By Dr. Anthony O. Kellum, Contributing Columnist
For Black families across America, the journey toward homeownership has never been just about buying a house it has always been about reclaiming dignity, building stability, and securing access to opportunities deliberately denied to our community for generations. From redlining to discriminatory lending, from suppressed wages to limited financial tools, the barriers have been real, intentional, and deeply felt.
Today, through the Property is Power initiative, we’re proud to present two transformational pathways designed to meet our people where we are and move us forward strategically, accessibly, and powerfully. These programs operate separately, yet together they serve one mission expanding Black homeownership and building generational wealth.
One removes the financial wall that has blocked so many families at the starting line. The other creates a structured, accessible path for families who need time and support to qualify. Together, they represent a major leap toward closing the homeownership gap and opening doors.
Program 1: Down Payment Assistance (No Money Down)
Removing the Barrier That Has Held Our Community Back the Longest
This groundbreaking Down Payment Assistance program tackles the single largest hurdle to Black homeownership: upfront cash. Too many hardworking families can comfortably afford a monthly mortgage but simply cannot come up with thousands of dollars upfront in a system that was never designed for our success. Through our pilot partnership, Property is Power is proud to offer a program with unprecedented access: no borrower down payment required; no income limits or restrictions; credit scores down to 580 accepted; manual underwriting allowed; non-occupant co-borrowers permitted; gift funds eligible. This program opens the door for families who have the desire, the stability, and the readiness to own but who need the system to be fair, flexible, and designed with their realities in mind. This is real access. Real opportunity. Real ownership.
Program 2: Lease-to-Own Pathway
Rent Today. Own Tomorrow.
Our Lease-to-Own program exists for individuals and families who are ready for the lifestyle of homeownership but may not currently fit the traditional mortgage “box.” Instead of keeping families stuck in the rental cycle, this pathway builds a bridge to ownership structured, supportive, and built with intention. Here’s how it works a qualified FHA-eligible government entity purchases the home upfront; you move in as the future homeowner not a typical renter; you lease the home for 12 months while building credit, stability, and financial profile; after 12 months of rental history, you assume the mortgage; eligibility includes primary residence, up to 96.5% LTV, and both full doc or alternative income options. And for those who do not currently meet FHA standards, the Property is Power Dream Builder offers a tailored environment to get you mortgage-ready with structure, dignity, and a clear end goal. This program is rooted in the understanding that readiness is not always reflected on paper. Sometimes people don’t need a “no” they need a plan.
A New Legacy Begins Here
Every time a Black family becomes a homeowner, something far deeper than a housing status changes. A new identity forms. A new level of stability emerges. A new set of opportunities appears, ones that research shows can reshape a family’s trajectory for generations. Homeownership is more than shelter. It is economic mobility. It is generational wealth. It is dignity and power. When a family transitions from renting building someone else’s wealth to owning and building their own, legacy begins immediately.
With Down Payment Assistance, families can finally cross the financial threshold that has been blocking them for decades. They can purchase without draining savings, without taking predatory loans, and without feeling like the system is working against them. Ownership means equity, appreciation, tax benefits, and the power to control your financial future.
With the Lease-to-Own pathway, families gain time and structure without sacrificing dignity or stability. They live in the community they want to be part of, build their financial strength, and get closer to ownership every month. And when they close, they do so with confidence and equity already working for them.
This is how generational wealth is built: step-by-step, structurally, intentionally rooted in the realities of our community and the vision we have for our children. A new legacy begins here not because the system suddenly became fair, but because we created solutions that put power back in our hands. We are rewriting the terms of access. We are broadening the pathways.
Property is Power is not just describing programs. We are opening doors. We are reshaping futures. We are strengthening families now, and for generations to come. With these two pathways one that removes the upfront burden and one that provides time and structure homeownership becomes possible, practical, and transformative. Because when our people own property, our people own power. And that is where legacy truly begins.
Property is Power! is a movement to promote home and community ownership. Studies indicate homeownership leads to higher graduation rates, family wealth, and community involvement.
