(DNAINFO) Amy Zimmer —

It’s harder to get a mortgage loan in the five boroughs than it is for the rest of the country — and it’s especially difficult for blacks and Hispanics, according to a new analysis by real estate search engine StreetEasy.

Nationwide, roughly 12 percent of mortgage applicants are denied. In New York City, more than 18 percent are, StreetEasy researchers found, looking at 2013 mortgage data. The higher denial rates are likely because the city’s higher prices require larger loans, StreetEasy’s Alan Lightfeldt said.

Looking at a breakdown among racial groups, there are stark disparities. Denial rates are greatest for black households — nearly 34 percent of applicants are denied — which was almost double the rate of white families, which saw nearly 16 percent of loan applications denied.

Source: NYC Home Ownership Most Elusive for Blacks and Hispanics, Survey Finds – Canarsie – DNAinfo.com New York