Former Tampa High School English Teacher Stars In HGTV Series

TEMPLE TERRACE, FL — In 2018, Amina Stevens opted to give up her career as a Hillsborough County English teacher to pursue a more lucrative calling as a Realtor.

It wasn't an easy decision, said the Temple Terrace resident.

She comes from a family of educators. Her mother's been a Hillsborough County public school teacher for 20 years.

"I wanted to teach in Title 1 (economically disadvantaged) schools for as long as I can remember," Stevens said. "I never wanted to do anything else."

She majored in English and sociology at the University of South Florida. After graduating in 2015, she began teaching at Greco Middle School and then went on to teach English at Chamberlain High School.

She said she loved educating and inspiring teens, but she didn't love the standardized testing requirements or having to dip into her own pocket to purchase school supplies because the public school system didn't provide everything she needed to do her job.

She began to consider a career change.

"While I was encouraging my students to follow their dreams and challenge their own ideas about what they could do with their lives, it occurred to me that I could do the same thing," she said. "I started to realize there was something else out there for me."

At first, she said she felt guilty at the thought of leaving her students and launching a new career.

"But a friend pointed out that if I had a career with more resources and peace of mind, I could have a greater impact," Stevens said.

In 2018, she began working in real estate full time and eventually became a broker with EXP Realty, launching Homes by Amina

Four years later, the 28-year-old Realtor is putting her classroom experience to use guiding first-time homebuyers on the path to homeownership on a new HGTV show, "First Timers Club."

"Growing up, I was obsessed with HGTV," Stevens said. "I don't come from a family of homeowners. So, I'd watch the shows on HGTV and dream of owning my own home someday. Now I'm under contract to purchase my first home."

Working in real estate, she realized she could not only make her own dream a reality, but could help others on the path to homeownership as well.

She began specializing in helping first-time homebuyers. As she learned more about financing, mortgages and programs available for first-time homebuyers, she'd share that knowledge on social media and in a podcast about first-time home buying called “Move in Mukbang” that can be found on all platforms at @homesbyamina and on her website.

To her surprise, a production company for the home and garden TV channel she was obsessed with while growing up took notice of her enthusiasm and approached her about hosting a television show geared to first-time homebuyers.

"They came across my website, and saw the passion I had," she said.

Now, two pilot episodes of "The First-Timers Club" are scheduled to air back to back on March 10 at 11 and 11:30 a.m.

"The show isn't just focused on real estate; it's focused on the process," she said. "It's an authentic show about the hurdles longtime renters must surmount to buy their first home. I take buyers on field trips, showing them new homes, remodeled homes, fixer-uppers, all the possibilities out there."

In the show's two premiere episodes, Stevens helps a single mother of four fulfill a lifetime dream of owning her own home and helps a couple with differing viewpoints on what they want in a home reach a compromise.

"The show's a reflection of the reality of trying to buy a home and the different ways people achieve homeownership," she said.

"At the same time, I'm demystifying the process. You don't necessarily need a huge down payment or have perfect credit to own a home," she said. "Homeownership is the No. 1 way to build wealth. In today's market, people who buy and sell a home can walk away with $100,000 in equity."

The show also demonstrates the disadvantages of purchasing a home in a seller's market.

According to Zillow Research, the Sun Belt states have the hottest housing market in the country, with Tampa leading the country's top 10 housing markets.

"In one episode, you see a homebuyer break into tears after getting outbid on a home," she said. "It's very raw and realistic. It's not like other house-hunting shows."

Stevens said she gets a lot of satisfaction knowing that she hadn't really abandoned teaching after all.

She's simply left the classroom and is now empowering, inspiring and educating people on their path to homeownership.

Viewers are encouraged to tag HGTV on any Twitter, Instagram or Facebook comments (@hgtv #hgtv, #ftchgtv), or by messaging the channel directly, to support the show.