Frances James admits she was tired of renting.
“I started praying to become a homeowner,” she said. “Stepping out in faith, connecting with the right people and taking responsibility for the work I needed to do all led me to finally becoming the homeowner I always wanted to be. I was longing for this—it means financial stability and is a celebration for me and my family.”
Her dream came true. In October 2020, the dining service director at Grandhaven Living Center in Lansing moved to a beautifully renovated 1940s home in the Quentin Park area with her daughter.
Frances’s homeowner journey wasn’t without perseverance and hard work. She experienced many stops and starts in the process and dedicated herself to being as informed as possible.
“I tell people not to give up. Take the homeowner classes and learn what you can—there is so much out there to know! ”
Frances and daughter Crystal are eagerly anticipating summertime. They plan to host family barbecues, get to know their neighbors better and plant a garden together. Frances is also particularly excited to take on her first DIY home projects.
"Through my journey I held on to Proverbs 3:5-6, which says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight,'" said Frances. "All I did was trust and believe in God. If he did it for me, he can do it for anyone."