{"id":278162,"date":"2026-01-16T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/?p=278162"},"modified":"2026-02-05T13:13:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:13:39","slug":"unlocking-wealth-on-trust-land-ncrc-member-helps-tribal-families-gain-new-paths-to-homeownership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/unlocking-wealth-on-trust-land-ncrc-member-helps-tribal-families-gain-new-paths-to-homeownership\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking Wealth on Trust Land: NCRC Member Helps Tribal Families Gain New Paths to Homeownership"},"content":{"rendered":"

Homeownership isn\u2019t just part of the American dream \u2013 it\u2019s a critical tool for building wealth and financial security. Because unique federal rules and regulations make it harder for tribal communities to achieve homeownership, the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest (THOCSW) is working to bridge that gap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founded in 1999 and serving Native communities in New Mexico and Arizona, THOCSW\u2019s free homebuyer education and financial literacy classes teach participants how to navigate traditional real-estate systems \u2013 from learning how to save toward a mortgage, navigating land leases and better understanding home equity and appreciation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Challenges of Homeownership on Tribal Land<\/b><\/h3>\n

For decades, Native families in the Southwest region have faced a housing system stacked against them. Historical policies created a system in which Native people use the land, but the federal government holds the title \u2013 blocking generations from building wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Billey, the executive director of the <\/span>THOCSW<\/span><\/a>, says that while tribal communities deeply understand the cultural importance of home, they\u2019ve never had an American-style real estate system on their lands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTraditionally, a home is where families are born, grow and celebrate\u00a0 \u2013 something handed down through generations to provide identity and continuity,\u201d he explains. \u201cBy contrast, American homeownership relies on a market system of appraisals, equity and appreciation. This industry never existed in tribal communities, so knowledge around it was never developed or passed down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Breaking Barriers Through Education and Advocacy<\/b><\/h3>\n

Working with tribal, state and federal policymakers, THOCSW also advocates for legislation that meets the communities\u2019 unique needs. Targeted outreach includes classes, YouTube content and on-the-ground engagement to raise awareness and foster collaboration on homeownership opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Billey says education is key to helping Native families achieve homeownership while reinforcing tribal sovereignty and community well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople must understand that homeownership can be both culturally meaningful and an appreciating asset,\u201d he explains. \u201cAt the same time, we must honor traditional values. There are 48-49 tribes in Arizona and New Mexico, and each has distinct languages, traditions, political structures and governance systems. Tribal homeownership models must reflect those realities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A Landmark Model for Sustainable Tribal Homeownership<\/b><\/h3>\n

THOCSW was instrumental in the 2025 groundbreaking sale of a home in LeChee, Arizona on the Navajo Nation\u2019s Housing Authority master-lease land. Working across tribal, state and federal levels, THOCSW led the<\/span> first public, MLS-listed sale \u2013 creating<\/span> a model for market-rate sales on tribal land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“When we closed, organizations from South Dakota, Montana and the Appraisal Institute were watching because no one had ever created a public comparable sale on trust land,” Billey says.<\/span><\/p>\n

With support from partners like NCRC, THOCSW is poised to create lasting personal and systemic impact \u2013 supporting families on their homeownership journey while helping tribal communities become more self-reliant, informed and empowered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy providing knowledge, elevating best practices and advocating for systems that reflect tribal realities, we aim to serve as both a resource and a voice \u2013 putting more control, opportunity and economic power back into the hands of tribal people themselves,\u201d Billey says.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nicole Rothstein is a Contributing Writer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Homeownership isn\u2019t just part of the American dream \u2013 it\u2019s a critical tool for building wealth and financial security. Because unique federal rules and regulations make it harder for tribal communities to achieve homeownership, the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest (THOCSW) is working to bridge that gap. Founded in 1999 and serving Native communities 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Because unique federal rules and regulations make it harder for tribal communities to achieve homeownership, the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest (THOCSW) is working to bridge that gap. Founded in 1999 and serving Native communities…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}