JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – An out-of-state investor with ties to metro Jackson is providing quality housing for families, transforming aging properties into livable spaces. The family in the area helped with renovations to maintenance.
“This was my first property here,” said J. L. Pfiffer Real Estate owner Jennifer Williams while pointing to Sunray Apartments.
The property developer and investor nearly passed on the Sunray Drive apartments when she learned it had foundation problems, but weeks later, she took on the challenge.
“I got involved in real estate because my mother is actually from here, and my mother had moved back,” said Williams. “She was like, you need to move here. There are so many distressed properties that I think that you could put a nice touch on.”
The 35-year-old’s mother is originally from Edwards and now lives in Vicksburg. The Los Angeles native and Raytheon IT Operations director took the plunge, funding the transformation of the eight units.
“This building here was actually the foundation was fully into the ground,” said Williams, gesturing to the two-level building.
The foundation is repaired, and both buildings have been refurbished with new paint, tile, appliances, washers and dryers, and a surveillance system. But she didn’t do it alone.
“My whole family helped me with this property. One of my cousins is the maintenance man. He actually stays on this property. My brother lives in one of the other units. He keeps up with the lawn. I have another cousin that does HVAC, another cousin does electrical,” said Williams.
But the developer struggles with illegal dumping on the vacant lot across from the units. She pays to have debris hauled away. The property investor hopes the city will do its part to deal with vacant properties and blight.
“It kinda pushes investors away and pushes families away, because no one wants to look out their window and see an abandoned house,” added Williams. “Rebuild your community. Come together, and that is something I am trying to do here”.
Williams also owns four other properties in the city. She has renovated another eight-unit apartment and a duplex.
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