of a typical shoplifter doesn’t exist. Men and women shoplift equally, and about a fourth of shoplifters are below the legal age. More than half of older lifters started doing this crime while they were teenagers.

Second, in the last five years, only 10 million people have got caught shoplifting, even though 1 in 11 people have shoplifted at least once in their lives. Additionally, only 1 in 48 lifters gets caught, and only half of those caught get prosecuted.

Third, the majority of shoplifters stop at this crime; they usually do not “evolve.” Shoplifting is a pervasive form of property crime; according to property crime facts, a total of 904,975 cases were reported in 2019.

28. Art theft results in $6 billion in stolen art in the US every year.

(HG.org Legal Resources)

Furthermore, you have only about a 10% chance of recovering the piece stolen from you. Frustrating, isn’t it? You cannot admire the work of art in fear that somebody’s skillful hands might artnap it and hold it for ransom.

29. The average value per stolen vehicle was $8,886.

(FBI, Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA)

Unfortunately, car owners are growing complacent and leaving their keys inside a car, which a thief passing by cannot help but notice. Motor vehicle theft statistics show that a staggering number of 229,339 motor vehicles were stolen this way between 2016 and 2018.

Ford Pickup and Chevrolet Full Size Pick-Up were the two most stolen cars in the US in 2020—44,014 and 40,968 cases, respectively.

So, if you own one of the freshest machine models on the block (and even if your ride is an old, beat-up one), consider getting a car security alarm; it might save you the headache.

Property Crime—the Bottom Line

Although the United States’ crime rates have been decreasing since the early 1990s, property crime facts show that crime is still running rampant. Law enforcement agencies are quicker to look into violent crimes, while property crimes rarely get reported and even more seldom solved.

However, this is not an indication that property crimes are less dangerous. After all, they threaten our security in our own home, our cars, or on our land.

These crimes are mainly preventable. Preventing burglary, for example, requires that you start thinking like a thief, eliminate all the things that could make breaking into your home, and purchase some security devices.

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The current global pandemic and lockdowns have brought change into every aspect of our lives. The most recent home improvement statistics show a considerable spike in numbers compared to previous years.

With transitioning to working and studying from our homes came the need to make a home more comfortable and suitable for work, learning, and leisure. With canceled vacations, closed restaurants, and a lack of outdoor fun activities came an increase in disposable income and time to finally check some home improvement projects off of our to-do list.

Unlike during previous recessions, home improvement has remained a bright star in the economy, even marking record revenue growth.

Let’s hear some facts, crunch some numbers, and see some trends for 2021.

Home Improvement Industry Statistics

1. Approximately 50% of US homes were built before 1980.

(Eye On Housing)

Homes are getting older, and with a housing shortage on the market, many homeowners are investing in home improvements instead of moving.

As homes age, the need for renovation and remodeling grows. Older houses are usually not built with the same quality materials and technology available to us today. Upgrading an old structure can also be cost-effective and safer in the long run.

2. Remodeling statistics for 2021 show the average price of exterior projects was around $15,000.

(brick&batten)

The decisions to remodel certain parts of the house largely depended on staying safe. The exterior projects, like roofing, fencing, and replacing gutters, were the ones that required hiring pro contractors as long as the working crew didn’t enter the home and endanger the health of the family.

3. The most commonly undertaken home improvement project in 2020 was interior painting.

(HomeAdvisor)

According to home improvement statistics, 35% of homeowners decided to tackle this task. Not only is this project possible at a relatively low cost, even if you are renting the place and have no possibilities to make drastic changes, but it also offers instant visual change. Moreover, it is pretty easy to DIY, which explains why it sits on top of the list.

In addition, remodeling industry trends show that people avoid indoor remodeling projects they can’t complete themselves. In the era of social distancing, it is no wonder that people are wary of others entering their homes. It’s worth mentioning that 45% of those taking on a painting project were millennials.

4. 28% of homeowners reckon it is more affordable to renovate than to move.

(iPropertyManagement)

Surveys on the US home improvement show that the longer you live in a home, the more likely you are to renovate instead of move. The aging generation wants to remain in their homes and live in peace as long as possible.

The most common home improvements enhance accessibility (smart toilets, walk-in tubs, elevators) and safety (thermostats, security systems, smoke sensors). Moreover, smart security cameras allow family members to monitor the well-being and security of their loved ones.

Millennials, who now comprise the majority of first-time home buyers, also choose to renovate. Online networks, such as Pinterest and Instagram, are an essential source of inspiration for younger generations.

5. By 2025, home improvement sales in the US are predicted to amount to $620 billion.

(Statista)

In 2021, these sales came up to $538 billion. The most popular chains in the home improvement retail industry were Home Depot, Lowe’s, 84 Lumber, Tractor Supply, and Ace Hardware.

Home Depot earned the most in sales in 2020 (over $130 billion) and is the US’s leading chain. Even though it is still the largest in the home improvement market in 2021, it ranked fifth on the list of customer satisfaction.

6. 70% of US citizens decided to undertake some home improvement projects during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

(Remodeling)

The desire to renovate their homes is increasing as people spend more time at home during the lockdown. Many surveyed Americans dedicated their time to home improvement in 2020. Moreover, millennials who lived in older homes spent more money renovating those old homes to fit the latest trends.

According to the home improvement industry statistics for 2021, this increase in home improvement activity could decline as people return to their regular daily routines.

7. In 2020, 41% of consumers stated that their home improvement projects’ main reason was to make the home better suited for evolving lifestyle needs.

(HomeAdvisor)

During the time pre-COVID19, the home used to be a mere living space. However, the pandemic has taken us all on a wild ride. It has affected all aspects of life—including work, education, and outdoor activities. Thus, homes have been turned into multifunctional spaces for work, school, and living. Home improvement industry trends have therefore changed.

8. 77% of millennials invest in smart home upgrades.

(HomeAdvisor, iProperty Management)

They spend 60% more on home improvement and do 30% more projects on average. Smart home enhancements are becoming more and more popular with technology-addicted and trend-following millennials. Younger generations spend a lot more money on smart additions to their home than the Baby Boomer generation, as recent home improvement statistics indicate.

Although the latter group is less tech-savvy, they invest in so-called aging-in-place home improvements that can significantly assist them in their day-to-day lives.

9. 80% consider a business that displays its Better Business Bureau Accreditation to be honest and ethical.

(The Better Business Bureau)

When examining the industry data, BBB showed that being honest, credible, and ethical in business and forming good relationships with clients goes a long way. More than 80% of US consumers are more likely to trust a company and purchase from a business rated A or higher.

Many companies rely on online customer insight. Transparency is of high value in the home improvement market, especially nowadays, when most searches for supplies and contractors go online, even if products are ordered and delivered.

10. 61% of home improvement companies use digital presentation tools, and Google Slides is one of the most popular ones.

(Hatch)

The home improvement industry had to adapt to new demands quickly. Social distancing made in-person presentations difficult, if not impossible. The sale strategies evolved, and meetings soon resumed, albeit mostly virtually or outdoors, keeping a safe distance between the parties involved.

11. The average home improvement cost is a whopping $44,000–$75,000 for a complete house renovation.

(Remodeling Calculator)

However, a lot of homeowners decide to tackle a renovation room-by-room. Most home improvement costs are 5–10% higher than in 2020 due to the shortage of materials (primarily lumber) and qualified workers.

12. For 64% of homeowners, their home means more to them now when they’ve made some improvements.

(Store Brands)

Furthermore, this survey shows that 58% of renters would like to own a home because they could do more with the living space; 56% of homeowners want to learn gardening, while 51% have bigger plans for improving their homes in 2020.

Home improvement industry statistics also show some fascinating shifts in spending—46% of the people surveyed stated that they would spend the money they have spent on home improvement elsewhere in “normal” circumstances.

13. 27% of homeowners would choose to improve the kitchen if given $10,000 for home improvements.

(HomeAdvisor)

Furthermore, 70% of people cook more at home, so the need for a good kitchen is obvious. The kitchen upgrade is consistently among the most wanted and planned upgrades, based on the home remodeling statistics, and it can certainly prove to be the most expensive.

The bathroom, as expected, came second (18%), and outdoor space enhancements were the third most desired project.

14. 70% of homeowners put some projects on hold due to COVID-19.

(Sears Home Services)

Why is this alarming? Some of these repairs were long overdue (19% decided to leave critical maintenance for another day), and that can cause serious safety issues. One in five homeowners admits they are aware delaying repairs can jeopardize their safety.

15. Home improvement market share will likely increase by 1.5% in 2022.

(IBISWorld)

The home improvement industry is ranked 48th most prominent in the US with a value of $235.3 billion. Moreover, it has grown by 5.3% per year between 2017 and 2022.

16. The South spends 35% more on emergency home repairs.

(HomeAdvisor)

The Midwest is safer regarding home emergency spending. That can be attributed to it not being in an area where earthquakes, wildfires, and hurricanes are frequent.

The South spends more on emergencies due to the hurricane impacts. The emergency spendings are around 10% higher in the Northeast and West than in the Midwest.

17. Home improvement spending increased from $745 in 2019 to $8,305 in 2020.

(HomeAdvisor)

Being confined at home has made people more aware of all those cracked floor tiles, scraped flat surfaces, mismatched furnishings, chipped paint, and old faucets that seem to start dripping when it’s time for resting. The more you look at something, the more problems you see—hence the need to purchase the supplies for fixing all those eyesores.

Home Improvement Industry Trends for 2021 That Are Here to Stay

As the pandemic extended into 2021, social distancing and staying at home continued with it. Again, more time spent at home and more disposable income led to planning and completing new home improvement projects. People adapted to the current situation and found new ways to make the best of it.

We compiled a short but entertaining list of the latest trends and tendencies in home improvement.

18. The price of typical home office improvement averages $1,000–$2,000.

(HIRI)

Home remodeling industry statistics show that home offices are still trending, as many expect that they will continue working from home even after the pandemic is over. Homeowners spend the most money on lighting, floor coverings, and paint that they use to convert or repurpose unused space into a much-needed workspace.

19. The Smart Home market profit is estimated to be $46.767,4 million in 2025.

(Statista, Global Market Insights)

Moreover, the home improvement market size is estimated to exceed $1,120 billion by the same year. Tech-savvy millennials pay attention to the latest technology trends and are more likely to invest in smart home improvements.

The other commonly overlooked group of people who rely on smart home improvements more is the elderly. For them, some smart home upgrades, such as smart smoke detectors, can mean the difference between life and death.

20. Homeowners invest around $600–$4,500 on average in outdoor projects.

(HIRI)

Current circumstances made people think outside the box, and it also manifests in the home improvement trends. Multifunctional outdoor spaces provide an excellent way of staying safe during the pandemic and still having the possibility to get outside, relax, and have some fun.

Backyards have become a place for safe unwinding from the long day of working and studying from home. Nothing is better than ending your day or spending the weekend with family, barbecuing, and resting on your new comfy garden chairs. In addition to that, you can even have a cup of coffee with a guest in the fresh air.

This trend is here to stay strong among home remodeling trends, especially as we spend more time in home confinement.

21. 21% of homeowners bought their products online.

(Pro Remodeler, HIRI)
There has been an apparent decline in in-store purchases of home improvement supplies. However, the retail industry isn’t the only one that relies on doing business online.

Many home improvement firm owners state that they hire more staff to implement new, more interactive ways for customers to get project estimates without contractors entering their homes. The switch to online working also means the “death of home shows,” as Tanya Donahue, president of RIKB Design + Build, says.

22. Home improvement spending statistics indicate that a smaller bathroom remodel will cost you from $5,000 to $10,000.

(HomeGuide)

Spaces to decompress have become a necessity. Stress has been a constant part of our everyday lives during the pandemic, and there is a desire for a Zen spa-like atmosphere, primarily regarding bathroom improvements. At the end of a long day spent inside four walls, drawing a relaxing bath and de-stressing in an at-home spa sounds very appealing.

23. Using energy-efficient appliances can save you up to 30% of the electricity bill every year.

(Fool, Green Journal, Green Journal, EnergySage)

Energy-saving equals money-saving—it’s one of the best-known home improvement facts. The typical American family is spending around $1,500 a year on electricity alone. Even if installing some eco-friendly upgrades can cost a pretty penny, going green cuts the living cost over the long term. For example, purchasing widely available LED bulbs and other energy-efficient appliances can save you a considerable amount of money.

If you install solar panels, you can save as much as $30,000 during your solar panel system’s lifetime. Environment-friendly upgrades, such as solar panels, better insulation, and rainwater collecting are becoming more and more common. Home improvement statistics suggest that millennials and GenZ are leading the way in eco-friendly home updates.

Take a look at some renewable energy stats; this is bound to convince you to try going green(er).

24. Transforming unused space into a home gym typically costs $300–$800.

(HIRI, HIRI)

You can fulfill your leisure needs while staying safe. Projects of this sort are among the most widespread trends. Home gyms and home theaters are the most popular. People spent the most money on floor mats, paint, and basic electrical.

Still, there are some exceptions. According to remodeling industry statistics, one homeowner reported that he invested $22,000 into a home theater. He hired a professional company to undertake this task, and workers have used outdoor access to the basement, so the family stayed safe.

However, as the pandemic subsides, we can expect that these home improvements will lose in demand and popularity.

25. 90.3% of homeowners who plan and complete projects are highly DIY confident.

(HIRI, HIRI)

Home renovation statistics reveal that homeowners rely on themselves to do more minor upgrades, like installing new light fixtures, doing the painting, and similar. Turning to DIY instead of hiring a professional is easily understandable. Family health and safety are the priority, and many homeowners say that they avoid bringing others into a home as much as they can.

Moreover, some have even learned the how-tos of many household projects. There hardly is a better time to pick up new skills to maintain your home. The DIY segment is now, more than ever, tightly linked to home renovation trends because the newfound interest in DIY has brought many new customers into the game. The likelihood of DIY being trendy in the foreseeable future is very high.

26. 61% of respondents have tried gardening.

(Porch)

Getting some fresh air during quarantine is a must. More than half of homeowners have done some work outdoors. Garden landscaping (and even growing some produce) is the most popular exterior project. Science has, after all, found gardening therapeutic.

27. Home improvement statistics show that 30% of homeowners will keep paying for the work they don’t know how to do.

(HIRI)

Although the pandemic drastically changed people’s perspective on what can and cannot be DIYed, homeowners will still hire professionals for certain services instead of doing them themselves.

The statistics for 2019 show that 18.6% reported they purchased lawn maintenance services, 13.5% hired pest/insect control, and 13.2% hired HVAC maintenance professionals.

Hiring professionals for these tasks will continue post-pandemic. We can also see the return to more significant projects done by pro contractors (bath and kitchen remodeling are on the top of the project list).

Home Improvement Retail Industry Stats

28. Both Home Depot and Lowe’s have seen strong revenue growth; their net sales rose by 23% and 20%, respectively, with the shift towards online shopping.

(CNBC)

Craig Menear, the CEO of Home Depot, said that their online sales marked 80%—of year-over-year growth. More than half of the products were delivered to the store and then picked up by a customer. Curbside pickup has also been a popular method of delivery.

In addition, Lowe’s online sales have shown an impressive number of 106%—double the previous year-over-year.

29. 85% of home improvement retailers’ market share consists of Home Depot and Lowe’s combined.

(Seeking Alpha, Statista, Statista)

They are still the North American home improvement market leaders, but they also have had significant changes due to the ongoing pandemic. For example, Home Depot’s revenue increased by 7.1% in Q1 2020. On the other hand, the situation with e-retailers is different. Amazon is the leader in this area, with 38.7% of US e-sales in 2020.

30.  Home improvement industry statistics predict that the DIY segment will reach $680 billion in 2025.

(Insider Intelligence)

Shopping for DIY supplies and projects will decline as everyday life resumes. Even though the DIY industry segment is only estimated to grow, many think that returning to normal activities, events, and work will affect spending on DIY projects and bring back professional contractors into the picture.

31. Home decor industry statistics show that Bed Bath & Beyond, IKEA, and Wayfair are the top leaders in the US home decor and furnishing industry.

(Allied Market Research, arganoUV)

The global home décor market is forecast to reach $838.6 billion by 2027, while the US market is estimated to be $202 billion in 2024.

These numbers are the product of constant style changes and trends. New home décor can quickly help achieve the desired aesthetics and make space pleasing and functionally practical.

32. 45% of Home Depot and 47% of Lowe’s shoppers are women.

(Floor Daily)

This is clear proof that the home improvement industry is not all about men. Home improvement statistics point out that a significant percent of the DIY and home improvement industry consists of kitchen equipment and home decor that are traditionally the favorites of women of all ages.

33. Ace Hardware hit the score of 863 out of 1,000 and was named the most satisfying home improvement retail store in 2021.

(Statista, Ace Hardware)

Since 2006, Ace Hardware was ranked first 13 out of 14 years (2007–2017, 2019, and 2020). Customers especially praise this chain for its staff and service.

Furthermore, as home improvement industry stats show, Ace Hardware had 5,300 stores in the US in 2020, which was a lot more than Home Depot (1,973 stores).

Conclusion

Taking all things considered, we can easily observe that the home improvement industry will survive and thrive. People will always need more or less significant home improvements. The tendency to renovate instead of move will most likely continue.

On the other hand, when life goes back to normal after the pandemic, home improvement sales are predicted to fall (mainly in the DIY industry). People will, after all, try to resume their pre-pandemic daily activities that most certainly don’t include isolating inside four walls all day.

The numbers will undoubtedly fluctuate, but who knows, maybe some people will decide to stick with the hobbies and DIYing they picked up while in quarantine, and the high sales will continue.

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As a renter, you should be familiar with the renters insurance statistics, especially nowadays, in light of the ongoing pandemic and the economic consequences it caused.

Unfortunately, the consciousness regarding this issue isn’t at a high level. People are still struggling to coordinate between their everyday life and new circumstances that took place. Still, we should keep in mind that securing ourselves as renters might be more important these days than ever before.

Thus, stay with us and get familiar with all the relevant statistics on this topic.

Renters Insurance Facts

Even though trends regarding renters insurance are prone to change, some facts seem consistent over the years. For example, every household usually spends a large part of their income on rent, and it doesn’t seem like this will change any time soon.

1. 41.5% of renters spent a minimum of 30% of their income on rent in 2019.

(iii.org)

Judging by US Census’ renters insurance stats, almost half of renters spent at least 30% of their household income on rent and utilities. Also, Florida is the state with the highest percentage among all states—52.4%.

2. Theft is the most common claim regarding renters insurance.

(Mavon Insurance)

This fact tells a lot about the society we live in. Furthermore, the process of filing a renters’ insurance claim isn’t complicated. In conclusion, if you are a renter, it is best to keep your possessions protected.

By the way, storm damage and flooding are the next two most common claims.

3. 27% of renters insurance customers have difficulties understanding what their policy covers.

(Qualtrics)

Renters insurance statistics point out that most examinees stated the insurance plan was confusing and difficult to understand. Also, many of them could hardly understand what the policy covered and comprehend the deductible.

This should be a signal for the renters’ insurance providers to try and make contracts clearer and easier to understand for an average customer. It is of essential importance that users know what their policy covers, and what their rights and obligations are.

4. 33% of consumers stated that more detailed information would make shopping easier.

(Qualtrics)

Renters insurance facts show that a third of consumers say that renters insurance often doesn’t explain all the required information. Thus, they feel like the purchase would be easier if the policy provided more detailed information. In addition, the same number of examinees stated the comparisons between plans should be more explicit.

5. 25% of examinees think the information on renter’s policies isn’t concise enough.

(Qualtrics)

A fourth of questioned customers explained that the information provided by the company should be more concise. Almost the same percentage of respondents (24% to be precise) feel like renter insurance rates aren’t crystal clear and the pricing information needs to be more transparent.

6. 84% of customers plan to keep their current renters’ insurance coverage.

(Qualtrics)

The majority of respondents are satisfied with their current rent insurance coverage. Thus, they are willing to keep the same policy. On the other hand, 11% plan to increase their coverage, while only 5% want to decrease it.

Homeowners vs. Renters Statistics

In the last few years, the number of rented units (as opposed to homeowners) has been through some changes. These days, the number of people who own their apartments is dropping.

7. In 2021, the homeownership rate dropped by 2% in the US.

(iii.org)

In Q2 and Q3 2021, the homeownership rate stood at 65.4 percent, down from 67.4 percent in Q3 2020. Moreover, New York state renters insurance statistics from 2020 show that NY had 53.6% of owner-occupied households. West Virginia was first with 78.2%, while Delaware was second with 77.9%, and Maine was third with 77.1%.

8. The renter share of occupied housing units decreased to 35.4% in 2019.

(iii.org)

Even though the renter share had increased from 2010 to 2016, it began declining since then, renters insurance statistics and facts confirm. To illustrate, the rate was 36.4% in 2016, and it fell to 35.4% in 2019.

It is interesting to note that 49% of rental housing in 2019 belonged to people younger than 30.

9. Renting is now more common among family households and people between 35 and 64.

(iii.org)

In the 2000s (and the years before that), renters insurance industry statistics imply that families and people from 35 to 64 were usually owners of their homes. However, since 2016, the trend has changed, and families and the stated age groups more often become renters.

10. The number of high-income renters has been on the rise since 2016.

(iii.org)

We’ll take a step back here since the last available data is from 2018. Still, between 2016 and 2018, the number of high-income renters increased. That is a radical change compared to previous years.

In comparison, 93% of renters’ growth was made by low-income households in the 2000s, renters insurance information facts show.

11. In 2019, New York was the metropolitan area with the highest percentage of renting households (27%).

(iii.org)

It is expected that the Big Apple has the highest percentage of renting households, as it is a city where most of its population wasn’t born there. Rental statistics show that Los Angeles follows New York with 24%. San Diego and Miami share third place, with 21% of renting households. Also, San Jose is fourth with 20%, based on 2019 research.

Renters Insurance Cost

We have already mentioned the low number of renter insurance users, even though the insurance itself can be affordable. Moreover, we’ve tried to find some of the cheapest renters insurance policies for you and show you how much time you need to get an insurance policy.

12. The average renters insurance price is $326 annually.

(Travelers)

This means that the average cost of renter insurance in the US is $27 monthly. That is the insurance policy price with a recommended coverage level of $40,000. Of course, the cost differs based on the coverage level and your state. Thus, it is best to consult an agent and see which option will suit your needs.

13. On average, it takes less than half an hour to get renters’ insurance.

(Clearsurance)

This is one of the encouraging statistics on renters insurance. In most companies, it can take anything from five minutes to half an hour to apply for this type of insurance. Still, the approval time depends on the company.

When signing a policy, you decide when it will begin. You can sign the day you bought the policy or some day in the future (it can usually start in a few months tops, usually three).

Renters Insurance Trends

In times of progressing and transforming digitalization, the trends in the insurance industry have changed as well. Here are some of the hottest trends in the last few years.

14. 51% of consumers consult an insurance agent before purchasing renters insurance.

(Qualtrics)

More than half of surveyed people said they would consult an insurance agent before buying a renters policy, renters insurance facts prove. Keep in mind that it is always best to consult an agent and get familiar with all the options you have in front of you since this might save you from a potential financial loss.

15. 73% of customers who have used an agent earlier would do it again.

(Qualtrics)

Lately, it looks like people are more willing to take advice from an expert and ensure the best yet economically affordable policy to meet their requests. On the other hand, 12% of consumers who didn’t use an agent earlier would do it the next time they purchase a renters’ policy.

16. Renters’ insurance market share is estimated to be worth $4.0 billion in 2022.

(Ibis World)

Although the growth in the last few years (2017 to 2022) has been much higher—1.9%, the market size is expected to decline to -1.7 in 2022. This is a little step back for the industry. Still, it is somewhat expected, with the pandemic and the effect it had on the economy in general.

Renters Insurance Stats by State

Not only do the prices of renters’ insurance differ from one company to another, but they also vary from one state to another.

17. Louisiana is the most expensive state for homeowners insurance.

(iii.org)

The average expenditure in Louisiana is $2,037. Oklahoma is very close, with $2,000, while Florida is slightly cheaper, with average spending of $1,988. Texas is fourth with $1,982, followed by Rhode Island with $1,731.

On the other hand, the cheapest renters insurance cost is in Oregon, with an average of only $727. Utah, Wisconsin, and Nevada follow with less than $800.

18. In 2019, West Virginia had the highest percentage of owner-occupied housing units.

(iii.org)

Besides West Virginia, there are Delaware, Maine, and Alabama. On the other hand, the District of Columbia has the lowest share of the housing units occupied by owners. The next one is New York, followed by California, Hawaii, and Nevada.

19. Renters insurance in Michigan costs $155 a year.

(The Zebra)

If you were wondering ‘How much is renters insurance in Michigan?’, here is the answer. This means its rates are lower by $29 compared to the national average.

Still, to make sure you have bought the most economical renters’ insurance, you should compare the prices across the state. For example, companies like Frankenmuth Insurance offer low prices, up to $102 a year. The next most affordable company would be Hastings Mutual with $111 annually.

20. Renters insurance in Utah costs $135 per year.

(The Zebra)

So, we’ve seen that Michigan is rather affordable when it comes to renters’ insurance prices. But how much is renters insurance in Utah? Utah offers renters’ insurance policies cheaper than the national average. The typical fee for annual insurance would be $135, which is $49 less than the national average.

Allstate seems to have the cheapest offer of $105 for a year, followed by AAA, whose insurance costs $110. State Farm and MetLife come next, with average prices of around $121.

21. Renters insurance in Oregon will cost you $114 annually.

(Monkey Geek)

You can purchase renters’ insurance in Oregon for less money than in other states. So, how much is renters insurance in Oregon? While the national average is $159, it is about $46 less in Oregon. So, Oregon renters insurance is cheaper by almost a third of the national fee—29%, to be exact. Of course, the price differs from one company to another, but MetLife is said to have the lowest prices, as low as $88 annually.

22. Renters’ insurance in Arizona is $157 a year.

(The Zebra)

As opposed to the three states we’ve previously discussed, Arizona’s average renters’ insurance cost is higher than the national average. Still, exactly how much is renters insurance in AZ? To illustrate, renters’ insurance in Arizona is $27 higher than in other states.

Furthermore, American Family offers one of the most economical renters’ insurance policies, costing $121 annually. In second place is ACA with $122, while State Farm, Farm Bureau and Travelers offer $126, $127, and $129, respectively.

23. Renters insurance in California costs $195 a year.

(Value Penguin)

California real estate statistics show renters insurance in California cost is slightly higher than the national average. While the national average is around $160 a year or $13 per month, in California it is $16 per month. State Farm offers the lowest costs for policies, with an average of $13 monthly, which is $3 less than the state’s average. Besides State Farm, Liberty Mutual offers similar prices, while the policies of others are usually higher.

Why Are Renters Insurance Statistics Important?

Even though most renters aren’t aware they need renters’ insurance, it is a great benefit, especially for people living in places prone to natural disasters. Of course, people aren’t excited about purchasing renter’s insurance in the heat of the pandemic, but if you give it a thought, it can turn out to be more valuable than you believe.

In conclusion, renters insurance can help you preserve your economic independence if anything goes wrong, from a natural disaster to burglary and theft.

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According to the FBI, mortgage fraud is classified as a sub-category under Financial Institution Fraud as it involves criminal schemes targeting financial institutions.

In 2021, 65.5% of American citizens owned their own homes, and with continued demands for real estate, it’s not surprising that more people want to take on the housing market.

These mortgage fraud statistics give us a preview of how big these scams could be and how deceiving these illegal companies are. More scam operators seem to be running their ‘business’ as they see opportunities arise.

It pays to know what to watch out for and stay vigilant whether you’re looking to buy a home, are a homeowner, or working in a financial institution.

Mortgage Lender Frauds

1. In Q2 2020, somewhere around 0.61% of all mortgage applications included fraud.

(Core Logic)

That translated to about 1 out of 164 applications containing fraud. Then again, it showed a decrease from the year before. In other words, in the same quarter of 2019, approximately 0.81% of all mortgage applications (or 1 in 123) included fraud.

2. Mortgage fraud cases from 2021 involved a mortgage company loan officer confessing to long-running, large-scale mortgage fraud.

(Justice)

He confessed it in December. More specifically, Isaac DePaula was a long-time fugitive charged by criminal complaint 10 years ago and by indictment 6 years ago. Then he came back to the United States in March 2020 to face the charges in the indictment.

Moreover, according to mortgage fraud data, DePaula and his conspirators engaged in this large-scale mortgage fraud through a company called Premier Mortgage Service from 2006 to 2010. The offense to which Isaac pleaded guilty has a maximum fine of $1 million and a maximum potential penalty of 30 years.

3. In 2020, 12 defendants were charged for approving over 100 mortgages based on fraudulent files and false data.

(Justice)

So, similar to other real estate fraud cases, it entailed several individuals. The mortgage fraud allegedly lasted for over four years.

Moreover, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured a great part of these loans, ending in claims paid for mortgages that have undergone loan modification.

4. A man conned elderly victims and charged monthly fees for illegal foreclosure and eviction delay services, gaining $10 million from the scheme.

(Federal Housing Finance Agency)

One of the mortgage fraud cases in 2019 involved a San Fernando Valley swindler who collected $7 million from unknowing homeowners. Furthermore, his total netted gains from the theft portions of the scheme was $10 million.

Types of Mortgage Fraud

5. There are two main areas of mortgage fraud.

(FBI)

These cover crimes of misstatement, misrepresentation, or concealing critical information that could affect a bank’s decision to approve a loan, accept a reduced payoff amount, or agree to certain repayment terms. Any lie that would affect the bank’s decision would be considered fraud. Mortgage statistics indicate that there are two types of mortgage fraud, and they are listed below:

Fraud for Profit

These mortgage lender frauds are usually from industry insiders with the particular knowledge and capabilities to take on certain transactions that will lead to fraud. Fraud for profit aims to get cash illegally during the mortgage lending process.

Fraud for Property

This type of fraud aims to take over home ownership where a borrower or applicant provides inaccurate information on income details or lures an appraiser into tweaking the property value.

6. There are at least nine mortgage fraud schemes.

(FBI)

The types of mortgage frauds vary in nature, and the FBI has widened the scope of financial institution crimes to cover fraud affecting homeowners.

7. The Corporate Finance Institute categorizes three types of mortgage fraud.

(CFI)

More specifically, they are the following:

• Income fraud (An example of such fraud may include a borrower claiming self-employment income that isn’t real or providing a false job title. A variation of income fraud is identity theft.)
• Appraisal fraud (This is one of the mortgage fraud trends when the property appraisal that a borrower is requesting a mortgage loan on is purposely overstated or understated. To commit this fraud, a potential borrower must collide with a dishonest appraiser.)
• Occupancy fraud (An example of such fraud is when a potential borrower states they plan on occupying a property as their primary residence to obtain the most favorable loan terms when they don’t plan on living in the property. That’s because loans on primary residences have lower interest rates.)

Mortgage Fraud Trends

8. A lender is required to complete a minimum of 10% sample size of the Quality Control review.

(Fannie Mae)

The Federal National Mortgage Association, more commonly known as Fannie Mae, has released a Selling Guide that lenders use when conducting their business.

It lists down comprehensive and essential details on the process of lending. One of the reviews it requires is a mortgage post-closing investigation or a quality control review performed every month. According to it, a lender must provide a 10% of mortgage loan or at least one loan sampling, whichever is higher.

9. In 2020, Undisclosed Real Estate Debt Fraud Risk decreased by 24.5%.

(Core Logic)

Generally speaking, this happens when an applicant provides misinformation about outstanding debt or previous foreclosures. In 2020, this mortgage lender misrepresentation showed a decrease from the previous year when it was 37.9%.

10. At least 500 fraud tips have been received every quarter since 2019.

(Fannie Mae)

Moreover, from Q3 2019 to Q2 2020, the majority of received fraud tips were from lender self-reports. On the other hand, most fraud tips received from Q3 2020 to Q2 2021 were from FNMA Internal.

11. Income Fraud had the highest count in mortgage fraud stats on closed fraud tips.

(Fannie Mae)

Out of the fraud tips received through the Fannie Mae fraud reporting line, Income Fraud was the most common with more than 900 tips, followed by Employment Fraud with 800 and Liabilities with 500 tips.

12. California had the highest percentage of closed fraud tips with findings from Q3 2019 to Q2 2021.

(Fannie Mae)

Mortgage fraud statistics share that the top 10 states having the highest number of closed fraud tips with findings from Q3 2019 to Q2 2020 were California, Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Arizona.

From Q3 2020 to Q2 2021, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Colorado, Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, and Washington were in the top 10, mortgage fraud facts show.

13. There has been an increase in loan applicants with young job tenure.

(Core Logic)

False college transcripts and diplomas are typically added to the short tenure of young borrowers. Since 2018, mortgage loan applicants having less than one year tenure have an increasing trend falling around 4.5% for first-time home buyers.

14. Fraud risk growth is the highest in Idaho, Alabama, Mississippi, New York, and Delaware.

(Core Logic)

Mortgage fraud statistics by the state show that several indicators are affecting year-over-year risk.

Property fraud is a top fraud indicator in Idaho, Mississippi, and New York and has decreased by 9.9% nationally from Q2 2018 to Q2 2019. That occurs when information, such as a property appraisal, is intentionally misrepresented.

Idaho and Alabama’s top fraud indicator is Transaction fraud, where transactions, such as agreements and down payments, are falsified or misrepresented.

Another loan fraud crime risk is Occupancy fraud, where applicants lie about the purpose of a property (residence or investment), which could affect pricing and underwriting guidelines. In fact, Alabama and Delaware have occupancy fraud as one of their fraud indicators. Nationally, this decreased by 2.0%.

Both Mississippi and New York have Income fraud as a risk indicator. This type of mortgage fraud happens as a misrepresentation of the amount, source, existence, or income continuance. It has decreased by 7.7% on the national level.

Mortgage Fraud Red Flags

15. Fannie Mae has listed 63 entities appearing to be fictitious.

(Fannie Mae)

These entities are listed as employment places in California, but the mortgage fraud program could not confirm their existence. Some of the red flags are: starting salary appears high, supported employer does not exist, and TPO / broker loans.

16. Occupancy Fraud is one of the most common red flags.

(Asurity)

To recognize this type of red flag, lenders need to keep an eye on several things. Namely, they include buyers who offer evidence of living “rent-free” in their residence, appraisals involving expected rent payments, and very large down payments.

Mortgage Fraud Facts

17. In Q2 2019, there was 1 possible fraudulent application in every 123 mortgage applications.

(Core Logic)

That’s equivalent to 0.81% of mortgage applications with fraud indications. In addition, it had a minor decrease from 2018’s figures of approximately 0.92% or 1 in every 109 mortgage applications.

18. The mortgage application fraud risk index went up by 37.2% in Q2 2021.

(Core Logic)

The CoreLogic 2021 Mortgage Fraud Report shares that risk followed a significant decline in 2020. More specifically, the drop was primarily driven by the pandemic’s surge in traditionally low-risk refinances.

Furthermore, the fraud risk in the second quarter of 2021 is similar to that in mid-2019.

19. New York, Florida, and New Jersey are the top three states regarding risk ranking.

(Core Logic)

In fact, New York has had a risk increase of 8% year-over-year. The risk in Florida has dipped by 4%, while it has dropped by 21% in New Jersey.

Conclusion

These mortgage fraud statistics cannot be taken lightly after unknowing victims could lose their hard-earned money. Homeowners must practice utmost vigilance given that homeownership rates in rural areas go as high as 81.1% and identity theft usually targets seniors. Preventing identity theft is important, but If you become a victim, here is how to file a report for identity theft.

The whole process of buying a property or doing a refinance can be overwhelming. Factoring in the current pandemic crisis, it’s clear why everyone should be alert and remember to report mortgage fraud immediately.

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Around 7.8 billion people live on planet Earth, so it’s quite logical that we can’t all share the same opinions or have the same outlook on life. Still, some resort to violence to make their point. Unfortunately, hate crimes occur every day worldwide because of someone’s affiliation or beliefs. 

It seems that more and more people are victims of bias-motivated crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been tracking and monitoring hate crimes since the Hate Crime Statistics Act was passed in 1990. Therefore, the crimes committed because of someone’s race, religion, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation are all included in the FBI’s hate crime statistics. 

We should all be aware of the hate crimes that happen around us. The following are the latest hate crime stats that everyone should know. Let’s take a closer look. 

FBI Hate Crime Statistics 2019 and 2020

Since the 1990s, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has been tracking the number of hate crime incidents. The hate crime rate peaked in 2001, with 9,730 incidents. The majority of the following hate crimes were driven by religious or ethnic bias, as the FBI stats on hate crimes show. Let’s go into more detail below. 

1. At 61.8%, race and ethnicity are at the top of the list of bias motivation categories for victims of single-bias incidents in 2020. 

(The US Department of Justice) 

FBI crime statistics show that race, ethnicity, and ancestry were the biggest motives for hate crimes in 2020. Sexual orientation was in second place with 20.0%, followed by religion as motivation with 13.3%. According to disability hate crime statistics, there were 130 registered incidents motivated by disability in 2019. 

2. In 2020, 232 offenses were listed as hate crimes against society. 

(FBI)

FBI statistics on hate crimes reveal that there were 232 offenses listed as crimes against society in 2020. These crimes include activities such as gambling, sex work, and drug crimes. They usually don’t result in casualties. 

3. In 2020, 28.9% of hate crimes happened in or around victims’ houses. 

(FBI)

Homes and neighborhoods are not as safe as we think. According to FBI crime stats, 28.9% of hate crime incidents happened in residences or near them. 19.9% of incidents occurred on roads, sidewalks, or in alleys. 4.2% took place in schools/colleges, while 6.5% happened in garages or parking lots. 

4. Nearly half of hate crimes were driven by anti-Black or African-American bias. 

(BBC News)

Of 4,930 victims of racial or ethnic hate crimes, 48.5% were black, while only 15.7% were anti-white bias victims. Furthermore, as racial hate crime statistics show, 14.1% were victims of anti-Hispanic while 4.4% were victims of anti-Asian bias. 

5. Hate crime murders reached their peak in 2019. 

(CBS News) 

FBI hate crime data show that hate crime murders reached an all-time high in 2019. The federal hate crime statistics report reveals that 51 people were victims of hate-motivated manslaughter, which was 27 more victims than the year before. 

6. In 2020, there were 7,750 hate crime offenses categorized as crimes against persons.

(FBI)

More specifically, hate crime statistics by the FBI confirm that over 53% of them were for intimidation, almost 28% were for simple assault, and nearly 18% were for aggravated assault. Moreover, 22 murders and 21 rapes were also reported as hate crimes

7. In 2019, there were 48 more hate-driven aggravated assaults than the previous year. 

(VOA News) 

According to the FBI hate crime statistics, the Bureau reported 866 in 2019, an increase from the 818 hate assaults the year before. Both years, race and ethnicity were the biggest motives for those assaults. 

8. The FBI registered 8,052 single-biased crimes in 2020. 

(The US Department of Justice) 

The latest stats on single-biased crimes show they are increasing. For instance, in 2020, the number of such crimes was higher by 949 more cases. In particular, in 2019, there were 7,103 single-biased crimes, only to increase to 8,052 single-bias incidents in 2020. 

LGBTQ Hate Crime Statistics

Violence in response to someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation is known as a homophobic hate incident. The US hate crime rates show that LGBTQ hate crimes are more common than other hate crimes. Most incidents are recorded as anti-gay. Below are a few terrifying hate crime stats based on gender identity or sexual orientation. 

9. In 2020, there were 1,451 hate crime incidents based on gender or sexual orientation. 

(Statista)

According to statistics on hate crime, more than 1,400 hate crime incidents recorded in 2020 resulted from anti-LGBTQ violence. The most frequent were the anti-gay hate crimes, with over 670 incidents in 2020.

10. Hate crime incidents targeting LGBTQ people in Germany are growing. 

(Reuters)

It’s a pity, but the hate crime percentage is generally increasing. Attacks documented in Germany on those classified as LGBT+ are on the rise. Based on the hate crime data, this number increased by 36% in 2020. 

11. Eleven transgender people were fatally injured or shot dead in 2019. 

(USA Today)

Since 2013, when the FBI first started recording them, attacks driven by discrimination against transgender and non-binary people have generally increased. As the Human Rights Campaign pointed out, 11 trans people were shot or murdered in 2019. According to transgender hate crimes statistics, the number of incidents based on gender identity increased annually. 

12. A survey notes that in four out of seven given scenarios, those aged 18–34 feel pretty uncomfortable around LGBTQ people.

(Time)

In detail, those four scenarios included:

• learning a doctor is LGBTQ
• knowing my child had an LGBT history lesson at school
• learning a family member is LGBT
• having a child in a class with an LGBT teacher

13. There were 1,395 incidents based on sexual orientation in 2019. 

(FBI)

Gay hate crime stats show that 1,395 offenses based on sexual orientation were recorded in 2019. Of those crimes, 867 were anti-gay and 142 were anti-lesbian offenses. There were 342 incidents involving a mixed group of anti-gay, lesbian, and trans people. According to hate crime statistics by year graph, 1,395 incidents involved 1,429 victims in 2019. 

14. There were 227 victims of gender identity hate crimes in 2019. 

(FBI)

When it comes to gender identity, the numbers of hate crime cases are smaller than sexual orientation-driven incidents. According to transgender hate crime statistics, there were 151 anti-transgender incidents and 173 anti-trans offenses in 2019. Only 190 offenders were caught. 

15. More than 80% of LGTBQ people from the European Union recall bullying incidents from school days. 

(European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights)

Of all the LGBTQ people surveyed by European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 26% said they were violently harassed in the last five years. Trans hate crime statistics show that around three in ten respondents were victims of violent incidents. Almost 60% of victims who suffered violence believe that they were attacked because of the offender’s perception of LGBTQ people. 

16. In England and Wales, there were 2,928 sexual orientation hate crime offenses in 2020/21.

(Statista, The Guardian) 

Moreover, gay hate crime statistics reveal that from January to August 2021, a minimum of 14,670 homophobic hate crime offenses were reported in the UK. In comparison, during that period in 2020, there were 11,841, and in 2019 — 10,817 such offenses. 

Religious Hate Crime Statistics

Religious hate crimes are acts that target an individual, group, business, or institution because of their faith or lack of it. Even the law guaranteeing that we all have the right to uphold our beliefs and express them in peace doesn’t protect us, which is why we’re left to protect ourselves by using high quality stun devices to deter potential attackers.

According to the United States hate crime statistics, incidents based on religion are among the most common incidents. The following are religious hate crime stats recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

17. There was a 14% rise in hate crimes against Jews in 2019.

(Sun Sentinel)

In 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation documented 953 hate crimes against Jews, which was a 14% increase compared to 835 documented hate crime cases the year before. According to hate crime rates, attacks against Jews accounted for 62% of all religious-based hate incidents. 

18. The FBI recorded 104 anti-Islamic hate crime incidents in 2020. 

(Jewish Virtual Library)

According to Muslim hate crime statistics, 104 anti-Islamic hate crime incidents were recorded of all 1,174 religious-based hate crimes in 2020. Around 124 victims were involved in hate crime incidents that were identified as anti-Islamic. 

However, there was a drop of 103 victims compared to the previous year, as hate crime statistics by year show. 

19. In 2019, anti-Buddhist incidents were the least common religiously motivated hate incidents. 

(Statista)

With just five anti-Buddist incidents in 2019 recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this type of incident was at the bottom of the list. The US hate crime statistics show that there were only six anti-Atheist incidents in 2019. Furthermore, seven Anti-Hindu and anti-Jehovah’s Witnesses incidents were recorded that year. 

20. Between 1996 and 2019, the highest number of religious hate crimes was recorded in 2001. 

(Jewish Virtual Library)

According to hate crime statistics in the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded 1,828 religious hate crimes in 2001, the highest number recorded between 1996 and 2019. That marked a 24% increase in religious hate crimes compared to the previous year, as hate crimes by year graph shows. 

Conclusion

These hate crime statistics reveal that the hate crime rate is slightly growing. Even worse is the fact that only recorded crimes are included in the statistics, meaning that the actual number of hate crimes is much higher. 

Through the years, racial bias has been most common. Gender bias hate crimes are at the lowest rate. The FBI still hasn’t published statistics about hate crimes in 2020, but we can hope that the numbers will be lower for the year. 

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