I never really envisioned myself as a homeowner, and feel a little bit like a sellout. The housing system in this country feels so broken: The people who need the stability of ownership are rarely in a situation to attain it, and infuriating reports about corporations competing with normal families on the increasingly expensive market makes me want to scream! But I was also getting tired of renting, and my wife and I needed more room for our high-energy puppy. For all the half-baked anticapitalist rants I am prepared to unleash, I must admit: The process also intimidated me. I had no clue where to start, who to contact or whether I should even bother trying. But thankfully New Level CDC had a class for newbies.
The first-time homebuyer course is a one-day mega-lecture that walks you through the steps of how to buy a house, from getting your savings in order to finding a real estate agent to getting insurance. The step-by-step instruction is easy to follow, and each section of the course is taught by someone you can actually work with — it feels less intimidating walking into a bank when you’ve already met the loan officer. The class is taught in the basement of Mt. Zion in North Nashville, and also caters to folks who might be the first homeowners in their families. We took the class in April and closed in September, and we love our new home. So here’s a big thanks to instructor Antoinette Jenkins and her dream team: financial coach Tonesha Talley, loan officer Marie Holmes, real estate agent Denise Moore, home inspector Julian Lindsey and insurance agent Celestia Ware.
—Alejandro Ramirez
Managing Editor, Nashville Scene
Our notes of gratitude to the community advocates, health care workers and others who make Nashville special
