Plumbing Apprentice Finds First Home in Blair

While in high school, Logan, who grew up in Elkhorn and south of Blair, set a clear goal for his future: He never wanted to rent, only own.

“Homeownership was something I always wanted to do,” he said. “I never wanted to rent an apartment. I wanted to go straight from living at my parents’ house to buying a house.”

Now, at 24, he’s made that dream a reality.

Logan, a plumbing apprentice, purchased his first home in Blair’s new West Valley development in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.

Though he saved money for a down payment, high interest rates and his lack of knowledge about getting pre-approved for a loan kept him from buying a home on the open market.

Then, while working in Blair, he found the new Habitat homes along 24th Street.

“I wasn’t even looking at Habitat before seeing the houses,” Logan said. “I just saw the houses and said, ‘Oh, what does it take to get one of those?’”

After doing some research online, Logan contacted Habitat Omaha and applied.

“I did it just like that,” he said. “Then, it just kept rolling on.”

Soon, he was approved and completed the Home Journey program requirements, including financial classes, which helped him learn the importance of budgeting for the various needs of a house.

“Like where your different expenses are going and what you need to allow monthly for the house. It was stuff that I knew but hadn’t thought about,” Logan said.

Logan received the keys to his new 3-bedroom Hunter Green house in April. His first tasks after moving in were to decorate and add some more curb appeal.

“That sounds silly coming from a male perspective, but being able to decorate it, I plan to plant some ornamental grass in front of the porch. Just something that doesn’t take a lot of work, but something nice,” he said.

The new house has also given Logan a new sense of responsibility.

“It’s exciting. It’s new. It’s a new feeling, like, ‘OK, I’m moving out of my parents’ house on my own,’” he said. “I am living my own life.”