http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...l-local-howard

Posted on 06/06/2007 8:27:53 AM PDT by sickoflibs


As Howard County officials prepare to choose buyers for two heavily discounted new garage townhouses today, Patricia Tolson still is trying to get used to her good fortune.

Tolson's name was chosen at random from among 28 qualified applicants for the right to pay $200,000 for a 42 percent share of a large, renovated home on Columbia's Pamplona Road -

"Is it for real then?" the 35-year-old former soldier said Monday, describing her reaction to winning the housing lottery.

"I wake up every day and say, 'Mom, was it a dream?' I'm trying to explain to my son that it's not free. I have to pay for it."

Tolson jumped up, her hand over her mouth at the drawing Saturday at Oakland Mills High School after County Executive Ken Ulman reached into the golden metal cylinder, dropping and then retrieving what he said was the same envelope before opening it and reading Tolson's name.

Stacy Spann, Howard's housing director, said the fair is the first of what will become a twice-yearly event for people looking for housing opportunities in the county.

Tolson's new house, a half-block from Oakland Mills Middle School, which Anthony attends, is in what Howard housing officials call their shared equity program for moderate-income residents.

The housing commission will retain majority ownership of Tolson's house, and the $40,000-a- year Social Security employee will pay about $1,500 a month for her share of the mortgage and property taxes, according to Thomas Carbo, deputy county housing director. Tolson said a 30 percent disability from injuries she received during her eight years of military service gave her enough income to qualify for the lottery.

Whenever the house is sold, the commission will find a new limited-income buyer to replace Tolson.

Other applicants had high hopes, too, but they were disappointed.