that because of how their parents raised them, homeownership was the only choice for them. “We thought about our children,” says James with a smile. “We thought about our younger sisters and brothers and felt that this is not only something for us, but it can be a teaching tool for them and the kids we work with.”
Now it’s up to you to take your first step toward homeownership. If you haven’t purchased a home yet, check in at blackenterprise.com regularly for the launch of the next BE Own Your First Home Contest in 2006.
MORE INSPIRING STORIES OF FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS
Nearly 1,000 families and individuals entered our inaugural Own Your First Home Contest. In addition to being a first-time home buyer who met the credit requirements, each entrant was required to write a brief essay about his or her pursuit of homeownership. While only one entrant could win the $10,000 prize toward their down payment, hundreds of others were winners, too. They were inspired by the contest to take action and make their home buying dream a reality. Included among these new homeowners are three entrants contest judges identified as runners-up:
- Aisha Thomas, a 27-year-old single mother of a 2-year- old son, bought her first home in Pontiac, Michigan, after seven years of renting.
- Donna Pearman-Davis and her husband, Maurice, both 37, moved into their first home in Matteson, Illinois, with their three teenaged children.
- Shade Akande, 31, a single, professional woman who also designs wedding gowns and evening wear, bought her first home in Auburn, Georgia.
- Our runners-up received a $250 gift card from Lowe’s, a BE Wealth-Building Kit, checkbook holder (embossed with the 10 principals of our Declaration of Financial Empowerment), and a two-year subscription to BE. To read the complete stories of these new homeowners, visit blackenterprise.com.