Skylight Homes is a new 49-home single-family subdivision located at 3170 Santa Maria Way, formerly the Hi-Way drive-in movie theater.
This neighborhood is nestled in an inviting and desireable area, surrounded by existing single-family neighborhoods. It is located close to shopping centers, schools, and community parks, making it a perfect family residential area.
Skylight Homes is a new 49-home single-family subdivision located at 3170 Santa Maria Way, formerly the Hi-Way drive-in movie theater.
This neighborhood is nestled in an inviting and desireable area, surrounded by existing single-family neighborhoods. It is located close to shopping centers, schools, and community parks, making it a perfect family residential area.
- 49 new homes built on an 8.89-acre vacant lot
- 16 homes for farmworker households
- Three and four-bedroom homes ranging from 1,196 to 1,504 square feet living space
- Two car attached garage
- Private driveway, front and backyards
- Homes equipped with energy efficient appliances and solar system
- Homeowner’s association will ensure neighborhood green-belt landscaping and maintained roads
- Includes access to pre-purchase and post-purchase homeownership education program
Attend an information session (in-person or online) to learn about building timelines, eligibility details, and more! Dates to follow.
Meet with our approved lending partners for home loan pre-approval. Pre-approval is a requirement for participation in the lottery. Meetings will take place late June – July 2026.
Those with pre-approval will be entered into a randomized digital lottery to determine the order of application processing. This lottery will be conducted at the end of July 2026.
Households selected in the lottery will be invited to complete the full application and submit additional documentation.
Qualified households will complete their contract and move forward with home purchase!
Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for the mortgage, applicants must:
- Be approved for a conventional home loan program
- Qualify for a minimum first mortgage loan of $375,000, with a qualifying housing ratio of no more than 40% and a total debt ratio of no more than 50% of the qualifying gross income
- Be pre-approved prior to the lottery date
Homeowners association dues will be approximately $175 per month.
The key requirements are:
- Applicant is a first time homebuyer and will live in the home as a primary residence
- Household has less than 80% of the Santa Barbara County Area Median Income.
- The maximum income limits are determined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, are updated annually, and are based on the household size. Below are the maximum income limits for Skylight Homes:
*Effective as of 04/23/2025
To be eligible for the farmworker designated homes, the applicant must meet the general eligibility requirements and at least one applicant must:
- Earn at least 50% of their annual income from agriculture related work
- OR be a retired farmworker
- OR live with a disability, with prior work as a farmworker
Evidence of U.S. citizenship is not required.
Property taxes are estimated to be 1.25% of the purchase price of the home.
The following documents will be necessary for each household member over the age of 18 years old:
- Valid drivers license, state identification card, or passport
- Past 30 days of pay stubs
- Tax Returns and W2s for 2025, 2024, 2023 tax years
- Personal bank, retirement, and investment account statements for the past two months
Construction is currently estimated to begin in summer of 2026 and is projected to finish in winter of 2027.
The minimum down payment is 3% of the home purchase price. Households participating in a self-help program may be eligible for additional assistance for their participation in building their home.
Yes! Down payment assistance programs will be offered for Skylight Homes. Eligibility and qualification for each program will be part of the home loan pre-approval. More information will follow.
The Skylight Homes project partners includes the following organizations:
- Owner: People’s Self-Help Housing
- Architect: Rea & Luker Architects, Inc
- Civil Engineer: Bethel Engineering
- Landscape Architect: Jim Burrows Landscape Architecture