See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 29, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Hackensack, NJ (2026)
Hackensack is the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, with a population of approximately 47,000 and a median home price around $430,000. Homebuyers in Hackensack have access to one of the most generous county programs in the state through the Bergen County American Dream Program, which provides up to $65,000 in HOME funds as a 0% deferred second mortgage plus up to $10,000 in forgivable CDBG matching assistance. At the state level, the NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $15,000 in forgivable loans, and first-generation buyers may qualify for an additional $7,000 through the NJHMFA First Generation program. Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County also builds affordable homes in the area with no-interest mortgages. By combining county, state, and federal programs, eligible Hackensack buyers could potentially access over $75,000 in total assistance.
County Programs in Bergen County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County American Dream First-Time Homebuyer Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $65,000 in HOME funds plus up to $10,000 in CDBG matching down payment assistance | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $65,000 in HOME funds plus up to $10,000 in CDBG matching down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in New Jersey
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program | Grant | Up to $30,000 | Yes | View → |
| NJCC Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program | Grant | Up to $30,000 | Yes | View → |
| NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000: $15,000 in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties; $10,000 in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties | Yes | View → |
| NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | $7,000 | Yes | View → |
| NJHMFA First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage through NJHMFA participating lenders (rate quoted by lender); eligible for up to $15,000 NJHMFA down payment assistance | Yes | View → |
| NJHMFA HFA Advantage Mortgage Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | Competitive 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000: $15,000 in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties; $10,000 in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- $7,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage through NJHMFA participating lenders (rate quoted by lender); eligible for up to $15,000 NJHMFA down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Competitive 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with no-interest mortgage | No | View → |
| Housing Partnership of New Jersey CDFI Homebuyer Loan | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $20,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with no-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Bergen County American Dream Program requires household income within HOME Income Guidelines (low/moderate income). A family of four can earn up to approximately $139,320 in Bergen County. You must be a first-time homebuyer or have not owned a home in the past three years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Bergen County American Dream Program and NJHMFA programs both require housing counseling. In Hackensack, the Bergen County Community Action Partnership at 241 Moore Street offers HUD-approved homebuyer workshops. Call (201) 968-0200. The Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey at 131 Main Street also provides pre-purchase education. Call (201) 489-3552.
Step 3: Apply for Bergen County American Dream assistance. Contact the American Dream Program at One Bergen County Plaza, 4th Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Call (201) 336-7206 or email americandream@co.bergen.nj.us. This program provides up to $65,000 in HOME funds plus up to $10,000 in forgivable CDBG matching funds.
Step 4: Get pre-approved through an NJHMFA participating lender. You will need an approved lender to access the NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $15,000) and First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program. The American Dream Program will also partner you with an approved conventional lender.
Step 5: Explore nonprofit options. Contact Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County about their affordable homeownership program. Also check with the Housing Partnership of New Jersey about their CDFI homebuyer loan program offering up to $20,000.
Step 6: Find a home within program guidelines. The Bergen County American Dream Program requires a one-family house or condo in Bergen County with a purchase price not exceeding 95% of the county median sales price. No multi-family homes or co-ops.
Step 7: Submit your applications and close on your home. Your lender will coordinate the assistance funding with your mortgage. Allow extra processing time when stacking multiple programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Hackensack?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Hackensack?+−
What makes the Bergen County American Dream Program special?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+−
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