Building Wealth Through Multifamily Investing:

My Journey and How I Help First-Time Homebuyers Do the Same

Hello Black Adult Society, my name is Jamael Romans. I am a Loan Officer with United Mortgage based in Woodbury Long Island NY and I am a proud multifamily investor in Canarsie, Brooklyn. For years, I’ve helped clients secure financing for their first homes and more importantly, helped them use real estate as a tool to build long-term wealth. The strategy I believe in most, and the one that has consistently delivered results for me and my clients, is multifamily investing as a first-time homebuyer.

I didn’t just learn this strategy from a book or a seminar, I live it. I own my own multifamily property, and it has been one of the smartest financial decisions I’ve ever made. Now, I dedicate my time to guiding others through the same path so they can experience the stability, equity growth, and financial freedom that multifamily ownership can provide.

Why Multifamily Works for First-Time Buyers

When I talk to first-time homebuyers, I always remind them that buying their first property doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, when you choose a multifamily home, it can become one of the most financially supportive decisions you’ll ever make.

One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a two- to four-unit home as your first property is the ability to take advantage of low owner-occupant interest rates. As long as you live in one of the units, you qualify for significantly better rates than investors who buy rental properties. This simple factor alone can save you thousands over the life of your loan.

Another major benefit is increased purchasing power. Us as lenders will allow you to use the potential rental income from the additional units to help you qualify for a higher loan amount. That means you can afford a property that may have seemed out of reach if you

were only looking at single-family homes. For many of my clients, this one detail is what makes homeownership possible.

And maybe the biggest perk of all: your tenants help pay your mortgage. By renting out the other units, you dramatically reduce your monthly housing expenses. I’ve seen clients go from paying high rents to living in their own home for less than they used to spend on rent and sometimes even living for free. That difference each month isn’t just extra money. That’s wealth building!

Financing Options That Make It Possible

You can purchase a multifamily property using either an FHA loan or a Conventional loan, and both have great advantages depending on your situation.

· FHA allows for 3.5% down, even on 2–4 unit homes.

· Conventional loans offer competitive terms and can require as little as 5% down.

Both options require that you live in one of the units for at least 12 months, which is what makes this strategy so powerful. You get owner-occupant benefits while still stepping into the world of real estate investing.

What Happens After Year One

This is where things get exciting. After living in your property for a year, you can explore options like cash-out refinancing, which lets you tap into the equity you’ve built. From there, you can buy your next multifamily and repeat the process, or you can move into a single-family home for more space, while your rental property covers a portion (or all) of your lifestyle expenses.

This is how ordinary people build extraordinary financial futures.

Real Clients, Real Results

I’ve helped countless families close on multifamily homes, and watching their lives transform is the best part of what I do.

Jamael Romans - [email protected]

(954) 589-8495