When I bought my first home in 2021, I quickly realized that despite hours of late-night research and countless conversations with friends who’d already been through the process, there was still so much I needed to learn. Like many first-time homebuyers, I found myself wading through unfamiliar terminology, navigating complex financial decisions, and trying to separate helpful advice from well-meaning but outdated guidance.

This experience sparked something in me. I kept thinking about how different my journey might have been if I’d had access to straightforward, culturally relevant information that spoke directly to my experience as a young, Black, Millennial homebuyer, not just the basic “how-to” guides that populate Google searches, but real, nuanced conversations about everything from generational wealth building to finding the right professionals who understand our community’s unique challenges and aspirations.

That’s why we’re launching “My Home Buying Experience,” a comprehensive series that will walk you through every step of the home-buying journey. We’re bringing together financial experts, real estate professionals, and recent homebuyers to share their knowledge, insights, and personal stories. This isn’t just about mortgages and closing costs – though we’ll certainly cover those. It’s about empowering our community with the information and confidence needed to make one of life’s most significant investments.

Over the next few months, we’ll explore everything from preparing your finances and understanding different loan options to navigating appraisals and closing day celebrations. We’ll tackle tough conversations about redlining’s lasting impact and current market challenges while highlighting resources and strategies for overcoming potential obstacles.

Whether you’re actively house hunting, saving for a down payment, or just starting to consider homeownership, this series is for you. Let’s embark on this journey together, supporting each other as we work toward making homeownership an achievable reality for more members of our community.

Here’s to building wealth, creating memories, and turning houses into homes.