Legacy in Action: Protecting Our Homes and Our Future

A Recap of the March Homeowner Meetup · March 22, 2026 · McKinney Center

There is a powerful energy that takes over when we start talking about the truth. At our March Homeowner Meetup at the McKinney Center, Marcus Cullen sparked that fire with one staggering number: 30%.

Only 30% of Black homeowners have a will.

In a room full of neighbors, that number hit home. Our houses aren’t just structures; they are decades of hard work, sacrifice, and a bold claim to our place in this city. Marcus, a dedicated financial advisor from Edward Jones and a familiar face at our meetups, returned to show us exactly how to move from just “owning” to truly “securing” our legacy.

Master the Mechanics: Wills vs. Trusts

One of the biggest “lightbulb moments” was Marcus’s breakdown of estate planning. He made it clear: these aren’t just for the wealthy—they are for us.

• A Will: Your voice after you’re gone. It tells the court who gets what, but it still travels through the slow, public, and often pricey process of probate.

• A Trust: Your family’s “fast track.” A properly structured trust keeps your home and assets out of the courtroom entirely, protecting your family’s time, money, and privacy.

Don’t Leave the “Container” Empty!

Marcus dropped a truth bomb regarding asset re-titling. Think of a trust as a protective container. If you set up the legal paperwork but never actually transfer your home’s deed into the trust’s name, the container is empty. Your house will still head to probate. Action item: If you have a trust, check your deed today!

Introducing: The Legacy Box

Wealth management isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about organization. Marcus introduced the Legacy Box—a simple, disciplined practice of keeping your financial life in one place. Imagine a single folder containing:

• Account info and insurance policies

• Property documents and beneficiary designations

• A “road map” for your heirs so they aren’t left searching for answers during a difficult time.

The Power Continues!

The energy was so high that we kept the momentum going with an Estate Planning Power Hour at the HUB just four days later. These smaller, focused sessions are where the real magic happens—where you can get specific answers to your unique financial questions.

Missed out? Don’t worry! Marcus is confirmed to return on April 23rd. Mark your calendars!

What You Can Do Today

The most inspiring takeaway? Don’t let “perfect” get in the way of “protected.” You don’t need a massive plan to start. You just need to start.

1. Get a Will.

2. Check your Deed.

3. Visit us at the HUB. Every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm, we are here to help you take that first step.

We are changing that 30% statistic together. One meetup, one plan, and one family at a time.

Want the full presentation? Download Marcus Cullen’s “Strategic Wealth Management for Black Homeowners” by emailing us at [email protected].

Join us for the next one! Sunday, April 19th: A deep dive into Senior Property Tax Exemption with King County Assessor John Wilson. RSVP HERE

We are still here. We shall not be moved!

Keep Your Home. Know Your Rights. What Our Members Learned at Power Hour.

Last Thursday, March 19th at McKinney Center, two guests from the King County Dispute Resolution Center sat down with our members and delivered the kind of session that people act on the same day they leave the room.

Jada Berteaux runs KCDRC’s HOMES program, which helps income-eligible homeowners navigate Washington State’s Senior Citizen and Disabled Property Tax Exemption. Ryan is KCDRC’s Learning Coordinator and a Pacific Northwest native who spent a decade in operations and process improvement before bringing that same systems thinking to social justice and housing work. Together, they covered the full landscape of tools available to senior homeowners in King County — and the room left with more than information. They left with a plan.

The Senior Property Tax Exemption

The program itself is straightforward in concept. Washington State allows qualifying homeowners to freeze the taxable value of their primary residence, which means that as property values continue to climb in Seattle and King County — and they always climb — your property taxes do not go up with them. For the median-value King County home, that protection is worth roughly $5,000 a year. Over a decade, that’s $50,000 that stays in your household.

The qualifications for 2026: you’re 61 or older, you own and live in your home as your primary residence, and your household income is under $84,000 a year. Social Security counts toward that income figure. Most other income sources count too, though Jada was careful to explain that Washington’s income calculation differs from IRS adjusted gross income, so the numbers on your tax return and the numbers on the exemption application don’t always match. That’s one of many places where having KCDRC walking alongside you matters.

The 2026 update that drew the most reaction in the room: the disability rating requirement for veterans has been reduced from 80% to 40%. Veterans who looked at this program before and didn’t qualify because of that threshold should look again. The application portal is live now at senior-exemption.kingcounty.gov, and online is strongly preferred over paper — paper applications create significant processing backlogs.

RANS: The Fraud Alert Tool Every Homeowner Should Be Using

Ryan’s contribution to the session went beyond the tax exemption. He introduced members to RANS — the Recording Activity Notification System, a free service from the King County Recorder’s Office at recordsearch.kingcounty.gov.

Here’s what RANS does: you register your name and your parcel number, and any time a land records document is recorded in your name in King County, you receive an email alert. Immediately. That means if someone tries to file a fraudulent deed, transfer your property without your consent, or record any document against your home — you know about it the same day. You don’t find out months later when the damage is already done.

This is one of the most practical fraud protection tools available to homeowners in King County, and most people have never heard of it. Registration is free, takes about five minutes, and lives at recordsearch.kingcounty.gov/LandmarkWeb/FraudAlert. BLHN is building a step-by-step sign-up guide for members — watch for it in the next newsletter.

How to Get Help

Apply for the Senior Tax Exemption online at senior-exemption.kingcounty.gov. If you need help, KCDRC’s HOMES program is the right call — reach Jada at [email protected] or 206-650-3286. The King County Assessor’s Office is at [email protected] or 206-296-3920. For in-person application help, visit myfreetaxeswa.org and search for “Property Tax Exemption Help (King County).”

And sign up for RANS today at recordsearch.kingcounty.gov/LandmarkWeb/FraudAlert. It is free, it takes five minutes, and it is the closest thing to a home fraud alarm system that exists right now.

Send us an email at [email protected] to request a copy of Jadas presentation slides.

Our February Homeowner Meeting last Sunday afternoon at McKinney Center felt like coming home. Over 35 Black Legacy Homeowners filled the room—legacy homeowners who’ve been holding down the Central District for decades alongside newer faces discovering what it means to build community wealth together. The energy was different this time. Focused. Expectant. Ready.

We opened by sharing what went down at the Black Home Initiative All-Partner Summit on February 10th. The numbers hit hard: 825 Black families have bought homes through BHI—55% toward the 1,500 goal by 2028. But here’s the reality check nobody wants to talk about: 31% of new homeowners fall out of home ownership within five years. That’s nearly one in three families losing what they fought so hard to get.

We’re the infrastructure that keeps people IN their homes. Tax exemption support. Estate planning. Home repair connections. The work that prevents the fallout. The work that keeps Black families from becoming displacement statistics.

Then came the announcements for our upcoming meetings.

Marcus Cullen Is Coming Back

Attorney Marcus Cullen—Edward Jones advisor, McKinney Center board member, and the guy who broke down estate planning at our November meeting—is returning March 22nd for a dedicated workshop. The room got quiet when the stat was shared: only 30% of Black homeowners have wills. That means 70% of us are one unexpected death away from watching our homes disappear into probate nightmares, partition sales, and family disputes.

Marcus’s workshop will break down how to create wills and trusts, and how to actually protect your home for your kids instead of letting it slip through legal loopholes into investors’ hands.

John Wilson Returns for Tax Exemption Round 2

The announcement that King County Assessor John Wilson is coming back April 19th.

Multiply that across the members who enrolled after John’s last visit, and BLHN households are collectively saving over $500,000 annually. Half a million dollars that stays in Black pockets instead of disappearing into property tax payments.

But here’s what got people fired up: only 30% of eligible seniors are enrolled. That means 70% of our elders are leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year because they don’t know they qualify, or the paperwork feels too complicated, or they tried once and got confused about income thresholds.

Larry Dean, one of our longtime volunteers, raised his hand: “And if you don’t have all your documents? Come anyway. We’ll make you a checklist and follow up at Thursday Hub hours.” That’s the BLHN difference—meeting people where they are, not where the paperwork says they should be.

The Call for Volunteers

Then came the ask. These events don’t run themselves. Rico broke it down plainly:

Social media ambassadors to share posts and tag neighbors. Flyer distributors to post at churches and senior centers. One-on-one outreach from members calling other homeowners they know personally. Day-of support for check-in tables, photos, and logistics.

Five hands went up immediately.

February Birthdays

Before wrapping, we celebrated February birthdays—Brenda Ezell and Sylvia Spearman got shout-outs.  Small moment, but it matters. Community isn’t just about tax savings and wills. It’s about knowing each other’s names. Remembering each other’s birthdays. Showing up for the small things so we’re strong enough to handle the big things.

What’s Next

This is what sustained home ownership looks like—not a single heroic event, but dozens of small commitments compounding over time. Neighbors calling neighbors. Volunteers showing up. Knowledge being passed person-to-person until everyone who needs it has it.

BHI’s data says 31% of new Black homeowners fall out within five years. BLHN exists to make sure our members aren’t in that 31%. We’re the safety net. The knowledge base. The community that won’t let you fall through the cracks.

Next meeting: March 22nd. Same place. Same commitment. Same energy.

We Are Still Here and We Shall Not Be Moved.

Event Highlights

• 35+ attendees representing legacy homeowners and new members
• BHI Summit recap: 825 Black families bought homes (55% to 1,500 goal)
• March 22 Marcus Cullen Estate Planning Workshop announced
• April 19 John Wilson Tax Exemption enrollment confirmed
• 5+ volunteers committed to event support and outreach
• February birthdays celebrated: Brenda Ezell, Sylvia Spearman

Key Takeaways

• Only 30% of Black homeowners have estate plans—70% risk losing homes to probate
• Only 30% of eligible seniors enrolled in tax exemptions—70% leaving thousands on table annually
• BLHO members could collectively save $500,000+ per year through tax exemption program
• Peer-to-peer outreach is the most effective recruitment and retention tool
• Community infrastructure prevents the 31% fallout rate of new Black homeowners

Resources

• Marcus Cullen Estate Planning Workshop: March 22, 2026 | 11am-1pm | Click Here to Register
• John Wilson Tax Exemption Enrollment: April 19, 2026 | 11am-1:30pm | Click Here to Register
• Weekly Hub Office Hours: Every Thursday | 10am-2pm | McKinney Center (2120 S Jackson St)
• Instagram updates
• Facebook updates
• Register for upcoming events

Looking Ahead

Black Legacy Homeowners continues building the infrastructure that keeps Black families in their homes for generations. With estate planning and tax exemption support scaling up in March and April, we’re addressing the two biggest gaps in homeowner stability: legal protection and financial relief. Member participation and volunteer support remain essential to reaching the 70% of homeowners who don’t yet have these critical protections in place.

On Monday, February 10th, over 100 housing partners from across the region gathered in Federal Way for the Black Home Initiative All-Partner Summit. Black Legacy Homeowners was there — representing YOU.

The same day, the Washington State House passed HB 2304 (94-0 vote!) to unlock more affordable condos for Black families. Rep. Jamila Taylor, who sponsored the bill, spoke at our summit to celebrate!

💪 WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU

The Black Home Initiative (BHI) is a network of 100+ organizations working together to create 1,500 new Black homeowners by 2028 (3,000 by 2033). So far, 825 families have bought homes through this network!

But here’s the challenge: About 31% of new homeowners struggle to KEEP their homes after buying them. That’s where Black Legacy Homeowners comes in.

We’re the team that helps homeowners like you STAY in your homes for generations.

🏠 WHAT BLHO IS DOING (WHAT WE TOLD THEM)

At the summit, we shared what makes BLHN special:

✅ McKinney Center Hub Office Hours
Every Thursday, 10am-2pm — FREE walk-in help with taxes, home repairs, estate planning, and more.

✅ Property Tax Exemption Help
We’ve helped members save $5,000-$7,000 per year on property taxes. Only 30% of eligible seniors are enrolled — that means 70% are leaving money on the table!

✅ Estate Planning Support
Helping you pass your home to your children and grandchildren (not the courts, not investors, YOUR FAMILY).

✅ Connection to Home Repair Programs
Linking members to Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and other programs that fix roofs, furnaces, plumbing — FOR FREE or LOW COST.

Access to Home Expansion (ADU/DADU)
Working to connect members to funding and resources to expand their property and preserve generational wealth.

🎯 WHAT’S COMING IN 2026

Here’s what BLHN is working on THIS YEAR:

1. ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOPS
We’re bringing in attorneys and using new technology to help 6-12 members at a time create wills and trusts (protecting your home for your kids). First workshop starts this spring!

2. EXPANDING TO FEDERAL WAY & TACOMA
Many Black homeowners have moved south. We’re bringing BLHN meetings to Federal Way and Pierce County to serve our members who live outside of  Seattle.

3. ADU/DADU HELP
You know those “backyard cottages” everyone’s talking about? Some of you could build one on your property for rental income or family. We’re bringing in experts to show you how.

4. MORE HUB OFFICE HOURS
We’re scheduling MORE speakers at McKinney Center — financial planners, home repair programs, tax experts — so you get help right in the neighborhood.

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🌟 WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH

Resource Equity — Helps you build ADUs and set up estate plans to keep wealth in your family.

Habitat for Humanity — Home repair programs (Jessica coming to Hub in spring!).

Washington Homeownership Resource Center — Can help your grandkids buy their first home.

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🗣️ WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT BLHN

“I really like the ambassador program — Black Legacy Homeowners has the model that BHI needs for reaching people.”

“We need more organizations doing what BLHO does — meeting people where they are, walking them through the paperwork, being a trusted voice in the community.”

“The Hub office hours model is brilliant. It’s accessible, it’s consistent, and it WORKS.”

💬 YOUR ROLE IN THIS

You don’t have to do anything different. Just keep:

– Coming to monthly meetings
– Bringing your neighbors (our best recruitment tool!)
– Telling other homeowners about the Hub
– Sharing what you learn with your church, your block, your family

Every time you help another Black homeowner save on taxes, avoid foreclosure, or plan their estate — you’re preventing displacement. You’re preserving Black Seattle. You’re building Black wealth.

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🙏 THANK YOU

To every member who trusts us with your questions, brings your neighbors, shares your story, and shows up month after month:

You are the reason this works.

The experts at the summit were impressed by what BLHN has built. But WE know the truth: this organization works because of YOUR wisdom, YOUR networks, YOUR commitment to each other.

Let’s keep building Black legacy. Together.

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Questions? Visit the Hub every Thursday 10am-2pm at McKinney Center (2/3rd Ave & Jackson) or call our outreach specialist Rhonda Smith at (206)

Highlights from our holiday party, and key dates for the new year

Download the full Legacy Protection Slides & Planning Checklist (and vote for 2026 Hub hours!)

Read about our October Meetup & Candidate Forum recap & RSVP for our November event

Learn more about the BLHO + CD CPDA Homeowner HUB and RSVP for this Sunday’s meetup

Read about the September 2025 Meetup, and register for our support portal!

Read about our August BBQ and rsvp for our September meetup