FAQ - CGP&H (2024)

When you know a specific home is for sale or rent, you need to join the waiting list for the municipality. In most cases, there is a waiting list and we will contact you when we come to your name. If there is no waiting list, the home may appear on your Affordable Homes New Jersey Profile where you can fill an interest form to visit the home.

If you are interested in purchasing or renting a home posted for sale or rent by CGP&H, please follow these steps:

1. Go to www.affordablehomesnewjersey.com to submit a preliminary application and join the Ownership and/or Rental waiting list in the municipality where the specific home is located. Click here for more information about how to apply.
2. In most cases, there is a waiting list to purchase or rent homes. When a homebecomes available, we will contact you when we get to your name on the waiting list, if you are eligible for it. Click here for more information about waiting lists.
3. If you have already submitted a preliminary application and joined waiting lists, visit your profile.You can request your profile link here.
4. When the waiting list is very short,the home MAY appear on your Affordable Homes New Jersey Profile.If it does, click on the homeand complete the Interest Form . NOTE: This does not guarantee you are eligible for the home. Once your IFis received by our office, our staff will review it and further information will be provided.
5. If the home you are interested in does not appear on your profile it may be because of the following reasons:
   • There is a waiting list and we are contacting the next applicants about the opportunity.
   • Your household income is over the maximum income limits for the specific homeor your household income is under the minimum income.
   • The home is restricted to 55+ households and your household does not meet the age requirements.
   • Your household size is too large for the available home.A maximum of two people are permitted per bedroom.

Most buyers and sellers utilize their ownattorney to assist them in this important real estate transaction. Below are the names of attorneys that are familiar with affordable housing closings*.

• Sital Shah, LLC – Edison NJ, 732-777-9494,[email protected](English and Spanish)
• Jacob S. "Josh" Elkes, Esq. – Freehold NJ, (800) CLOSING (800-256-7464),[email protected]

* Please note: CGP&Hmaintains this list of attorneys only as a convenience for buyers and sellers of affordable housing. CGP&H does not make any representation or give any warranty regarding their qualifications, competence or suitability. CGP&H does not recommend any particular attorney on the list and the attorneys on the list are not ranked in any particular order. CGP&H receives no compensation from the attorneys on the list. Buyers and sellers are free to select any attorney to represent them, whether or not on the list.

If you do not utilize an attorney on the list please notify your attorney that:

1. You are purchasing a deed restricted affordable housing unit. N.J.A. C. 5:80-26.1 et seq. are the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (“UHAC”) which govern affordable units in NJ.

2. CGP&H will prepare the deed and affordable housing closing documents required for the closing. Please keep CGP&H updated about when the closing date may occur so we have enough time to prepare the required documents and answer any questions the title company and mortgage company may have.

An applicant's household is composed of all permanent members of the household. The household composition will determine both the maximum income limit the household will need to be under and the size of the home needed (number of bedrooms). Some household members may be considered in the bedroom calculation, but not the maximum income calculation.

• Foster Children: Foster children are not counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income. Additionally, any payments that the household received related to the foster children are not considered income. Foster children are counted in the household size when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. For example, a 3 person household made up of a husband, a wife, and a foster child must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of 2, but may qualify for a 2 or 3 bedroom home.

• Live In Health Aid or Nanny: Live in health aids or nannies are not counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income. Additionally, applicants must provide documentation that this is a paid position including a contract with the caregiver. Live in health aids or nannies are counted in the household size when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. For example, a 5person household made up of two parents, two children, and a nanny must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of of 4, but may qualify for a 3 bedroom home.

• Child Whose Primary Residence is Not the Applicant's Household: Children whose primary residence is not the applicant's household are not counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income unless custody is 50/50. Children whose primary residence is not the applicant's household are counted in the household size when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. For example, a 2person household made up of a fatherand child(without 50/50 custody) must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of 1, but may qualify for a 1 or 2 bedroom home.

• Unborn Child: Unborn children are counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income and when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. For example, a 3 person household made up of a husband and pregnant wife must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of 3. Additionally, they may qualify for a 2 or 3 bedroom home.

• Child Being Adopted: Children being adopted are counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income and when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. For example, a 2 person household made up of a mother and child being adopted must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of 2. Additionally, they may qualify for a 1 or 2 bedroom home.

• Full Time College Student Not Living at Home: Full time college students not living at home are counted in the household size when determining if the household is under the maximum income and when determining how many bedrooms the household may qualify for. A full time student is a member of the household reported to the IRS as a dependent who is enrolled in a degree seeking program for 12 or more credit hours per semester. Additionally, part time income earned by full time students (income earned on less than a 35 hour work week) is not considered income.For example, a 2 person household made up of a father and child (full time student) must fall under the maximum income limit for a household of 2. Additionally, they may qualify for a 1 or 2 bedroom home.

Deposits considered ‘miscellaneous’ under the program are any deposits or transfers coming into the bank account from the following sources:

• Transfers from people outside the household
• Transfers from bank accounts that do not belong to anyone in the household
• Zelle Transfers
• Venmo Cashout
• Paypal
• Cash Deposits
• Check Deposits/ E-Deposits
• ATM Deposits
• Cash App
• Counter Credit Deposit

If these deposits are from the following sources, are not already disclosed on your application, and are expected to continue in the next 12 months, they are considered as ‘additional income’ under our program and must be reported on your application:

• Side gigs such as (but not limited to) babysitting, dog walking, doing hair, mowing lawns, selling items etc.
• Assistance from friends or family members such as (but not limited to) help paying bills, for food, clothes etc.

Please Note:

• Monthly assistance received from a family member or friend on a consistent, expected basis, should be reported as an ‘Other’ income source in which we require a notarized letter from the person providing assistance stating how much they plan to give, what the assistance is for, and how often it will be received.
• Child support payments sent through mutual agreement (not by court order) should be reported as a ‘Child Support Received’ income source in which we require a notarized letter from the parent paying stating how much they give and how often.
• Deposits from Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub, Instacart or other self-employments/businesses should be reported as a ‘Self-Employment’ income source in which we require a notarized Profit & Loss statement showing how much you received up until that point in the year.

When you are invited to submit a full application, you will be required to submit several documents in addition to the full application. (This information is not required when you submit the preliminary application.)

The following documents must be submitted for anyone in the household 18 years old and over. (Not all items are applicable to every household.)

1. IDENTIFICATION

• Personal photo identification: Driver’s License, passport, or State ID

2. INCOME RELATED DOCUMENTS – provide all that apply

• Employment Income: 4 most recent consecutive pay stubs for all employed household members
• Social Security: Most recent award letter
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Voucher or other verification
• Pension: Letter from pension fund
• Child Support: Current statement from NJ child support website, court order or Notarized Letter regarding your child support status
• Alimony: Current statement from NJ website or Notarized Letter regarding your alimony support status
• Military Pay: Verification of military pay
• Workers' Compensation: Statement showing benefits
• Unemployment Benefits: Statement showing benefits
• Self Employed or own business: Year to date Profit and loss statement (not required if submitting K-1 with taxes)

3. BANK STATEMENTS & OTHER ACCOUNTS (include ALL jointAccounts)Please include ALL pages (even blank pages and advertisem*nts).

• Checking Account: All pages of statements for the last 6 consecutive months.
• Savings Account Statements including CD's: All pages of statements for the last 6 consecutive months
• Other Account Statements: Most recent statement for other assets such as cash management accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, 401k’s, pension,stocks, bonds, and trusts
  • If there is a loan onyour retirement account- notarized letter stating how much you plan to withdraw from your retirement account in the next 12 months.
• Third Party Payment Apps (Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, etc.)
  • Cash App & Paypal:the last six months of statements or transaction history
  • Venmo:the last 3 months or 90 days of statements or transaction history

4. TAX RETURNS

• Federal Tax Return: All pages of 1040 Federal Tax Return for the past 3 consecutive years.
• Sign the 2nd page of each Federal Tax Return (1040 form) to validate the copy. You must sign the 2nd page of each of your federal tax returns even if they were filed electronically.
• State Tax Return: All pages for the past 3 consecutive years.
  • Can upload a tax transcript for the 2 older years but need a complete federal and state income tax return with page 2 of their federal signed for the most recent year.
• If did not file taxes because not required to file, provide notarized letter stating why not required to file taxes

5. IF YOU OWN A HOME, CONDO, RENTAL PROPERTY, PLEASE ALSO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING

• Current mortgage statement
• Investment property lease agreement (if applicable)
• Current year tax assessment record
• Real estate listing if this property is for sale
• Contract with the realtor listing property if property is for sale
• Foreclosure notice (LIS PENS, etc.) if the property is in foreclosure

6. OTHER

• Divorce Decree: All pages of divorce decree and settlement agreement
• Full time student over 18: School schedule to document full time status
• Section 8: Voucher (RENTAL ONLY)
• Mortgage Pre-approval (OWNERSHIP ONLY) – You are not required to work with a specific lender but not all mortgage providers can provide mortgages for deed restricted affordable properties. This list of lenders is familiar with affordable housing in New Jersey. If you do not plan to secure a mortgage from a contact on this list, please notify CGP&H and inform your lender that you are purchasing an affordable deed restricted home and that the affordability controls survive foreclosure. Applications to purchase an affordable home will not be reviewed until we receive the mortgage pre-approval.

This article explains how to upload required documents from your smartphone. Please Note:You must first be invited to submit a full application.

1. Navigate to Your Application:
   1. Open the application link on your phone's internet browser:https://authentication.affordablehomesnewjersey.com/
   2. Log in with the email and phone number you used to apply. Note:You may need to leave the internet browser to access your identification code via anemail or text sent to your phone. Simply navigate back to the internet browser on your phone after you retrieve the codeto enter.
2. Determine the Required Documents to Upload:
   1. Scroll down to any red icons on your application and click the link next to them to open the upload window.
   2. Read the instructions at the top for an explanation of what documents will need to be uploaded to meet the requirements.
3. Create a PDF of the Required Documents with Your Phone:
   1. When you have the physical documents ready, create a PDF of each document with your phone. Please follow the steps in the How to Scan Required Documents to Upload to Your Public House Application article.Note:If a document has more than one page, please upload as one PDF. This will help us review yourapplication at a faster pace.
4. Upload the Required Documents:
   1. Navigate back to your applicationon your phone's internet browser and click the white "Upload" button.
   2. Select the location you saved the PDF of you document. This will vary by phone type and model.
   3. Select the file and upload. Note: The document may take a few minutes to upload depending on the file size and your mobile/internet connection. Please wait for the spinning house icon to disappear before continuing.
   4. If you have additional documents to upload to meet the requirements, click the "Upload Additional Files" button and repeat the steps above. If not, click the "I have completed my uploads and met requirements" button.
5. Repeat for All Red Icons on Your Application.

Most rental propertiesrequire a credit check. When a specific unit becomes available we provide you information about the landlord's tenant selection criteria. CGP&H does not run credit and cannot answer questions about landlord's credit requirements. All credit related questions should be directed to the landlord.

If you are purchasing an affordable home, you must be able to qualify for a mortgage and the mortgage company will also check your credit.

New Jersey residents are entitled to one free credit report each year. Call1-877-322-8228or visitannualcreditreport.comto obtain a copy of your credit report.

CGP&H administers affordable housing in many communities in New Jersey. All locations are listed on our web pageunder"Affordable Opportunities" and are groupedin alphabetical order by name, county or by municipality.

1. Click"Rental" to see all rental opportunities.
2. Click"Ownership" to see allpurchase opportunities.
3. Click"All" to see allrental and purchase opportunities.
4. Click "Current Listings" to see locations where there is a short waiting list OR where we will be holding a random selection/lottery soon.

Some locations have a * next to them to indicate that the development is not directly administered by CGP&H. These locations are listed to direct applicants to additional affordable housing opportunities in New Jersey.The income limits and FAQ posted on Affordable Homes New Jersey may not apply to these locations. Please visitnjhrc.gov for listings of other affordable housing opportunities throughout New Jersey.

• NJ Sharesassists New Jersey households who have fallen behind on their energy bills due to a temporary crisis.
• TheHome Energy Assistance Programhelps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.
• TheUniversal Service Fund (USF)helps make energy bills more affordable for low income customers. If you are eligible, USF can lower the amount you have to pay for natural gas and electricity. Click here to find out how to apply and contact information for the list of agencies that provide this assistance