By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com and Fatiha Belfakir, Special to the AFRO The real estate industry is an ever-growing industry. While selling and buying properties can bring stability and prosperity, the process can be challenging at times. Understanding and the education about house markets, states’ programs, and banks’ […]
Category: Baltimore News
Posted inBUSINESS
Reginald F. Lewis Foundation hosts essay-writing contest for Baltimore City Public School students
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation is currently calling for submissions to its student writing contest. Baltimore City Public School (City School) students are encouraged to read or listen to “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?” by Reginald F. Lewis and Blair […]
Posted inBUSINESS
O’Hara Development Partners unveils renderings for new community park in East Baltimore Midway neighborhood
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com O’Hara Development Partners (O’Hara), a Baltimore-based community development company, recently unveiled its renderings for a new park in the East Baltimore Midway neighborhood. The Ujamaa Cove Park will provide residents with a community garden, children’s play area, stage and ample green space for […]
Posted inWord In Black
Free and reduced meal no longer automatic, public schools now accepting applications year round
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor We are still in a global COVID-19 pandemic, but with many returning to pre-pandemic routines, most school schedules across the nation have also returned to the pre-pandemic area. That means that school meals nationwide are no longer automatically free. Parents must now sign up and qualify for free school lunches, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Monica Lewis steps into new role as senior director of communications for Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Communications
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps Member, tmcqueenafro.com Monica Lewis has known she wanted to write and work in the media field since she was in third grade. The idea persisted throughout high school and college, where she combined her love of sports with her passion for writing. The Howard University […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Top renovations to increase the value of your home
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member, msayles@afro.com Michael Washington started doing construction work when he was just 16 years old. His father was a musician, and although Washington also had a talent for music, he wanted to forge his own path. He was first introduced to the trade by a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Seven tips for selling your property
By Kara Thompson, Special to the AFRO, kthompson@afro.com Selling your home can be something that takes a lot of time, energy and effort, especially if you’re a first time seller. But luckily, you don’t have to do it on your own. Whether you’re downsizing or upsizing, moving across the country or down the street– these […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Breaking News: New report highlights the impact of school conditions and underfunding on Baltimore City Public School students, faculty and staff
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America Corps Member, tmcqueen@afro.com The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) has released a report comparing the state of Baltimore City Public School buildings to those in other counties across Maryland. The JHSPH report, titled “School conditions and educational equity in Baltimore City,” highlights the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Skewed figure: how biased appraisals are underestimating the value of Black homes
Baltimore couple’s home rises nearly $300,000 in value after White colleague stands in for appraisal By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business WriterReport for America Corps Membermsayles@afro.com and Kara Thompson, Special to the AFROkthompson@afro.com Nearly a year ago, Baltimore couple Nathan Connolly and Shani Mott decided that they would capitalize on the housing market’s historically low interest […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Real estate expert opinion: what to know before you buy a home
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, Report for America Corps Member msayles@afro.com When it comes to building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth divide, homeownership has become a key pathway. Buying a home is a long-term investment, and because houses typically tend to appreciate, it’s one that pays off overtime. As homeowners pay off […]
Posted inNational News
Black millennials are trying to close the gap in homeownership
By Nicole D. Batey, Special to the AFRO, nbatey@afro.com Millennial buyers are the primary driver of Black homeownership in the U.S. Housing market right now. Many are leaving rental life behind to purchase their first home or investment property in pursuit of having equity and building wealth. According to Realtor.com estimations, there will be at […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Black-led mortgage company announces new program for Black Baltimoreans
By AFRO Staff Legacy Home Loans, one of the leading Black-led mortgage firms in the country, recently announced a mortgage loan called “Closing the Gap.” The loan was created to assist Black Americans in becoming homeowners and will target those seeking loans in six major cities across the nation. The Las Vegas-based company recently announced […]