ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thousands of New Mexico families realized the dream of homeownership in 2025 thanks to Housing New Mexico’s participating lenders and the mortgage programs offered by the organization. Housing New Mexico announced the 2026 Achievement Award recipient, as well as its Top Metro and Rural Lenders as part of its lender recognition program.
For the third year in a row, John Gabaldon with Waterstone Mortgage Corporation in Albuquerque received the Housing New Mexico Achievement Award, which is presented to mortgage originators that produce 100 or more Housing New Mexico loans in a year.
“I have been working with Housing New Mexico/MFA for well over a decade now, and we have a relationship that is like family” said Gabaldon. “We serve the common goal of wanting to help New Mexico families get into affordable housing to have a quality of life and build generational wealth. I love working with Housing New Mexico/MFA!”
Marty Padilla, also with Waterstone Mortgage Corporation in Albuquerque, was named Top Metro Lender for the second consecutive year.
“My first loan using the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (Housing New Mexico) program was in 1991, and over the years I’ve had the privilege of helping what I believe to be well over 2,000 families use this program to achieve the dream of homeownership,” said Padilla. “I have seen firsthand how powerful this program is in opening doors for people from all walks of life. It has helped veterans, single mothers and fathers, retirees purchasing homes later in life, families living on Social Security, rideshare and delivery drivers, and professionals working at our national laboratories. Although there are income limits based on family size, the program has proven that homeownership is possible for many hardworking New Mexicans. It has helped people of all backgrounds and circumstances, and it continues to be one of the most impactful tools we have to help families overcome the challenges of down payment and closing costs.
Housing New Mexico recently celebrated its 50th year of helping families across our state, and I am grateful to have been a small part of that mission. My success as one of the top lenders in New Mexico is due in large part to the opportunities this program creates for the families we serve. At the end of the day, it’s never about the award. It’s about the moment a family is handed the keys to their new home — the smiles, sometimes the tears of joy, and the pride in their eyes when they realize they finally have a place to truly call their own.”
Nikki Sandoval-Belt with Cornerstone Home Lending in Farmington was named Top Rural Lender for the second time in three years.
“Housing New Mexico programs play a pivotal role in making homeownership a reality for so many New Mexicans,” said Sandoval-Belt. “These programs not only empower individuals and families to achieve their dreams of owning a home, but they also strengthen our communities by fostering stability and growth. The transformative impact of Housing New Mexico’s commitment to accessible housing inspires me to continue serving the people of New Mexico with passion and dedication. Together, we are building a brighter future for all New Mexicans!”
Housing New Mexico partnered with about 250 participating mortgage lenders in fiscal year 2025 to provide $555.2 million in first mortgage financing to 2,287 families and $28 million in down payment assistance totaling 3,311 loans. In its 50-year history, Housing New Mexico has helped 72,668 families become homeowners through its first mortgage and down payment assistance programs.
Metro Lender Awards are granted to those operating within the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), while Rural Lender Awards recognize lenders outside of the Albuquerque MSA. Awards are based on the number of loans originated throughout the year, with top lenders recognized in platinum, gold and silver tiers.
Below is a complete list of the 2026 Housing New Mexico Lender Award recipients. All the awards are based on 2025 numbers, and the companies listed are the companies the lenders worked for in 2025.
Housing New Mexico Achievement Award (lenders who originate 100 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
John Gabaldon (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Top Rural Lender (rural lender who originates the most Housing New Mexico loans)
Nikki Sandoval-Belt (Cornerstone Home Lending)
Rural Platinum (lenders who originate 20 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Dani Alpers (Gateway First Bank)
Donice Barnes (PrimeLending, A Plains Capital Company)
Ted Bishop (CMG Mortgage, Inc.)
Nancy Black (PrimeLending, A Plains Capital Company)
Dustin Caroland (Bell Bank Mortgage)
Luis Gonzalez (loanDepot.com, LLC)
Patricia Lewis (Guild Mortgage Company)
Eliot Rodriguez (loanDepot.com, LLC)
Chris Wood (Primary Residential Mortgage)
Rural Gold (lenders who originate 15 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Daniel Anderson (VIP)
Brynn Atencio (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Rafael Figueroa (Guild Mortgage Company)
Susie Nelson (Guild Mortgage Company)
Socorro Rodriguez (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Lindsay Rollins (Bell Bank Mortgage)
Rural Silver (lenders who originate 10 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Phil Chavez (Guild Mortgage Company)
Donna Cline (Evergreen Moneysource Mortgage Company)
Kathi Giguere (VIP)
Priscilla Gonzalez (Movement Mortgage, LLC)
Terri Martinez (Guild Mortgage Company)
Top Metro Lender (metro lender who originates the most Housing New Mexico loans)
Marty Padilla (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Metro Platinum (lenders who originate 25 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Tabitha Gallegos-Kahn (Directors Mortgage, Inc.)
Sarah Gmyr-Maez (Calcon Mutual Mortgage, LLC dba One Trust Home Loans)
Oscar Medrano (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Paul Parsons (CMG Mortgage Inc.)
Jason Pike (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Chris Russo (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Steven Sheldon (Guild Mortgage Company)
Metro Gold (lenders who originate 20 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Tina Krupar (Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group Corporation)
Lisa Lopez (Guild Mortgage Company)
Elizabeth O’Daly (Guild Mortgage Company)
Shannon Schroeder (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Christine Turpen-Patton (Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.)
Metro Silver (lenders who originate 15 or more Housing New Mexico loans)
Mia Fatima Aguilar (CMG Mortgage Inc.)
Michael Bowen (Waterstone Mortgage Corporation)
Burgandy Casias (Guild Mortgage Company)
Iris Guzman (PrimeLending, A Plains Capital Company)
Sydney Lukes (HomeTrust Mortgage)
Renee Maestas (Evergreen Home Loans)
Michael Martin (Mortgage Solutions)
Ross Murray (Neighborhood Loans, Inc.)
Lynette Turpen (Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.)
As part of the recognition, lenders receive a commemorative certificate and year-long recognition by having a digital badge on their listing on the Housing New Mexico website.
To explore a comprehensive list of Housing New Mexico-approved lenders, visit https://housingnm.org/programs/homebuyers/mfa-participating-lenders. For more information about any of Housing New Mexico’s Homeownership Programs, please visit https://housingnm.org/programs/homebuyers.