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Home sweet homework: Marco Jones with children Drusella, 10; Jesse, 3; Biraniece, 2; and Marco Jr., 8. The family enjoys time together in a home they can call their own.

Story and photo by John Perry

Home ownership is part of the American dream. Yet for Marco Jones, it seemed like a fantasy.

For the first 24 years of his life, Jones had never lived any place that wasn’t owned by someone else. His mother raised him and three siblings in rental properties and in his grandmother’s house.

After graduating Forest Brook High School, Jones joined the Housing and Community Development Department in 1999 as a service clerk. He and his wife had a growing family: three young kids and another on the way. More and more expenses. Home ownership seemed further away than ever.

Nevertheless, he pursued the elusive dream. Only to be told he didn’t have enough money for a down payment and closing costs.

Then he found out about the Homebuyer Assistance Program administered through HCD.

With a $38 down payment, Jones exchanged paying $575 a month rent for a $1,000-a-month mortgage including taxes and insurance. He also exchanged an apartment for a one-story, $99,500 house in the Woodland Trails subdivision about 15 miles northwest of downtown.

“We’re in the Cy-Fair school district, and that’s great for the kids,” Jones said.

His house on Shady Grove Lane is appreciating in value.
“I can actually feel myself building wealth,” Jones said.

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