Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

The beautiful exterior of Launa Alvaranga's two-storey home. The architect was Damion Edmond.

In Westgate Hills, Montego Bay, St. James, stands a Mediterranean-style three-bedroom house. The house, in shades of yellow and green, belongs to Launa Alvaranga.

As a divorcée, following the sale of the family house, Ms. Alvaranga decided that she did not want to spend the rest of her life paying rent.

"I decided that the house would be an investment. Instead of paying rent, that money could go into mortgage," Ms. Alvaranga told Lifestyle.

The aesthetician, who is owner of Options Cosmetic Limited, moved into her home on October 15, 2003.

Ms. Alvaranga is one of a pool of Jamaican women who are owning homes. Women who are not waiting on marriage or a partner to own a house.

Basil Johnson, managing director of Discount Lumber and Hardware, said there is no question that more women are owning their homes. He said over the past 10 years and increasingly so in the last five years, his female client list has increased. Several of his female customers are also from various communities throughout western Jamaica.

"More women are building, that is a fact. They come in and buy building materials. They buy steel, blocks, cement, lumber and they are also purchasing bathroom fixtures."

Mr. Johnson also noted that the women will ask for his advice on issues such as dealing with tradesmen and request referrals to contractors he may know.

"What I have also realised is that unlike some men, the women are not afraid to ask questions, they want to know the best way to build their houses," said Mr. Johnson.

Women are Smart

Women are being smart and are establishing houses on lots available to them. In many rural areas, several women are owning homes by building on lots left through inheritance. In the corporate area, young women are buying apartments.

Ruth Fraser, owner of Stroll Property Services, said more women want to get a home. "Women want to own something," she said.

"Sometimes it might be difficult to get something for them in 'comfortable areas' based on several reasons but they are willing to buy homes in places where some would normally hestiate to go as a start. Areas such as Mountain View in Kingston or Portmore, St. Catherine."

She said, too, that young women, in their 20s, might not have the cash flow to purchase but are making queries. "Women want to buy to say this is my investment," said Mrs. Fraser.

Ms. Alvaranga built her house with the assistance of the National Housing Trust (NHT). A friend of hers wrote a letter transferring her NHT points to Ms. Alvaranga and with those she combined hers. With that she proceeded to the NHT offices and started the process of getting a loan. "I got a list of 22 things to complete from NHT and as I accomplished each, I ticked them off. Things such as identifying a property and having it surveyed."

Afterwards she went back to NHT. "There I was told, 'Ms. Alvaganra your loan is approved'. I almost fell off my chair."

Her house consists of three bedrooms, "carefully thought out", one each for herself, son and mother.

She noted that if she has done it, any woman can. "My friends are sometimes in awe to know I did it."

Non-traditional Route

Angela Grant, 36, is another woman who did not take the traditional route of owning a house. She saw her house built from the foundation to a two-bedroom house with living, dining, bathroom, wash room, car port and verandah. "I sketched out on paper how I wanted it. Then got an architect to put it out on blueprint for me," said Ms. Grant.

"It is joyous. It is similar to giving birth, seeing the house come out of drawing and foundation.

Architect

Roy Fraser, an architect, said while most of his clients are couples, the wives are the ones showing the interests in getting the work completed.

"The trend now is more women are pushing and putting out the interest. I do not know men are afraid or timid to be talking to a man," said Mr. Fraser. He currently has two couples, one in Mandeville, Manchester and the other in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. "In both cases it's the women making the calls, attending meetings and seeing to the whole arrangement of the business. I don't know what is happening to us men."

Gender expert's view

Many women realise that a home means security, financially and otherwise, said gender expert, Glenda Simms.

"Women have always recognised that having a property is important and safe," she said.

In her Kingston-based community she said several of her neighbours are women. Those who are single and others divorced.

"It is wonderful as a woman to own your home. A home is an investment, starting something for the future. If you want to start a family, you at least have a place for your children," said Dr. Simms.

Home ownership by women is just a next step up the success ladder. More Jamaican women are graduating from universities, and other tertiary institutions. Home ownership, especially for these women, is inevitable.

"As they (women) become independent one of the decisions they seem to be making is owning their homes," said Dr. Simms.

Stability comes from owning tangible assests. Plus, with a house women are able to firm up their family life. Men, as husbands or common-law partners are sometimes viewed as 'slack-offs'. Hence women acquire the house to sustain the family.

Mr. Fraser agreed: "Women start seeing more security in properties. Many women are heads of households. So they want their family to be secure."

Women are also realising that finding a husband is hard, said Dr. Simms.

"Most women know there are not any men out there to marry. It seems to becoming the exception rather than the rule to find suitable partners so many women are saving."

Dr. Simms advised women homeowners who are unmarried to get pre-marital agreements before tying the knot.

For women who are timid to achieve a home of their own, Ms. Grant advises, be confident.

"It is a good experience. Especially so when you choose what to put in the rooms such as the bedroom and bathroom.

When visiting the construction site, look carefully, notice how far it has reached, that is a joyous feeling."

Not many women are willing or able to build their own. "They can't manage," said Ms. Grant, who is also a supervisor at a hardware company.

Ms. Alvaranga said women just need to learn to manage properly. "Just manage your time and affairs and not be intimidated by men.

"I lived on very frugally using every penny I had in the building. But it was worth it."

Ms. Grant had to change three building contractors when she was building her home about six years ago.

"A three contractors mi use. The first collected the money and did not pay the men and he was somebody I knew for years. The men on the site told me."

The second carried the work to a point. The workmanship was poor." There are faults, people love the house but there are faults such as rooms that are too small.

The third contractor only had to finish up the door jamb and staircase.

"The last contractor was a good one If I had him from the start, I wouldn't have had any problems."