Homeowner Adi Shakti Khalsa with her children Teg, Priti, Raj and Sahej and their puppy Papaya Tuesday in front of their Los Alamos home near 36th Street and Diamond Drive. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Paramnam and Adi Shakti Khalsa were renting a home in Española for five years, with three pre-K children that they wanted to have attend Los Alamos Public Schools.
Paramnam worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) so they looked for a home to buy here in Los Alamos. After a long search, they found a fixer-upper to purchase. However, young families with several children typically find it difficult to save enough for the type of down payment required to secure a mortgage loan and the Khalsas were no exception. They needed additional money for a down payment.
Kelly McReynolds with Guardian Mortgage suggested that the Khalsas contact Los Alamos Housing Partnership (LAHP) and apply for downpayment assistance from the Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP).
The Khalsas followed through, were approved, and proceeded to close on their first home.
Two years later, with a fourth child on the way and a leaky roof challenging their newfound comfort, the Khalsas were able to secure loan assistance from the County Home Renewal Program (HRP) to fund a reroof completed by the Los Alamos Construction LLC crew.
“These programs gave us the opportunity to own and improve our home here and all of us are so very thankful to the County and LAHP for making this possible for us,” Adi said.
According to LAHP Executive Director Steve Brugger, 96 loans have now been made under both the Home Renewal Program and the Homebuyer Assistance Program, not including other grants facilitated by LAHP and provided to extremely low income households under the New Mexico Energy Smart program.
“We are thankful for the County funding these programs and for giving LAHP an opportunity to create and manage the HRP and HAP on the County’s behalf,” Brugger said. “In the 8-and-a-half years we have been doing this, 62 loans totaling $1,320,246 have been made under the HRP and 34 loans totaling $640,627 have been made under the HAP. Of these 96 loans, LAHP itself has made 14 loans totaling $130,095.”
Brugger expressed his appreciation to his board and program manager.
“My thanks go out to the LAHP Board of Directors, President Karl Hjelvik, Vice President Denise Terrazas, Treasurer Carol A. Clark, Secretary Craig Wehner and board members Lesley Harelson, Chay Rennick and Pearl White and Emeritus Board Member Bob Fuselier for approving our involvement in these programs and in funding these supplemental loans. I am also thankful for Cindy Hollabaugh, HRP & HAP Program Manager. Cindy and these Board members do this work to give back to the Los Alamos community. Thanksgiving is a good time to acknowledge their efforts.”
The home of Paramnam and Adi Shakti Khalsa near 36th Street and Diamond Drive for which they recieved downpayment assistance through the Los Alamos Housing Partnership Homebuyer Assistance Program. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Another view of the home of Paramnam and Adi Shakti Khalsa near 36th Street and Diamond Drive. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Another view of the home of Paramnam and Adi Shakti Khalsa near 36th Street and Diamond Drive for which they were able to secure loan assistance from the County Home Renewal Program to fund a reroof completed by Los Alamos Construction LLC. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
