How This Young Couple Built $87K in Equity Using Leverage
- By Jim Blackburn
- on
Client Profile:
- Names: Jordan & Briana (first-time buyers)
- Ages: 28 & 27
- Occupations: Teacher and IT support specialist
- Goal: Stop renting and “start building something”
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
The Situation
In 2020, Jordan and Briana were renting a two-bedroom apartment for $1,650/month. They had saved $14,000 and were hesitant to buy — worried about debt, timing, and “getting stuck” with a mortgage.
They reached out after reading about the concept of leverage on our site. We explained how real estate allows everyday people to control a large asset (a home) using a small portion of their own money — and have the rest financed, while still keeping 100% of the growth.
The Strategy
We helped them:
- Get preapproved with just 3% down
- Find a move-in ready $290K single-family home in a growing suburb
- Lock in a 30-year fixed rate at 3.25%
- Accept a seller credit that covered nearly all closing costs
Out-of-pocket at closing: $8,700
Monthly mortgage (PITI): $1,815 — just $165 more than their rent
The Results (3 Years Later)
- Home value: $360,000
- Loan balance: $267,000
- Equity gained:
- From appreciation: $70,000
- From loan paydown: $17,000
- Total equity: $87,000
They also began contributing $300/month into a “next home fund” and are now planning to turn their current home into a rental when they move up next year.
What They Said
“We didn’t really understand leverage until you showed us the numbers. We thought we had to wait until we had 20% down. Now we’ve got nearly 6x what we put in — just by living in our own home.”
Takeaway for Readers
Buying with leverage is not about taking on “debt.” It’s about using other people’s money — responsibly — to grow your net worth faster than you could on your own.
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