We recently came across an article about Kevin Seawright, founder of RPS Solutions LLC, explaining why he believes it is only “natural that [his] company would take their time over the holiday season to ensure others would be happy.” In the article, speaking about partnering with Christ Haven Church in Philadelphia to organize a community Christmas toy drive, Seawright said, “Epitomizing the company’s core values of respect, justice, and quality, we have always felt it was important to help raise the self-esteem and dignity of people everywhere, no matter their situation.”
It
did not take much research to learn that while Kevin Seawright spends
his work hours helping clients with asset management and real estate
development advice, his company’s core values mirror his personal
vision. His greatest rewards, in business and off-the-clock, seem to
come from the personal investment he makes in helping first-time
buyers secure home financing and making sure that the underserved are
not forgotten.
For
those of you who aren’t familiar with Kevin Seawright, and RPS
Solutions LLC, this article will highlight the biggest real estate
deals he facilitated since founding the company in 2015.
Before establishing RPS, Kevin Seawright administrated more than $50 million as the CFO for one of Maryland’s largest Departments of Recreation and Parks. During his tenure, he successfully shaved more than $6 million from the Department’s budget in a single year. Although he had a successful public career managing local, state, and federal funds, his passion was to improve school and neighborhood opportunities for low and middle-income earnings in Baltimore.
After
more than a decade working in the public service sector, he took his
experience and relationships formed while working in Baltimore and
Washington, DC, and began building a portfolio of properties suitable
for rehabilitation and conversion into affordable housing solutions.
Helping
Reclaim Neighborhood Assets: Four Big Deals For Local Home Buyers
One
of his first
big deals
after founding RPS Solutions was facilitating a contract for a
first-time buyer who worked for the Baltimore City Housing
Department, Jerel Brown. Kevin and Jerel had a prior relationship
since Kevin worked with Jerel’s mother and started mentoring the
young man when he was about 10 years old.
The
home renovation project and purchase Kevin and Jerel navigated
together was a part of the City’s renewal program, where funding is
available to renew vacant and distressed homes in certain parts of
the city experiencing a decline. Working alongside Jerel, Keven
helped him secure financing and ultimately move into his first home.
Jerel
told reporters at the time that he was surprised to be the owner of
such a beautiful, modern home. He said it was hard to find an
affordable house on his budget, but after the deal was finished he
said that he, “[W]as ecstatic for the opportunity to own my
first home and have it look like homes you witness in magazines.”
For
Kevin Seawright, it is deals like this that make the hard work of
negotiating contracts, vetting remodeling experts, and onboarding
external financing partners worth it. Hearing him describe his
experiences it sounds like accompanying first-time homeowners on
their first walk-through after the closing is like witnessing
lifelong dreams come true before your very eyes.
Skip
forward to May 2018 for another project that helped another
first-time homeowner get a freshly, restored house. In keeping with
the vision of acquiring, renovating, and making affordable housing
solutions in Baltimore County, Maryland available to low and
middle-income earners, Seawright finalized a contract on a 2000
square foot, two-story home with a modern-retro design. The Bengal
Road home features modern fixtures and appliances, energy-efficient
elements, and a yard that invites lounging with friends and family,
all while complying with national community stabilization standards.
A
few months after the Bengal Road project’s completion, in October
2018, Seawright and RPS Solutions’ affordable housing professionals
helped local Baltimore City employee Tyra Hudgins purchase her first
home, a townhouse built in 1959 on Bucknell Road. The three-bedroom,
the two-bath house received extensive upgrades, including new kitchen
appliances, recessed lighting, crown molding, and hardwood floors.
This property is perfectly positioned for access to grocery stores,
restaurants, dining establishments, and both elementary and middle
schools. With the help of a Baltimore City Employees Grant and RPS
services, Ms. Hudgins saw her dreams of homeownership come true.
Working
with first-time buyers with budgetary constraints requires specific
knowledge, personal dedication, and commitment to stay the course.
Kevin holds an MBA from Almeda University and certifications from
Notre Dame University Mendoza School of Business. His educational
career prepared him for his role as an affordable housing advocate.
He uses his skills acquired during the college years and experience
managing large asset portfolios to support and educate first-time
homebuyers about the complex processes of applying for grants and
loans necessary to secure their first non-rental home.
Along
with financial skills, Kevin utilizes exceptional negotiating and
communication skills as he works with other agencies and
organizations that focus on urban renewal, gentrification, and
neighborhood expansion. Sometimes, he collaborates with agencies
committed to increasing affordable housing inventory and funding
opportunities to identify properties suitable for rehabilitation or
clients eligible for local, state, or federal grants and loan
assistance.
One such collaborative effort involved a partnership between Kevin Seawright and the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST). NCST participation on certain projects ensures his clients have the resources and support they need to successfully achieve homeownership. The Trust believes that “reclaiming vacant homes” is a vital first step in reshaping neighborhoods and lifting people out of the cycle of poverty. In the past decade, NCST has invested more than $1.5 million in partnering with local professionals like RPS Solutions.
Tajh
and Leah Hall Flagg benefitted from the combined efforts of NCST,
Kevin Seawright, and the Newark Community Economic Development
Corporation in New Jersey when they purchased a renovated property at
1126 Elbank Ave in Baltimore, Maryland. The rehabilitation project
included turning the modest home into a stunning first home for the
Flagg family with beautiful hardwood floors, recessed lighting,
stainless appliances, ceramic flooring, and a fully finished basement
with laundry facilities. Converting a vacant home into modern,
functional living space instantly lifts property values in a
neighborhood by eliminating the negative side-effects of vacant
properties that enable squatters and nefarious actors to engage in
activities that devalue an area.
More
About Kevin Seawright
Kevin
has the skills and expertise to help real estate investors create
diverse residential and commercial portfolios that consistently
deliver reliable healthy returns. His passion is helping people
realize their real estate dreams, reshaping, and strengthening
neighborhoods along the way. By all accounts, he is a successful
businessman, with a positive reputation in the local Baltimore
business world and beyond.
He
was recently asked “What is the best $100 you recently spent?
And, why?” His answer tells us a great deal about Kevin
Seawright the man.
His
answer? “Funding our 6th grade youth basketball team for their
All Star tournament this weekend in Pennsylvania.” Kevin likes
to be among the people, feel their energy, and inspire them to reach
higher than they have ever dreamed.
We expect to hear more stories about how Kevin is transforming daily life for people who thought a limited income would keep them from ever owning their own home. And, mixed in with those success stories will be the ones about organizing a Christmas toy drive with local church leaders or coaching a youth basketball team nights and weekends. We will continue to follow his journey through his social media. Follow Kevin on Twitter and read his articles on Medium.