Across New Mexico, many abandoned or severely distressed homes sit vacant. These properties can’t be purchased with a traditional mortgage and will gradually deteriorate, attract vandalism, and weaken neighborhood stability. Homewise, in partnership with Housing New Mexico, operates the ROC (Restoring Our Communities) Program to bring these homes back as safe, high-quality, owner-occupied housing.

A recent project in Albuquerque’s Westgate neighborhood highlights the impact. The home had been vacant with repeated trespassing, boarded and broken windows, and damage that affected the surrounding families. Most homes in the area are occupied by working New Mexican households, and a long-term vacant property on the block introduced safety concerns and visible decline.

Through ROC, Homewise acquired the home, assessed its needs, and partnered with local contractor JP Builders to complete a full renovation. Major systems including roofing, HVAC, windows, kitchen, and bathrooms were replaced while preserving the original structure. Instead of demolition or new development, the project added to the housing supply by returning an existing but unusable home to livable condition without requiring new land, new infrastructure, or rezoning.

Once complete, the home was matched directly with a buyer already in the Homewise readiness pipeline, demonstrating the strong demand for attainable homeownership opportunities in neighborhoods where available homes are limited. The buyer qualified for significant assistance, making the home attainable at a price point below what comparable renovated homes in the area typically sell for. From acquisition to closing, the full process took approximately three months, returning the property to occupancy quickly and efficiently.

Projects like this not only create a path to homeownership, but also strengthen neighborhood confidence, reduce blight, increase safety, and keep investment circulating within New Mexico’s local contractor economy. By converting non-financeable homes into mortgage-ready, energy-efficient, owner-occupied housing, ROC delivers community revitalization with measurable impact—one address at a time.

These outcomes reflect the core mission of Homewise: expanding access to homeownership, reinvesting in existing communities, and helping New Mexican families build stability and long-term wealth.