The moment Runbo Li’s parents bought his childhood home is something he hasn’t forgotten.  In 1998, his parents emigrated from China to build a better life for him and his younger sister.  For nearly a decade, they lived carefully, saving whatever they could while working jobs at Penn State University. In 2006, their persistence paid off. With each parent earning roughly $30,000, they bought a newly built home in State College, Pennsylvania, for $180,000.  Their incomes didn’t grow much over time. They weathered two market downturns and endured times when they owed more than their home was worth. They took side jobs to make ends meet and even tapped into their home equity along the way. But his parents kept pushing forward, and by 2020, they had paid off their mortgage in full.  For many low-income families, stories like this capture what homeownership is supposed to mean: stability, security and a path toward something better.…