Real Estate, Faith, and Building Generational Wealth with Kenny Agbim

**[: 00:00:00

Hey, ladies and gents, this is your girl, Brianna Jovahn, and we are here with another episode of *What's Good Podcast.* As you can see, we have another guest with us. His name is Kenny. How are you?

**[: 00:00:12

I'm blessed.

**[: 00:00:13

All right. So we're still in season eight and we're focused on real estate. So as you guys know, we do not have interviews; we have genuine conversations. So let's get into it.

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That's right.

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All right. What we usually do is start the conversation with an icebreaker. Are you ready for your icebreaker?

**[: 00:00:28

I think so. I think I'm ready.

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I promise we, it's not going to hurt you. Okay. So, as a former collegiate basketball player, what if you had a chance to assemble a team of historical figures for a three-on-three game? Who would be on your team and why?

**[: 00:00:47

Ooh, we getting off with some heat, huh? Okay. When you say historical figures, are these athletes or is it anybody?

**[: 00:00:56

It could be anybody because again, there may be people who are strategic that can play the game. There could be people who are athletic that can play the game. So, however you feel.

**[: 00:01:06

And I just gotta assume they can hoop, right? Okay. Okay. So, historical figures for a three-on-three game. I'm on the team too.

**[: 00:01:17

Right. Or you could be a coach.

**[: 00:01:19

Let's say that. I'm gonna coach him up. I'm gonna coach him up. So, I would love to coach if I had to talk about greats. Muhammad Ali would be a historical figure for sure. I think he has a good mental, keeps the team driven, a good mindset with everything like that.

Another person that would definitely be on my squad, I would put Pele. Played soccer, Brazilian legend.

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Okay.

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I would put him on the squad just because he can move a little bit, get us a good audience, get us that global feel, make some noise.

**[: 00:01:57

Huh.

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If I had to pick one other person, I'd get my man, Mandela.

**[: 00:02:03

Nice.

**[: 00:02:06

Yeah, that'd be my squad. We go undefeated, by the way.

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I love that.

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Yeah, you got to. I feel like they each got their own different elements that they would add to the squad.

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Different approaches, for sure.

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Ali would be my dude that holds down the paint, the tech part of it. You know what I mean? Then I would have my man Pele running through, dancing off folks, and then, you know, Mandela's just gonna smooth things out. People don’t like losing. He's gonna throw the assist, dish it out, keep it cool.

**[: 00:02:32

Okay. Look at you, you got it planned from A to B. Okay, so let's go ahead and get into our conversation. We usually start off with who is the guest. So, who is Kenny?

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Man, Kenny is a lot of things. Kenny is growing. Kenny is ever-evolving. Kenny is a man that is God-fearing, loves God first. Kenny is an older brother, a realtor, an entrepreneur as well.

I think the best way to define myself, if you encompass everything that I'm involved in, is I'm a servant leader. All of my businesses encompass service. So, my goal in life is to help other people accomplish and live their dreams.

I believe that real estate, and other things outside of real estate but primarily real estate, is a great way to help people accomplish that.

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I love it. So what was a pivotal point of your life where you realized, “Okay, I know I’m a servant, but how am I going to use the gifts that God has given me to help people?” Why did you choose real estate?

**[: 00:03:39

That's a great question. I had to take that back to when I really learned to understand what it meant to serve.

Growing up, I always thought that the mindset of having wealth and being in that type of space meant that you had to be within yourself. And at times, especially in school, I found myself very driven and very motivated, but all of the knowledge and things that I was gaining stayed within me.

So, when I finished and graduated college—I graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9—

**[: 00:04:19

Congratulations.

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Glory to God. That’s a whole different journey we could talk about. But within a year, a lot of my peers were reaching out to me, asking for help, advice, and different things.

I had to take a step back and say, “Wait a minute, there's a gap.” As I started to dig deeper into learning about the economy, I realized a quote that always sticks with me: 90 percent of millionaires attribute their wealth to real estate.

And, you know, in our population, as African Americans, we own the least amount of real estate. So, what better way to bridge that gap in wealth than by converting us from consumers to owners and helping to accomplish their goals in home ownership?

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So, how are you educating yourself so you’re able to provide the information that you mentioned you received? You said there’s a gap in giving. How are you educating yourself to stay with the trends and things of that nature?

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That's a great question. First of all, I love what I do. I am so fulfilled with how many people thank me for whatever we help them accomplish—whether it’s building their credit, saving money on bills, or buying and selling houses.

I always give that joy and glory back to God because He puts these people in front of me. My job is to be a good steward of what's in front of me.

The joy that I get cultivates my motivation to continue to learn and grow. Before I entered real estate, I was a financial advisor for over half a decade. I served dentists, doctors, and medical professionals across eight states.

That gave me a really strong foundation in numbers, the market, and how money ebbs and flows. When I coupled that with real estate, my passion intersected with my preparation.

Now, I’m eager to learn, grow, and I have a great team behind me. I work with the largest brokerage in the world, Keller Williams, and we have amazing resources to stay updated and educated on the market.

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So, I’m wondering, when there’s a situation where you may not know the answer, do you go to your team or do you do your own research? What does that process look like?

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I love that question. Everything you’re asking me is building out from my past, right?

**[: 00:07:21

Right, right. It’s a little therapy session.

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Yeah, yeah, yeah, a little bit. And the reason I love that question is because I grew up in a family of immigrants. I’m the oldest and the first-generation African American in the States where my family lineage is concerned.

What that has meant in my life is I’ve had to figure a lot of things out on my own. So, I’ve become extremely resourceful in finding the right answers, opportunities, education, and programs my clients need.

I always tell people: A professional is somebody who knows what they know and has the confidence to give you everything they know to help. But it’s also somebody who has the humility to tell you when they don’t know, yet has the resourcefulness to go and find that answer.

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That’s good. So, what does your team look like? You mentioned you have a wonderful team at Keller Williams, the biggest brokerage. What does your team look like when it comes to assisting you and collaboration?

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Where I’m concerned, the core of everything I do starts with God—keeping God at the center of what we do and aligning my steps to ensure I’m going in the right direction.

As it breaks down to my personal team, I work with phenomenal loan officers. We have access to over 100 down payment assistance programs this year in Texas.

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Just for people who don’t know, what is a loan officer?

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Great question. In real estate, when people think about buying a house, they often just think about the realtor, but there’s a lot more involved. A loan officer is equally as important as me.

The loan officer looks at your finances—your income and credit—to make sure you can get pre-approved to buy a house. They’re with me every step of the way, handling the numbers and the money side of things.

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So, you have a loan officer. What about credit repair?

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Yes, we also have a credit repair team. A lot of people don’t know this, but there are two types of credit: mortgage credit and consumer credit.

Some credit repair experts only fix consumer credit, but that can actually derail your mortgage credit. Consumer credit is for things like credit cards or cars, but mortgage credit has much stricter guidelines because it’s a 30-year loan for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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That’s good to know because a lot of credit experts say, “Dispute this to take it off and increase your credit.” But you’re saying, for mortgages, that might hurt more than help?

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Exactly. Everybody’s situation is different, but disputes can sometimes raise red flags for lenders. They might wonder, “What’s actually going on here?” because a dispute doesn’t necessarily mean something has changed—it just means something was challenged.

**[: 00:11:52

Okay, so we’ve got loan officers, credit repair—anybody else on the team?

**[: 00:11:56

Yes! Shout out to our marketing guru, Harrison, who does videos and content for the team. We also have our back-office staff: Kim, Josh, and Sarah.

Josh and Sarah are leaders of our market center, and Kim holds it down on the admin side. They help ensure we stay educated, on top of the numbers, and updated with everything in the industry.

And, of course, Keller Williams itself is a huge resource. With agents in all 50 states and other countries, I can make things happen even if I’m not physically there. For example, we just closed on a house in North Carolina. I didn’t fly there, but I coordinated everything with a local agent in my network who provided the same level of service I would.

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Okay, so with that being said, let’s talk about clients. What does it look like for a client to come to you and say, “Hey, I’m looking to invest in a property—commercial property, rent-to-own, whatever the case may be?” What does the process look like from step one to actually getting things done and owning the property?

**[: 00:13:20

I love that question. Investing is such a hot-button topic. Everybody wants to invest, and I love it. I think it’s very important to invest and grow your portfolio of assets.

I think we’re in an era where financial literacy is huge. The most important thing, and this goes back to my experience on the finance side, is understanding someone’s “why.” Truly understanding what this investment will accomplish.

Above all, it’s crucial to understand how risk-averse the client is. Are they comfortable taking on risk? Once we establish that, we can move forward.

From there, it’s about having a face-to-face conversation to determine their goals. For example, if their goal is income production, we look for multiple doors—duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes—because the more units under one roof, the higher the rental income potential.

There are many strategies, whether it’s purchasing a house, a condo, or going in with other investors for cash deals or hard money loans. The key is understanding the client’s “why,” what their goals are, and building out a plan tailored to them.

**[: 00:15:34

Nice. So what’s one thing that’s a requirement for you to take on a client?

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Coachability.

Coachability is the biggest thing. Let me give you some numbers to illustrate why this is so important. In the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex, there are over 50,000 licensed realtors. Of those, 80% work part-time, and 60% of that group doesn’t make any money.

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Oh, wow.

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So, a lot of people are untrained. When clients come to me after working with an untrained agent, they’ve often spent time looking at 15 or 20 houses without even knowing if they’re pre-approved.

With me, there’s structure. We have a system and a process. Our goal isn’t to shop around aimlessly—it’s to find the right house that checks all the boxes. When we find it, we put in an offer.

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Hmm.

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It’s very simple. But if you’re not coachable and you want to go off track, you risk missing out. In Dallas, the real estate market is ultra-competitive.

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At this point, you need to have tunnel vision.

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Exactly. Distractions can cost you the deal. Dallas is the fastest-growing metroplex in the country, with over 400 people moving here daily through migration or childbirth.

If you see a house on Monday that fits your criteria but want to wait until Wednesday to look at another, chances are you’ll lose both. My job is to guide you and help you accomplish your goals, but you need to trust the process.

**[: 00:18:25

Nice. Okay, so I have a question because we are both a part of the Strategic Growth Program at Comerica. And you threw out a lot of numbers—did you find these numbers before the market research or during?

Because now we’ve been practicing learning more about our industry to grow. So, how are you finding all of these numbers and doing your research?

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Yeah, that’s a great question. It’s a combination of both. I live and breathe real estate, so I unintentionally pick up a lot of information.

I might drive by something, hear something on the radio, or listen to a podcast and think, “Let me look this up and dig deeper.” It’s organic learning.

But to your point about market research, that’s more intentional and business-oriented. I want to ensure my business is aligned with the market and that I’m taking the right steps to avoid wasting time.

For example, part of my research revealed that over a billion dollars is being invested in the Fair Park and South Dallas areas. That area is being gentrified. I had a conversation with District Judge Stacey Williams, and she shared insights about the gentrification process and what’s happening in Dallas.

What’s interesting is that the business economy in Dallas is moving north—toward Frisco, Plano, and McKinney—but the legislation in Dallas is trying to attract people to rebuild the city’s infrastructure and keep them within the city limits.

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Nice.

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And then you have major events coming, like the World Cup in two years, Universal Studios moving their headquarters here, and more. The city is trying to position itself as a prime destination.

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I love that. That’s so funny you mentioned South Dallas. A good friend of mine reached out about trends in that area. She was looking at condos off Malcolm X and noticed how much of the land is still undeveloped but primed for gentrification.

I’m not in real estate, so I told her I’d connect her with someone who could explain the trends—like you!

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That’s a great example. Even if an area doesn’t look ideal now, understanding the trends and future developments can help people make informed decisions.

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This transitions into our next segment, *One Free Advice.* Sometimes, people pay thousands of dollars for mentorships or courses, and a lot of it goes over their heads.

For *One Free Advice,* what’s something you’d tell listeners right now to get started or take action today?

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I love that. I’ll take this beyond just real estate.

The economy is changing. The landscape of the world as we know it is evolving—AI, technology, everything is moving fast. My challenge and advice to everyone is to know your numbers.

Here’s what I mean: Think back to last week. How many people actually know how much money they spent? Most people know how much they make—$70,000, $100,000 a year—but don’t track their spending.

Wealth isn’t about how much you make; it’s about how much you keep. The gap between wealth and financial abundance is in your spending habits.

So, first, hone in on your numbers. Second, create a plan. Where do you want to be in the next few years? There are so many free resources to educate yourself; you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars upfront.

Intentionality is crucial. Be intentional with your finances, your time, and your goals.

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That’s great advice.

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Oh, and one more thing—my app, *Dreams to Doorsteps,* is launching in a few weeks. It’s designed to be a free resource for education, business, and all things real estate.

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Okay, so our next segment is *Highs and Lows.* It doesn’t have to pertain to real estate, but let’s start with your highs. What’s something you can say, “Oh yes, Kenny, I did this, and it’s amazing,” that you want to share with us?

**[: 00:25:51

Highs and lows—that’s a great question. I want to take this back to when I was in school. You know, I mentioned earlier that I graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9, glory to God, and all those good things.

But my journey didn’t start that way. I actually got kicked out of school and was suspended. I still have the letter to this day that says, “Best of luck in your future endeavors, but we don’t want you here.”

That was the winter of: 2016

Looking back, I realize I had an identity crisis when I started college. I was trying to define myself and navigate my own goals versus cultural and family expectations.

What I learned was that I was chasing a dream that wasn’t aligned with what I wanted. I was chasing someone else’s dream.

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What do you mean?

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You know, in our culture—we joke about this—but as Nigerians, you have three career choices: doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

I thought engineering was my path. I was going to work for Lockheed, but I quickly realized that wasn’t my calling. I failed chemistry three times, struggled with pre-calc, and hit a wall.

The final semester, though, I took a business class and aced it. That’s when it clicked. I loved it. I had a conversation with my mom and told her, “This is where my passion lies.” She said, “All right, go for it.”

I switched my major from mechanical engineering to business. After that, I didn’t get less than an A in any business class.

**[: 00:28:03

Nice.

**[: 00:28:04

I started at a community college, aced three classes, and then rebuilt myself. On the basketball side, after I got kicked out, I couldn’t return to my old school.

I reinvented myself, worked out all summer, had friends record videos of me in the gym, and ended up earning a scholarship to play basketball in Kansas City at Park University.

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Wow.

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That’s how everything came together for me.

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Look at you now—suited and booted in real estate, business entrepreneur style.

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God is good.

[: 00:28:42

So, as we’re heading toward the end of this episode, let’s tell people how they can get in contact with you.

[: 00:28:49

Absolutely. You can find me on all social media platforms—Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook—at **KennyDoesHomes**. That’s Kenny, K-E-N-N-Y, Does Homes.

-: 8827

For email inquiries, you can contact me at **kenny@dreamstodoorsteps.com.**

Lastly, keep an eye out for my app, *Dreams to Doorsteps,* launching soon. It will be a free resource for education, business, and real estate.

**[: 00:29:31

Nice. All of this will be in the show notes as well, so make sure you tap in.

[: 00:29:35

All right, Kenny. So, the last thing we do on the podcast is our Motivational Moment. This is usually a scripture, quote, or something that sparks my eye. I’ll share what it means to me, and then you can share what it means to you.

For this episode, the motivational moment is Proverbs 3:27: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

When I read this scripture, especially in the context of our conversation today, it reminds me that the gifts God has given us aren’t meant just for us. They’re meant to be shared. As entrepreneurs, leaders, or even just people in the community, we’re called to serve others.

To me, this means showing up even when it’s hard, giving knowledge freely, and remembering that it’s not about us—it’s about the people who need what we have to offer. What are your thoughts on this scripture?

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Man, that was powerful. You don’t even need me to add anything!

But to echo what you said, I truly believe every person is uniquely gifted and purposed. If you don’t walk authentically in your purpose, someone out there misses the opportunity to be blessed by you.

Being a servant leader is about aligning with God’s vision for your life and using your gifts to impact others. It’s not about how much money you make or how many deals you close—it’s about how many lives you touch and change.

[: 00:31:20

That’s beautiful. Thank you so much, Kenny.

[: 00:31:23

Thank you for having me. This has been an amazing conversation.

[: 00:31:27

Did you enjoy yourself?

[: 00:31:28

Absolutely. This was phenomenal. Your questions were thoughtful, and I’d love to come back on the podcast anytime.

[: 00:31:34

We’d love to have you back. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge and inspiration today.

[: 00:31:40

All right, ladies and gents, that’s it for today’s episode of What’s Good Podcast. If you’re listening in the morning, noon, evening, or night, thank you for tuning in. We’ll see you next time.

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Let’s go!

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And it’s a wrap!