Gislene Carmagos has lived in the U.S. with her children for 10 years and never dreamed she would ever own a home as she worked two jobs to rent her family's apartment in Woburn.

On Sunday afternoon, the Brazilian woman and two of her three sons, Ricardo, 23, and Valerio, 18, were officially welcomed to their new three bedroom townhouse at 5 Park St. by scores of North Shore Habitat for Humanity volunteers and city officials.

The Carmargos family will occupy one half of the house and Jamie and Nancy Burgess of Peabody and their children, Charles, 15, Ashley, 13, and Brianna, 11, will occupy the other three bedroom townhouse.

"I never ever dreamed about owning a home because with three boys I was concerned about their education," said Carmargos as she stood in her new livingroom.

Her family's journey to owning a piece of the American dream began last summer when she saw a notice on the Internet looking for applicants for Habitat for Humanity homes. Carmargos said she filled out the application and just before Christmas she received a telephone call telling her she was selected to own one half of the newly renovated 5 Park St. property. Her sons were also very pleased they will have a place to call home.

"It's very exciting and I am very happy," said Ricardo Carmargos. "We will have new rooms for ourselves and a lot of space."

Tulio, 11, their younger brother, is currently, living in Brazil with his aunt because the family's current apartment in Woburn is too small to accomodate all of them. But Ricardo said Tulio will be living with them in their new home soon.

Valerio Carmargos said his mother deserves all the credit for making this happen.

"My mom worked so hard to get us a house and now she made it. I'm happy for her," he said.

Home ownership through the Habitat for Humanity program is also a dream come true for the Burgess family. Jamie Burgess, a manager in training at McDonalds, said the family has been renting an apartment on 7 Oak St. in Peabody.

Nancy Burgess said they applied for the program in November 2009 and found out in April 2010 they were selected.

"I was thinking I was dreaming," said Nancy Burgess after they received the call. "I thought it was a lie, like this can't be happening."

The Burgess family hopes to move into their new home by May 1 and the Carmargos family plans to move into their new home sometime this month.

During the dedication ceremony, Don Preston, president of the North Shore Habitat for Humanity, said the project to renovate 5 Park St. began in February 2010 and the end result are two new town houses inside a historically restored building that would have fallen into disrepair if not for the efforts of dozens of volunteers.

"What you're looking at here is a reproduction of this house from the 1870s," he said.

Preston said six more units are planned in a building located across the street at 12 Park St. and in a new building that will be constructed behind that one om 14 Park St. 

"Building number three will be framed up in a week," Preston said. "We need all of you to keep helping."

Mayor Michael Bonfanti said mayor's often get the credit for projects like this one, but he quickly pointed out it was the volunteers who donated their time, skills and expertise who clearly deserve all of the credit.

"Thank you for what you are doing," he said. "You also made this neighborhood a better place."

Preston previously told Peabody Patch the City of Peabody donated more than $700,000, which included $500,000 from its inclusionary zoning fund and another $200,000 in Community Preservation Act money, to help cover the cost of the $1.5 million project and two of the buildings, 5 Park St. and 12 Park St., involved meticulous historic renovations. The third building, 14 Park St., had to be demolished and a duplex that will have a historic look consistent with the other two buildings is being constructed. Preston said Salem architect J. Michael Sullivan provided the design for the third building.

Preston said the new homes and the ones that will be finished later this year will be energy efficient with an Energy Star rating and will be equipped with refrigerators and stoves provided by Whirlpool and washers and dryers provided by Wells Fargo. The best part is that a family of four that was paying as much as $1,800 per month in rent will end up with a 0 percent mortgage and pay $700 per month to own their first home, Preston said.