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The Downing Brothers, now known for their show “Double Down” on HGTV, were born and raised on the South Side of Chicago to a Bahamian mother and African-American father. Growing up with family members who were homeowners in the Bahamas and Chicago, the value of property ownership was instilled in them at a young age. On the show, Anthony and Anton battle gentrification by purchasing, renovating and selling attainable, middle-class Chicago housing with a keen eye for architecture and design. 

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Anthony and Anton both decided to give back to the community by becoming firefighters for Chicago (Tower Ladder 34) and Dolton, Illinois (Engine 16) where they have served for over a decade. In their work as firefighters, the twins witnessed a need for community development and began to take action through real estate investment. They started off with purchasing and renovating a single family home which led to apartment buildings and their first flip by 2013. 

The twins didn’t stop there. While continuing to build their investment portfolio in Chicago and the Bahamas, they are also working to educate the community on financial literacy and real estate investment through their “Homecoming with the Downing Brothers” podcast, national college tour, community partnerships, and brand collaborations. Anthony and Anton have started a conversation that didn’t previously exist in many Black households. It is their mission to shine a light on real estate investment as a feasible opportunity and provide resources to develop generational wealth. They are determined to leave the South Side of Chicago better than they found it. 

Anthony and Anton are endlessly motivated by their mantra: Dream. Plan. Execute.