• Los Alamos Housing Partnership Helps Family Buy New Home

Dreams are coming true for Ryan and Kaitlin Martinez, their two children, and the third on the way as construction begins this month on their new home in White Rock.

Kaitlin and her children Aemilia, 4, and Jackson, 2, gathered Dec. 11 for a special groundbreaking ceremony, at the construction site of their new home in Pinon Trails. The family was joined by members of the Los Alamos Housing Partnership (LAHP) Board, LAHP Executive Director Steve Brugger, Interim Director Paul Andrus of the County’s Community Development Department and home builder Oscar Duran of O&J Construction, Inc. Ryan wanted to be there but had to work, Kaitlin said.

“This is exactly the kind of family that we are here to help,” Brugger said at the groundbreaking.

LAHP assisted the family in securing a home loan by subsidizing a note that made up the difference of the purchase price of $254,000 and what they could afford for the three bedroom, two-car garage home, he said.

“We really want to thank the Housing Partnership for helping make it possible for us to purchase our first home,” Kaitlin said.

LAHP is focused on five types of projects:  

• Build and sell affordable homes to households earning at or under 80 percent of area median income and has completed approximately 60 of these homes in the Pinon Trails neighborhood of White Rock;

• Acquisition, rehabilitation and sale of affordable homes to households earning at or under 80 percent of area median income (and are looking at opportunities to do this in 2016);

• Selling affordable homes … (because Brugger is a licensed broker; all commissions go to LAHP);

• Manage Los Alamos County housing rehabilitation program; LAHP is working with the County now on setting up the policies and procedures of the program. LAHP expects to be accepting applications in February; to learn more about the program, contact Brugger at stevelahp@gmail.com or call 505.662.8918; and

• LAHP aspires to work with Los Alamos County in setting up a down payment assistance program for households earning under 80 percent area median income; this would stimulate home sales and new home construction and attract more young families to Los Alamos.

LAHP, in conjunction with Los Alamos County, will begin accepting applications for its Home Renewal Program (HRP) in February. The program enables income-qualified homeowners to improve their homes to increase comfort, safety, and livability without adding to monthly expenses.

“In addition to providing financing for needed improvements, HRP helps homeowners find licensed contractors to complete work according to a project scope created by LAHP and the homeowner,” Brugger said. “LAHP staff also assists the homeowner in providing oversight to the contractors to insure that all work complies with code and contract requirements.”

HRP is made possible through a subsidy loan provided by the County and other funding sources. No monthly payments are due on the loan, which is only collected when the home is refinanced or sold. Homeowners in the program must maintain their home as a primary residence and not rent it out during the life of the loan.

A brochure detailing eligible projects is available at losalamoshousingpartnership.org.

The LAHP Board includes President Karl Hjelvik; Vice President Denise Terrazas; Treasurer Pearl White and members James Chrobocinski; Carol A. Clark; Bob Fuselier; Cindy Hollabaugh; Marilyn Rohn and Craig Wehner.

Los Alamos Housing Partnership, Inc. office is at 1475 Central Ave., Suite 210E in the New Mexico Bank and Trust Building at 15th Street and Central Avenue. For more information, call 505.662.8918.