In efforts to help students start on the path to financial freedom, the Investment Club held free seminars to inform students on how to buy their first home.
The real estate investment classes, held at Tallahassee Community College’s Workforce Development Center, began Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. and ended approximately at 1 p.m.
Klarque Garrison, founder of Taylor Inc. and a FAMU alumnus, was the speaker at the investment seminar.
Garrison said Taylor Inc., which sponsored the event, is a real estate investment firm that provides real estate investment training and education, mentorship, consultation and home inspection for the purposes of securing and financing real estate investment deals.
He said he could not recall anyone giving him information when he was in school about real estate and how to invest properly.
“It took me until the age of 30 receive the information that you are getting now. We are here and we offer something different. The things that we teach, college students aren’t being exposed to. Most students just worry about working for someone after graduating and that’s it,” Garrison said.
Candice Jones, a pre-med student from Tampa, said she believes most students do not have good enough credit when they graduate from college to buy a home.
“I think that the Investment Club is focusing on the wrong topic. Buying a house is the last thing on my mind. Students relate to topics things that effect them immediately. If your credit is messed up, then you can’t get the house,” Jones said.
Garrison said in the seminar that college student’s main reason for not investing early was fear. He said students don’t want to worry about a home when they start out in the workforce.
Some students seemed to appreciate the Investment Club for trying to inform them about the different options available.
“If I didn’t know anything about real estate, I would just have to trust the realtor,” said Nate Seabrooks, a 22-year-old Monticello native and criminology student at Florida State University. “I can always sell the house and get money back so that is an investment to make money off of.”
One student has already made that investment and is glad that he didn’t wait to buy a home.
“When it’s time to move out of your apartment, all you have is boxes. But a good portion of what you spent on your home comes back to you,” said Brandon Freeman, a business administration student from Atlanta.
Freedman, 22, said students who want to buy a house should know the steps.
“Apply for a loan and get pre-approved to get an idea of what you can spend and then look for a neighborhood to live in.”
For students who have doubts about buying a home early Freedman said, “Buying a house is not permanent and there are no penalties for selling a house. If you plan to live somewhere for at least two years you should definitely buy a home.”
Contact Sarah Chester at famuannews@hotmail.com