Like I said, I'm sure the real answer isn't "never". But for how common? Nobody knows unless/until they compare what that appraiser has been doing for assignments involving minorities vs non-minorities. That's the only way to tell how consistently that appraiser has been treating people.
If 15% or 20% or more of all buyers or borrowers are minorities then they will also be present among whatever percentage of appraisals come in "low". And no appraisal that comes in low will simply be accepted at face value - those all get reviewed by another appraiser at the lender level in order to enable them to explain their refusal. So when a reviewer who hasn't met anyone (including the appraiser) agrees with the appraisal it isn't just one person's opinion.
I already explained how a mortgage broker can write a letter to a lender with their package that will prompt that lender to take additional steps to make sure they don't screw up, and how that can affect the outcome of the 2nd or 3rd appraisal. Again, that's not "always" but it's also not "never". The words "racism" and "HUD investigation" are going to leave a mark when used in a loan application, whether people are willing to acknowledge that or not.
As for deals getting shopped from one lender to the other because the property didn't appraise the first time, that's also more common than people realize. Some of those lenders go on to fail during the real estate busts, others survive. Way of the world.
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