My Housing Story
Real Families. Real Housing Challenges.
Housing is more than a policy issue — it’s personal. Across New Mexico, families are feeling the impact of rising housing costs and limited options in different ways. For some, finding a safe, affordable place to call home has become a constant challenge. For others, housing costs have made it harder to stay close to family, remain in the community they love, or build a stable future.
These stories put a human face on New Mexico’s housing challenges. By sharing the experiences of families and individuals across our state, we can better understand what the housing shortage looks like in real life — and why solutions matter. Explore the stories below to hear directly from New Mexicans about how housing has shaped their lives, their choices, and their communities.
Tilman & Risa: We Want to Build Our Future Here
Tilman and Risa are young professionals building their careers in Albuquerque. Risa is a PhD student in biomedical sciences at the University of New Mexico, and Tilman works at Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute. They currently rent an apartment near UNM and hope to buy their first home close to their work, school and community
Their budget is around $300,000. At that price, they say the homes they find often need significant work or are far enough away that buying one would mean changing their commute and daily lives.
“We have steady jobs that we're committed to, and by all means, we should be able to get into a starter home,” Tilman says. “But there's just nothing attainable within that window.”
They’re willing to make sacrifices to become homeowners. A mortgage would likely cost them significantly more than their current rent, and they're prepared to live more frugally to make it work. What they don't want to sacrifice is the community and life they're building in Albuquerque.
“We're interested in buying our first home, and staying close to our community, which also includes staying close to our work or the university.”
“There are cities where we could make money and own a home and have a life.”
That matters for their future in New Mexico. Tilman recently visited family in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was struck by the number of homes available there in their price range.
"There are very few homes within our range for what we imagine that we're going to be able to afford once we get pre-qualified. You know, most of the houses we're looking at are $300,000 and upwards. the top of our budget is $300,000, and the houses for around $300 all need work, and are gonna change the way we live, in terms of our commute, our, you know, our social sort of situation; just kind of everything about our lives is gonna change. If we get more for our money, we're gonna end up an hour away from work.”
For now, Tilman and Risa want that life to be here.
But if homeownership still feels out of reach when Risa finishes school, they acknowledge that they may eventually have to consider someplace else.
“Things are getting harder, not easier, for folks like me and Risa and our friends.”
Voices from New Mexico: Housing Stories.
Housing is one of the most important issues facing communities across New Mexico. When there aren’t enough homes that people can afford, the effects reach far beyond where someone lives — shaping family decisions, household budgets, opportunities, and the ability to stay connected to the communities they call home.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Your experience matters. If housing has affected you, your family, your work, or your community, we want to hear from you. Sharing your story can help bring the real-life impact of New Mexico’s housing challenges into focus and help others better understand why solutions matter.
You can also hear from other New Mexicans who have experienced these challenges firsthand. Read their stories, share your own, and help us build a fuller picture of what housing looks like across our state.