First-Time Homebuyer & Down Payment Assistance Programs

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New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance AgencyNJFirst-Time Homeowner

Funding: Provides an interest-free, five-year forgivable down payment assistance loan of up to 15,000 dollars (amount varies by county) that can be used toward down payment or closing costs, with the potential to layer roughly 7,000 dollars in additional First Generation assistance for qualifying buyers whose parents or guardians never owned a home, bringing combined support to about 22,000 dollars.Statewide New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) program that pairs a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage with an interest-free, five-year forgivable down payment assistance second loan and an optional First Generation assistance layer for eligible buyers.RollingDeadline: Scope: Statewide (New Jersey)state

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Summary

The NJHMFA provides low-interest 30-year fixed mortgage loans paired with down payment or closing cost assistance for qualified first-time buyers across New Jersey.

Benefits

down payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable loansecond mortgagestate programfirst generation bonuslow-interest mortgage

Who Can Apply

homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerNew Jersey homebuyer

Eligible Locations

First-time homebuyers who have not owned a home in the past three years and are purchasing an owner-occupied primary residence anywhere in New Jersey, using an NJHMFA-approved lender, meeting state income and purchase-price limits, occupying the home within 60 days of closing, and satisfying credit, debt-to-income, and homebuyer-education requirements.

Eligibility

First-time homebuyers (no ownership in past 3 years) in New Jersey, must use approved NJHMFA first mortgage and meet income & purchase-price limits.

Full Description

The First-Time Homebuyer & Down Payment Assistance Programs from NJHMFA include a 30-year fixed government-insured first mortgage plus a down payment assistance second loan (interest-free, 5-year forgivable) up to $15,000 (varies by county) for eligible homebuyers. Additional “First Generation” assistance adds approximately $7,000 for buyers whose parents or guardians never owned a home. Applicants must purchase in New Jersey, occupy as primary residence within 60 days, meet income/purchase-price limits, and use an approved participating lender.

Verification & Details

Status: Open

Source: nj.gov

Official source → nj.gov

Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 6, 2025

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More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout New Jersey that complement this opportunity.

Monmouth County First-Time Homebuyer Program

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Monmouth County Planning Board – Division of HousingNJFirst-Time HomeownerMonmouth County down payment and closing cost assistance administered as a county housing program, typically delivered as a deferred or forgivable second mortgage for eligible low and moderate income first time buyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

County-based assistance for first-time buyers in Monmouth County, helping with upfront purchase costs to increase access to homeownership.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers in Monmouth County, NJ, meeting income/purchase price limits and completing homebuyer education; property must be owne…

Funding: Assistance amounts vary by funding cycle but typically provide up to fifteen thousand to twenty thousand dollars toward down payment and closing costs for eligible first time buyers in Monmouth County.Deadline: Rolling / funds availableRollingCountyhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerMonmouth County residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancedeferred loanforgivable loancounty program

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Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers – City of Perth Amboy

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City of Perth Amboy – Housing & Community Development DepartmentNJFirst-Time HomeownerCity of Perth Amboy municipal down payment and closing cost assistance typically structured as a subordinate deferred or forgivable loan tied to owner occupancy requirements for first time buyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Municipal down payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers in Perth Amboy, helping bridge the upfront cost to ownership.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers purchasing in the City of Perth Amboy; must meet income/purchase price limits and complete homebuyer education; proper…

Funding: Generally offers up to approximately twenty five thousand dollars in assistance toward down payment and eligible closing costs for qualifying first time buyers within Perth Amboy, with exact limits determined by funding round.Deadline: Rolling / subject to city funding availabilityRollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerPerth Amboy residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancedeferred loanforgivable loancity program

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Camden County First Time Home Buyers Program

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Camden County Division of Housing Services / Camden County Improvement AuthorityNJFirst-Time HomeownerCamden County zero percent interest non amortizing second mortgage that provides deferred and forgivable assistance loans for down payment and closing costs for eligible first time buyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

County-level homebuyer assistance for first-time buyers to cover down payment and/or closing costs, promoting affordable ownership in Camden County.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers in Camden County (outside certain boroughs) meeting income and purchase price limits, must attend homebuyer education,…

Funding: Offers up to twenty five thousand dollars in assistance as a zero percent interest non amortizing loan that is fully forgiven after five years for smaller amounts or after ten years for assistance between fifteen thousand and twenty five thousand dollars, provided buyers meet owner occupancy requirements.Deadline: Rolling / funds first-come first-served RollingCountyhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCamden County residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistance0% interestforgivable loancounty programdeferred loan

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NJCC Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program

Paused

New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC)NJFirst-Time HomeownerNew Jersey Community Capital statewide down payment and closing cost assistance structured as a recoverable, forgivable grant of ten thousand to thirty thousand dollars that is fully forgiven after five years of continuous owner occupancy.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Statewide down payment/closing cost assistance program offering large grants for eligible New Jersey homebuyers, complementing other state or local programs.

Eligible for: Eligible homebuyers purchasing a primary residence in New Jersey (1–4 family). Income at or below 100% HUD AMI by county, must complete HUD-…

Funding: Provides between ten thousand and thirty thousand dollars in down payment and closing cost assistance as a recoverable grant that is fully forgiven after five years of owner occupancy, with prorated forgiveness if the home is sold or refinanced earlier.Deadline: Rolling / until funds committed (note: applications paused in 2025)RollingStatewidehomebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerNew Jersey homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable grantrecoverable grantstatewide programAMI-restricted

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Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

Open

Gloucester County Office of Housing & Community DevelopmentNJFirst-Time HomeownerGloucester County zero percent interest deferred payment second mortgage that provides up to twenty five thousand dollars for closing costs and down payment, forgiven after a required period of owner occupancy.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

County-wide down payment / closing cost assistance helping renters with incomes to make the leap to homeownership.

Eligible for: Low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers (no home ownership in last 3 years) within Gloucester County, NJ; must complete HUD-approved …

Funding: Provides up to twenty five thousand dollars as a zero percent interest deferred loan used first for eligible closing costs and then for down payment, secured by a lien that is forgiven after the buyer satisfies a five to ten year owner occupancy requirement.Deadline: Rolling / while funds last RollingCountyhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerGloucester County residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistance0% interestdeferred loanforgivable loancounty program

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Homebuyer Assistance – NJ 2-1-1 Partnership Resource Listing

Resource

NJ 2‑1‑1 PartnershipNJFirst-Time HomeownerStatewide online resource directory maintained by the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership that connects prospective homebuyers with local down payment, closing cost, and other homeownership assistance programs rather than providing direct grant funding itself.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A state-wide resource listing via NJ 2-1-1 connecting homebuyers to local down payment & closing cost assistance programs in New Jersey.

Eligible for: First-time or income-eligible homebuyers in New Jersey directed to local assistance resources via NJ 2-1-1 directory.

Funding: This listing does not provide a single standardized award; instead it catalogs multiple New Jersey down payment and closing cost assistance programs whose grant or loan amounts, terms, and availability vary by administering agency and location.Deadline: Varies by programVariesStatewide (New Jersey)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerNew Jersey homebuyerhousing counselorservice providerresource hubprogram directorydown payment assistance referralsclosing cost assistance referralsstatewide information service

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