Nekia Walker
“Saving toward your goal is much more important than temporary pleasure. A home is a whole lot better and more secure than two hours in a movie theater.”
After college, Nekia Walker moved to DC to become an InnKeeper for Samaritan Inns. Her position with the 21-year-old nonprofit involved providing supervision and support for homeless individuals recovering from addictions and working toward independence. Samaritan Inns’ InnKeepers manage transitional group houses where men and women stay as they learn the skills they need to live on their own. This experience underscored for Nekia the appeal and value of living in your own home, so she’s saving for one through an individual development account with the help of CAAB and the Manna, Inc. Homebuyers Club.
Now serving as the administrative assistant and office manager for Samaritan Inns, after her tenure as an InnKeeper ended, Nekia started out in August saving $50 a month toward her home, and increased the amount to $80 per month starting in October. Her goal is to complete her savings by March 2007. Because of her participation in the Manna Homebuyers Club, Nekia was eligible to enter a lottery where winners are able to claim affordably priced condos that Manna is in the process of building or plans to build in the future. Nekia hopes to have the opportunity to call one of those condos her own, but if that doesn’t work out, she will search for a condo independently.
“I prefer a condo because I don’t want to mow the lawn, and do maintenance outside the house,” Nekia said. “I’d rather pay the condo fee. I plan to live there for five years and eventually move into a single family home. I just turned 24, and I see myself around 30 entering a new phase of life.”
Right now Nekia rents a basement apartment in Columbia Heights. “I would love to find a condo in this neighborhood because I love it. It’s the only part of DC I know,” Nekia explained. “I’d prefer to live in Northwest because there’s a lot going on and my life and friends are here.” Originally from Brooklyn, Nekia loved DC as soon as she moved here and plans to stay. “I’m starting to establish wonderful relationships while I’m here so it feels like home.”
Nekia said figuring out her financial priorities, including paying off credit card debt while saving for a home, has been challenging. She’s found it tough as well to say no to her friends when they want to go out and spend money. “I have to say no to social engagements. I have to watch my spending in regard to food. If I weren’t trying to reach any goals, I could live more comfortably.” At the same time, Nekia knows that it’s worth it to forego entertainment to reach her goal. “Saving toward your goal is much more important than temporary pleasure. A home is a whole lot better and more secure than two hours in a movie theater.”
Participating in Manna’s home buying training classes has given Nekia more confidence in her understanding of what it takes to become a homeowner. “I was part of the fast track program at Manna, where you attend every third Thursday a training about credit, financial planning, predatory lending, et cetera. Every fourth Thursday you visit properties. It helped me to become more knowledgeable about terms used in home buying. I knew the words equity and predatory lending but I didn’t know what they meant, and now they’re a part of my language. Now I understand how important it is to have good credit. It made the home buying process less intimidating.”
“I don’t know what makes it mean so much to me, but this will be my first place of my own,” Nekia said. “My walls right now don’t belong to me. It will feel wonderful to be in my own home where I can do what I want to do. It will show that I can accomplish this and it’s a great investment financially for my future. It will establish my identity that I am officially an adult.”
