In a city where the median home price has soared to $345,000, while the average household can only afford $169,000, Houston-based developer and investor JB Thibodeaux is doing more than building houses. He’s creating pathways.
With the launch of the Duplex Flex Giveaway, Thibodeaux is offering more than just bricks and mortar: he’s gifting a newly built duplex to a first-time buyer, while providing over 40 participants with financial literacy and real estate investment training.
Backed by Prosperity Bank and the NAACP Houston Branch, this initiative isn’t just a generous gesture; it’s a movement. As Thibodeaux puts it, “This is bigger than just handing someone a set of keys… It’s about delivering a foundation for long-term financial security and helping families take the first step toward building a legacy.
The giveaway, hosted in Houston’s historic Acres Homes neighborhood, includes a six-week cohort designed to take participants through the complete investment process: from land acquisition and property maintenance to managing personal finances and understanding the market.
The grand finale? One graduate will walk away with full ownership of a duplex, a tangible result of the program’s guiding principle: knowledge + opportunity = transformation.
For Thibodeaux, this giveaway isn’t a one-off—it’s the start of something bigger. “We’re focused on impact,” he said. “For families who’ve been told to wait or who’ve felt shut out of the market, this is a chance to step into ownership on solid ground.”
To learn more about the man behind the mission, we spoke to JB Thibodeaux himself.
QG: Before real estate, who was JB Thibodeaux? What experiences shaped your vision for community-focused development?
JT: Before I even knew what real estate was, I was raised in the life of an entrepreneur and tradesman, my father. Working alongside him planted the seed for everything I understand about real estate today.
QG: Growing up in Houston, how did the housing landscape influence your understanding of ownership and wealth-building?
JT: Growing up in one of Houston’s most underserved communities, I saw firsthand the lack of investment, engagement, and true ownership. It shaped my belief that ownership isn’t just about having something, it’s about stewardship, management, and dominion.
QG: Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to merge real estate with community empowerment?
JT: My work is my ministry, and business is personal. As I grew to understand that development and entrepreneurship are key drivers of community resources, it became clear that my business had to be on the front lines of empowerment to truly make an impact.
QG: The Duplex Flex Giveaway is the first of its kind—what sparked this idea?
JT: It came from the realization that too many of our clients and people like them have been left behind. This initiative was born out of the need to shift that narrative.
QG: You’ve said, “This is bigger than just handing someone a set of keys.” Can you break down what you mean by that?
JT: This is a true give-away not just a property, but an opportunity. By combining it with a masterclass that delivers education, training, resources, and relationship-building, we’re creating something revolutionary and long-lasting.
QG: The program mixes property ownership with education—how did you design the curriculum to create long-term impact?
JT: Our partnerships with Prosperity Bank and the NAACP helped elevate our educational approach. With the NAACP providing historical and civic insight, and Prosperity Bank supporting financial training, we’ve built a holistic curriculum aimed at lasting success.
QG: The launch caused your website to temporarily crash. What does that immediate interest tell you about the need for initiatives like this?
JT: It tells us the need is urgent and the interest is real. People are hungry for opportunities that are tangible, inclusive, and built with their future in mind.
QG: In Houston, the median home price is $345K, but the average household can only afford $169K. From your perspective, what’s fueling this gap?
JT: A number of factors are driving this divided wage stagnation, including rising construction costs and limited access to capital. But ultimately, it stems from systemic inequities that we have to actively work to dismantle.
QG: How do you think private developers can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem?
JT: It starts with exposure and intention. Many communities view developers as outsiders, but today’s developers can and should be community advocates. We need to show up differently, rooted in purpose and partnership.
QG: What role does financial literacy play in closing the homeownership gap, especially for Black and Brown families?
JT: Financial literacy is essential. It equips our communities with the knowledge to make informed decisions, build generational wealth, and break cycles of poverty.
QG: If you could give one piece of advice to the winner of the Duplex Flex Giveaway—and to everyone watching from the sidelines—what would it be?
JT: The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Speak up, show up, and stay ready because opportunity favors those who are prepared and persistent.
Applications for the program are open now, and the final winner will be announced at the Open House Soirée on October 18, 2025.
