In 2017, Ke’Andre Nash became SouthFair’s youngest homebuyer, at 20 years old
Becoming a homeowner seems like a daunting task for many, which is why SouthFair has implemented programs and workshops, as well as employed counselors to help lower and middle-income individuals and families obtain affordable housing. For the last 30 years, SouthFair has helped close to 1500 individuals and clocked countless hours of free counseling. But a few years ago when a teenager walked in through SouthFair’s doors inquiring about the newest builds, something new for SouthFair was about to happen. And that something new was Ke’Andre Nash, who would go on to buy a house at 20 years old.
Meet Ke’Andre Nash
Growing up, Ke’Andre’s Pawpaw would constantly instill the importance of having the ownership of property. “That’s what my drive came from,” says Nash. He was prompted to act quickly when he learned he had a child on the way. After high school and after applying for FAFSA, Ke’Andre was still left with over $10,000 that he couldn’t make up so he chose to forego that plan. Instead, his job at Amazon was paying him enough to consider entering the homebuying process.
The process wasn’t 100% glamorous. Nash was initially under contract for a house but lost it when he didn’t have enough to cover closing cost. But that didn’t derail his plan; he considered it an investment. By having been through the experience once before, Ke’Andre knew about needing approvals, appraisals, and much more than any average teenager. So when he walked into SouthFair’s office, inquisitive about what projects they were building next, he was ready when Executive Director, Annie Evans, informed him of the upcoming townhomes. That’s all he needed to know before taking the initiative to get started on the paperwork and applications that would land him in a bank with a lender impressed at how intelligent he was at such a young age.
What Being a Homeowner Means
Being a homeowner means everything to Ke’Andre. “My kids have a place to lay their head. My family has a house. And I’m the first homeowner in family,” he shares. Before owning his home, he stayed in an apartment with his family owned and managed by SouthFair, just 20 feet away. He has a daily view as a reminder of the apartment that once was home to his brand new home that he owns and calls home today. Ke’Andre looks at what he used to have and what he currently has and continues to dream for more. His goal is to continue to build in Dallas… and become a millionaire by the time he’s thirty. And from the looks of it, it’s doable.
Ke’Andre has already seen the return on his investment, calling it the best he’s ever made. But it exceeds financial security. “My homeboys, nephews, nieces can come over whenever they need to,” says Nash. “I do my own home repairs on my car in my backyard.” Ke’Andre knows the value of homeownership.
Plans for the Future
At the moment, Nash is saving for a second home. He would like something bigger, in order to provide for his extended family. He would then utilize his first purchase by converting it into a rental space. Ke’Andre is still aiming to be a millionaire by thirty. In the meantime, he’s working on saving, helping his mom get her credit situated, supporting his friend’s business, and preparing for his baby boy due in July.
Ke’Andre’s advice is simple: “What you don’t know, go ask. People won’t give you the answers. Research. Google: what do you need to buy a home?” And when you could use some assistance on budgeting, walking the process, or anything regarding the homeownership process, feel free to give SouthFair a call!
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