Great Homes Update Program

Matching reimbursement grant funds* may be provided for up to 10% or 25% the cost of the project, up to $10,000 maximum. Projects started or completed prior to an application being approved and an agreement being signed will not qualify for the incentive nor be reimbursed.

In addition, an additional 2% reimbursement incentive may be granted if all of the requirements are met:

• The Applicant has obtained an exterior home design through the Great Homes Design Program

• The Applicant describes the scope of work for the project in the Application and states how the project will achieve the exterior home design granted through the Great Homes Design Program

• The applicant demonstrates substantial completion of at least one aspect of the design, excluding landscaping. Examples of substantial completion include: (1) painting a home to match the colorway of a home design; (2) adding or modifying architectural features to match a reimagined home design; and/or (3) implementing improvements to match those found in a home design, such as windows, garage doors, or lighting features.

*Please note that all income received through Great Homes may be considered taxable income and must be reported to the IRS after participating in the program.

Eligible Projects

• The minimum total project cost must be the following, excluding sales tax and permitting fees:

  • Projects eligible for up to a twenty-five percent (25%) reimbursement must have a minimum total project cost of at least Four Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($4,000.00)

  • Projects eligible for up to a ten percent (10%) reimbursement must have a minimum total project cost of at least Eight Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($8,000.00)

• Projects can be combined to meet the minimum total project cost

• All projects must adhere to applicable deed restrictions and restrictive covenants. Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining any HOA/POA approvals and the required permits needed for a project.

• Projects qualifying for the program include but are not necessarily limited to:

  • Exterior painting

  • Addition of new exterior siding, soffit, or trim

  • Exterior siding replacement

  • Garage door replacement

  • Front door replacement

  • Replacement or expansion of driveway and/or front path

  • Fence replacement

    • Fencing projects that do not have at least some portion of the new fence fronting on the street that the Property is located will be ineligible

  • Roof replacement

    • Only 10% of the roof replacement project cost will count towards your total project cost

    • Additionally, roof replacement projects must be substantially accompanied by another type of qualifying project to be considered, and the cost of the roof replacement that counts toward the total project cost cannot exceed the cost of other parts of the project

    • For example, a roof replacement with a total replacement cost of Twenty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($20,000.00) will only count for Two Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($2,000.00) towards the total project cost. If you were eligible for the 10% reimbursement, an additional qualifying project totaling at least $2,000.00 would need to be added in order to meet the $4,000.00 minimum total project cost threshold.

  • Window replacement

    • Only 50% of the total window replacement cost will count towards your total project cost. For example, a window replacement project with a total replacement cost of Twenty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($20,000) will only count for Ten Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($10,000) towards the total project cost.

  • Gutter replacement

    • Must be accompanied by a qualifying exterior siding, exterior painting project, and/or roof project.

  • Addition, expansion, or replacement of front patio

  • Installation of exterior accent lighting features

  • Landscaping projects such as tree planting and/or the replacement/addition of turf, shrubs, plants, and trees

    • Must be substantially accompanied by another qualifying project and cannot exceed the cost of the other project.

    • Must be substantially accompanied by another type of qualifying project to be considered and the cost of the landscaping project cannot exceed the cost of the other project

    • For example, a $3,000 project could be accompanied by a $1,000 landscaping project to meet the minimum $4,000 minimum total project cost threshold

    • Earth-Kind landscaping is recommended

  • Other types of projects that are found by the Program Administrator to rehabilitate, enhance, or refurbish the exterior of a residential property

Home Eligibility Requirements

• All single-family houses within the Sugar Land city limits are eligible for the program to receive up to a 10% or 25% reimbursement incentive

  • Visit the Great Homes Home Look-Up Tool to look up your home’s address and identify your potential reimbursement percentage amount (10% vs 25% reimbursement) and minimum total project ($4,000 vs $8,000) cost required.

• Townhouses, multi-family buildings, and condominiums are not eligible

• Any occupancy and ownership qualify (Owner-occupied, tenant-occupied, or vacant)

• Must be current on taxes and possess homeowner’s insurance

To qualify for a 10% reimbursement incentive

• Eligible property's address must be within the Sugar Land city limits

• Townhouses, multi-family buildings, and condominiums are not eligible

• Must be current on taxes and possess homeowner's insurance (proof for both items required)

To qualify for a 25% reimbursement incentive

• Eligible property must be a single-family home constructed in 1993 or earlier

• Eligible property must have a Fort Bend County Appraisal District appraised market value of less than $395,855, based on the latest certified appraised values (proof required)

• Eligible property's address must be within the Sugar Land city limits

• Must be current on taxes and possess homeowner's insurance (proof for both items required)

• Townhouses, multi-family buildings, and condominiums are not eligible

The following projects and costs will not be considered eligible or be reimbursed:

• Any project started before receiving a notice to proceed by the City (this includes deposits, down payments and purchased items);

• Interior home projects;

• New pools, hot tubs, spas, and/or water features;

• Detached accessory structures;

• Back patios;

• Carports;

• Exterior improvements or other items that are the responsibility of a homeowners association, property owners association, management company, or other third-party;

• Any project for which an insurance claim has been, or could be, submitted; and

• Permitting fees and sales tax

Application Process

Applications will be only accepted via the online application portal linked below. Printed applications or physical documents will not be accepted. Applicants must create an account in the online application portal. Once the application is approved and the applicant has received the Notice to Proceed Letter and an executed agreement, the home improvement project can begin. 

Documentation required to be uploaded with the online application includes:

• Completed W9 Form

• Proof of Property's Market Value and Build Date (Proof must be obtained from the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) (https://esearch.fbcad.org/)

• Proof of being current on taxes (Proof must be obtained from the Fort Bend County Tax Office https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/fbc/index.jsp)

• Proof of current homeowner's insurance

• Detailed color photographs of the existing conditions

• Proposed project documents/drawings/images

• Documentation of project cost and project scope

• Signed Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards

Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining required HOA approvals for their project and required permits.

Reimbursement Process

Per the executed agreement, the applicant must complete the approved improvements and submit a complete reimbursement package within three (3) months from the date the agreement between the Applicant and City is executed.  Upon approval of the reimbursement package, city staff will coordinate delivery of a reimbursement grant check to the applicant.

Documentation required to be uploaded with the reimbursement package includes:

• Copies of all required permits obtained for the installation of the improvements

• Copies of receipts and sufficient supporting documentation showing that all contractors have been paid the total project cost.  Documentation may include cancelled checks and/or bank statements.

• Letter from property owner warranting those improvements have been completed according to requirements of the agreement

• Detailed color photographs of all completed improvements.

Fiscal Year 2024 budgeted funds are $450,000. Applications will be accepted until all program incentive funds have been committed.