Joseph and Jessica Bembry of Clinton, Maryland are our most recent Homeownership Contest winners, having closed on their house in 2008. Their story appeared in the April 2008 issue of Black Enterprise. The day they closed also happened to be Jessica’s daughter’s birthday—a good omen in Jessica’s eyes.

 The DC couple has been fortunate in that they’ve been able to maintain their jobs and their lifestyle for the most part. They’ve had to hold off on some of the upgrades they’d planned to do around the house, but have been holding steady financially. Jessica is just a couple classes shy of graduating from Trinity Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and she plans to go for her master’s immediately afterwards. “My husband is the best,” says Jessica. “He’s been very supportive of me and my educational ambitions.”

 Jessica says that the best part about moving into a brand new home is that it’s brand new. “It’s built to your specs. No one has ever lived in it but you,” she says. On the other hand, the worst part is the unexpected expenses that inevitably crop up. Her advice for first-time homeowners is sound. “Dig into the nitty gritty details and find out all the unglamorous things you’ll have to deal with,” she advises. “Don’t get caught up in the moment of your dream coming true.”