TRENTON -- Herman Tucker is a single father.

The lifelong city resident rented a tiny, cramped apartment for years, spending the majority of his salary on rent and utilities.

The idea of savings was far-fetched.

Owning a home seemed even more out of reach.

"We were living in a small apartment and all I wanted was to own a safe home for my family," said Tucker yesterday at the newly completed development of 18 two-family homes on Calhoun and New Rose streets. "The homes I saw in Trenton, though, just weren't affordable or fit to live in. I wanted something better."

Up until a few months ago, Tucker planned to leave New Jersey in search of more affordable housing.

But through a unique opportunity, Tucker achieved something he never imagined: becoming a homeowner and a landlord.

The Leewood Real Estate Group has created an enclave of houses they've nicknamed "renaissance homes," a program that allows Tucker to own his three-story residence, occupying the top two floors, while acting as a landlord for tenants in a first-floor apartment.

For Tucker, that means he's now a homeowner, but also the landlord for his brother and sister-in-law who live in the downstairs apartment with their daughter.

How it works is relatively simple.

Anyone who buys a three-story home in the development is also buying an apartment downstairs. The owner can rent that space to another family or individual, and then apply the rental revenue to their monthly mortgage payments, or use it for other expenses such as a new car or vacation.

"This enables people to actually save money while owning a home," said Michael Fink, president and CEO of Leewood Real Estate Group, at an official ceremony yesterday.

"And what's especially great is how these homes are designed for a mixture of income levels," he said.

The average homeowner in the development earns from $30,000 to $50,000 a year and has a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA).

Marge Della Vecchia, executive director of the HMFA, said there is still mortgage money available to prospective homeowners. So far, about one-third of the homes have been sold. Interested buyers can attend an open house Saturday to learn more.

When it comes to the design of the homes and development, Della Vecchia said it's the "textbook" vision of what any homeowner would want.

"How the homes are built, how they look, are so very important," she said. "People are going to barbecue here, they're going to have kids playing outside. They're going to feel proud of where they live."

Every home is designed the same, Fink said.

Plush carpets and tile flooring lead to spacious bedrooms and living areas. Most rooms have large closets and 9-foot-high ceilings. All of the homes are energy efficient and come with central heating and air.

Each residence has a moderate-sized back yard and private entrances.

"This is the kind of place that when people say, 'you live in Trenton?' the homeowners will want to say proudly, 'yeah, and you should come visit,'" said Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. "A house is not a home. But what's been created here is a real home environment."

It's no secret the nation's economy and shaky housing market have resulted in foreclosures across the country, Palmer said.

"But that's not going to happen to these homeowners," he said.

All homeowners in the development have received counseling on purchasing a home and overseeing tenants.

Their mortgages will not change over time, Della Vecchia said.

"It's great to me because I'm paying just about the same amount toward my mortgage every month as I was when I rented an apartment," Tucker said. "But now I have more space. I never thought this kind of opportunity would come my way, but I'm really glad it did."

The open house takes place Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.