Skylight Homes Construction Begins in Santa Maria
People's Self-Help Housing has started building a 49-home subdivision in Santa Maria and opened its interest list for prospective buyers.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Residential
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People's Self-Help Housing began construction on Skylight Homes, a 49-home single-family subdivision at 3170 Santa Maria Way in Santa Maria. The project is being built in two phases and has opened its interest list for buyers.
Why it matters
The development adds single-family homeownership options in Santa Maria, with 16 Phase I homes designated for eligible agricultural workers through the FWHG program. Homebuyers in that program contribute 150 hours of self-help construction.
Phase I includes 24 homes, with 16 designated for eligible agricultural workers through the FWHG program, and the average construction cost is approximately $700,000 per home. Projected average first mortgages are $424,000, and the final buyer pricing and Phase II schedule have not been announced.
The players
People's Self-Help Housing
A nonprofit housing developer that builds affordable homes using self-help construction, where buyers contribute labor to reduce costs.
The details
Skylight Homes is financed through the HCD Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Program and the New Markets Tax Credit Program. Each home includes a two-car attached garage, private driveways, private yards, energy efficient appliances, solar, and homeowner's association membership.
Timeline
Spring 2028: Estimated completion of Skylight Homes Phase I.
Seasonal Patterns
Skylight Homes uses financing from the HCD Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Program, a state effort that funds homeownership for agricultural workers, and applies it to a new single-family subdivision in Santa Maria.
Prospective buyers must sign up for the Skylight Homes interest list and attend a mandatory Agricultural Worker Project Presentation. FWHG homebuyers must contribute 150 hours of self-help construction, and non-designated homes are capped at 80% of area median income.
The takeaway
Interested buyers in Santa Maria should sign up for the interest list early and prepare for the 150-hour self-help requirement if they qualify for the FWHG program. Mortgage assistance of up to $250,000 may help close the gap on a home projected to average $424,000.
Further reading
Explore more Residential listings and developments across the Santa Maria area.
More information
Find Skylight Homes project details and FAQs on the People's Self-Help Housing website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edhat Santa Barbara.
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