The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionalsblamed more stringent underwriting standards and higher mortgagefees for driving down the numbers of Hispanics who own homes.

The group's State of Hispanic Homeownership Report surveyed 100leading Hispanic Realtors in the U.S. and asked them what moststands in the way of Hispanics' abilities to buy their own homes.The Realtors ranked tight mortgage credit, housing affordabilityand down payments as the three leading barriers to Hispanichomeownership.

The group found that despite 54,000 new Hispanic homeowners in2014, the rate of Hispanic home ownership dropped to its lowestlevel since 1999.

The organization said it would release the full report on March30.

“The State of Hispanic Homeownership Report shows gains inemployment, education and income for Latinos, representing the hugeinfluence Latinos have, not only in the housing market, but on theU.S. economy as a whole,” Jason Madiedo, president of NAHREP, said.“Access to affordable mortgages for Latino home buyers would helpsustain a healthy housing market and benefit a general economicrecovery,” he added.

The organization also reported Hispanics formed 320,000 newhouseholds in 2014, which represented about 40% of all newhouseholds nationwide and that 38 million people in the U.S speakSpanish, but 60% of them also speak English “very well.”

In addition to Texas, California and Florida, Georgia (107,000),Arizona (96,000) and North Carolina (95,000) had large Hispanicpopulation growth in 2014.

Finally, the Realtors expect 2015 to be a breakout year, with65% of the agents surveyed forecasting a stronger year for Hispanichome buyers.