State Home Repair Program Opens Waitlist for Sandoval Homeowners

Housing New Mexico opened a waitlist January 8 for its Home Improvement Program, a statewide effort to help low- and moderate-income homeowners repair and upgrade aging homes. The program provides zero-percent interest conditional forgivable loans to finance a range of necessary work, from code compliance and structural repairs to energy efficiency improvements and accessibility modifications.

The program covers single-family homes, manufactured homes, condominiums and mobile homes, but households must both own and occupy the dwelling. Eligibility is limited to households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The initiative is designed to address deferred maintenance that has accumulated in older housing stock across New Mexico, with the Thornburg Foundation providing support for the program’s coverage.

For Sandoval County homeowners, the program offers a potential funding route for projects that local contractors and families frequently face: roof and foundation repairs, electrical and plumbing upgrades to meet code, weatherization and insulation improvements that lower energy bills, and modifications that allow seniors and residents with disabilities to remain in their homes. An illustrative photo accompanying state program materials shows a home under construction in Rio Rancho, underscoring the immediate relevance for communities in Sandoval County.

Local significance extends beyond individual repairs. Keeping homes safe and code-compliant preserves neighborhood stability, helps maintain property values, and can reduce pressures on local social services by preventing unsafe living conditions. For households that have delayed maintenance because of cost, the program’s forgivable loan structure aims to remove a financial barrier to necessary work.

Homeowners interested in the waitlist should contact Housing New Mexico directly to learn how to apply, confirm eligibility and obtain program details. The state’s announcement highlights the broad types of eligible work and the requirement that applicants own and occupy their homes, while emphasizing the program’s focus on older housing in need of repair.

As the waitlist opens, Sandoval County residents should evaluate whether their properties meet the program criteria and reach out to Housing New Mexico for application instructions and timelines. For many local homeowners, particularly those living in older or manufactured housing, this program could be an opportunity to complete urgent repairs that improve safety, reduce long-term costs and allow residents to remain in their communities.