SUGAR LAND, Texas – Sugar Land is expanding its Great Homes incentive program, aiming to make exterior home repairs more affordable for residents who face the biggest barriers to reinvestment.
City leaders say the changes are designed to help homeowners with aging properties keep their homes safe, functional, and visually appealing while preserving the character of established neighborhoods.
Starting January 1, 2026, homeowners whose properties fall within the bottom three percent of single-family home values in Sugar Land will qualify for up to 50 percent reimbursement on eligible exterior home improvement projects.
What is the Great Homes program?
The Great Homes program offers reimbursement grants for approved exterior home improvements. Since launching in February 2023, the program has supported:
- 300+ home improvement projects
- More than $5.3 million invested in home upgrades
- Over $790,000 reimbursed to homeowners
- An average reimbursement of $2,613 per household
City officials say the program has generated about $7 in private investment for every $1 in public funding.
Sugar Land homeowner Linda Murdock used the Great Homes program to replace her back fence.
“That was my gate you can see it tied with a string,” Murdock said, describing photos of her fence before repairs.
She paid about $7,500 for a new red cedar fence and received a little more than $1,800 back through the program about 25 percent reimbursement.
“That was really helpful,” Murdock said. “Fences are really expensive.”
She says the incentive allowed her to upgrade materials and make a longer-lasting investment in her home.
“The incentive, the fact that I got back a percentage helped me choose the materials. I went a little upgrade on the materials for the fence, and that was really helpful. It really was,” she said.
What’s changing in 2026?
City leaders say homes in the lowest-value category have historically had the lowest participation rates, often due to high repair costs, insurance requirements, or complex ownership situations.
To address those barriers, the city approved several key updates for the lowest-value homes:
- Reimbursement increased to 50% (previously 10% or 25%)
- Minimum project cost reduced from $4,000 to $500
- Exceptions allowed for homeowner insurance requirements
- Eligibility expanded to include heir owners
- Maximum reimbursement remains $10,000
The average home in Sugar Land was built in the early ’90s. But for homes that are much older, starting January 1st, properties in the bottom three percent of single-family home values will qualify for a 50 percent reimbursement on eligible exterior improvements.
“So they can do sighting, painting, fencing, landscaping can be included with another project, but there’s also exterior lighting,” Ana Rodriguez, said.
Ana Rodriguez serves as the Community Development Coordinator for the City of Sugar Land. She says homeowners can use an online address lookup tool to see which reimbursement bracket they fall into and estimate potential project costs.
“So, we have the 10% bracket, the 25% bracket, and the 50% bracket, but all of them have a maximum reimbursement of $10,000. So, depending on your minimum project cost, it can be from $500 to $8,000. So just depending on which bracket that you fall into, but the max that can be reimbursed is the $10,000,” she said.
Who qualifies for Sugar Land’s Great Homes program?
To be eligible for the Great Homes Update Program, homeowners must:
- Live within Sugar Land city limits
- Own a single-family home
- Be current on property taxes
- Apply before starting any exterior work
- Complete approved exterior improvements
The City of Sugar Land has set aside $200,000 in the fiscal year 2026 budget to support expanded participation in the program. Funding comes from the city’s general fund.
Applications for the expanded Great Homes program open Jan. 1, 2026.
More information, eligibility details, and program resources are available at Great Homes | Redevelopment | City of Sugar Land Economic Development.